Private Tsavo East safari from Mombasa: See the Big Five

Chase wildlife across Tsavo East's open plains with a private guide and driver.

A private full-day safari from Mombasa to Tsavo East National Park with a live English or German-speaking guide, hotel pickup, park entry, lunch and bottled water. The tour departs at 05:00 from your hotel (later from Mombasa) and runs roughly 11 hours, with two game drives bracketing lunch at Voi Safari Lodge. The sparse vegetation and drought conditions mean you can spot animals from far away as they move toward water holes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day safari in Tsavo East

• Pick up from hotel early morning
• Drive to Tsavo East National Park
• Enter park via Bachuma Gate
• Game drive to Voi Safari Lodge
• Lunch and freshen up at lodge
• Afternoon game drive for Big Five
• Return to Mombasa or Diani Beach
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

Your guide picks you up from your hotel at 05:00 and drives toward Tsavo East, entering through the Bachuma Gate. The journey itself is part of the day: you're watching for wildlife the whole way. Once inside, the first game drive takes you toward Voi Safari Lodge, where you stop for lunch and a chance to rest. The lodge sits in the heart of the park, so the meal break is not a break from the landscape. It's a pause within it.

After lunch, the second game drive is when the big animals tend to move. Lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, hyenas and buffaloes all live in Tsavo East, and the sparse vegetation means they're visible at distance. You'll also see the park's signature feature: red anthills that rise nearly as tall as a person, scattered across the plains. Photographers often find the Mudanda Rock, the Yatta Plateau (the longest cooled lava flow on earth) and Lugards Falls worth the camera work. Hippos live in the Galana River, and various monkey species move through the trees.

In the late afternoon, your guide drives you back to Mombasa or Diani Beach and drops you at your hotel. Private transportation means the pace and stops are yours: no waiting for other groups, no fixed schedule beyond the 05:00 start and the lodge lunch window. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.

What’s included

• Private transportation with a live guide in English or German.
• park entry and parking fees.
• lunch at Voi Safari Lodge.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• hotel pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Wild Lion Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so your guide adjusts the pace and stops to your interests. If you want to linger near a pride of lions or spend extra time at a viewpoint, there's no group schedule pushing you forward. Choose it if you want the flexibility to photograph, ask questions and move at your own rhythm without waiting for other travelers.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals am I likely to see on a Tsavo East game drive?

Tsavo East is home to lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, hyenas, buffaloes, ostriches, monkeys and impalas. Hippos live in the Galana River. The sparse vegetation and drought conditions mean animals gather at water holes, so sightings are common during both morning and afternoon game drives.

What time does the tour start and how long does it take?

Hotel pickup is at 05:00 (departing later if you're picked up in Mombasa itself). The full day runs roughly 11 hours, with the morning game drive, lunch at Voi Safari Lodge, and an afternoon game drive before the return to your hotel.

Is lunch included, and what about drinks?

Lunch is included at Voi Safari Lodge after the first game drive. Bottled water is provided throughout the day. Coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages are not included.

What are the red anthills I've heard about?

Tsavo East's distinctive red anthills are termite mounds that rise nearly as tall as a person across the plains. They're a signature feature of the landscape and a common photography subject during game drives.