Safari Experiences in East Africa for Your Summer Bucket list

These are the best safari experiences in East Africa that should be on your summer bucket list, from the magnificent big game-drive trips to the chance to interact with clever primates in foggy mountain forests.

 

The Best East African Safari Experiences That Should Be on Your Summer Adventure Bucket List

Beyond the usual safari vacations, East Africa offers a wealth of remarkable safari experiences that allow you to discover the region’s different cultures, explore its stunning wildlife, and enjoy its distinct charm. These are the best safari experiences in East Africa that you should put on your summer bucket list, from thrilling big game drives to encountering clever monkeys in misty mountain forests.

1. Look for the Big Five, the most Iconic Wildlife in the continent.

A safari in Africa wouldn’t be complete without a game drive to look for the Big Five megafauna. These magnificent animals are without a doubt Africa’s safari stars. Tourists on dawn and dusk game-viewing excursions in the East African savannah plains are quite eager to see them.

In the 1800s, colonial trophy hunters came up with the phrase “Big Five” to refer to the lion, leopard, elephant, African buffalo, and rhinoceros—animals that were thought to be the most difficult and dangerous to hunt on foot. Today’s tourists, however, consider hunting the Big Five with a high-tech camera in the back of a four-by-four safari truck to be the most daring.

Seeing any of the Big Five roaming wild and free on the savannah plains is still an incredible thrill and a top safari experience on most travelers’ summer bucket lists, even though some may contend that other animals like zebras, giraffes, and kudus are more beautiful to see than buffalo herds or that cheetahs are easier to locate than leopards.

All five animals are still found in a small number of East African national parks, which guarantees an amazing safari experience. The most daring safari locations in East Africa are the Serengeti and Masai Mara, which provide distinct experiences. Despite the outstanding lion sightings in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, the Mara’s adjacent privately owned conservancies offer fantastic bushwalk safari experiences.

Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater offers equally stunning Big 5 safari experiences if you’re not a fan of the Mara-Serengeti. As an alternative, you can experience the low-key BIG Five activities in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park or Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park without travelling outside of the country by going on a gorilla trekking trip in the Virunga rainforests.

2. Meet the endearing Rwandan and Ugandan mountain gorillas.

There aren’t many safari experiences that compare to calmly sitting 32 feet away from a 400-pound silverback mountain gorilla while he watches over his family, and then sneakily tracking huge apes in foggy mountain forests. When your guide silently leads you into the clearing to meet the dark-furred bodies against the greens, you will never forget the thrill of adrenaline that washes over your entire body after a hard, sweaty scramble through the impenetrable.

Small groups of eight tourists embark on gorilla trekking tours early in the morning, following the lead of a knowledgeable local tracker to locate the gorillas during their mid-morning break. The rangers carefully lead you to a comfortable location ten meters away from the gorilla family so you can observe our evolutionary ancestors.

Swollen bellies and glossy greenery give way to hillocks of black fur. The wind is broken by farts, gentle grunts, and occasional snores over the drip-drip of the leaves. In the silence of the ancient jungle, you have never felt more alive. Leaning forward, you grab your camera.

With just over 1000 individuals remaining in the chilly highlands at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet, mountain gorillas are endangered and only found in two small, remote areas of East Africa. The Virunga Mountains, a group of wooded volcanoes that border Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are home to some of the world’s only mountain gorillas. In Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, another half of the population wanders about the rift valley highlands.

The exhilarating trek into the mountains to spend a few minutes with these intelligent apes is worth making your top summer safari experience because humans are closely linked to them.

Where to go gorilla trekking in Africa | East Africa Safari Experiences

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is Africa’s top destination for gorilla trekking. Trekking guides, nature excursions, and an hour with a habituated gorilla group are all included in the $800 trekking permit.
Rwanda’s opulent Volcanoes National Park, which costs $1,500 per person, is the next best site to see gorillas. Book your gorilla permit months in advance because there are relatively few available, which raises the cost of the gorilla safari. Africa Reveal Safari is a reputable local operator that is ideal. In this manner, you can have a professional safari Expert to manage your entire trip and avoid the local logistics.

