Tsavo East NP
Day 1
Lions · Elephants · 500 Birds
Taita Hills
Day 2
Underground Bunker · Night Drive
🇰🇪 Kenya · Malindi to Taita Hills

Magical
Tsavo Safari

From the vast, sun-scorched plains of Tsavo East home to mane-less lions and red elephants to the forested sanctuary of Taita Hills with its iconic underground bunker hide, a three-day journey through two of Kenya's most dramatic wilderness landscapes.

Duration
3 Days2 Nights
Starts
MalindiTBD
Returns
MalindiDay 3
From
$690per person
Safari Overview

Red Elephants, Mane-less Lions & The Taita Wilderness

This 3-day journey takes you through two of Kenya's most compelling wildlife destinations each offering a completely different safari experience.

Begin at Tsavo East National Park, one of Africa's largest national parks and a land of dramatic contrasts. The park is renowned for its lions many males here famously lack manes and elephants that turn a striking red after rolling in the iconic Tsavo dust. Beyond these giants you could also encounter gerenuk, cheetah, Somali ostrich and even the very rare hirola antelope. Birders are well served too, with over 500 species recorded across its vast open plains and wild backcountry near the croc-filled Galana River.

Then move on to Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, a gem of forested hills offering intimate, crowd-free wildlife encounters. The signature experience here is the underground tunnel and bunker with ground-level windows, giving unbelievably close and safe views of animals at the waterhole. An optional night game drive adds the chance to spot nocturnal carnivores on the prowl.

Malindi
Start point meet your guide
Start
Tsavo East National Park
Ashnil Aruba Lodge (Tented Camp)
Day 1
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Salt Lick Safari Lodge
Day 2
Return to Malindi
No accommodation · Breakfast only
Day 3
🐘
Tsavo East National Park
Mane-less lions, red dust elephants, gerenuk, cheetah, Somali ostrich, hirola antelope & 500+ bird species
🦒
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Forested hills, underground bunker hide, crowd-free game drives & optional night safari for nocturnal carnivores
✨ Why This Trip Works
Tsavo East and Taita Hills offer Kenya's most dramatic contrast between scale and intimacy the raw, open vastness of one of Africa's largest parks giving way to the secluded, forested sanctuary of Taita Hills. Two entirely different ecosystems, two distinct moods, and the unforgettable drama of the underground bunker hide, all in just three days.
📍 Tsavo & Taita Hills
Herd of red dust elephants on the open plains of Tsavo East National Park, Kenya Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary Kenya — forested sanctuary with Salt Lick Safari Lodge
Wildlife We Encounter

Residents You'll Remember Forever

African lion icon
African Lion
African elephant icon
African Elephant
Baboon icon
Gelada Baboon
Gorilla icon
Mountain Gorilla
Giraffe icon
Reticulated Giraffe
Leopard icon
Leopard
Ethiopian wolf icon
Ethiopian Wolf
Walia ibex icon
Walia Ibex
Eagle icon
Lammergeier
Zebra icon
Grevy's Zebra
Nile crocodile icon
Nile Crocodile
Flamingo icon
Flamingo
African lion icon
African Lion
African elephant icon
African Elephant
Baboon icon
Gelada Baboon
Gorilla icon
Mountain Gorilla
Giraffe icon
Reticulated Giraffe
Leopard icon
Leopard
Ethiopian wolf icon
Ethiopian Wolf
Walia ibex icon
Walia Ibex
Eagle icon
Lammergeier
Zebra icon
Grevy's Zebra
Nile crocodile icon
Nile Crocodile
Flamingo icon
Flamingo
Day by Day

Your 3-Day Journey

From Malindi through the red-dust plains of Tsavo to the forested sanctuary of Taita Hills three days delivering two completely different Kenya wilderness experiences. Click any day to expand.

Download Itinerary PDF
Day
01
Tsavo
East NP
Tsavo East National Park
Arrival at Tsavo East
View Details
Tsavo East National Park
Arrival at Tsavo East
Your safari starts here, and we're so excited to be here with you. Meet your guide and ask any questions you may have. Then let's go out together and go on the safari you've been waiting for.

Your visit to Tsavo East National Park could easily be one of the highlights of your safari. The park is known for lions including many males which don't have manes and elephants which sometimes turn a striking red after rolling in the iconic Tsavo dust. But you could also see gerenuk, cheetah, Somali ostrich and even the very rare hirola antelope. Birders love this park too, with more than 500 species recorded here. The landscapes are as varied as they are special, from wide open plains in the east to the wild backcountry near the croc-filled Galana River.
Destination: Tsavo East National Park
Game drives
Red elephants & mane-less lions
500+ bird species
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodation · Night 1 · Tented Camp · Inside Tsavo East National Park
Ashnil Aruba Lodge
An excellent tented camp set inside Tsavo East National Park, Ashnil Aruba Lodge places you right in the heart of the action. Stay here as you enjoy this remarkable leg of your trip waking up to the sights and sounds of the African bush from day one.
Day
02
Taita
Hills WS
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Into the Forested Sanctuary: Taita Hills
View Details
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Into the Forested Sanctuary: Taita Hills
Here in Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, enjoy beautiful forested hills, excellent birding, and there's a great chance you'll see elephants and lions while you explore. One of the best things about visiting here is the complete absence of crowds you can enjoy the quiet forest trails without the noise of other vehicles.

