East Africa travel guide

A short update on East Africa travel for a unique local experience.

This travel guide, which includes Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi takes you through travel activities, experiences and tips for travelers considering this region on their bucket list either in private tours or small group travel programs.

Beside the great animals’ migration in Tanzania and Kenya, gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, attracting most of visitors, there is always much to see and do in this great and diverse region for a well-advised visitor.

Led by a local guide, a photography tour can be a fun activity, creative and educational experience, providing you fantastic memories and other positive impressions on traveled destinations and your vacation. 

Roam around the fascinating and picturesque streets leading to a succession of markets, shops, bazaars, monuments, ancient buildings around Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Dar es Salaam, the spice island of Zanzibar, Bujumbura, white sand beaches around the Indian Ocean, Lake Victoria, Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika not to mention paying tribute to people who lost their lives in the Rwanda Genocide. 

Hiking and mountain climbing

It is time now for mountain hiking Kilimanjaro being the Africa’s top one, beside Mount Kenya, Mount Rwenzori, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Muhabura and Mount Heha, some of them being UNESCO world heritage sites. Having a conservation area around them, those mountains include plant life, amazing waterfalls with a unique mountainous vegetation.

Games drive in the amazing east African savannahs

It is worth noting that no nation has a monopoly on wildlife which makes this region an interesting destination. Hold your camera for the wildebeest migration in Masai Mara, spot birds, elephants, lions, buffalos, wild dogs and black rhinos, chimpanzees, monkeys, gorillas in protected areas, national parks with varied habitats. Plains, forests, rivers and lakes home to hippos, various fish species makes it clear that the region offers more to experience.

A few recommendations among others. 

  1. Visit East Africa on an overland safari preferably starting from Kenya to continuing to Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and ending in Burundi.
  2. Experience the breathtaking mountains and forests, villages and cities, a unique way that will guarantee you fantastic memories and very positive impressions on each country you travel into.
  1. Follow the great wildebeest migration, a stunning migration of animals in their millions in vast plains, nature’s beauty, and fresh grasslands.
  2. Discover Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountains- trek up to the summit. 
  3. Set out for a face-to-face encounter with the mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park or Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park
  4. Spend  holidaynights at the shores of Lake Tanganyika coupled with trips to Karera waterfalls and Gishora drum sanctuary.

A few tips to consider

  1. Greet people with a friendly smile, if possible,in their language or useJambo”,the equivalent of “Hi” generally understood across the whole east Africa. 
  2. While a sense of humor is well accepted, avoid delicate subjects like politics. 
  3. Hey, there are so many interesting things to talk and laugh aboutJ. 

When to go to East Africa

June- September is absolutely the coolest time to travel to East Africa. This is a peak season and busiest period for hotels, lodges and tour operators.

Having said that, it doesn’t mean March-May (main rainy season) and the rest of the months is a bad period for travel, there might simply be difficulties with certain roads. 

Originally published on https://augustinetours.com/africa-tours/

Author(s)

  • Augustin N

    Entrepreneur & tourism promoter

    Founder of Augustine Tours, a Rwanda based travel company offering custom-made tours. Inspired by St. Augustine” The world is a book and those who don’t travel only read one page”, he believes that tourism can be a great channel for both educational, cultural and business exchange. He is passionate about promoting Africa tourism sector to the world for which has a wealth of local knowledge that he happily shares. In his free time, you can find him reading articles and books about business trends and entrepreneurship. He speaks fluent English, French, German and Swahili.