East Africa is a magical place with some of the best safari experiences on the continent that will leave you breathless. The region offers incredible wildlife encounters and scenic landscape views ranging from mountains, and lush tropical forests, to the big five wonders and great apes. Words can’t do justice to the magnificence of the Safari experiences in East Africa. We dedicate this post to giving you the top most popular adventures you can have in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Big five game viewing safaris
The big five animals, lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, and hippo, are Africa’s most incredible wildlife and the main reason many tourists come to East Africa for safari holidays. The big five earned their name in the 20th century with wealthy big-game hunters from Europe who found it challenging to gun down these beautiful animals. Today the big five are the biggest names in conservation and tourism. Seeing the Big 5 African animals living wild and free in their natural habitats is one of the best safari experiences in East Africa. Although they still face cruel threats from poachers, the big five roam freely in some of the best safari reserves in East Africa. A well-planned short safari combination to see the big five (and much more besides) in Kenya would be the Masai Mara (for lion, buffalo, leopard, and elephant) and Lake Nakuru National Park (for black and white rhino). You can also have Big five safari experiences in Kenya in Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Laikipia Plateau, Amboseli, Samburu-Buffalo Springs-Sheba, and Meru. You’ll visit Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area when you travel to Tanzania for the big-five experience. Serengeti gives the added excitement of witnessing the epic Great Migration as well. Watching the rhinos in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is extra special because they are confined to the Crater area, making sightings of these shy creatures even easier. In Uganda, you’ll drive through Murchison Falls National Park to spot the big five. And in Rwanda, your Big five experiences will happen only in Akagera National Park in the extreme northeast.
Wildebeest migration safaris
Watching and following the Great Migration is one of East Africa’s safari experiences that no die-hard safari lover should miss. The spectacle is arguably wild Nature’s greatest show, with millions of wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra, traversing across the Serengeti in Tanzania and Maasai Mara in Kenya. Naturally, ferocious predators follow the herds for an easy meal, making for exhilarating wildlife experiences. The migration storms forward no matter the obstacles along the way, so it’s survival of the fittest. The animals collectively travel across the Savannah plains following the rains and searching for greener pastures. Although it’s not a set route, the beasts follow roughly the same yearly pattern. The migration experience has become the postcard picture of East Africa. Think vast open savanna plains flooded with wildlife and flat-topped bushes on the horizon against the signature red African sunset. The best safari experiences in East Africa, watching and following the Great Migration, are best in Masai Mara. Here, you’ll watch the beast herds struggle to cross the Mara River from Serengeti into the Maasai Mara National Reserve and back into Tanzania. From here, they make their way toward the Serengeti National Park, the ideal location to watch the birth of the beasts.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Climb to the roof-top of Africa and experience East Africa’s picturesque landscape from the sky on the continent’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro (Uhuru Summit (5,895 m)). You do not have to be an experienced mountain climber to conquer Kilimanjaro. You do not need mountain climbing equipment but a good pair of hiking boots and determination to climb to the top. However, it would be best if you didn’t assume that the climbing mount Kilimanjaro experience is a walk in the park. It is a grueling climb under often trying weather conditions on uneven terrain while being exposed to the elements. But the overwhelming sense of achievement and incredible views from the summit will be one of your best safari experiences in East Africa. Get into Kilimanjaro a day before the climb, settle in at your hotel, and get a briefing. The climbing experience starts early in the morning amid banana plantations on Kilimanjaro’s heavily cultivated lower slopes. The most popular Kili hiking trail passes through dense rain forests and alpine meadows, crosses a barren lunar landscape, and ascends a slippery slope to the peak, revealing breathtaking views over the plains far below. There are more than eight possible hiking trails. Selecting the best depends on what terrain you can handle, your acclimatization profile, the scenery, and the cost of the experience. It can take at least 5-10 days to Uhuru Summit and back with a budget of at least $1800. The price can include entry fees, guides, rangers, porters, and a cook. Unfortunately, you cannot go on your own; you must be accompanied by a ranger and guide from the park headquarters. Book your experience with Cycads African Safaris or with the many operators in Arusha and Moshi. Encounter will manage your accommodation, gear, guides, and everything else.
Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda
Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda’s rain forests is undoubtedly one of the best safari experiences in East Africa. Mountain gorillas are one of the most endangered animals on the planet. As few as 1000 live in a small East African region; being close to these magnificent primates is one of life’s most rewarding experiences. Mountain gorillas live only in mountain forests above 2000 meters in two populations around the Great Rift Valley. One population occupies the misty forest slopes on the Virunga Volcanoes Mountains that straddle the Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo borders. The second population of gorillas was cut off from the bigger bunch because of human settlements and lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You cannot mention the best safari experiences in East Africa and not include the gorilla trekking experience because of its direct involvement with wildlife and community conservation. The gorilla trekking experience highly depends on the communities surrounding the protected areas and the conservation efforts by governments where they live and dedicated wildlife conservation organizations. A gorilla trekking trip is a huge contribution to the sustainable programs that protect the endangered apes within their natural habitat. And what better way to travel than to travel for the good of nature conservation. There are only two airports you can fly in to track the gorillas; Entebbe International Airport, located about 500 km from Bwindi; and Kigali International Airport, located about 100 km from Volcanoes National Park. The two national parks offer the best safari experiences with mountain gorillas. You would need at least three nights in the country. However, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda offers the high-end of the budget, with gorilla permits going for $1500 per person. On the other hand, Uganda provides a more manageable budget for the experience, with gorilla tickets going for $800 per person. Accommodation at both national parks is readily available just outside the entrances offering world-class lodges to just a place to stay. The gorilla trekking experience is extremely in high demand, meaning that you can’t just walk to the park and buy an entry ticket. The number of visitors is restricted to a few individuals per day, so you have to book months in advance to secure your permit. It’s on a first-come, first-serve basis. To avoid bad experiences associated with local logistics, book through a trusted safari operator like Cycads African Safaris. They’ll secure your gorilla permit from the government, book your accommodation, transport and manage your entire trip.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Beach holiday in Zanzibar
Watching The Tree Climbing Lions
