Tsavo West National Park
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Tsavo West National Park | |
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Location | Kenya |
Coordinates | 3°23′S 38°0′E / 3.383°S 38.000°E |
Area | 9,065 km² |
Established | 1948 |
Governing body | Kenya Wildlife Service |
Tsavo West National Park is located in Taita-Taveta County of
Archaeology and history
Although a few
Swahili merchants traded with the inhabitants of Tsavo for ivory, catskins, and probably slaves as early as 700 AD (and probably earlier). There is no evidence for direct Swahili "colonization" of Tsavo. Instead, trade was probably accomplished by moving goods to and from the Swahili Coast via extended kin-networks. Trade goods such as cowry shells and beads have been recovered from archaeological sites dating to the early Swahili period.
19th-century British and German explorers document people we now refer to as
Tsavo remained the homeland for the Orma and Maasai pastoralists and Waata hunter-gatherers until 1948, when it was gazetted a national park. At that time, the indigenous populations were relocated to Voi and Mtito Andei as well as other locations within the nearby Taita Hills. Following Kenyan independence in 1963, hunting was banned in the park and management of Tsavo was turned over to the authority that eventually became the Kenya Wildlife Service. Tsavo currently attracts photo-tourists from all over the world interested in experiencing the vastness of the wilderness and incredible terrain.
Rock climbing
In 1978 Bill Woodley, then the warden of Tsavo West, invited the Mountain Club of Kenya (MCK) to explore the cliffs in the park. The setting for climbers is superb with elephant roaming the plains below the cliffs and eagles, vultures and falcons circling on thermals around the crags with Kilimanjaro frequently visible on a clear day. The rock-climbing is some of the best in Kenya, solid gneiss walls are often covered in holds and free of vegetation. Cracks and corners abound, but tend to be more vegetated. The most impressive piece of rock, the 300m high east face of Kichwa Tembo, attracted the first explorers and resulted in the ascent of Great Tsavo Chimney. Mastodon took three visits before it was completed. A more recent route, Ivory Tower on Elephant Rocks, ranks with the best and hardest bush climb in Kenya. Generally pegs need not be carried. Unless climbing in the shade, an early start is advisable as it often gets very hot on clear days.
The permit the MCK has to climb here, and to camp by the Tsavo River, is a special privilege and every effort must be made not to jeopardise this situation by careless actions. Other climbers should initially contact the MCK if wishing to climb here.
Wildlife
Tsavo West National Park has a variety of wildlife, such as
.See also
- Mzima Springs – a series of natural springs and pools, famous for its hippo and crocodile populations
- Tsavo the local region
- Tsavo East adjoining National Park, founded 1948
References
- ^ "Tsavo West National Park Kenya: Facts About Tsavo West in Kenya". African Safari Tours: 2019/ 2020 Holidays, Vacations and Safari Packages to Africa. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- ^ "Man eating lions – not (as) many dead". Railway Gazette International. 27 November 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010.
- S2CID 30414547.