Mzima Springs is found in the interior of Tsavo West National Park about 305 km from Nairobi. It is one of the most spectacular sceneries and greatest attraction in Kenya. Mzima (a Kiswahili word meaning life) is a water body located in the vast semi arid wilderness of Tsavo and is redolent of a desert oasis. Clear water oozes out from a mass of volcanic rocks, having travelled underground from Chyulu Hills 10 kilometers away. The water collects in two huge pools from here it flows away as Mzima River to join River Tsavo seven kilometers away. According the Tourism bulletin of july 2007 they say, that The Chyulu hills were created by volcanic activity, which is described as recent in geological terms estimated at less than 500 years old. They are composed of ash and lava whose porosity makes it a giant sponge for rainfall. Under the volcanic material are nonporous rocks so that water flows between the two and merge in several springs, Mzima being the largest. Smaller springs exist to the north of Chyulu in Mtito Andei, Kibwezi, Makindu and Kiboko along the main Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
The volcanic rocks through which Chyulu water pass act as a filter resulting in its clarity as it flows out. Infringing the banks of the springs is a lush tropical vegetation of wild date palms, fi gs and reeds. These provide forage for nocturnal residents that mainly
comprise amphibious hippos and are home for a wide array of migrant and endemic bird species. Aquatic animals such as fish, eels and crocodiles are plenty in waters, which are seen from a submerged viewing tank constructed in 1969. Vervet and Sykes Monkeys are found around the springs while Elephant, Rhino, Buff alo, Zebras, Lions and Water Bucks use the waters as their only watering place in the dry seasons.Mzima Springs is the source of water for Kenya’s second biggest city Mombasa and other towns en-route connected by a pipeline and fl ows by gravity. Whereas the flow in the Springs is 282,000 litres per minute, that of the pipeline is 22,000 litres per minute. This makes a total fl ow of 304,000 litres per minute. Mzima Springs is a magnificent national asset both economically and aesthetically.