Ultimate Guide for Booking Safaris in East Africa
East Africa tours offer travelers the best African wilderness experiences. They take you to destinations in East Africa to see Africa’s wildlife, primates, mountains, gorillas, birds, and cultures. East Africa is known as the tourism hub of Africa for its wildlife experiences.
The East Africa Tourism Sector
Tourism in East Africa is based on nature, attracting many visitors each year. The region is known for its natural beauty and is a leading tourism area in Africa with many attractions.
Wildlife Safaris & Primates Trekking
East Africa is popular for its wildlife, offering the best safaris in Africa. It is one of the top destinations for big five game safaris, wildebeest migration, primate trekking, gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, and habituation experiences.
Iconic wildlife includes lions, leopards, cheetahs, tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, rhinos, buffaloes, elephants, and wildebeest in Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.
The endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are a top attraction, with fewer than 1,063 left in the world.
Gorilla Trekking in East Africa
East Africa is the only region in the world where visitors can go mountain gorilla trekking. This activity is offered in four national parks:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda. Gorilla permits in Uganda cost USD 700 per person.
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where permits cost USD 1500 per person.
Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where permits cost USD 400 per person.
Besides mountain gorillas, Congo also offers eastern lowland gorilla trekking tours.
Great Wildebeest Migration
The wildebeest migration is a major reason many visitors choose East Africa tours. This event happens once a year in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
The migration usually occurs from late October to November, with calving season in January and February.
Other Wildlife & Birding
Other primates include golden monkeys, chimpanzees, mangabeys, bush babies, L’Hoest monkeys, baboons, bonobos, colobus monkeys, pottos, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, and Patas monkeys. Visitors can also see birds, hippos, crocodiles, and other animals.
Cultural Sites & Activities
Besides wildlife, East Africa offers cultural experiences with different ethnic groups, museums, and historical sites. The good climate is another reason many choose East Africa tours.
Community Tours & Cultural Experiences in East Africa
East Africa tours also give you real African experiences. The region has about 160 ethnic groups, making it one of Africa’s most populated areas. During tours, you can meet Nilo-Saharan speakers in Uganda and Tanzania, especially in the rift valley areas. These groups include the Luo, Kalenjin, Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania, and the Karamojong of northeastern Uganda.
Mountaineering & Adventure
East Africa is located along the Equator and is known for its landscapes. The region offers many adventures for travelers, including mountaineering in the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda, Mount Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Meru, and Mount Elgon.
Travelers can also climb the Virunga volcanoes in the Virunga region, including Mount Nyiragongo, Karisimbi, Gahinga, Bisoke, and Sabyinyo.
The Best East Africa Tour Destinations
Uganda
Uganda is one of the top destinations in East Africa. It is a small country, making it easy to explore, but it offers many activities for travelers.
Uganda has 10 national parks and several reserves to explore, each with something unique to offer.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is in southwestern Uganda and is home to 459 mountain gorillas out of the 1,063 left in the world. The park covers 331 square kilometers and is known for gorilla trekking, which is a highlight for many travelers on East Africa tours.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is done in 20 habituated families across four regions: Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. A valid gorilla permit, costing USD 700, is required for this activity.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also in southwestern Uganda and offers another option for gorilla trekking. The park covers 33.7 square kilometers and has one habituated gorilla group (Nyakagezi group) open for trekking.
Kibale Forest National Park is the most visited park in Uganda for chimpanzee tracking and is located in western Uganda. It is known as the primate capital of the world because it is home to 13 primate species, including over 1,500 chimpanzees out of the 5,050 in Uganda.
The 795 square kilometer park also has other primates such as red colobus monkeys, baboons, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest monkeys, pottos, patas monkeys, bush babies, vervet monkeys, and over 360 bird species.
Murchison Falls National Park is in northwestern Uganda and is the largest of Uganda’s national parks, covering 3,840 square kilometers. The park is home to Murchison Falls, one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world.
Visitors to Murchison Falls National Park can enjoy game drives to see four of the Big Five (buffaloes, elephants, lions, and leopards), boat cruises to the bottom of the falls, chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, hot air balloon tours, hiking to the top of the falls, and nature walks.
