East Africa — Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Think of safari, and it’s East Africa’s landscapes that come to mind — one of the last places to catch the Big Five. Look beyond the plains in a trip to East Africa and you’ll also discover the Great Rift Valley’s many other wonders such as Lake Victoria, Kenya’s pristine beaches, and the Zanzibar islands among them.
Tour Highlights
- Jump into a 4x4 for that timeless safari experience in Tsavo East, Amboseli, or Ngorongoro - just three of a whole host of protected spaces from which to take home unforgettable memories of elephants, rhinos, and lions in their natural environment
- Pull on your hiking boots and scale the heady heights of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain at 5,895 meters.
- Experience the grandeur of Victoria Falls – ‘the Smoke that Thunders’ – up close, from the comfort of a viewing platform, or by rafting the bubbling white water of Zambezi Gorge
- Hit the idyllic beaches of Kenya or Zanzibar and soak up the rays on pristine sands, splash about in the warm shallows, or delve beneath the waves for a spot of world-class scuba diving
- Delve into the forests of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for that once in a lifetime encounter with gorillas in the mist, coming eye to eye with our closest living relatives as their family groups relax in the shade of the lush vegetation
- Witness one of the world’s largest animal migrations, as more than two million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle cross the plains of the Masai Mara and Serengeti in search of fresh grass.
Travel Tips
- The best time to visit East Africa is generally considered to be from July to November, during the region’s long dry season. Temperatures are mild, and July sees the start of the wildebeest migration, although this time is also peak period, with accommodation booking up quickly.
- East Africa is incredibly safe as a destination, with tour companies and locals alike going out of their way to make visitors feel welcome. Follow standard practices, such as not leaving valuables unattended, and you won’t have any problems.
- Do like the locals, and wear light weave and light color natural fabrics such as cotton, rather than tight-fitting man-made materials, to stay cool in the sun. Make sure you’ve also packed a sun hat.
- Don’t worry if you don’t run to schedule. Time is a little more fluid in East Africa than in the west, however, this doesn’t mean you’ll have to miss out on any activities or experiences, with additional time built in for just this eventuality!