12 Best Places to Visit in East Africa

The Serengeti plains are among the most recognizable ecosystems in East Africa, home to a wide variety of animal and bird life, and remarkable natural events. The Great Migration is the most famous spectacle one can experience on Serengeti Safaris.

During the migration, millions of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle gallop across the grasslands, avoiding prowling predators en route to greener pastures. Guided game drives with knowledgeable park rangers can reveal the natural phenomenon from stunning vantage points and bring you closer to the action as lions leap for trailing ungulates.

Walking safaris are an option in park areas for explorers hoping to sneak up on unsuspecting wildlife, while hot-air balloon safaris can show you the Serengeti from above. The national park is also a gateway to several Maasai communities, where traditional African life mirrors the rural environment.

Highlights: Great Migration • Big Five • Walking safari • Hot-air balloon safari • Maasai communities • Olduvai Gorge

Pairs well with: Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area • Zanzibar • Mount Kilimanjaro • Ruaha National Park • Masai Mara National Reserve

Learn more: Tanzania Safaris & Vacations • Tanzania Safari Guide

Kenya’s premier safari reserve, Masai Mara, is a land of epic wildlife and culture, with world-class safari lodges sprinkling the plains and rolling hills. On Maasai Mara Safaris, adventures bring you to Big-Five viewing spots and villages where Maasai culture comes to life.

The Great Migration also occurs in the reserve as the plains share a border with Tanzania’s Serengeti. And the beauty of Kenya extends from the grasslands to glamorous tented camps a stone’s throw from waterholes.

Beyond game drives spotlighting nocturnal predators, horseback riding can reveal the reserve like never before. As you trot across the bushy landscape, you will not need to look hard to spot herds of elephants plodding alongside you or even lions lounging beneath acacias, escaping the harsh midday sun.

Highlights: Great Migration • Big Five • Horseback riding • Game drives • Unique safari lodges

Pairs well with: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy • Amboseli National Park • Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area • Serengeti National Park • Zanzibar • Amboseli National Park

Learn more: Kenya Safaris & Tours • Kenya Safari Guide

While the Big Five is an excellent reason to visit Africa on safari, Uganda is one of the best places to visit if you want to combine typical wildlife experiences with gorilla encounters. Within Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the mighty primates play with their young ones and safari-goers join them for a day of fun in the wild.

The treks take you through lush forests blanketing the Ugandan hills, where bird sounds compete with occasional gorilla belching. Your guide walks with you to where the gorillas have made their homes in the greenery and you can see the wrinkles on their heads mere feet away.

Active travelers can enjoy mountain biking in the rainforest, another alternative safari experience that makes Bwindi one of the most exciting places to visit in East Africa. Combining safaris with tours of the Batwa community can introduce you to the humble residents of the forest and one of the oldest indigenous tribes in Africa.

Highlights: Gorilla trek • Birdwatching • Batwa community • Forest hikes • Mountain biking

Pairs well with: Masai Mara National Reserve • Queen Elizabeth National Park

Learn more: Uganda Safaris and Gorilla Trekking • Best Places to Visit in Uganda

Rwanda is East Africa’s second most popular place to visit for gorilla trekking and the Volcanoes National Park protects up to 10 habituated gorilla families. Though terrifying in size and looks, their demeanor is gentle, and armed rangers let you get close to the friendly giants.

After spending time with them and their silverback leader, you can drive through the wilderness, with the impressive Virunga Mountains’ volcanoes backdropping your photography. The drive could bring you to the enormous entry to the Musanze Caves, where lava flows burned through the Earth’s crust to contribute to the Albertine Rift Valley, or sheer volcanic cliffs that make for excellent hiking.

Second to the cinematic volcanic mountains are the Rwandan lakes of the national park, with massive craters you can walk around or lodges overlooking the azure waters.

Highlights: Gorilla trek • Musanze Caves • Mountain biking • Lakes tour • Mountain hiking

Pairs well with: Serengeti National Park • Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area • Zanzibar • Ruaha National Park • Kigali

Learn more: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Safaris • Best Places to Visit in Rwanda

Africa’s tallest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, is a grand marvel. You can see the snowy summit from thousands of miles away. Still, it is within Mount Kilimanjaro National Park that you can genuinely embrace the magnificence of its mighty volcanic cones.