You'll enjoy exceptional views and photographic opportunities from the lodge lobby and terraces. The unmissable experience here is the underground tunnel and bunker with ground-level windows, providing unbelievably close yet completely safe access to a wide variety of animals as they frequent the waterhole for water and salt licks. Later, proceed for an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge after the African sunset.

Optionally, extend your evening with a night game drive a special opportunity to look for various nocturnal carnivores on the prowl in search of prey.
Transfer: Tsavo East → Taita Hills
Underground bunker hide
Afternoon game drive
Optional night drive (US$45 pp)
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
⭐ Optional Add-on Night
A night drive in Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary provides an opportunity to look for various nocturnal carnivores on the prowl in search of prey. US$45 per person.
Accommodation · Night 2 · Lodge · Inside Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Salt Lick Safari Lodge
Salt Lick Safari Lodge will be your base on this leg of your trip one of Kenya's most architecturally distinctive lodges, perched on stilts above a waterhole that attracts wildlife day and night.
Day
03
Return
Malindi
Return to Malindi
The Last Day With Us
View Details
Return to Malindi
The Last Day With Us
Your safari will come to an end here and we hope that you will have fallen in love with Africa and with the whole safari experience. Enjoy your photos and wonderful memories until you can come back and travel with us again.
Final morning at Taita Hills
Drive back to Malindi
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
End Destination
Return to Malindi — your Suvenia guide drops you at your preferred Malindi destination.
Experiences

What Makes This Safari Unforgettable

Two parks, two nights of immersive bush accommodation, two distinct Kenyan ecosystems from the raw, open vastness of Tsavo East to the intimate forested sanctuary of Taita Hills all in three extraordinary days.
The Red Elephants of Tsavo
Tsavo's elephants are world-famous for coating themselves in the park's distinctive red dust a behaviour believed to protect against insects and the sun. Seeing a herd of these rust-coloured giants against the open savannah is one of Africa's great wildlife spectacles.
Mane-less Lions
Tsavo East is famous for its distinctive lion population many males lack the full mane typical of other regions. These leaner, more streamlined lions are thought to be better adapted to the heat of Tsavo, and spotting one in the golden grass is an experience unique to this park.
The Galana River
The croc-filled Galana River cuts through Tsavo East's wild backcountry, drawing predators, hippos and abundant birdlife to its banks. The dramatic Lugard Falls along the river creates one of the park's most stunning scenic highlights.
The Underground Bunker Hide
Taita Hills' signature experience: an underground tunnel leading to a bunker with ground-level windows that gives breathtakingly close views of animals at the waterhole. Completely safe and utterly unforgettable this is wildlife photography at its most intimate.
Night Game Drive
An optional night drive in Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary opens a different world entirely the chance to spot leopard, serval, bushbaby, and other nocturnal carnivores that are completely invisible during the day. One of the most thrilling optional extras in Kenya.
Crowd-Free Bush
Unlike Kenya's more famous parks, Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary offers a genuinely intimate experience with almost no other vehicles. The quiet forest trails and unhurried game drives let you connect with the bush in a way that feels personal and undisturbed.
Insider Tips

Prepare for Your Safari

🌅
Chase the Dawn Light
Early morning in Tsavo East is magical the low golden light catches the red dust on the elephants and sets the open plains aglow. In Taita Hills, sunrise from the lodge terrace with birdsong and mist over the forested hills is an experience not to be missed.
📷
Bring a Telephoto Lens
A 300–400mm lens is ideal for Tsavo East's open plains, particularly for birds and the famous mane-less lions. In the Taita Hills bunker, however, animals come so close that even a wide-angle lens will fill the frame.
🌙
Don't Skip the Night Drive
The optional night drive in Taita Hills is one of the best value add-ons in Kenya at just US$45 per person. Leopards, servals, bushbabies, civets, and various nocturnal birds are all possible things you simply cannot see during daytime drives.
🦟
Malaria Precautions
Both Tsavo East and Taita Hills are malaria risk areas. Consult your doctor about prophylactics before travel, pack DEET repellent, and carry light long sleeves for early morning and evening game drives.
Investment

What's Included

✅ Included
  • All accommodations (Ashnil Aruba Lodge Night 1, Salt Lick Safari Lodge Night 2)
  • All activities and game drives (unless indicated as optional)
  • All transportation Malindi return
  • Meals as specified per day (see itinerary for full breakdown)
  • All government taxes & VAT
  • Drinking water on all safari days
  • Customizable to any number of people or lodge/camp of your choice
❌ Excluded
  • Additional accommodation before / after tour
  • International flights
  • Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Night game drive in Taita Hills Sanctuary (US$45 per person)
  • Tips guideline US$20 per person per day
💳 Payment Terms
50% deposit required on booking confirmation.
50% balance due 15 days before safari departure.
All payments in USD. Bank transfer or card accepted.
Your Quote
$690
per person sharing (6 pax)  ·  Total: $4,140 USD
2 Pax (per person sharing)$895 each
6 Pax (per person sharing)$690 each
Duration3 Days / 2 Nights
Proposal Ref#2024-0026.1
Total (6 pax)$4,140 USD
50% deposit on booking · 50% 15 days before departure.
Tips guideline: US$20 pp per day.
Optional night drive: US$45 pp (not included).
Confirm This Booking +254 731 986697
Ready to Go?

Your Tsavo Adventure Awaits

From the red-dust plains of Tsavo East to the intimate forested sanctuary of Taita Hills confirm your Magical Tsavo Safari and let Suvenia take care of every detail, from Malindi and back.

Get A Free Quote +254 720 986 697
No booking fees
Private guide included
Expert local knowledge