Tsavo East is larger by far than Tsavo West. Only a small area of this vast Southern Kenyan nature reserve is open to the public. The remainder provides a remote animal wilderness. There are many interesting aspects in the open areas of Tsavo East including the spine of the Yatta Plateau, one of the world's longest lava flows. An additional attraction is the Athi river flanked by stately doum palms which, near the Manyani gate forms the Lugard Falls, a long stretch of rippling white water cataracts and a favorite haunt for sunbathing crocodiles. The Falls gush through a small fissure before dropping to Crocodile Point below, where the river changes its name to the Galana. This wilderness, seemingly so hostile, is nevertheless inhabited by a wide range of plains game including zebra, several species of antelope among them lesser kudu and hartebeest, warthog and ostrich as well as elephant herds which plunder their way through bush and scrub to the permanent waters of the Athi.