Best Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours & Kenya Wildlife Safaris

 

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN UGANDA

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This is a thick and densely covered area raised at an altitude of 1200-1600m above sea level, the park is blessed with over 600 different plant species. The high-altitude areas which are permanently shrouded by thick mist has favored the settlement of the endangered mountain gorillas.

Bwindi impenetrable national park holds almost half of mountain gorillas’ global population with over 500 individuals located here. Besides gorillas, there are over 350 bird species and 120 mammals. While here you can engage in a range of exciting activities such as gorilla trekking, hiking, bird watching and nature walks.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

This is one of the biggest national parks in the country, spanning across three districts and was founded in 1954. It has a diverse ecosystem which makes it one of Uganda’s most popular national parks. The ecosystem comprises of savanna, humid woods, lakes and wetlands making it a perfect habitat for practically all savanna animals.

Lake Katwe known for salt mining and Kazinga channel that connects Lakes Edward and Gorge is found within the park and one can enjoy a boat cruise on this channel to watch animals like the big four, hippos and crocodiles as well as birds.

Accommodation facilities have been setup within the park and this enables one to be part of the wild. Due to its extensive savannah landscape, game drives are carried out during morning or evening hours.

 

WHERE TO VISIT WHILE IN RWANDA

Volcanoes National Park

With the presence of mountain gorillas that may be viewed during a day’s trek on the base of Virunga mountains in north-western Rwanda. This park is a top Rwanda destination for gorilla trekking tours. The five Virunga mountains - Mount. Sabyinyo, Mt. Muhabura, Mt. Gahinga, Mt. Karisimbi and Mt. Bisoke are all found in this region and are home to several gorilla families.

Some of the Rwandan gorilla families include Amahoro gorilla family, Karisimbi gorilla family, Susa gorilla families, Musilikare, Titus gorilla group and others. Visiting each of these gorilla families may be a wonderful experience for travelers since they can learn about different ways these primate species behave.

Visitors also have an opportunity to visit the grave of popular American primatologist Dian Fossey, whose efforts to habituate gorillas and stop their extinction contributed to the gorillas' popularity in Rwanda and entire Virunga conservation area.

Akagera National Park

With amazing wildlife and sweeping savannah landscape, the park inhabits all the big five mammals, offering one of the best wildlife safari experiences in Rwanda. It’ situated in the eastern region of Rwanda near Tanzanian border.

Animals like buffaloes, lions, leopards, African elephant, Masai giraffes, antelopes, Impalas and many more make up Akagera’s total wildlife population. Visitors find this exciting to witness. The park is home to approximately 500 different bird species, including uncommon shoebill stork, raptors and sniper birds, among others. It also contains 10 lakes, some of which can be visited including Lake Ihema and Lake Shakani and visitors can take boat tours on any of these lakes.

 

TOP TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN TANZANIA

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti provides the best opportunity for viewing magical wildebeest migration, thought to be the migration's starting point. Visitors will have the chance to participate in all aspects of the migration, including its planning and calving. In most cases, visitors arrive at the park and make reservations weeks before the migration actually takes place in order to document every single step of the migration until Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya.

The park features beautiful views for taking in the countryside, including views of Mount. Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro crater, several bird species that populate the plains and seasonal rivers. However, what draws tourists the most are the pelicans and flamingos which are abundant and also contribute to the park's beautiful scenery.

Serengeti national park also offers visitors a chance to engage in hot air balloon rides and enjoy mesmerizing aerial views of the entire wilderness.

Ngorongoro Crater

The big five animals can only be found in a select few places, making Ngorongoro crater one of the top 10 tourist sites in East Africa. The presence of all the animals has increased tourism in the area. Along with the big five, numerous more animal species can also be viewed. The Olduvai Museum, which is situated in the Olduvai Gorge and is a prominent location for travelers interested in history, is one of the additional attractions that may be seen.

The Ngorongoro crater though divided from Serengeti conservation area is part of its ecosystem. While here, tourists are able to see the wildebeest calving season during their migration through the Ngorongoro conservation area.

Variety of water birds, including flamingos, pelicans, ducks, waders and herons, as well as several other bird species, including ostriches, grey crown cranes, secretary birds, Kori bustards and many others can be seen in the Ngorongoro crater.

 

TOP TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN KENYA

Masai Mara National Reserve

Rhino, African elephant, buffalo, leopard and lion call this park home and are part of the big five safari mammals. Masai mara is one of the few parks in East Africa where all big five can be found. Numerous bird species are sighted here with over 500 species identified; this number is unmatched to other parks. Some bird species include vultures, long-crested eagles, ostriches, tailed and black kites, marabou storks and more. Reptiles can also be seen like geckos, monitor lizards, tortoises, black-necked spitting cobra.

The park is famous for wildebeest migration that happens annually as they migrate from Serengeti region to the Southern part of Masai mara in search of food and water. Over 2 million wildebeests can be sighted from here alongside gazelles and zebras.

While in this park, you can experience the Masai people that still live indigenously. You can interact with them and learn more about their authentic traditions. These people still carry out cattle rustling because they believe that all the cattle in the world were given to them by “god” as a gift.

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park will quench your thirst for wildlife and nature with a variety of animals and landscapes, you’ll be left in awe. It has rare species of elephants and lions which are not easily found in any other national park.

Its huge population of elephants sum up to 1000, and the unique thing about them is that they have been named and recorded individually. This is highly uncommon among East African national parks. You can enjoy game drives in this park, giving one a chance to explore the whole park in a single trip.

While in Amboseli, you are able to see the spectacular Mount. Kilimanjaro, the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Well known for having a variety of bird species, this park is suitable for bird lovers. It is home to mainly flamingo birds which can be seen along the shores of Lake Nakuru where they feed on algae. These birds are naturally beautiful with their pink and white color. Tourists enjoy capturing awesome moments of the birds. The park also has other animal species like monkeys, baboons, hippos, lions, leopards and wildebeests among so many others.

D.R. Congo is close to Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda and therefore most tourists visiting East Africa can easily combine their vacation with Democratic Republic of Congo. It is one of the largest nations on the African continent and it has dedicated most of its resources to conserve environment and wildlife.

TOP DESTINATIONS IN D.R. CONGO

Virunga National Park

The Virunga National Park, which is in the country's east is mostly known for mountain gorilla trekking safaris. It has more than 250 gorillas and 8 habituated families. This park is part of the vast Virunga Mountain ranges that stretch across Rwanda, Uganda and D.R. Congo. Due to political unrest that have existed in the nation for a while, tourism activities have not been very common in this park however the government has set up measures to curb insecurities like deploying military units in the park to protect both tourists and gorillas. Each tourist group is accompanied by more than two game rangers during the trekking.

The park also has other animal species like chimpanzees, monkeys, chameleons and numerous birds that you can come across as you hike Mount Nyiragongo which interestingly has a boiling lava lake at its peak.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park

One of the biggest and best protected areas in Democratic Republic of Congo is Kahuzi-Biega National Park covering 6,000 square kilometers. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in South Kivu province.

Hilly and lowland terrains make up this popular park. It has both mountain and lowland gorillas though well-known for Eastern lowland gorillas. It was named after two extinct volcanoes – Biega and Kahuzi. Other animal species like monkeys, buffalos can also be found in this park.