Holidays are meant for fun, relaxation and exploration. They are a perfect escape from the day to day hassle and bustle and an opportunity to explore and broaden your horizons thus increasing your creativity and energy levels. Here are the 10 Most Visited Places On East African Self Drive Safaris.
When making a bucket list of destinations to recharge and connect with nature, East Africa can not miss! The region is known for its variety of safari opportunities but it has so much more to offer except hiding out in the wild. The night life in the cities is ecstatic! East Africans love a good party and surely know how to have a good time.
These are the top self drive safari destinations in East Africa.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is an Island in the Indian Ocean off the Coast of Tanzania that affords superlative historical, cultural, exploratory and eco tourism beach experiences in East Africans. Stone Town, which is the capital of the island has been declared a world heritage by UNESCO and when you walk through its narrow labyrinth alleyways, you’ll notice the traces of the Swahili culture that this ancient metropolis has preserved.
Zanzibar has idyllic white sand beaches and warm turquoise blue waters. It is a ideal for swimming, seeing hundreds of endangered tortoises, snorkeling, diving and horse riding. Also experience a touch of African luxury by staying at some of the luxurious resorts on the island.
The island is also known globally for its vast production of Spices. This is an opportunity to visit to the spice markets and farms and take back home some spices.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Also located in Tanzania, Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest peak on the African continent and the highest free standing mountain above sea level in the whole world. In 1973, the mountain was incorporated into a national park. On the lower parts of the mountain at Amboseli, you’ll encounter large animals like elephants and Cape buffaloes. The mountain is a top destination for hikers across the globe and seven routes by which to ascend and descend the mountain have been designated.
Though the climb is not technically as challenging as the Himalayas or Andes, the high elevation, low temperature, and occasional high winds can make Kilimanjaro a difficult trek. Reaching the summit takes days but beware of acute Mountain Sickness(AMS) because of the altitude.
Masai Mara National Reserve
This is an area of preserved savannah wilderness in south-western Kenya, along the Tanzanian border. It’s home to the Big Five animals (lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and hippos). The landscape has grassy plains and rolling hills, and is crossed by the Mara and Talek rivers.
There’s a number of activities in Masai Mara and these include luxury experiences such as hot air balloon flights over the plains where you get to see the wildlife and plains below. You can visit the Masai tribal village where you will get a glimpse into the unique way of life of these nomadic people. Game drives/walks, camping and trying out Bush meals are also a must do in Masai Mara NP.
Murchison Falls
Known among the locals as Kabalega falls, Murchison Falls is a water fall at the apex of the Victoria Nile in Uganda. It is about 285km north of Uganda’s capital Kampala and about 3-4hr drive. Murchison Falls is located in Murchison falls National Park which is Uganda’s largest national park and is a lion conservation unit since 2005. Murchison Falls National Park and the adjacent Bugondo Forest Reserve host 76 mammal species such as chimpanzees as well as Uganda’s largest Nile crocodile population.
Lake Nakuru National Park
This was created in 1961 around LakeNakuru, near Nakuru Town in Kenya. It is best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingos nesting along the shores. The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognizable due to the continually shifting mass of pink.
Around the lake, there is an area that’s fenced off as a sanctuary to protect giraffes and black rhino’s. The park is home to lions, cheetahs and leopards and is inhabited by large pythons that inhabit the dense woodlands and you may see them crossing the roads or dangling from trees.
Kibale Forest National Park
Located in Western Uganda and connecting with Queen Elizabeth National park, Kibale Np is an important ecotourism and safari destination, well known for its population of habituated chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. It is also the location for the Makerere University biology field station.
Volcanoes National Park
Located in north-western Rwanda, Volcanoes NP is on of the eight Volcanoes in the Virunga mountains. It is home to the endangered mountain gorilla is a famous destination for travellers interested in gorilla trekking, which is the main activity here. Volcanoes NP is also the base for the primatologist Diane Fossey who was murdered in her camp in 1985.
Serengeti National Park
Also a UNESCO world heritage and international biosphere reserve, Serengeti National Park is one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations located in northern Tanzania bordering Masai Mara. It us also home to the Big Five and is am impeccable destination for camping, game drives, birdwatching, nature walks among others.
Kampala
Going on a safari trip doesn’t mean you miss out on an opportunity of excitement! Kampala, the capital of Uganda is known across the continent as a city that never sleeps and it has the best night life experiences in East Africa. Bars do not close! Revellers party till the next day throughout the week. Are you looking for an exhilarating experience, don’t drive past Kampala.
Jinja
Commonly referred to as the Adventure capital of East Africa, Jinja is a town in the eastern part of Uganda. The source of the longest river in the world(River Nile) is in Jinja. If you’re looking for adrenaline activities, Jinja is the place. Activities here include bungee jumping, jet boating, Nile Kayaking, quad biking, sort fishing and horseback riding.
Embark on an unforgettable self-drive safari experience by following local traffic laws, being polite to the locals and packing enough essentials for your road trip. Make sure you choose the right 4×4 car since most roads in these safari destinations are rugged. Contact us for more information about the 10 Most Visited Places On East African Self Drive Safaris.
