East African Saafri Guide and Travel Advise
Any tourist who wants an unforgettable African safari should visit East Africa. This region is where all the magic happens and below are some of the travel highlights you should experience when you visit East Africa for safaris.
Visit mountain gorillas & common chimpanzees in Uganda
Uganda is undoubtedly the best gorilla and chimpanzee trekking destination in the world.
With over half the remaining population of mountain gorillas and over 4 prime chimpanzee trekking destinations, you are bound to have the best experience with the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees of Uganda.
Uganda mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park whereas the chimpanzees are found in Kibale Forest National Park (best place to see chimps), Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Kalinzu Forest among other destinations.
Always when planning your East African safari, consider Uganda for primate trekking experiences.
Visit the Ishasha tree climbing lions in Uganda & Lake Manyara in Tanzania
Not all lions climb trees. Only specific species do. These tree climbing lions can be found in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda or Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania and hardly anywhere else in the world.
These tree climbing lions spend their afternoon relaxing on trees as they wait for dawn. Usually during such times, they are already fed and need rest. The only get to hunt again when they get on the ground.
Seeing this species of lions atop your tourist vehicle is an incredible experience that most tourists enjoy. Queen Elizabeth National Park is the best place to see these lions.
Visit Murchison Falls, one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls
The Murchison Falls, is the prime attraction in Murchison Falls National Park, apparently the oldest and largest conservation area in Uganda. At the bottom of the falls, you will see the water of the Nile squeeze itself through a narrow gorge and plunge down to the bottom of the falls. This happens all the time and regardless of the time you visit the falls, you will witness this experience.
At the top of the falls, you will even get a better experience and see the occurrence from the back. However, most travelers to Murchison Falls National Park witness both views of the falls. They cruise to the bottom of the falls and hike to the top of the falls afterwards.
Kidepo Valley National Park is a gem
Previously ranked third among the best wildlife parks in the world, Kidepo Valley National Park is a gem. This part is the most remote national park in Uganda and sits on the wild frontier region of North Eastern Uganda, right next to the Uganda-Sudan and Uganda-Kenya border.
Despite the distance from Kampala, Kidepo Valley National Park is a great place to see the big cats, to go bird watching, take a scenic tour and experience authentic cultural experiences. In fact, most tourists get discouraged to visit this park because of the long drive. However, if you can afford to access the park by place, you are very good to go.
Summit Mount Sabyinyo and visit three countries at once
Mount Sabyinyo is one of the Virunga Volcano Mountains that make up the Virunga Conservation Area. The other mountains include Mount Muhabura Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, Mount Mikeno, Mount Nyamuragira, and Mount Nyiragongo.
Below these mountains are mountain gorillas; which you will most likely meet when hiking any of these mountains, much as you won’t be allowed a lot of time around them.
When you summit Mount Sabyinyo, you will be at a point shared by Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. So if you want to be in these three countries at the same time, this is the right mountain to hike.
The views here are also spectacular and you will see the other Virunga Volcano Mountains. The hike on this mountain is usually carried out from the Ugandan side.
Visit Rwanda gorillas and hike the Virunga Mountains
Rwanda offers the most accessible gorilla trekking experiences. Volcanoes National Pak, the home of Rwanda gorillas is just 2 hours away from Kigali (The main entry point for Rwanda safaris), which has made it possible to have shorter gorilla trekking safaris that can even last for hours.
Rwanda gorilla permits on the other hand are the most expensive; with each permit going for $1500. However, most of this money goes back towards gorilla conservation, so buying gorilla permits is one way of saving gorillas.
In Rwanda, you can also hike Mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi, two of the eight Virunga Volcano Mountains.
Visit Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya
No East African safari is complete without a visit to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This reserve is one of the best wildlife viewing parks in the world, sheltering all the big five game animals and the big cats.
Masai Mara also hosts the annual wildebeest migration, the largest animal migration on earth. This occurrence is one of the natural wonders of the world. It only happens in Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania.
You cannot experience it anywhere else in the world. However, of the two parks, experts have branded Masai Mara a better place to see the wildebeest migration.
