History

Tsavo National Park was established on 1st April, 1948 with an area of 21,812 Km2 It is the largest Park in Kenya. In May 1948 Tsavo National Park was divided into East and West for administrative purposes. The two Parks are divided by Nairobi-Mombasa railway /road.

The Waliangulu and Kamba tribes used it as a hunting ground prior to gazettement. Dr. Krapf journeyed on foot through this area in 1848 crossing the Tsavo river on his way to Kitui - first European to see Mt. Kenya. Construction of the railway reached Tsavo river in 1898. During the construction of the bridge Lions (Man eaters of Tsavo) terrorized the workers, killing over 130 people before being killed by Col. Patterson. During the World War I (1914-1918) British forces built fortresses along Tsavo river to counter threats from invading German forces from Tanganyika (present Tanzania) - whose intention was to blow up the Tsavo river bridge that was vital to British Communication. Captain Lugards a European explorer passed through the area on his way to Uganda and had a drop over at the Lugards falls area.