Editor's Review

The family was reported missing on Monday, April 7, after they failed to exit the Tsavo East National Park via the Sala Gate by the 8:00 PM deadline.

The family of 4 that was reported missing in the Tsavo East National Park has been safely located after a 24-hour search operation.

In a statement on Tuesday, April 8, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the family was located near Kabaguchi Ranger Camp in Yatta Plateau at around 9:30 AM, and all four individuals are unharmed and in good health.

KWS noted that its team and Tsavo trust have been deployed to extract the four individuals.

“In a dramatic turn of events this morning, Tsavo Trust pilot Nick Haller spotted the family – a couple and their two children near Kabaguchi Ranger Camp on the remote Yatta Plateau, approximately 50 kilometres north of their planned route. Haller immediately landed his helicopter and confirmed that all four individuals were unharmed and in good health. Ground teams from KWS and Tsavo Trust are currently facilitating their safe extraction,” KWS stated.

The family was reported missing on Monday, April 7, after they failed to exit the Tsavo East National Park via the Sala Gate by the 8:00 PM deadline.

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File image of KWS rangers. 

KWS then deployed two fixed-wing aircraft, a helicopter, three Land Cruisers, and ground teams from KWS and Tsavo Trust to locate the missing family.

“A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway for a missing family of four in Tsavo East National Park. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has deployed two fixed-wing aircraft, a helicopter, and three Land Cruisers to locate two parents and their two children, who failed to exit the park as scheduled,” read part of the statement.

The family had entered the park on Saturday, April 5, through the Manyani Gate and were due to camp for two nights at Luggards Falls Special Campsite.

The family of four was expected to exit the national park via the Sala Gate on Monday, April 7.

KWS revealed that preliminary reports indicate the family’s vehicle became immobilized during an unauthorized deviation from their planned route while on a game drive.

“The family is currently undergoing routine medical evaluations and will soon be reunited with their loved ones. A full debriefing will follow to better understand how they became disoriented,” KWS added.