Manyatta Camp, Tsavo East National Park

Manyatta Camp is a mid-range accommodation found in Tsavo East National Park three kilometers off the main highway connecting Nairobi to Mombasa. Two ways are mainly used to get to the national park that is road and air transport- it takes approximately 2 hours to fly from Nairobi to Tsavo airstrip where a safari vehicle will be waiting for you to get to the camp and it takes 7 hours to drive from Nairobi to the camp that is 339 kilometers. The camp is the perfect getaway for tourists looking at a quiet, affordable, and comfortable place to stay surrounded by large crowds of elephants and other wildlife species.

Services and facilities at the camp

The camp has access to the conference facilities of the Voi wildlife lodge and the available rooms include the Taifa Hall with a maximum capacity of 50, Chinmaya hall with a capacity of 600, Acacia boardroom  (built-in theatre style) with a capacity of 30 and the Ndovu Hall with a capacity of 200 people. The above halls provide room for conferences, meetings, wedding receptions, seminars, and retreats for both leisure and corporate groups.

The main swimming pool at the camp is found near the Twiga restaurant and Bar with views of the surrounding areas of the Tsavo East National Park. The swimming pool is a good place for cooling off during the dry season and relaxing after a long day of various safari activities. The main pool at the camp offers several activities depending on the season including the waterhole.

A children’s playground found in the garden is also available for families traveling with their children.

The restaurant: Twiga restaurant is where most of the meals are served and prepared by well-trained chefs. The meals served include both local and international cuisines from breakfast, lunch, and dinners, and not forgetting bush meals and picnics. Guests who have dietary issues should be able to communicate with the lodge during the booking period so that their meals are put into consideration throughout their stay.

The Twiga bar: The Twiga bar serves different types of drinks including local and international beers, whiskeys, soft drinks, spirits, and wines. These can be enjoyed in the privacy of your room, balcony, and the bar or along the swimming pool.

Lounge: The lounge at the camp is adjacent to the pool and furnished with furniture to make guests feel comfortable as they enjoy the sunset, drink of their choice, and share stories with other guests at the camp.

Free parking is also available to the guests at no extra cost. Manyatta Camp is a sister property to the Man Eaters Camp also located in the same park; Tsavo East. 

Activities offered at Manyatta Camp                              

Tsavo National Park is the largest National Park in Kenya and is divided into two that is Tsavo East and Tsavo West and several activities offered at the camp to take you around the camp and the National Park and these include the following:

Game drives: A safari drive is the highlight of any safari and the camp offers two per day throughout your stay. These are considered to be the best way to view the different wildlife species including the African elephant, lions, hippos, lions, rhinos, giraffes, leopards, and bird species including weaver birds, hornbills, and kingfishers among others. The game drives are carried out with an experienced tour guide because they know the best wildlife spots in the National Park and note that the best time to go for game drives is during the dry season (June to October) when the animals can easily be spotted due to the thinning of the grass.

Hot air balloon rides: The hot air balloon rides are one of the best ways in which you can explore the National Park from a different perspective. It usually comes at an extra cost of about $450 per person with champagne and a bush breakfast waiting for you after the one hour of balloon rides.

Bird watching: Tsavo East has over 500 recorded bird species that can be seen during the bird walks around the camp. The variety of birds found in the National Park will not be disappointing and as you prepare for the birding excursions, do not forget your binoculars, cameras, and recognition books.

Other activities that are carried out include cultural visits to the nearby villages, guided nature walks with experienced tour guides, farm visits, horseback riding (this comes at an extra cost), flying safaris, camping, and farm visits.

Attractions that you can see while at the camp include Mudanda Rock, Tsavo River, Mzima springs in TSavo West, and the rolling rock among others.

When to visit the Manyatta camp

The Manyatta camp is open all year round which is the wet and dry seasons and the dry season is considered to be the best time with the view of a variety of wildlife however get ready for the cost of each room during this time. The cost usually reduces in the wet/low season because it is usually not crowded like the peak season.  Book early to get the best rooms and services from the Manyatta camp and experience the best services and welcoming staff throughout your safari to the Tsavo East National Park.