This is a list of top 10 best places to visit in Taita Taveta County. Taita Taveta County covers an area of 17, 083.9 square kilometres, with an estimated population of 284, 657 people. The County is headed by Governor Granton Samboja.
In no particular order, here is a list of 10 best places to visit in Taita Taveta County.
1. Tsavo West National Park
It is a beautiful park with a savannah ecosystem that comprises of open grasslands, scrublands, acacia woodlands, belts of riverine vegetation and rocky ridges. Attractions at the park include diverse bird and plant species, elephants, hippos, rhino, leopards, buffalos, cheetahs and lions. It is an ideal park for cave exploration, game viewing, nature trails and camping.
The park covers an approximate area of 13, 747 square kilometres. It is home to most of the larger mammals, dust red elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks and over 200 bird species. It is a perfect park for camping activities, bird watching, game viewing and nature walks.
3. Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
It is a privately owned sanctuary that was established in 1973 by the Hilton Hotel Chain. It is currently managed by Sarova Hotels. It features different species of birds, elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, gazelles, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, dik-dik and various small animals. The sanctuary provides a tranquil environment for game viewing activities, bird watching, camping and nature walks. Two luxury lodges, the Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge and Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge are located in the sanctuary.
4. Taita Hills
The hills are known for their rainforests with unique fauna, flora and endemic species of birds. The hills consist of the Dabida, Sagalla and Kasigau massifs. You can explore the hills as you watch the different species of birds located in the forests within the hills.
5. LUMO Community Wildlife Sanctuary
It is a community-owned wildlife sanctuary located near Mwatate town. The sanctuary hosts elephants, leopards, Maasai lions, Maasai giraffes, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, gazelles, buffalos and different species of birds. It is a perfect destination for bush walks, game viewing, nature trails and ornithological walks. The sanctuary also features a community-owned tourist lodge, the Lion’s Bluff Lodge.
6. Lake Chala
It is a crater lake that is located north of Taveta, between the border of Kenya and Tanzania. One of the lake’s shore is in Kenya while the other in Tanzania. The Lake features a beautiful landscape with diverse species of birds. Monitor lizards, baboons and vervet monkeys can also be spotted within the lake’s vicinity.
7. Lake Jipe
The Lake also straddles the border of Kenya and Tanzania. The lake covers an area of approximately 30 square kilometres. The lake is mainly fed by Lumi River and streams from the Pare Mountains in Tanzania. The Lake is known for its unique water birds and other species of birds, endemic fish, lake edge swamps and wetland plants.
8. Mzima Springs[irp posts=”17539″ name=”Why Taita Women Make The Best Wife Materials In Kenya”]
It is a series of four natural springs located in Tsavo West National Park. The springs’ source is a natural reservoir located under the Chyulu Hills. Major attractions at the springs include the hippos and Nile crocodiles.
9. Lugard Falls
The falls are located within the Tsavo East National Park. It features eye catching multicoloured rocks with strips of pink, light grey and white. It is a habitat of giant crocodiles and hippos. The fall was named after Frederick Lugard, a British explorer who passed the place on his way to Uganda.
10. Shetani Lava Flow
It is one of the largest volcanic crater fields in Kenya. The charcoal black lava flow was formed about a hundred years ago. It spreads across the savannah near Chyulu hills. It is endowed with flora, fauna and beautiful caves worth exploring.
