Best Places to Adventure in East Africa : East Africa is a great place to explore with its diverse landscapes, cultures and wildlife. Here are some of the best places to adventure in East Africa:
Rwanda is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa and has some of the best nature trails to trek. Mountain gorillas can be found in the Volcanoes National Park and the Gishwati Forest Reserve is home to other primates and birdlife. Lake Kivu is the largest lake in Rwanda and offers excellent fishing as well as beautiful volcanic beaches for relaxing on. There are plenty of accommodation options from basic hostels to luxury hotels and restaurants to suit all budgets. On your Rwanda safari tours, you can also enjoy trekking, rafting on the River Kagera, horse riding, or kayaking on the lake. Many tourists also like to visit the home of the last mountain gorilla in the world, the Dian Fossey Memorial Center. Visit the Gisenyi area of Lake Kivu to enjoy the lively nightlife and good restaurants on the shores. The capital of Kigali is friendly and welcoming with excellent nightlife and a great range of restaurants and shops.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is an extremely dangerous country but the Virunga Mountains region offers opportunities for hiking, climbing, and wildlife safaris. Kibale Forest is one of the most important chimpanzee habitats in the world and there are also many rare bird species to be found there. Goma is the biggest city in the DRC but it is often too dangerous for tourists to visit.
Kenya is another fantastic destination for trekking as it offers plenty of opportunities to experience unique wildlife encounters such as seeing the famous Big 5 animals up close on a game drive. Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano which is one of the best destinations for climbing in East Africa and offers spectacular views from the top. It is possible to climb Mount Kenya throughout the year but the best time to do it is during the dry season when the summit is clear of snow. Elephants are one of Kenya’s most popular attractions and can be seen in several national parks throughout the country including Amboseli National Park, Samburu National Reserve and the Maasai Mara National Reserve. One of the most popular places to watch elephants is the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi where you can also watch the baby elephants being fed daily at 11 am. There are also a number of camel riding opportunities in the Masai Mara where tourists can ride camels through the plains with the giraffes and other wild animals that inhabit the area.
Tanzania is another great destination to visit if you want to experience some of Africa’s finest natural scenery and wildlife. Mikumi National Park is home to the largest population of lions in the country along with several other species of animal including giraffe, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hippopotamus and crocodiles. It is also home to an impressive number of African birds with over 450 species recorded in the park. The Serengeti National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and offers some of the best game viewing opportunities in the world. Every year, the Serengeti plays host to one of the largest migration of mammals on the planet when more than two million wildebeest, gazelles and zebras migrate from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara in search of better grazing pastures.
Uganda is home to some of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife in the world and there are excellent opportunities to see these wonders for yourself on one of the many excursions on offer throughout the country. Murchison Falls National Park is a must-visit on any trip to Uganda and it is home to a large variety of wildlife and over 550 different species of birds. The bustling capital city of Kampala has plenty to offer in the way of sights and attractions and is a great place to spend a few days exploring before moving on to more remote areas of the country.
Generally East Africa is very safe to travel around but it is very important to be vigilant at all times and avoid all areas that are deemed unsafe by the authorities. You should always travel with a guide and stay only in designated tourist areas and never attempt to go off the beaten path as there is always a risk of being attacked by wild animals or encountering some unscrupulous characters operating in the area who might not be inclined to help you if you are in trouble.
