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Our East Africa safaris take you the true spiritual home of the safari. East Africa is the best place to watch wildlife on Earth. It was here that the world first fell in love with the continent’s wildlife and wild places, with the magic of its landscapes, and with its people. Nothing captures that magic quite like lying awake in a safari tent and listening to a lion roaring not far away. Or a sunset framed by a flat-topped acacia tree and savannah grasslands that never seem to end. Or the face to face encounter with wild chimpanzees or gorillas in the forest.
But the story of Africa didn’t begin with the safari. This is a continent with an incredibly rich human history. It is the Maasai, the Swahili, Buganda and many other communities who bring these landscapes to life and it is they who must find ways to live alongside the wildlife. Their presence in this story is a sign of how much East Africa safaris have evolved, with fascinating conservation projects now very much a part of the experience. And therein lies the astonishing richness of going on safari: spending time among the people, the wildlife and the wild places that they share.
East Africa carries many meanings and no firm borders. But, in the safari context, it’s quite simple, involving 4 main countries: the first safaris arose around the East African heartland of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, but the possibilities have since extended throughout both countries, and into neighboring Uganda and Rwanda. In a geopolitical and strictly geographical sense, Burundi and Ethiopia belong to East Africa, though their safari possibilities lie beyond this page’s scope.
May to October: The ideal time to visit East Africa is during the dry season, which generally aligns with the cooler winter months. This period typically begins around May or June and lasts through October. Within this timeframe, June to September or October is considered peak season, meaning more tourists, limited accommodation options in lodges and tented camps, and higher costs. From June to August, the weather tends to be mild during the day, with cooler evenings. Temperatures start rising in September and October, with the latter being an excellent time for wildlife viewing, as animals congregate around the dwindling water sources.
November to April: Despite being the warmer and wetter summer months, this period can also be a great time for safaris. Fewer tourists visit during this time, making it easier to book accommodations, and prices are typically lower. Although the weather is more unpredictable, it can still provide a wonderful safari experience. The short rains typically begin in November and continue into December, while the longer, heavier rains usually occur from February to April.
Despite the rain, it often comes in the form of intense afternoon thunderstorms, leaving clear skies the rest of the day and transforming the landscape into a vibrant green. The main challenge during this time is that unpaved roads can become impassable after heavy rain, which might limit your travel options and the amount of wildlife you can see.
The simple answer is that you should spend as much time on safari in East Africa as you can. Safaris can vary in length from two or three days to much longer. With just a few days for your safari, you would need to focus on just one, maybe two, parks.
With a week or ten days, which is an ideal minimum period for going on safari, you might be able to visit four or even five parks. Extend your safari to two or three weeks and you can really start planning the safari trip of a lifetime, and you may even be able to combine a couple of countries, such as Uganda and northern Tanzania.
Although it may be more expensive, you can also fly to and from many parks – from Nairobi or Arusha, for example, or from other parks. Many have air strips where your accommodation can pick you up. You’ll see more of the countryside and have more opportunities to interact with locals if you travel by road, and it will be cheaper. But your ratio of time spent traveling when compared to the time you’ll spend actually looking for wildlife will be higher.
The “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) is often a top goal for safari enthusiasts. Originally, the term was coined by professional hunters in the early 20th century to describe the animals that were most difficult and dangerous to hunt. While focusing solely on spotting these five iconic species is a worthy pursuit, limiting yourself to just them means overlooking the rich variety of wildlife that the safari experience has to offer.
East Africa’s landscape offers a striking mix of environments, from vast savannahs to lush rainforests, pristine beaches to deep volcanic calderas, stirring sample of the continent’s most iconic ecosystems and habitats. This variety of landscapes is matched by a great diversity of wildlife, making the process of planning your East Africa safari an exciting decision of choosing where to visit and what creatures you’d like to encounter.
When it comes to East African safaris, Uganda often remains under the radar, but this can be a benefit for those who choose to visit. The country boasts stunning landscapes, often draped in lush, vibrant greenery.
For many travelers, Uganda is the premier destination in Africa for seeing wild gorillas and chimpanzees. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas, most of which are habituated and open to visitors. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is also more affordable, costing just over half the price of a permit in Rwanda. Gorilla trekking (and golden monkey tracking) are also possible in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
In other parts of the country, Queen Elizabeth National Park stands out as one of Africa’s finest, celebrated for its incredible biodiversity. Over 600 bird species, tree-climbing lions, and chimpanzees, among many others, inhabit the park. Its diverse landscapes include open savannah, freshwater and saline lakes, rolling hills, papyrus swamps, and dense rainforest.
Murchison Falls National Park, named after the spectacular waterfall on the Nile River, is a prime location to observe lions, elephants, and a variety of predators and prey. In the southwest, where many of Uganda’s top parks are located, Kibale Forest National Park is home to 13 different primate species, including habituated chimpanzee communities.
Rwanda features some of Africa’s greenest ahills, and while it has fewer parks, those it does have are exceptional. Volcanoes National Park is one of the continent’s top destinations for seeing eastern mountain gorillas, offering an experience that is as costly as it is unforgettable.
In other parts of the country, Akagera National Park has undergone a remarkable transformation, offering stunning landscapes, the Big Five (following the reintroduction of lions and rhinos), and a strong sense of conservation revitalizing a park once severely impacted by poaching. For those who love rainforest jungles, Nyungwe National Park is a must-visit, with its rich diversity of primates, birds, and layers upon layers of lush green mountains.