Trekking with gorillas is not for the weak. You will soon be muddy, weary, and footsore after hiking on steep, slippery trails through dense rainforest foliage at high elevations. However, your desire to locate the big beats will be fueled by tantalizing hints of hot droppings, broken twigs, and new spoor.

There is nothing that can ever prepare you for the intensity of encountering the male silverback in his territory, which is what makes gorilla trekking the top item on your summer bucket list. Many depart with tears of happiness after experiencing an evolutionary “connection.” There is no doubting that sitting among the wild monkeys and seeing those intelligent, primal eyes in a face that seems to reflect your own is an incredible experience, even though such notions may be trivial.

3. Track the migration of wildebeests through Tanzania and Kenya.

The white-goateed wildebeest is the most magnificent of the BIG Five’s inhabitants, but the Serengeti-Mara golden plains are unquestionably the greatest spot to see them. Swarms of summer vacationers flock to these plains each year to see a timeless drama that reverberates with the odour of terror and the need to survive. The Big Five excursions are the only safari experiences on the East African savannah plain that can match the Great Migration.

The Great Rift Valley in East Africa, where the continent is rupturing and reviving, is where this story starts. The Rift Valley’s shadowed Serengeti grasslands are crisscrossed by millions of animals who are constantly searching for new grass when the summer heat peaks. An ancient dance sweeping across the savannah is performed annually by a million wildebeests and over two hundred thousand zebras, accompanied by numerous predators, as they chase the yearly rains in a 300,000-mile loop around Kenya and Tanzania.

It is exhilarating to hear 8,000 hooves crashing down on their biggest challenge, the Mara and Grumeti Rivers. The herd roars into the water, tearing at the dirt and uprooting trees from their very roots as it funnels down a sheer, dusty drop on the riverbed. This tangle of coiled horns, tightly locked together, swirls and sinks gracefully, resembling a group of debutantes dancing a ballroom waltz.
Even predators are preyed upon in this brutal GNU drama. Taking advantage of the easily accessible food, fierce predators such as lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and crocodiles blend in with the chaos.

How to see the wildebeest migration | East Africa Safari Experiences

Book one of the renowned mobile safari camps in the Serengeti, which are set up three times a year at certain locations to get the greatest views of the ungulates’ movements, if you want to experience the Great Migration safari to the fullest. Serengeti Safari Camp and & Beyond’s Serengeti Under Canvas is the greatest of the lot. Others that run from July to November and December to March are Asilia’s Olakira, Alex Walker’s Serian, and Ubuntu Camp.

The Great Migration is a safari adventure in East Africa that is available all year round. From July to early November, the Mara River and Sand River crossings offer the greatest safari experiences of the season. The Gnu herds migrate south to the southern Serengeti grasslands in February, when calving season begins. After that, the herds head north and reach the Grumeti region in May.

4. Walk with wild chimpanzees in Uganda and Tanzania.

One of the most exciting safari experiences that should be on your next summer bucket list is walking amongst noisy, gregarious chimpanzees in wild East African jungles. Following chimpanzees as they forage, hunt, squabble, fornicate, and groom will keep you alert. Chimpanzee trekking is quick, nimble, and talkative.

In reality, it is only feasible to see chimpanzees in the wild in areas like Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest, Tanzania’s Mahale Mountains, and Uganda’s Kibale Forest where researchers have acclimated them to human watchers.
Your most daring chimpanzee safari, however, will take place in Uganda’s Kibale Forest National Park, which has five regiments that are easily accessible on foot.

One of the most exhilarating adventure experiences is tracking wild chimpanzees in the lush jungle that envelops the gracefully secluded Mahale Mountains, with their toes on the immaculate beach of Lake Tanganyika. The excitement is increased by the fact that Mahale can only be reached by boat.
Beyond the reciprocal ownership of opposable thumbs, apes like chimpanzees evoke a strong, innate connection in humans. Chimpanzees, like humans, use complex social behavior to sustain close connections. They seem so human in so many ways, which makes them fascinating. However, we are also drawn to the small distinctions. When they are wandering side by side in the middle of the forest, you can never tell what they will do.

