5 Best East Africa Safaris That You Should Not Miss
5 Best East Africa Safaris That You Should Not Miss : Stretching from Uganda and Kenya in the North to Tanzania in the South, East Africa region is widely recognized as one of the best places to travel for safari in Africa.
East Africa has so many safari experiences as well as destinations to offer which makes it difficult for travelers deciding which destination to visit on their African safari, travelers find it difficult to choose between Maasai Mara and Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Murchison Falls National Park among other decisions.
If you are planning a safari to the region of East Africa and struggling to decide, this article will guide you to the best East African Safaris.
Great Wildebeest Migration Safaris
The Great Migration is the world’s most spectacular and the largest migration of wildlife ever witnessed on the planet, the migration is an annual movement of up to 1.5 million wildebeest and thousands of zebras and impalas. The herds take a route across the near – unending plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania between the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Victoria before turning north to cross the crocodile infested waters of the Mara River to enter the Masai Mara plains in Kenya.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is a must watch while on an East African safari, opening up the full circle from birth to death. Also, it provides ample opportunities to catch sight of the region’s lions, cheetahs and leopards which closely follow the mass herds alongside the iconic African animals such as elephants and giraffes.
These predators mingle with the wildebeests throughout a trek, an individual animal takes an impressive 300 miles each and every year.
Mountain Gorilla Safaris
Mountain gorilla trekking in the misty forests of Bwindi and the Virunga Volcanoes is completely different from the vehicle, this experience is all about delving into the thick jungle vegetation of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
The aim is to encounter these endangered gentle creatures only discovered by the outside world in the year 1902.
Sadly, the following one hundred years was dominated by a decline in their number due to the bush meat trade, habitat destruction and diseases. Their numbers greatly declined to a few hundred individuals making them one of the most endangered species on the planet.
Thankfully, due to conservation efforts the number of mountain gorillas has tremendously grown and you can encounter these animals in the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR. Congo.
Murchison Falls Safaris
Murchison Falls National Park is a popular safari destination in Uganda, the park is easily combined with gorilla trekking thus creating two center East African safaris that rival anything else in the region can boast.
Murchison Falls National Park is the largest and most popular of the ten protected areas in Uganda, the park is divided into two parts by the Voctoria Nile. The park takes its name from Murchison Falls – the world’s most powerful waters which is formed as the world’s longest river pushes through a narrow gorge into a channel just seven meters wide before its churning white water crashes over 40 meters.
The park is an ideal habitat for diverse population of animals including Uganda kob, herds of elephants, prides of lions and highly endangered Rothschild’s giraffes, hippos and many birds including goliath heron.
Ngorongoro Crater Safaris
Often referred to as The Garden of Eden, Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in Northern Tanzania. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is centered around the planet’s largest inactive and intact volcanic caldera, with a floor which covers an incredible 100 square miles and it has become a world within a world with an ecosystem believed to contain 25,000 large animals including African wild dogs, spotted hyenas, black rhinos, cape buffaloes, elephants and water bucks.
The crater also hosts the densest population of lions in the region.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area provides a rare opportunity on East African Safaris to delve into the lives of the pastoralists living in the region. The Maasai have grazed their cattle on its grasses within sight of its amazing array of wildlife for several years.
The conservation area also contains Olduvai Gorge, a hugely important prehistoric site where archeologists have discovered remnants of early humans which have been dated to 1.9 million years ago.
Chimpanzee Tracking Safaris
Often referred to as the Primate Capital of The World, Kibale National Park is dominated by thick evergreen rainforest situated in the hills of Uganda’s western region. The forest protects the last remaining areas of pre- montane forest accessible on while on an East Africa Safari.
Kibale National Park has an extension of Queen Elizabeth National Park creating a wildlife corridor which has become a top destination for those looking to track chimpanzees. Visitors on chimpanzee tracking safari in Uganda have a 90% chance of seeing these intelligent creatures which are also the closest relatives to humans.
Kibale National Park is home to a very high density and concentration of primates with 13 different species including chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkeys among others.
The park is also home to elephants, leopards, several and African golden cats thriving in the think forest cover.
In conclusion: East Africa safaris are diverse similar to the regions itself. There is plenty of opportunity to on traditional vehicle – led – safaris across the plains of parks such as Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya searching for the Big Five and also take in the enormity of the Great Wildebeest Migration.
Alternatively, you can step out of the safari vehicles and track mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