Kenya remains one of the best places to visit in Africa in search of animals. It boasts a well established safari industry, numerous community-run conservancies where excellent conservation work is being done, and a fascinating cultural mix.
Imagine rolling savannah grasslands, perfectly formed acacia trees and a backdrop of rivers and escarpments. Then picture that same landscape as warm with zebras, gazelles, and wildebeests during the Great Migration, with so many of them that the entire planet seems to seethe and swell. Or a family of elephants, pride of lions, a cheetah on the hunt. Kenya’s Masai Mara National Game Reserve is all of this and so much more.
Masai Mara is also home to the Big 5 Animals. Four (lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo) are relatively easy to see, with black rhinos the most difficult – they’re present only in the Mara Triangle section of the reserve.
The only drawback of a visit here is its popularity – overcrowding has become a real issue in the reserve in recent years, especially during high-season months. Consider visiting the (more expensive) neighboring conservancies (eg Naboisho, Mara North or Olare Orok), or plan to visit at a quieter time of year.
The southeastern region of Kenya is renowned for its classic safari experiences, with three major parks—Amboseli, Tsavo East, and Tsavo West—standing out as some of the country’s finest.
Located in the heart of Maasailand, Amboseli is home to one of Kenya’s highest concentrations of elephants. One of the most iconic images of an East African safari is long-tusked elephants feeding in the lush Amboseli swamps, framed by Africa’s tallest mountain in the background. While Mount Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania, the best views of the mountain are from Amboseli on the Kenyan side.
The two Tsavo parks, characterized by vast, rugged plains, exude a wild atmosphere and are dominated by large populations of lions and elephants, their bodies coated in the red dust of Tsavo. Tsavo West is also home to a significant sanctuary for black rhinos.
Running through the heart of Kenya, Africa’s Great Rift Valley features a series of lakes that offer a unique wildlife experience. Flamingos are a major highlight here, with entire lakes sometimes turning pink, such as at Lake Bogoria National Reserve or Lake Nakuru National Park, depending on the year.
Lake Nakuru is also renowned for its lion population and is one of the best places in Kenya to see both black and white rhinos. Near Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate National Park stands out as one of the few parks in Kenya where visitors can walk, cycle, or even rock climb. In nearby Mt Longonot National Park, you can hike to the top of a volcano and walk along the crater rim.
On the outskirts of Nairobi, the city’s namesake national park offers a surreal experience—home to black rhinos, lions, and many other species, with the possibility of seeing them against the backdrop of city skyscrapers.
Kenya’s remote, wild and rugged northern region marks the transition from East Africa’s savannah to desert. This area is a captivating mix of natural beauty and human culture, home to nomadic communities who thrive in some of the harshest environments, particularly around Lake Turkana. Before venturing further into the desolate north, three remarkable reserves—Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba—offer fantastic safari experiences and are considered some of Kenya’s finest, despite their smaller size.
Everything in Tanzania seems to happen on a grander scale – massive parks, epic herds and wildlife populations, and an astounding variety of landscapes that spans everything from the tropical coast to the dense rainforests of the Congo Basin.
If we had to choose the best place to go on a safari in East Africa, the northern parks of Tanzania would be a top contender. Starting from Arusha, you’ll discover an incredible array of world-class wildlife destinations:
The Serengeti is similar to Kenya’s Masai Mara, but on a much larger scale. Northern Tanzania is also home to Mt Kilimanjaro, where you can embark on a challenging yet highly rewarding week-long trek to the summit (5,895 meters/19,340 feet), which can be an incredible addition to a traditional safari.
Down in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, you’ll discover a fantastic selection of parks and reserves. If we had to recommend two parks above all others, they would be Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), renowned for its boat safaris, as well as its lions and elephants, and Ruha National Park, a vast reserve with baobab-lined rivers and abundant wildlife.
Western Tanzania is a long journey from anywhere, but it offers a truly unique experience compared to the rest of the country. The lush rainforests of Gombe National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park, overlooking Lake Tanganyika (the world’s second-largest freshwater lake), are home to significant populations of chimpanzees and other primates. Gombe is especially famous as the site where renowned conservationist Jane Goodall began her pioneering research on chimpanzees in the 1960s, and visitors can still witness the results of her groundbreaking work through the many chimpanzee generations that remain in the park today.
Zanzibar isn’t typically considered a safari destination, as the islands of the archipelago don’t have much terrestrial wildlife (unless you count the marine life visible while diving and snorkeling). However, many travelers choose to spend a few days in Zanzibar as part of their safari itinerary, and it’s definitely worth the visit. Zanzibar offers a vibrant mix of ancient cultures, spice markets, traditional architecture, and superb beaches that surround the main island.
There are countless options when it comes to planning a safari, and this is reflected in the wide range of prices. A budget safari can cost as little as US$100 per person per day, which typically involves camping and participating in camp duties such as setting up tents, cooking, and washing dishes.
On the other hand, if you prefer a more luxurious experience, you could spend up to US$3000 per person per day, staying in high-end tented camps and lodges, flying between destinations, and opting for a private tour rather than a group one. The time of year you choose to travel can also impact the cost of your safari. Traveling during the low or shoulder season can significantly lower your expenses. Here’s a general cost guide to help you plan:
Since 2016 our tour company offers 4×4 car hire, safari itineraries with accommodation and guided tours for group and the independent traveler in East African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
+256 703740870
+256 704 324 972
info@greenwaynaturetours.com