Get lost in Ambroseli National Park
If you love good scenery and big game, Kenya’s Amboseli is a definite park for you to visit. Located close to Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya’s best wildlife safari parks. Some of the best hot air balloon experiences in the African continent are got from here.
However, despite the flawless balloon safari experiences and big game wildlife viewing encounters, Amboseli is also a great place for nature hikes, birding and cultural encounters. When you visit the park, try to engage in as many safari activities as possible to get the best out of it unlike most travelers who only concentrate on the primary experiences.
Ride with the elephants in Tsavo East/West National Parks
Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Parks in Kenya are the some of the best parks in Africa to see elephants in the wild. If your main interest is seeing elephants, consider including these parks to your Kenya safaris itinerary at all costs. You will not regret your visit here.
Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Parks are located adjacent to each other. They are both approximately 8 hours from Nairobi and approximately 3-4 hours from Mombasa. Most Kenya safaris to Tsavo start from Nairobi and end in Mombasa.
You can visit both these wildlife parks in just a span of three days and have a good experience.
Visit Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
The Serengeti National Park is one of the best game viewing parks in the world, and the best in Tanzania. Just like Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, Serengeti National Park also hosts the annual wildebeest migration experience, an occurrence that has become a hot cake among the travelers’ fraternity.
Over 90% of Tanzania safaris include Serengeti among its destinations. All the big five game animals are found here and can be seen with ease, which is not the case in most African safari countries.
However, the main highlights of a Serengeti safari are the big cats; Lions, Leopards and Cheetahs as they are so many here.
The great annual wildebeest migration (A world wonder)
Each year, wildebeests cross from Serengeti National Park to Maasai Mara National Reserve in search for green vegetation and water. During this migration, so many wildebeests and Zebras lose their lives to the crocodiles in the Mara River and the big cats predators on the other side of Maasai Mara.
A wildebeest has to overcome all these hurdles to make it to the side with green vegetation. Around October, they return to Serengeti National Park after exhausting the vegetation and water sources in Maasai Mara and have to go through the same challenges.
These river crossing is a natural movie in the wild. It’s one of the wonders of the world and happens annually. You’ll have to make an advance booking to get the best facilities and services.
The Ngorongoro Crater, also known as the Garden of Eden
Ngorongoro Crater is known as a Garden of Eden in Tanzania. In this crater are so many animals including all the big five game animals and the big cats. The crater is protected by Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the same area that protects the Olduvai Gorge; a place where the remains of early men were found.
No Tanzania safari is complete without a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater. Adding it and Serengeti tour package will give you the best wildlife safari experience in Tanzania. In fact, most Serengeti safaris pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You have to pay an extra fee if you want to visit the crater.
Summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain
What other experience would beat the feeling of summiting Africa’s tallest mountain? Mount Kilimanjaro is a bucket list destination for mountain hikers. A lot has happened on this mountain and so many celebrities have been here.
The journey to the summit depends on which route you have taken. Some routes will take you to the summit and back to the starting point in 5 days whereas some will take seven days.
Each route has its own level of difficulty, hence, it’s always advisable to communicate to use how difficult you want your Kilimanjaro trek to be so that we plan for it accordingly.
Relax it off with Zanzibar beach holidays
Without a doubt, Zanzibar has some of the best beaches in Africa and to top it all, it has so many historical artifacts, a rich history and great attractions; so a safari to Zanzibar is not always about relaxing off at its powder-white beaches while enjoying the spectacular views of the Indian Ocean.
It’s also about exploring some of its historical artifacts, learning about the slavery that was in this area, discovering various spices, visiting the local communities and checking out some of its attractions.
Zanzibar is a paradise and you should visit to relax from your primate trekking experiences, mountain hiking adventures and wildlife escapades.
How about Diani beach holidays?
The best and easiest way to add a beach safari experience to your Kenyan holiday is by visiting Diani Beach in Mombasa. Just like Zanzibar, Diani offers a true ocean beach safari experience.