This article will look at Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary entry fees. The sanctuary is in Tsavo National Park, Taita Hills, Taveta County. The Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is nestled within surrounding hills that collectively form the Eastern Arc Range of Mountains and is inscribed by UNESCO as a biodiversity hotspot, hosting varied endemic wildlife species and a myriad of unique flora.
The sanctuary lies on the southerly boundary of Kenya and the periphery of Tsavo West National Park, Kenya’s iconic protected wildlife refuge, and within an eyeshot of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s majestic and highest mountain, capped by perennial snow.
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary History
The Taita Hills Wildlife Conservancy derives its name from the surrounding clusters of hills. The conservancy covers an area of 28,000 acres of mosaic habitat, where the plant physiology is riverine forest, savanna wood, and grassland. The vegetation formation is usually dense, stratified, and always dominated by Acacia/Commiphora trees and may appear to be evergreen in wet areas, such as in the central lowlands of the sanctuary.
The sanctuary straddles the Southern Tsavo West National Park and is an important dispersal area and migrating corridor for wildlife between Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park, making it a highly valued tourism recreational area and of ecological importance. The topography is generally mountainous and offers breathtaking landscape views of the Kilimanjaro, Pare, and Uluguru mountains and the clusters of Taita Hills, with a seasonal river dividing the sanctuary into valleys and lowland plains.
The sanctuary hosts over 50 larger mammals, including elephants, zebras, cape buffaloes, giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, varied antelopes, and an array of over 390 bird species that include resident, intra-African, and palaetric migrants.
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary Activities
1. Tsavo Run
Tsavo Run is an annual fundraiser event held within the Tsavo ecosystem. It is a project under the fundraising programs of the Tsavo Heritage Foundation in collaboration with other stakeholders and well-wishers.
The event has various features, including entertainment groups, showcasing best practices among counties, cycling races, relay races, and the ultra-marathon endurance event, the Ekiden, covering a stretch of 84 kilometers. There are participant awards and medals for teams or individuals winning in the various categories.
2. Bird Watching
Over 350 bird species, including resident and migrant bird species, have been recorded and documented in the sanctuary. Three endemic bird species can also be viewed at the nearby Taita Hills, i.e., the Taita thrush. Taita Apalis and Taita White Eye
3. Game Drives
Early morning and late afternoon game drives provide an ideal opportunity to view and photograph the diverse array of wildlife within the sanctuary. The water holes below provide a wonderful opportunity to view animals nearby within the comfort and confines of the lodges.
4. Taita Hills WWI Museum
Battlefield tourism specializes in tours of battlefields, cemeteries, memorials, and related historic sites all around the world. It focuses on historic battlefields where the fighting is long past and is much more strongly linked to heritage and commemoration.
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Kenya, has taken the lead in East Africa by identifying all these leads and has come up with an exciting historical journey told in pictures and an artifact museum at Taita Hills Resort & Spa. This artefacts museum will be the starting point of the “Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary World War I battlefield tours.
5. Walking Safaris
It is an opportunity to experience the unique flora, fauna, and dynamism of this fascinating ecosystem. Take a nature walk with a qualified ranger guide, learning the intricacies and connectivity of an enabling environment while immersing yourself in the solace and tranquility of the wilderness.
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary Entry Fees
- East African Residents (Adult): Kshs. 500
- East African Residents (Age 4 to 11): Kshs. 250
- Non-Resident (adult): USD 35
- Non-Resident (Ages 4 to 11): USD 20
- The sanctuary entry fee applies to persons aged 4 years and older.
Note: Full-board accommodation Rates within the lodges inside the sanctuary are not inclusive of the park entry fee.
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary Opening Hours
The sanctuary gate opens at 6 am and closes at 6 pm.
Where to stay
1. Salt Lick Safari Lodge
Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge has 96 unique rooms, all elevated on stilts and built across two levels, with ensuite bathrooms with permanent showers and WC, and running hot and cold water.
2. Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa
Taita Hills Safari Resort and Spa has 60 well-appointed standard rooms with stunning views of the lush gardens surrounding the lodge and the beautiful free-form swimming pool. Other rooms have exclusive views of the watering hole.
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary Contacts
Mombasa Office: +254 2312025 / 2314169 /2316733
Office Tel: +254 043 30223 / 30250
Email: info@taitahillswildlifesanctuary.com