Other Places to Visit in Uganda
Other places to explore on East Africa tours in Uganda include:
- Rwenzori Mountains National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park (known for tree-climbing lions)
- Semuliki National Park
- Kidepo Valley National Park
- Mount Elgon National Park in eastern Uganda
- Lake Mburo National Park in western Uganda
Other attractions include Sipi Falls, Sezibwa Falls, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Katonga Wildlife Reserve, Budongo Forest, Mamba Wetland for birding safaris, Ssese Islands, the Source of the Nile at Jinja, Lake Victoria, Kasubi Tombs, the national museum, and other historical and cultural sites.
Rwanda
Rwanda has four national parks for East Africa tour visitors to explore. These parks protect many of the attractions travelers come to see in Africa, including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, the Big Five, birds, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, and rainforests.
The four national parks that make Rwanda a top destination in East Africa are:
Volcanoes National Park, the only park in Rwanda where visitors can see mountain gorillas during trekking.
Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park are the parks for chimpanzee trekking.
Akagera National Park is the best place in Rwanda for a Big Five safari experience.
Kenya
Many visitors on East Africa tours go to Kenya to see the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Kenya is known as one of the best places for an African safari, with many national parks, marine parks, beaches, historical towns, cultures, and mountains.
Top places to visit on East Africa tours in Kenya include:
- Masai Mara National Reserve for the wildebeest migration, game drives, and bird watching with around 500 bird species.
- Amboseli National Park for safari game drives.
- Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks.
- Nairobi National Park.
- Marine Parks.
- Mount Elgon National Park.
- Lake Nakuru National Park, a good place for bird watching, including flamingos and migratory birds.
- Hell’s Gate National Park, Mount Kenya National Park, Mount Longonot, and Aberdare National Park.
Tanzania
Tanzania is one of the most visited destinations in East Africa. Booking an East Africa tour in Tanzania gives travelers the chance to explore the wide savannas of Serengeti National Park in the Northern Safari Circuit to see the wildebeest migration or join a guided game drive.
Other top places to visit on East Africa tours in Tanzania include:
- Lake Manyara National Park, known for tree-climbing lions.
- Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s natural wonders.
- Kilimanjaro National Park for Mount Kilimanjaro trekking.
Other recommended places on East Africa tours in Tanzania include Olduvai Gorge, Mahale National Park, Zanzibar Island, Stone Town, Gombe National Park, Selous Game Reserve, Tarangire National Park, and Ruaha National Park.
Activities include game drives, hot air balloon safaris, chimpanzee tracking in Mahale Mountains or Gombe National Parks, bird watching, and cultural tours.
When to Visit East Africa?
East Africa tours can be arranged throughout the year. The best time to visit depends on the activity:
Wildebeest migration is best seen in October and November, with calving in January and February.
Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, and mountaineering are best done in the dry months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February.
Location
East Africa is in the eastern part of Africa and includes Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi. Lake Victoria, the biggest lake in Africa, is shared by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya and is a good place to visit during East Africa tours.
Many travelers take East Africa tours each year for mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Top places to see gorillas are Bwindi, Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga National Parks.
Other activities on East Africa tours include chimpanzee tracking, visiting waterfalls, golden monkey tracking, mountaineering, wildebeest migration, Zanzibar, boat cruises, rafting, game drives, and bird watching.
Geography of East Africa
East Africa is in Sub-Saharan Africa and includes Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and Tanzania. It has many plateaus and Africa’s highest elevation.
Kenya has highlands from 2000 to 3000 meters. The Great East African Rift Valley can be explored on East Africa tours through these countries.
Climate & Vegetation
East Africa tours offer more than game viewing. Many travelers choose East Africa tours because of the good weather and tropical climate with low temperatures.
The region’s location along the Equator gives it good conditions, making it a top place to visit in Africa.
East Africa has many types of vegetation like grasslands and woodlands in wet areas. Thorn bushes grow in semi-arid places like Karamoja in northeastern Uganda.
The open savanna grasslands are home to many animals, including hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, lions, elephants, wildebeest, zebras, rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, and many birds, making it great for game viewing.
History of East Africa
East Africa tours help travelers learn about the origin of East Africa. Some theories say modern humans first appeared in East Africa, while others say North Africa was the starting point for humans leaving Africa.
Fossil and genetic evidence shows that early humans became modern humans in the Horn of Africa around 200,000 years ago. In 2017, modern human remains from 300,000 years ago were found in Morocco.
In 2018, a site in Kenya dating back 320,000 years was discovered. Visitors can see the Olorgesailie site in Kenya during their East Africa tour to learn more.
