Malindi Tsavo East National Park Safari Day Trip

This affordable, private Day Trip safari from Malindi to Tsavo East National Park offers a short, hassle-free way to experience Kenya’s incredible wildlife and is a full-day wildlife excursion. The park is accessible via the Sala gate, located approximately 156 km (97 miles) west of Malindi.

This day trip from Malindi to Tsavo East requires an early 0500 Hours departure to cover the 3.5-hour drive (each way) to the park gate, leaving time for a 6–7-hour game drive. The day includes entering via the Sala Gate, visiting the Voi River and Aruba Dam, and returning to Malindi by 2000 Hours, with a focus on elephants and dry-country species.

Tsavo East National Park is home to large families of giraffes, gazelles, hartebeests, and zebras, as well as the “Big Five” must-see animals – buffalo, African elephants, lions, rhinos, and leopards.

Depart from your hotel in Malindi/Watamu early in the morning with snack boxes. You drive along the Malindi Gede/Sala road to Tsavo East National Park. The drive takes about 3 hours.

Once we arrive at the park and enter Tsavo East through the Sala gate, we will proceed on a game drive, internationally known for its large herds of red-dusty elephants.

Vast groups of other mammals visiting ponds and waterholes are buffalo, zebra, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, waterbuck, and giraffe. Gazelles and antelopes, from the dik-dik to the Oryx, are numerous. Lions are abundant and are often spotted in the Kanderi swamps and around the Aruba dam.

We will visit the Aruba dam, then pay a visit to Ashnil Aruba Lodge – the perfect place for a bathroom break and refreshments. Here, you can watch wildlife at the dam, including water birds, elephants, buffalo, lions, and gazelles/ antelopes drinking.

At about 1230 Hours Enjoy lunch at one of the lodges in the park, followed by a short rest. After lunch, proceed on another game drive en route to Sala Gate. We will depart Tsavo East National Park via the Sala Gate at 1600 Hours and return to Malindi/ Watamu at approximately 1900 Hours. We arrive at your beach hotel late in the evening.

Tsavo East day trip from Malindi Itinerary 

0500 Hours: Departure from Malindi (an early start is essential to avoid heat and maximize wildlife viewing)
0830 Hours: Arrival at Sala Gate (Tsavo East) and start the morning game drive
0900 Hours – 1230 Hours: Game drive along the Voi River (high wildlife concentration) and surrounding plains
1230 Hours – 1400 Hours: Lunch at a lodge (e.g., Voi Safari Lodge or Ashnil Aruba) or picnic lunch, followed by a short rest
1400 Hours – 1600 Hours: Afternoon game drive focusing on the Aruba Dam area, known for large herds of elephants, buffalo, and water-dependent species
1600 Hours: Begin driving back toward Sala Gate to exit
1930 Hours – 2000 Hours: Return to Malindi

Important Information

Drive Time: The drive from Malindi to Tsavo East (via Sala Gate) is roughly 3.5 hours
Terrain: The park is known for its vast, semi-arid, open terrain, making it ideal for spotting lions, buffalo, elephants, and leopards
Best Time: Game viewing is best during the cooler hours of the morning and late afternoon

Malindi Tsavo East National Park safari day trip is a full-day wildlife excursion to Tsavo East National Park in Kenya. The park is accessed via the Sala gate, located about 156 km (97 miles) west of Malindi.

Tsavo East National Park’s relative closeness to the beaches and tourist attractions in Malindi and Watamu makes it an ideal one-day wildlife safari destination for those who do not want to stay overnight.

The park is home to large families of giraffes, gazelles, hartebeests, and zebras, as well as the “Big Five” must-see animals – buffalo, African elephants, lions, rhinos, and leopards.

During your game drive, you will likely see cheetah, duiker, gazelle, gerenuk, elephant, lion, hartebeest, hyena, impala, mongoose, monkey, porcupine, giant rat, buffalo, warthog, and waterbuck.

Yatta Plateau is the world’s longest lava flow at 290 km long

Walking safaris are offered by several guides along the Galana River

Aruba Dam also attracts animals and birds looking for a place to drink

Lugard’s Falls is a series of rapids on the Galana River where crocodiles love to bathe

Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary is saving the black rhino from extinction due to hunting by poachers

Mudanda Rock is a 1.6km outcrop of rock, with a dam at its base. This is a popular drinking place for animals

Bird watching includes African skimmers, red and yellow bishops, goshawks, buffalo weavers, and palm nut vultures, to name but a few.

Over 500 bird species have been recorded in the park, including ostriches, kestrels, buzzards, starlings, weaverbirds, kingfishers, hornbills, secretary birds, and herons

0400 Hours: Depart from your hotel in Malindi/ Watamu early in the morning with snack boxes. You drive along the Malindi Gede/ Sala road to Tsavo East National Park. The drive takes about 3 hours.

0700 Hours: We arrive at the park and enter Tsavo East through the Sala gate. We proceed on a game drive in the park, internationally known for its large herds of red-dusty elephants.

Vast groups of other mammals visiting ponds and waterholes are buffalo, zebra, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, waterbuck, and giraffe. Gazelles and antelopes, from the dik-dik to the Oryx, are numerous. Lions are abundant and often spotted in the Kanderi swamps and at the Aruba dam.

1000 Hours: We visit the Aruba dam, then pay a visit to Ashnil Aruba Lodge – the perfect place for a bathroom break and refreshments.

Enjoy watching the dam wildlife, including water birds, elephants, buffalo, lions, and gazelles/antelopes drinking at the dam.

1230 Hours: Enjoy lunch at one of the lodges in the park, followed by a short rest. After lunch, proceed on another game drive en route to Sala Gate.

1500 Hours: Depart Tsavo East National Park through the Sala gate and transfer back to Malindi/ Watamu.

1900 Hours: Arrive at your beach hotel late in the evening.

Meal Plan {Lunch}

Malindi Tsavo East National Park Safari Day Trip Rates Include:

✓ Extensive game drive
✓ Safari vehicle carrying cold drinks and mineral water
✓ All entry fees, guide fees, service charges, and taxes
✓ Hot Lunch at one of the lodges in the park or picnic lunch box
✓ Guaranteed departures for 1 or more passengers booking this safari
✓ Round-trip transport from Malindi/ Watamu to Tsavo East National Park and back
✓ Multi-lingual Professional Safari Guide/ Driver. (Professional Safari Escort is available upon request)

Notes
* 1 Day Malindi road Safari to Tsavo East National Park from Malindi or Watamu, departs on request
* From Malindi, the drive takes you through the we✓stern road (C103) and enters the park via the Sala gate

Malindi Tsavo East National Park Safari Day Trip Rates Do Not Include:

*  Travelers Insurance
*  Communication charges
*  Tips or gratuity to your driver guide
*  Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes; meals
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
*  Beer, wine, liquor, soft drinks or juices, and bottled water during lunch
*  Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)

Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com