East Africa is regarded as one of the best safari destinations in the world, and visitors can visit at any time of year; however, they should be aware that the dry season, which runs from June to September and from mid-December to February, is considered to be the best time to visit. There are several attractions and activities to do when on safaris in East Africa, such as the mild climate, a high variety of wildlife species, seasonal migration, and a huge number of residences where visitors may stay.
As a result, individuals must always keep in mind how the wet and dry seasons may impact their game-viewing activities, as well as how the rainy season affects the Great Wildebeest Migration, among other things. Furthermore, tourists on safari in East Africa have the opportunity to participate in a variety of fantastic safari activities such as gorilla trekking, which is best done in Uganda and Rwanda; game viewing in Serengeti National Park; diving in Zanzibar; hot air balloon safaris in Maasai Mara; climbing Kilimanjaro; and many others.
Places to see on an East African safari
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya is one of the greatest sites to visit when on a safari in East Africa. This national park was formed in 1961 and was constructed around Lake Nakuru, comprising a total surface area of around 188 square kilometres. Furthermore, Lake Nakuru National Park is well-known for being one of the top birding sites in the world, owing to the vast number of flamingos that can always be found around the lake’s beaches, as well as other bird species such as; Yellow-billed storks, grey-crowned crane, lesser flamingo, bustards, owls, pigeons and doves, hornbills, Marabou, thrush, ostriches, swifts, African fish eagle, saddle-billed stork, pelicans, and big white pelicans. Furthermore, it is home to around 45 black and 31 white rhinoceros.
Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks
Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks are regarded as two of the top sites in Uganda for gorilla trekking safari experiences. Because these two sites are renowned as the greatest places to encounter large numbers of endangered and habituated mountain gorillas, trekking permits are always charged at a rate of around 700 USD per person. Tourists should also be aware that this activity is best suited to people aged 15 and up.
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is located in northern Tanzania and is famous for being the great destination of the great wildlife migration of wildebeests, other large herds of animals moving from one to another in search of new pasture, and others moving from the north while breeding in the grassy southern plains. Furthermore, several of the animals have been sighted crossing the crocodile-infested Grumeti river in the swampy western corridors. Serengeti National Park is a World Heritage Site because it is home to over 500 bird species, 400 lions, 1000 leopards, 550 cheetahs, and over 2 million ungulates, among other things, making it one of East Africa’s top safari destinations.
Masai Mara National Park
Apart from the Serengeti and Tsavo national parks, the Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the few national parks in East Africa that are home to the big five animals: lions, buffalos, leopards, rhinoceros, and African elephants. Furthermore, there are other activities that guests may partake in while on safari within the park to make their trip unique, such as the black kite, vultures, merlin, white-tailed kite, long-crested eagles, ostriches, marabou storks, and many others. There are also monitor lizards, tortoises, terrapins, forest cobras, black-necked spitting cobras, tropical house geckos, red prohibited rubber frogs, afro-tropical ground geckos, and Victoria clawed grogs, among many more.
Apart from the aforementioned, there are numerous other places in East Africa where tourists can go on safari, including Amboseli National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, which is known as the only destination where tree-climbing lions can be spotted, Ngorongoro Crater, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Kibale National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and many others.
