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Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary hosts cape buffalos, African bush elephants, leopards, lions, cheetahs, Masaigiraffes, zebras, hartebeests, impalas, waterbucks, Thomson's gazelles, lesser kudus, dik-dik, Hyenas , and other smaller animals, including a diversity of birdlife.

General Information

Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is a privately owned wildlife sanctuary and national park in Kenya established in 1972 by Hilton international. It is located in Taita-Taveta County approximately 220 kilometers from Mombasa and 360 km south of Nairobi. The sanctuary covers an area of 28,000 acres (110 km2), and is adjacent to Tsavo West National Park and the LUMO Community Wildlife Sanctuary. It hosts cape buffalos, African bush elephants, leopards, lions, cheetahs, Masaigiraffes, zebras, hartebeests, impalas, waterbucks, Thomson's gazelles, lesser kudus, dik-dik, Hyenas , and other smaller animals, including a diversity of birdlife.

The Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary(THWS) derives its name from the surrounding clusters of hills and is an integral part of the Eastern Arc forests classified as a biodiversity hotspot. Before the establishment of THWS on Bura Block along Mwatate-Taveta Road, the land was used as a game hunting ground. THWS was established in 1970 to make the area more attractive to wildlife and tourists, allow conservation, and promote wildlife viewing. The sanctuary covers an area of 28,000 acres of mosaic habitat where the plant physiognomy 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. More than 50 species of large mammals and 300 species of birds have been recorded in THWS.

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 and making it a highly valued tourism recreational area and of ecological importance. The topography is generally mountainous that offers breath taking landscape views of the Kilimanjaro, Pare, Uluguru mountains and the clusters of Taita Hills with a seasonal river dividing the sanctuary into valleys and lowland plains.

Location.
The Taita Hills wildlife sanctuary is nestled within surrounding hills that collectively form the Eastern Arc Range of Mountains inscribed by UNESCO as a biodiversity hotspot hosting varied endemic wildlife species and a myriad of unique flora.

The sanctuary lies on southerly boundary of Kenya and on the periphery of the Tsavo West National Park, Kenya’s iconic protected wildlife refuge and within the eye shot of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s majestic and highest mountain capped by perennial snow. The sanctuary covers an area of 113 sq km at elevations of 1,200 meters above sea level.

Widlife.
The sanctuary hosts over 50 mammal species (including the elephants, Zebras, cape buffaloes, Giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and varied antelope species); and over 390 bird species (including resident, intra African and palearctic migrant birds).

Game Drives.
Early morning and late afternoon game drives provide an ideal opportunity to view and photograph the diverse wildlife species within the sanctuary. The water holes near the lodges provides a wonderful opportunity to view animals at close proximity within the comfort and confines of the lodges.

Walking Safaris.
It is an opportunity to experience the unique flora, fauna and dynamism of this fascinating ecosystem. Take a nature walk with an experienced ranger guide, learning the intricacies and connectivity of an enabling environment immersing in the solace and tranquility of the wilderness. The nature walk provides an opportunity to deepen the connection with the natural world.