The park’s main attraction is the mountain, though the safari does not cease to amaze as you drive through the grasslands and forests extending from the base of Kilimanjaro. Hiking trails can bring you to waterfalls that plunge lofty cliffs within the park, though they appear tiny compared with the towering summit from which they flow.

You can also find your way to the banks of Lake Chala caldera, where birds sing and monkeys cling to tall, ancient trees reaching towards the sunlight above the canopy or surrounding bubbling hot springs.

Highlights: Mountain climbing • Safari • Waterfall hike • Plantation tour • Hot springs • Birdwatching

Pairs well with: Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area • Serengeti National Park • Zanzibar • Ruaha National Park

Learn more: Tanzania Safaris & Vacations • Tanzania Safari Guide

In southern Kenya, elephant herds travel in large groups and views of Mount Kilimanjaro backdrop Amboseli safaris, the peak rising above the plains of neighboring Tanzania.

Though the views are impressive, your adventures turn away from the mountain in favor of Amboseli’s golden grasslands and dewy swamps. With massive plateaus extending across the national park, wildlife viewing is unbelievable, as there are only acacias and shrubbery to obstruct your view.

You can drive with 360-degree views of the plains, spotting lions or the faint movement of a leopard's tail from a shady tree. Birdwatching is fantastic in this part of Kenya and Lake Amboseli is a great place to retreat to for viewing thousands of flamingos painting the water pink.

Highlights: Big Five • Birdwatching • Lake Amboseli • Observation Hill • Selenkay Conservation Area

Pairs well with: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy • Amboseli National Park • Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area • Serengeti National Park • Zanzibar

Learn more: Kenya Safaris & Tours • Kenya Safari Guide

The protected plains, caldera forests, and sweeping savannas of Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area are but a few of the environments with unique ecosystems to discover on tours of this breathtaking part of East Africa.

Boasting UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Tanzanian conservation area is a bucket-list destination, with wildlife viewing opportunities and Maasai culture to experience. As you drive around the caldera, your guide will track black rhinos for a remarkable sighting of the critically endangered creature.

Your travels can also bring you to Maasai villages, where you can interact with the locals who live in the wild. Bush picnics add an element of barefoot luxury to romantic safaris, while the Olduvai Gorge Historic Site showcases the ancient archeological finds of the crater.

Highlights: Black rhinoceros • Maasai villages • Calving season • Game drives • Bush picnics • Olduvai Gorge Historic Site

Pairs well with: Serengeti National Park • Zanzibar • Mount Kilimanjaro • Ruaha National Park • Masai Mara National Reserve

Learn more: Tanzania Safaris & Vacations • Tanzania Safari Guide

East Africa is an adventure destination for safari trips and a top contender for beach vacations, with sun-soaked shores on which to spend your time relaxing, especially along the coastlines of Zanzibar.

Most Zanzibar Vacation Packages begin at the main island's cultural heart, Stone Town, where Swahili life mingles with the modern seaside sophistication of lavish accommodations lining the nearby shores. You can find comfort in overwater bungalows or on private islands with panoramic views of the sea, walk the forest boardwalks of Jozani Chwaka Bay, or embrace glamour on Nungwi’s white-sand beaches with a cocktail in hand.

Zanzibar presents many opportunities to relax, offering a great stop on East African safaris for travelers seeking a day or three at leisure.

Highlights: Stone Town • Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park • Nungwi • Palace Museum

Pairs well with: Serengeti National Park • Mount Kilimanjaro • Ruaha National Park • Masai Mara National Reserve

Learn more: Tanzania Safaris & Vacations • Tanzania Safari Guide

Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, is not only a jumping-off point for Rwanda Gorilla-Trekking Safaris, but a vibrant hub of Rwandan culture.

With national parks around the corner, art museums and exhibits sharing the country's dramatic history, and colorful markets where locals gather to share food and crafts, Kigali is a great stop en route to Rwandan safari destinations.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial leaves visitors speechless, the Kimironko Market displays the textiles and culinary traditions of the country, and Mount Kigali offers views of the city you won’t find anywhere else.

