People have a belief that East Africa region is all wild with no comforts or refinements. However, the region features stunning scenery with recurring shifts of sought-after beauty, attractions and activities to whet any thrill-seeking appetite. It is untamed, it’s spectacular and every form of mortality just can’t get enough of the crack of the dawn. East Africa offers amazing experiences you will treasure for the rest of your life.
Thousands of tourists arrive in East Africa every year with the intention of spending a few days enjoying its wildlife, luxury beaches and beautiful attractions under the famous African sun. People visit to take advantage of the amazing activities the countries offer.
If you really want to see what East Africa is all about, you need to get off and travel into the many cities and towns, meet the people and learn about the culture and history. Every visitor finds the East African culture inviting, appealing and amazing.
Here are 10 most extraordinary East African experiences you will never forget. Take a deep breath and explore East Africa.
1.The Great Migration
The Great Migration is an extraordinary natural wonder to witness in East Africa. It takes place every year between June and August, where over a million wildebeests, gazelles and zebras cross over from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. This event is a life-changing experience and it is believed to be the largest and greatest wildlife show in the world. Thousands of tourists from all over the world travel to Kenya and Tanzania during this migration to behold the natural phenomenon.
2.Gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda is an extremely fascinating adventure and an amazing experience for tourists. Many travellers tour both countries to see these beautiful creatures, which look almost like humans. Many of the primate’s population are found in these two East African countries – Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. You will be fascinated when you are in the presence of these rare endangered animals. The amazing experience of trekking through the impenetrable forests, searching for the Gorillas and the amazing feeling you get when you finally find them – are extraordinary.
3. Cultural experiences
East Africa has a great cultural significance. Many visitors have abandoned their home country just because they fell in love with our culture. The African region offers a rich variety of cultural experiences especially in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Visitors get amazing opportunity to learn about these cultures when they visit these destinations. You get to learn about Swahili, Turkana, Samburu, Maasai and many others. Tanzania and Kenya also encompass a diversity of cultures and influences such as Asian, Arab and Western. You can enjoy or experience the cultural experience of these countries by witnessing their cultural festivals such as Rift Valley Festival, Mombasa Carnival, Bayimba International Festival of Music and Arts, Lamu Cultural Festival, Lake Turkana Festival, Maulidi Festival and many more. Each country features some amazing cultural festivals that give you an unforgettable experience.
4. Climbing the highest mountain in Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest and largest mountain in Africa. Climbing the mountain is a lifetime achievement. Many people try to climb the mountain in a year but only a few succeed. Some either go back when they are halfway to the peak or get discouraged even before climbing. However, those who succeeded in climbing the mountain enjoy the extraordinary experiences it offers. The mountain is located in Tanzania, near the border of Kenya. If you can’t go climbing, you can catch the impressive views of the mountain at Amboseli National Park in Kenya. The magnificent peak of Kilimanjaro shows mountaineers the beautiful boondocks of East Africa. The experience is nerve-racking and life-changing!
5. Have a 10 day cycle tour that takes you from Arusha, in Northern Tanzania, across the Maasai step, to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National park, and finally to the scared and extreme landscape of Oldoinyo Lengai and Lake Natron. It is an adventure safari not to be missed. We guide you through incredible and spectacular scenery, taking you closer to wildlife than you have ever been before. This is an entirely unique safari combining game viewing with cycling in a real life adventure through the sacred Maasai heartlands, to the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, and Tanzania’s only live volcano, “The Mountain of God” or Oldoinyo Lengai.
You will depart from Arusha in Northern Tanzania and ride for a full day through Coffee plantations onto the Maasai step. Following the ridges of the Great Rift Valley you will ride through the homeland of the Maasai, towards Lake Manyara. You will ride within meters of plains game, Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest and Thompson Gazelle’s. Towards Lake Manyara you may come across the wandering Elephants, Buffalo and Eland, the largest of all antelopes weighing in at approximately 500-600 kilograms. You will feel at one with nature as you experience wildlife in an entirely unique way. You will trade your bikes for the vehicle for the next few days as you enter Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend for a full days game drive into Ngorongoro Crater. The following days take you into the spectacular Serengeti National park for the chance encounter with the great Migration. As you depart Kleins gate in Northern Serengeti the mountain bikes will come out again and you will begin the enthralling cycle over the Rift Valley Escarpment to Lake Natron and Oldoinyo Lengai.