How to join the primate expeditions to see chimps

Chimpanzee trekking trips take place in the mornings and afternoons and usually last three to four hours, during which time visitors can spend up to an hour with the chimps. Chimpanzee tracking permits in Kibale, Mahale, and Nyungwe cost $200, $100, and $90 per person, respectively.

In southwestern Uganda, Kibale provides a chimpanzee habituation experience if you can’t fit your chimp-watching experience into an hour. For $250 per person, you can spend the entire day accompanying a troop that is presently going through the two-year habituation process. But, if you want to keep up with the cheezy monkeys, you’ll need to move quite quickly. However, the benefits of a closer relationship will make the voyage worthwhile.

In Uganda and Rwanda, two of East Africa’s most captivating safari destinations, Africa Reveal Safaris organizes custom chimpanzee safaris that seamlessly integrate with gorilla trekking excursions. After entering the nation, you spend the night in Entebbe or Kigali before going to a safari lodge outside the park and exploring the chimp park the next day. The following day, you may be on the savannah plains and track gorillas.

5. Kenyan luxury camping in the wilderness while on the go

Because it offers a genuine, isolated, off-the-beaten-path safari experience in some of Africa’s most untamed locations, mobile camping is still a popular safari activity. You stay in a mobile tented camp as opposed to fixed camps and lodges. In private concessions, national parks, and game reserves, your safari outfitter sets up camp where they anticipate the finest game-viewing safari experiences. They go to a different area every few days by air or road. When trophy hunters spent weeks exploring the deep bush, sleeping in tiny tents, eating beneath the stars, helping out with daily tasks, and leaving little trace other than their footprints, mobile safari camping transports you back to the early days of safari.

Concerns about comfort and security will make first-time safari visitors a little uneasy about the thought of temporary tented camps in the wild. In addition to having all the luxuries of a lodge, mobile camps are protected against animal attacks.

The camp is constructed by a whole crew and consists of big dome tents furnished with duvets and camp beds. Your book and torch can be placed on a little bedside table. Basic en suite amenities are included, including a bucket shower that will be filled with hot water after your game drive, an en suite bush loo, and a canvas basin of water.
You should put mobile safaris on your list of summertime excursions this year since they are transformative safari experiences.

6. Float in a balloon over the wide plains of Kenya and Tanzania in silence.

Take in the breathtaking scenery of East Africa from above as you silently soar through the expansive grasslands and marshes in a hot air balloon. An amazing chance to enjoy the breathtaking sweeping plains free from the dust and bumps of four-by-four trucks is to go on an early morning balloon safari.

As you fly over the most breathtaking view of zebras with striking black and white stripes, swaggering elephants making their way to a waterhole, wiry warthogs foraging in the grassy scrubs, and lions floundering under shady trees, you’ll notice tiny little dots roving across the diverse landscape.

Your vision darts to every conceivable corner as you gently veer into the air. With so much to see from above, this breathtaking method of taking in the home of the wild creatures is undoubtedly a meaningful summer adventure experience.

Get up when the light peeks over the golden savannah plains at dawn, then follow the morning winds wherever they lead you. To provide unique views and amazing photo possibilities of the wildlife below, your balloon pilot will regulate the balloon’s altitude, sometimes flying at treetops or lower altitudes.

You will most likely climb to a height of 1000 feet or more to witness the immense majesty and breathtaking vista of East Africa’s wildness when the true adventure excitement starts. As you gradually float to emotional paradise, the fresh breeze wipes years of anxiety from your face, and everything falls into bird-song silences. The peaceful silences between the balloon’s engine burns are something to savour. 

