Five of the best national parks in East Africa
From the great migration in savanna national parks to gorilla trekking in the tropical rain forests, there are incredible safari experiences not to miss in East Africa. Whether you are planning to hike the Kilimanjaro Mountain or chasing the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, East Africa is the place to go!
It is very common to have an idea of what you can do in East Africa without knowing the specific go to place for a particular adventure. This is the reason why we bring to you the top five national parks and reserves that feature the top five adventures in East Africa;
Serengeti National Park
The great wildebeest migration which is the most iconic wildlife experience on the African continent takes place in two East African parks; the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania and Maasai Mara of Kenya. Besides a visit to the great Kilimanjaro; your Tanzanian safari cannot be complete without a game drive in Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti National Park lies within the endless plains of Tanzania. This UNESCO world heritage site is one of the famous wild sanctuaries in the world. It is a popular location to witness the annual wildebeest migration, one of the seven world wonders. Gazetted in 1951, Serengeti National Park is among the oldest national parks in Africa.
Serengeti can be visited all year round and the park allows game drives to visitors all year round. On your wildlife safari through the Serengeti national park, you will be rewarded with rare views of the big five including the lions, African Elephants, Black rhinos, Buffaloes, wildebeest among several other wildlife species.
Serengeti National Park is the ultimate destination to catch Africa’s big five animals and this destinations that is ready to be discovered by those looking for the true African wilderness!
Volcanoes National Park
The Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is one most sought-after parks in Africa where one can track the endangered giant mountain gorillas in their natural home. Mountain gorillas from the recent past years have increased in number with half population found in the Greater Virunga conservation area which is composed of the eight extinct volcanoes. The five extinct volcanoes are with the Volcanoes National Park where some of the habituated gorilla families fore rage. Some of these volcanoes include Sabyinyo, Gahinga, karisimbi, Bisoke and Muhavura.
There are twelve habituated gorillas’ families open for gorilla tracking in the park and gorilla trekking is done all year round.
Rwanda re-opened the Volcanoes National Park in August 2020 and all you need is a negative PCR test in order to be allowed to track the gorillas. It is also important to know that travelers to Rwanda must undergo a 24 hour quarantine upon entering the country.
Kahuzi Biega National
Park Kahuzi Biega National Park is one of the less known national parks in Africa and it could be a popular destination if Congo was peaceful throughout the past years. Located in Eastern Congo, this is one of the most affordable destinations for gorilla trekking and it hosts an incredible population of Eastern lowland gorillas that live in the slopes of Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega. The park is a great option for those looking for budget gorilla treks and it is quite affordable if compared with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park of Uganda and the Volcanoes National Park.
A gorilla pass for watching the eastern lowland gorillas in the park costs just US$400 and it can be visited all year round.
You can travel to Kahuzi Biega National Park from Rwanda or Uganda. All you need is a Negative PCR test to gain entry into Eastern Congo and a tourist visa that will be granted by the park.
Maasai Mara Game Reserve
We cannot talk about the great migration without reference to Maasai Mara of Kenya. The weather partners Serengeti national park have continually made the great migration possible. But even without the great migration; Maasai Mara remains one of the most recommended safari destinations in East Africa.
Masai Mara National Reserve also popular as the Maasai Mara is set in Narok County Southwestern Kenya just at the border with Serengeti National Park. It is one of a kind wildlife safari destination worth exploring while you are on Kenyan safari. Compared to other safari destinations in Kenya and East Africa at large, Masai Mara National Reserve popular for its huge concentration of wildlife and distinct landscapes.
The reserve offers cultural encounters with the Masai people; one of the most popular tribes on the African continent. The game drives in the reserve are also highly rewarding with views of Giraffes, hyenas, lions, vultures, among several other wildlife species in the lashed green environment.
If you are looking to witnessing a Masai Mara Migration, it is important to book your trip early enough within the months when this natural phenomenon occurs.
Other animals to look for in Masai Mara National Park include among others lions, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, the wildebeest, zebras, Thomson’s gazelles, oribis, crocodiles, hyenas, black rhinos, hippos, warthogs, Masai giraffes, waterbucks, reedbucks, roan antelopes, duikers, impalas, elands, topis; several amphibian species.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Though Uganda is mainly known for gorilla trekking, it hosts unique treasures that have not yet been discovered by many travelers. It is only a few tourists who consider going on a safari in Kidepo valley national park over going on gorilla treks in Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga gorilla national park. It is not an overstatement to consider Kidepo valley national park as your main highlight for a Uganda safari.
Kidepo valley is garnished with an exceptional cultural encounter of the IK tribe. This is a cultural experience like no other in Uganda. The IK tribe lives their community life un-tempered with the urbanization of this current generation. However much this is not the main icon of Kidepo valley national park and its locality; it is one of the unrivaled cultural encounters Uganda has to offer.
The park is very popular for its abundant diversity in wildlife. Compared to its counterparts like Murchison falls national park, and queen Elizabeth national park; Kidepo is home to cheetahs and ostriches. It is the only national park where you can find almost all the major wildlife species that can be found in Uganda including but not limited to African Elephants, lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, waterbucks among several other wildlife.