Oldoinyo Lengai rises above the vast plains of the African Rift stretching below the scared volcano towards Lake Natron. It is Tanzania’s only live volcano and aptly named by the Maasai as “The Mountain of God”. This sacred ground is one of Tanzania’s most spectacular and extreme landscapes. It stretches from the base of Ngorongoro Crater into the Rift Valley and towards the border of Kenya. Lake Natron lies in the eastern band of the African Rift Valley. The lake is a soda lake colored red, orange and pink by the salt loving microorganisms that thrive in the spring water. These microorganisms turn surface of the lake into an alkaline salt encrusted fusion of color. Lake Natron is the sacred breeding ground for the Lesser Flamingo who feed in the alkaline waters. You will spend a full day in this rare and raw area, exploring the salt encrusted shores of lake Natron and the thirst quenching waterfalls of Oldoinyo Lengai. You can opt to stay an extra day here to climb the ash-covered volcano. You will climb at night and reach the top for a spectacular sunrise overlooking the Great Rift Valley.
6. High-end camping in East Africa wilderness
East Africans do camping in style! The African region is crammed of incredible luxury camping sites. Whether it is the allure of sleeping under the stars at night or getting a luxury camp to stay – there is a wide variety of high-end tented camps and camping grounds for outdoor adventurers. The high-end camping sites allow travellers to explore and experience the wilds in a luxurious setting. You will find luxury tented camps and lodges in the wilderness, featuring the most pricey bed linen and modern bathrooms. Most of these luxury camps are found in the National Parks and game reserves.
: Walk with Warriors: We Take You Back to Your Roots to Learn the Art of Hunter-Gathering from the Masters of the Wild.
7. Chimpanzee Tracking
Chimpanzee Tracking is on many travelers bucketlists!
8. A taste of East African authentic cuisines
The authentic cuisine of East Africa is undoubtedly colourful, with exclusive and spicy mix that you will never taste anywhere. East Africa cooking is so delicious that you will want to repeat it even when you get to your home country. Most of the dishes are made from rice, yam, beans, maize, sorghum and more, with stew and soups cooked with pepper, tomatoes, vegetables, meat, fish, chicken and more. Fresh milk, cheese and butter are also common in East Africa. Our fishermen are fearless and they fish in some of the untamed waters in East Africa to bring the finest seafood to our table. East African foods are always tasteful, deliciously healthy.
9.Wildlife Safari
East Africa is a well-known destination for wildlife safaris. The African region features unspoiled stretch of scrubland and savannah, burgeoning with untamed wildlife. There are several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in East Africa, containing the various animals and rare species of wildlife, including ‘the Big Five’. Many tourists visit this African region to experience an ultimate safari. Here are the safari destinations you have to visit in East Africa to experience an extraordinary wildlife safari – Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya, Serengenti National Park in Tanzania/Kenya, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, Simien Mountains National Park in Ethiopia and many others.
10. White-water Rafting
White water rafting is an exciting adventure you should not miss when you are in East Africa. Rivers in this region have a sporadic combination of white water. East Africa water rafting experience offers scenic rivers, remarkable rapids, gorgeous scenery, massive gorges and natural beauty of the wilderness. Go rafting in Athi River, Mathioya River and Tana River in Kenya and River Nile in Uganda and have a thrilling experience.
East Africa is not all about wildlife safari and wilderness activities, the region offers amazing urban life – exciting things to do and places to see. If you are looking for a place to enjoy a metropolis vacation, you should visit the East African cities such as Nairobi, Kigali, Dar es Salaam,Kampala, Mombasa, Mogadishu, Addis Ababa, Asmara and many others. These cities offer vibrant entertainment scene, fine restaurants, lively bars and nightspots, luxury hotels, exciting skyscrapers, high-rise buildings, and other interesting attractions.
BONUS: Visit the tree climbing Lions in Uganda.
These tree climbing lions are sited in Queen Elizabeth National park around the Ishasha sector or Region. Many countries have got Lions but the unique aspect with the ones of Uganda is that they do climb trees even on tour vehicles that visit the parks at times! This experience is not offered anywhere in East Africa apart from Uganda.