Highlights: Kigali Genocide Memorial • Rwanda Art Museum • Kimironko Market • Mount Kigali

Pairs well with: Serengeti National Park • Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area • Zanzibar • Ruaha National Park • Kigali

Learn more: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Safaris • Best Places to Visit in Rwanda

Ugandan savannas are breathtaking in Queen Elizabeth National Park, contrasting the dewy rainforests and emerald greenery that covers Bwindi and other forest regions. Furthermore, the park is home to tree-climbing lions you’re unlikely to come across on the plains of other East African destinations.

Of all Uganda’s parks, the diversity of wildlife is immense in Queen Elizabeth. You can take treks to parts teeming with chimpanzees, scan the horizon for large birds circling kills, and explore by water on cruises that reveal the natural beauty of the river banks and channels.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is an ideal option for travelers returning from gorilla-trekking parks to search for the Big Five and other traditional safari experiences.

Highlights: Tree-climbing lions • Birdwatching • Chimpanzee trek

Pairs well with: Masai Mara National Reserve

Learn more: Uganda Safaris and Gorilla Trekking • Best Places to Visit in Uganda

As the largest national park in East Africa, Ruaha is a treasure trove of wilderness experiences that invites travelers to embrace the pleasures of African safaris.

Herds of elephants find refuge in the waters of the wetlands, cheetahs make themselves comfortable in the shade and protect their kills, and wild dogs bark through the night. You can join your armed ranger for walks in and around the park, visiting seemingly hidden parts of Ruaha where it feels like no other human has been. Along the way, your guide will share details of the wild while tracking down your favorite animals.

The stunning landscape and rock formations in Ruaha, specifically Ngalambulwa Mountain, are well worth a drive-by. Four-by-four safari vehicles can take you off-road to experience the tallest peak in the park and views that overlook the endless plains of Tanzania.

Highlights: Elephant • Cheetah • Wild dog • Birdwatching • Ngalambulwa Mountain • Guided walking safari

Pairs well with: Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area • Serengeti National Park • Zanzibar • Mount Kilimanjaro

Learn more: Tanzania Safaris & Vacations • Tanzania Safari Guide

Northern Kenya’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy protects the critically endangered black rhino and teems with other animals, including Grevy’s zebra. There are few places in East Africa as ideal for discovering these iconic animals on game drives or walking safaris.

Beyond typical safari experiences, Lewa is a great place to visit for camel-riding safaris and game tours with Maasai warriors. These activities shed light on what makes Lewa such a remarkable East African destination, offering a fresh perspective on the African plains, endemic wildlife, and communities that live among the animals.

You can learn more about the conservancy's impressive conservation efforts as you step into the wild with your guide to appreciate every inch of northern Kenya’s untouched wilds.

Highlights: Black rhino • White rhino • Grevy’s zebra • Horseback riding • Camel riding • Maasai cultural village • Walking safari • Night game drive

Pairs well with: Masai Mara National Reserve • Amboseli National Park • Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area • Serengeti National Park • Zanzibar • Amboseli National Park

Ten to 14 days is perfect for a tour of East Africa, giving you enough time to explore several famous reserves, with chances to see your favorite animals.

From Tanzania Great Migration Safaris that cross into Kenya to African safari adventures that combine days on the beaches of Zanzibar, the beauty of East Africa unfolds on journeys providing the time to immerse yourself in nature.

Tours upwards of 14 days are also possible and ideal for travelers who wish to take their time in East Africa, relishing every safari moment, with days to relax between game-viewing activities.

Witness the Great Migration across Tanzania’s Serengeti plains, join Maasai locals in Kenya for insight into their traditions, or stand face to face with giant, friendly gorillas on East Africa Safaris & Tours.

The region showcases the best safaris, from Big-Five spotting to relaxing afternoons in glamorous lodges gazing out at the African sunset. Use our East Africa Travel Guide to find ideas on the best places to visit in East Africa and more to help you experience a safari you would not have dreamed possible.