How to join the hot-air balloon on East Africa Safari Experiences

The Serengeti and Masai Mara offer the best hot air balloon safari experiences on your summer bucket list, and depending on your base camp, a one-hour flight will cost between $400 and $600 per person. Balloon trips typically transport four to sixteen passengers and depart at daybreak, around 0530. A hearty breakfast at balloon touchdown and a transfer from your safari camp are typically included in the fee.

For roughly $380 per person, Uganda provides a more affordable, low-key balloon safari experience in Murchison Falls National Park. For those travelling to the gorilla trekking area with the hopes of seeing the Big Five, it’s a fantastic opportunity.

7. An excursion in the jungle with a Maasai warrior in Kenya

The Maasai are tall, black, and crimson-clad, and you may have seen their graceful images in coffee table books or National Geographic magazines. They may be leaping high off the ground or squinting into the sun. The majority of East Africa’s ethnic groups have adapted to contemporary lifestyles and relocated to densely crowded cities, while the Maasai continue to live according to their traditional ways, relying on their cattle, moving with the seasons, and upholding long-standing social structures and customs.

With a Maasai warrior by your side, you can trek across savannahs teeming with wildlife for hours or even days. The value of the bushwalk safari experience lies more in the chance to learn about the Maasai people, their culture, and how they coexist peacefully in the nature than it does in the actual walk.

One of East Africa’s best cultural safari experiences is going bushwalking with the Maasai, which immerses you in the evolution of human cultures and offers you a fresh perspective on humanity and a far greater appreciation for a simpler way of life.

Where to join the bushwalking adventures with the warriors

These hikes traverse Kenya’s expansive Tarangire National Park plains and are offered in private concessions at Loita Hills, just east of the Masai Mara. Since Masai guides are more familiar with these areas and the behavior of the animals than any Westerner, you’ll probably find them at the majority of safari camps and lodges. They are there for security reasons as well as to share their amazing stories. Through the reserves and Masailand conservancies, or with your tour operator, you can set up half-day bushwalking safari experiences.

 

8. Soak your tired feet on Zanzibar’s pristine sand beaches.

After an exciting safari in the wilds of East Africa, there’s nothing quite like the sensation of walking barefoot on Zanzibar’s white sand beaches. Like the spices that have historically made this Indian Ocean archipelago a favorite vacation spot, the term Zanzibar itself is evocative and almost fragrant. The islands are home to some of the cleanest white sand beaches, lively cultures influenced by Islam, and historic Omani architecture.

Spend some time exploring Stone Town, also called Mji Mkongwe. Experience the sights, sounds, tastes, and scents of ancient Swahili trading towns in East Africa by visiting this historic town. Stone Town is the island’s heart and soul, with its twisting lanes smelling of spices at every turn and the calming adhān Islamic summons to prayer filling the air. Whether you’re travelling alone or with a companion, it’s the ideal spot to unwind and enjoy the sights.

While there, take in the stunning stone structures, savour a fresh fish meal flavoured with coconut, and sip on a cup of chai or coffee from one of the many happy vendors. For any safari enthusiast, Stone Town’s blend of Persian, Arabic, Indian, and European ancestry makes for an opulent and remarkable safari experience.

Which places to visit in Zanzibar | East Africa Safari Experiences

You must stay in Nungwi, on the northwest tip of Zanzibar, if you’re the type of summer traveler who likes to dig your toes into coral sands as clear and pale as caster sugar. Visit Hilton’s DoubleTree Resort. Surprisingly, there are beach houses, seaside eateries, and a few lodges surrounded by tropical gardens, yet there aren’t many visitors or casual islanders there.
Water sports are available for summertime adventurers on Swahili Island. Additional vacation safari activities include sundown cruises and deep-sea fishing trips where you may look for mean-looking bull dorado and leaping sailfish.

Hotel rates in Zanzibar range from roughly $180 per person at a top-notch beach hotel like Pongwe to $500 per person at a private Villa in Xanadu.

Check out Tanzania’s mainland shore if you want the beach vacation amenities after your inland safari experiences but don’t want to leave the East African mainland. One of these is Rus Kutani, which costs $400 per person per night and, in our opinion, the best place to go on a honeymoon.

 

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