Tsavo East Safari from Mombasa: Red-dust Elephants & Lions

Red-dust elephants drink at the same waterhole where you'll eat lunch.

A full-day safari from Mombasa to Tsavo East National Park includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, park entry, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and a buffet lunch at a lodge overlooking a waterhole. The route covers 11 hours and crosses vast savannahs and bushland where you spot elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and possibly leopards and cheetahs. Children from age 3 are welcome. Infants sit on an adult's lap.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Tsavo East Safari adventure

• Depart early from coastal hotel
• Drive scenic route to Tsavo East
• Enter park through Bachuma Gate
• Game drive spotting wildlife
• Buffet lunch at safari lodge
• Afternoon game drive
• Return to hotel

The experience

You leave your coastal hotel early (Mombasa, Diani, Watamu or Malindi), and drive inland to Tsavo East National Park, Kenya's oldest park. Entry is through Bachuma Gate. The landscape shifts from beach to savannah and acacia scrub, and the guide points out the red dust that coats the elephants here, a signature of the park. Game drives fill the morning and afternoon, with stops to watch herds, lone bulls, prides resting in the shade, and the smaller animals that move through the bush. The guide speaks English and carries binoculars and field knowledge of where animals tend to gather.

Lunch happens inside the park at a lodge built to overlook a waterhole. Buffaloes, elephants and other wildlife often come to drink while you eat, so the meal is not a break from the safari. It is part of it. The buffet is included. After lunch, another game drive takes you back through the park before the return journey to your hotel. The vehicle is air-conditioned, bottled water is provided, and the whole day runs 11 hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Mombasa, Diani, Watamu or Malindi.
• park entry fees.
• transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide.
• buffed lunch at a lodge inside the park.
• bottled water during the safari.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:00 and 05:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 to 66 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 80

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Trek Afrika Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying on the coast and want a full safari experience without spending multiple days inland. The 11-hour day means you leave and return to your beach hotel, and the fixed schedule fits around other plans.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I actually see on a Tsavo East safari?

Elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and buffaloes are reliably present. Leopards and cheetahs are possible but not guaranteed. The guide will explain the park's wildlife and landscapes as you drive.

Does the tour include lunch, or do I need to bring my own food?

Lunch is included and served as a buffet at a lodge inside the park, positioned to overlook a waterhole where animals often come to drink.

How early do I need to wake up for the Tsavo East safari?

You'll be picked up early from your hotel in Mombasa, Diani, Watamu or Malindi, with the full day lasting 11 hours total. The early departure lets you catch the morning game drive when wildlife is most active.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay separately?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, park entry fees, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional English-speaking guide, lunch, and bottled water are all included. Tips and gratuities for the guide and driver are optional.