Airstrips In The Tsavo National Park

Airstrips In The Tsavo National Park

The Tsavo National Park is the largest and one of the oldest managed regions in Africa, with a total area of 22,000 square kilometres in Kenya. It is further subdivided into two parts, Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, which have different landscapes, wildlife and memorable experiences with a Kenya safari. Since it is a large park, Tsavo has several airstrips which facilitate tourist, researcher and park ranger accessibility due to their size. Such airstrips are an essential way out between the major cities in Kenya and the remote wildlife areas of the park, as they save time and allow a good view of the scenic landscape of the park.

The Importance of Airstrips in Tsavo.

Tsavo is too large and cannot be easily accessed by road only. Although Nairobi, Mombasa and Voi have road networks that link to the park, airstrips are much better and faster to travel with, especially for tourists on a luxury safari or tourists who are taking a flight between beach resorts on the Kenyan coast.

Wildlife management and conservation are also significantly contributed to by air travel. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has aerial patrols, anti-poaching, emergency evacuation and transportation of personnel or supplies achieved by airstrips. Also, these facilities are used by researchers and movie makers who need to access places that are far in the park.

There are several airstrips in both Tsavo East and Tsavo West, whereby visitors are able to land near their favourite lodges or attractions, and it is therefore possible to have a smooth Kenya safari experience.

Airstrips of the Tsavo East National Park.

Tsavo East National Park, the home of the red elephants, the infinite plains of Kenya and the Yatta Plateau, has various airstrips which are well maintained and serve various parts of the park. Below are the main ones:

Voi Airstrip

This is by far one of the most regularly used airstrips in Tsavo East, and it is located close to Voi Gate. It caters to the tourists visiting Voi Safari Lodge and other camps. This airstrip is located on the main Nairobi-Mombasa highway, and therefore it is convenient to those who use air and road transport at the same time.

Aruba Airstrip

Located near Aruba Dam, which is one of the most picturesque watering holes in Tsavo East, this airstrip is a perfect tourist attraction site that visitors of Ashnil Aruba Lodge can use or those venturing into the midpoint part of the park. It has great access to wildlife areas with animals like elephants, lions, zebras, and giraffes.

Satao Airstrip

This airstrip is close to Satao Camp; it serves the southern part of Tsavo East. Guests staying at the Satao Camp or Satao Elerai Camp are popular with it and find it a fast and direct way to the wilderness.

Ithumba Airstrip

Located in the north of Tsavo East, Ithumba forms a critical access point for conservationists and visitors to the Ithumba elephant reintegration unit of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. This airstrip is mostly utilised in conservation and by the guests who visit the orphaned elephants as they are reintroduced into the wild.

Manyani Airstrip

Located at Manyani Gate and the KWS Training Academy, this airstrip is used for tourism and conservation purposes. It is among the oldest ones in the park and is frequently utilised in government and ranger activities.

These airstrips make sure that all the corners of Tsavo East can be accessed by the visitors and the wildlife experts, including the plains, rocky outcrops, etc.

Airstrips within Tsavo West National Park.

Tsavo West National Park, which is characterised by amazing scenery, volcanic hills, and green oases, also offers a number of important airstrips. The area is also stiffer, and therefore, the air is the only mode of accessing the remote lodges in the area, as well as the scenic sites.

Kamboyo Airstrip

One of the major access points into the Tsavo West is Kamboyo, which is situated next to the KWS Headquarters and the Mtito Andei Gate. It is a centre of administration and a convenient place for tourists visiting the lodges around the area, such as the Severin Safari Camp and Kiliguni Serena Safari Lodge.

Kilaguni Airstrip

It is probably the most renowned airstrip in Tsavo West, Kiliguni, which is located close to Kiliguni Serena Lodge. It is one of the most picturesque landing points in Kenya, with a scenic location that is surrounded by volcanic hills with a waterhole that is often frequented by elephants and buffalo.

Jipe Airstrip

This airstrip is located on the Kenya-Tanzania border, close to Lake Jipe, and serves the southwestern side of the park. It is also enjoyed by the visitor who needs a less action-packed safari and the birdwatcher who is exploring the abundant birdlife on the lake.

Ziwani Airstrip

This airstrip serves the Ziwani Safari Camp region, which is close to the Tsavo River and has easy accessibility to the water-filled and lush regions of the park. The area has been characterised by the picturesque scenery of Mount Kilimanjaro and great game viewing experiences.

Finch Hattons Airstrip

This airstrip is named after the luxurious Finch Hattons Camp, which accommodates high-end tourists who prefer having an exclusive Kenya safari experience. It is near Chyulu Hills and Mzima Springs, which means that it is ideal when visiting the most renowned sites of Tsavo West.

Air Travel Experience and Connections.

The domestic charter airlines that operate most flights to the Tsavo airstrips are SafariLink, AirKenya and Fly ALS, which fly out of Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Moi International Airport in Mombasa or Diani airstrip along the coast. The flight time varies between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours based on the route and the destination airstrip.

It is a memorable experience to fly over Tsavo. Above, passengers have a panoramic view of red-earth plains, winding rivers, ancient lava flows and herds of gracefully moving elephants below. It is not a mode of movement, but it is an adventure.

Conclusion

The Tsavo National Park is an airstrip network which links the linkage between this expansive wilderness and the rest of Kenya. They render safaris simpler, more effective and more picturesque, and enable tourists to dedicate additional time to sightseeing and minimal time on the highway.