Top Unmissable East African Safari Destinations
Top Unmissable East African Safari Destinations include the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania for wildlife, Maasai Mara in Kenya for the Great Migration, and Bwindi or Volcanoes National Park for mountain gorilla trekking. Other popular choices are Amboseli National Park in Kenya for elephants with Kilimanjaro views, Lake Nakuru in Kenya for birdlife and rhinos, and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda for diverse wildlife.
01 of 10 Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Located in the extreme southwest of the country on the border with Tanzania, Maasai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s quintessential safari destination. Covering over 580 square miles/ 1,500 square kilometres, it is a true wildlife haven.
You can spot the Big Five, or keep an eye out for the reserve’s plentiful big cats. In particular, it is one of the best places on the continent to see lions in their natural environment. Special Maasai Mara experiences include visits to traditional Maasai villages and the annual Great Migration.
Between July and October, the latter sees approximately two million wildebeest, zebra and other antelope migrate en masse across the mighty Mara River.
02 of 10 Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda
Murchison Falls National Park lies in the northern part of Uganda, adjacent to Lake Albert, the Delta tip of the Nile River northwest corner of Uganda. Its vast expanse includes four distinct ecosystems, allowing for an incredibly diverse array of animal and bird life.
In particular, the park’s Savuti Marsh offers one of Africa’s highest year-round concentrations of wildlife. Murchison Falls is especially famous for its elephants, with lots of the Roth’s giraffes and lots of Wild Antelopes.
The best time to visit is during the dry season (April to October), when vast herds of elephant and other animals gather to drink along the banks of the River Nile. The river also allows for unique boat-based game-viewing and rewarding birding.
03 of 10 Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
In northern Tanzania, Serengeti National Park lies adjacent to Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve. It is the classic African safari setting, thanks to sprawling grasslands dotted with lone acacia trees and grazing herds of zebra and antelope.
These herbivores attract high numbers of predators, and the open environment makes this one of the best destinations for watching lions and cheetahs in action. The Serengeti is much larger than the Maasai Mara, and as such, it often feels less crowded.
From November to June, the Serengeti acts as the main stage for the dramatic Great Migration. At this time, endless herds of zebra and wildebeest gather to graze, mate and give birth.
04 of 10 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwest Uganda on the edge of the legendary Rift Valley. This dense rainforest is home to nearly half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas – a critically endangered subspecies with approximately 880 individuals remaining in the wild.
Here, you can track the park’s habituated gorilla groups on foot, allowing you to come face-to-face with these fascinating great apes. The forest is also home to chimpanzees, baboons and other mammals, including elephants and antelopes.
Its birdlife is diverse, with more than 20 endemic species. The park also offers the opportunity to meet the region’s native pygmy people.
05 of 10 Par’c De Viruga Volcanoes, Rwanda
In northern Namibia lies Etosha National Park, a diverse collection of different habitats arranged around a salt pan so large it can be seen from space. This self-drive park is generally arid, and many of the animals here are adapted for life in the desert, including the gemsbok and springbok antelopes.
Elephants are common here, and you’re likely to see lion, hyena and cheetah. You won’t find buffalo or hippo, though – it’s simply too dry. Etosha’s main highlight is its population of critically endangered black rhino.
These remarkable creatures are best spotted at the floodlit waterholes of the three main camps, alongside an array of other nocturnal animals.
06 of 10 Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania is made exceptional by its volcanic crater – the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world. This vast depression acts as a natural enclosure for countless wildlife species, including the Big Five.
Highlights include a healthy population of black rhino and some of the largest tusker elephants on the continent. The lake at the centre of the crater also hosts huge flocks of rose-colored flamingos, while Maasai tribespeople still live within the conservation area.
Another unmissable attraction is the Olduvai Gorge, an important paleoanthropological site that has contributed hugely to our understanding of human evolution.
7 of 10 Tarangire National Park, Kenya
Tarangire National Park is in Tanzania, not Kenya, and is famous for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and diverse landscapes. The park is located in northern Tanzania, near Arusha, and is a major stop on the Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit, especially for its role in the annual migration of wildebeest and zebras, which occurs during the dry season.
8 of 10 Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Amboseli National Park is a famous wildlife destination in southern Kenya, bordering Tanzania, known for its large elephant herds and stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The park is a top tourist destination in Kenya, offering diverse habitats from acacia woodlands to swamps and a chance to experience Maasai culture.
9 of 10 Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda
Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwestern Rwanda is one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, known for its high biodiversity and 13 primate species, including chimpanzees and colobus monkeys. Visitors can explore the park through an extensive network of hiking trails and a canopy walkway
10 of 10 Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in western Uganda and is a popular destination for wildlife viewing, boat safaris, chimpanzee trekking, and exploring diverse ecosystems like savannah, forests, wetlands, and crater lakes. It is home to over 95 mammal species and 600 bird species. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. most days
