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Frequently asked questions.
How much does a day safari to Tsavo East from Diani or Mombasa cost?
With an operator in Diani, between 470 USD for a single person and 200 USD per person with six passengers; another operator quotes from 190 USD per person (as of 23 September 2026). This includes the park fee (80 USD), 4x4 vehicle, guide, lunch, water and pickup. Group tours in a minibus are cheaper.
How early does it start?
From Diani and the south coast, operators pick up between 04:00 and 05:00, from Mombasa and the north coast around 05:00. That way you reach the Bachuma Gate around 07:30 and have the cool morning hours in the park. Return is between 16:30 and 18:30.
One day or two days in Tsavo East?
With one day you drive 5 to 8 hours for around 5 hours in the park, part of it in the midday heat. Two days with an overnight stay at a lodge give you the game drives in the late afternoon and early morning, when lions and other predators are active. If you only do one safari, choose two days; if you do not want to interrupt your beach holiday, one day gets you to the red elephants.
Do you see lions in Tsavo East?
Tsavo East has lions, the males often maneless, but the park is huge at 13,747 km² and sightings are not guaranteed. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes and zebras are the rule on day trips, lions a stroke of luck, leopards and rhinos the exception.
Does the safari work with children?
Yes, one operator takes children from the age of 1 and charges 75 percent for 3 to 12 year olds. Because of the early departure and the long drive, Tsavo East suits school-age children better; for smaller children Shimba Hills with an hour's drive is more relaxed. KWS charges children half the park fee (40 USD Tsavo, 25 USD Shimba Hills).
Do I need malaria prophylaxis?
The German Federal Foreign Office classes the whole of Kenya below 2,500 m as an area with a high malaria risk all year round, which includes the coast and Tsavo, and considers tablet prophylaxis advisable there in addition to mosquito protection. That applies to the beach holiday anyway, not only to the safari day. Get travel medical advice before the trip.
Can I drive to Tsavo East myself?
Yes, with a four-wheel-drive vehicle and fees paid in advance via KWSPay on eCitizen (80 USD per person, 600 KES per vehicle); no cash is accepted at the gate. The gates are open from 06:00 to 18:00. Without a guide who knows the area, however, you will find far fewer animals in the vast space, and the price advantage over a group tour is small.
Shimba Hills or Tsavo East?
Tsavo East for big game and savannah scenery, with a long drive. Shimba Hills for a short day with rainforest, sable antelope, viewpoints and the walk to the Sheldrick Falls, without lions and with few sightings. If you want both, combine Shimba Hills as a half day with a two-day safari to Tsavo.
Is Tsavo West worth it as a day trip from Mombasa?
No. The Mtito Andei Gate is 250 km from Mombasa, and from Diani operators allow 4 to 5 hours each way. Tsavo West with Mzima Springs and the Ngulia rhino sanctuary is a destination for two to three days, usually combined with Tsavo East.
How do I get from Diani to Mombasa, by ferry or bypass?
Since August 2024 the 17.5 km Dongo Kundu Bypass has been open to traffic and connects the south coast to the A109 at Miritini without a ferry; the trip to the airport or the SGR station now takes about 30 to 45 minutes instead of up to 2 to 2.5 hours via the Likoni Ferry. Safari operators use the bypass; according to the press, some commuters stick with the ferry.
