Tsavo East National Park is one of the oldest and largest parks in Kenya at 13,747 square Kilometres ( 5,308 sq. miles). It is the home to lions & birds. The park is situated in a semi-arid area previously known as the Taru Desert it opened in April 1948, and is located near the town of Voi in the Taita-Taveta County of the former Coast Province. The park is divided into east and west sections by the A109 road and a railway. Named for the Tsavo River, which flows west to east through the national park, it borders the Chyulu Hills National Park, and the Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania.