Kidepo Valley National Park – Uganda is a hidden wilderness gem nestled in gorgeous landscapes of rugged hills and vast Savannah with unique wildlife that mostly goes unnoticed. It sits on a massive 557-sq-mile rocky, semi-arid Karamoja province on the northeastern frontier with Kenya and South Sudan. It is home to several unique animals, such as cheetah, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, caracal, and kudu.
Kidepo Valley is a wilderness park that captivates visitors with its seemingly endless plains, grazing animals, and gorgeous birds. As you explore the park on game drives, you will have the opportunity to view the amazing creatures that roam the park’s green and gold savannah grasslands, dotted with trees and rocky crags.
While here, game drives are a must activity. As you drive through this park, expect to come across the elegant Burchell’s zebras, cheetahs, lions, elephants, leopards, Defassa water bucks, bush bucks, Cape buffaloes, giant elands, Uganda Kobs, impalas, spotted and stripped hyenas, Rothschild giraffes, Topis, warthogs, to mention but a few.
Take a guided bush walk to discover the spectacular Kidepo Valley National Park with its amazing landscapes. Undertaken through areas around Namamkwenyi, Morungole mountain ranges, Narus Valley, these places provide travelers with unforgettable wilderness experiences while coming across lots of wildlife.
The visitors depart from Apoka (the Park Headquarters) with an armed park Ranger and begin walking through the secluded bushes while sighting different animals and birds by their sounds and other clues (like footprints and droppings).
Visit the Tribal Lands of Kidepo to see the cattle keepers. The Karamojong people have resisted urbanization and modern education and prefer to keep to their traditional beliefs and religion, which worships the god, Akuj. On the slopes of Mount Morungole is the Ik tribe, a hunter-gatherer group whose unique culture is truly fascinating.
Among the many activities possible for visitors to Kidepo Valley National Park is a visit to their village, for an authentic cultural tour into their way of living in Uganda. You may even have the opportunity to participate in music and dance performances based during their tribal celebrations.
Kidepo Valley National Park is a fabulous region for spotting birds of Uganda. The reserve is the third largest in the country and boasts of hosting more than 475 species of birds. Should you travel to the Narus and Namamukweny Valleys, you will see species like the Clapperton’s francolin, purple heron, Abyssinian roller, ground horn bill, red-cheeked cordon-bleu, little weaver, mosque swallow, Ruppell’s and superb starlings, hoopoe, vinaceous dove, Nubian woodpecker, scarlet-chested sun bird, yellow-billed shrike, and silver bird.
On the cultural tour of the Karamajong village, you will see that the manyatta are simple structures with low doors that you may have to crawl into. With no furniture and smeared with mud and cow dung, the homes offer respite from the intensely hot weather conditions of Kidepo Valley National Park.
It is not common for the men to have several wives, and they pay the bride price with cattle. Extended families live together in close-knit families, helping each other. To ease the heat, the women and children don’t wear much clothing. You will also be able to spot unique tribal markings.
Kidepo national park has got a number of accommodation facilities making it easy for you to reside in comfort as you enjoy your Kidepo safari. These are grouped depending on the traveler’s budget in terms of luxury/mid-range or budget. These include Apoka Safari Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp, Kidepo Savannah Lodge and many more.
Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda it includes the most powerful falls, Victoria Nile, and vast savanna plains. It lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where bounding escarpments fade into north Uganda’s anonymous expanses.
Victoria Nile river stretch from the falls to the Abert delta teems with hippo pods. Serried ranks of enormous Nile crocodiles sunbathe on the river sandbanks, and riparian birds and many animals converge for a drink on the Egypt-bound waters.
Boat Safari on the Nile River is one of the best ways to experience Murchison Falls. This allows visitors to get up close and personal with the wildlife that congregates around the river banks, ending with an amazing sight of the Murchison Falls. The most common animals you can see on the riverside are water bucks, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and crocodiles. Taking a boat ride up to the base of the falls allows you to feel the power of the water firsthand.
Visit the most dramatic view of the waterfall at the top of the falls, where the sight and sounds of the Nile crash through the 6-meter vast chasm making an unforgettable memory. The top of the falls may be reached either by vehicle or a hot half-hour climb on foot.
During your safari, you’ll get the chance to see over 70 African mammal species and 4 out of the iconic “Big Five”, including lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes. Murchison is also a great place to partake in bird watching; there are nearly 450 recorded bird species found throughout the park. Chimpanzee trekking is another extremely popular activity.
December to February is referred to as the best time to visit the park since the weather is mild during this time of year. The peak tourist time is from June to September, so be aware that the park will be crowded during these months and its a dry season. The two seasons in the country determine the number of tourists to the country.
There are two low seasons due to heavy rainfall, from March to May and October and November. For those interested in birding, the rainy (low) season may be the best time to go. In this season, every thing tends to be low includes lodges giving discounts since the tourists are few.
There are several lodges and hotels in Murchison Falls National Park. These include Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge, and Murchison Safari Lodge. If you want to stay on top of the falls themselves, try the Uganda Wildlife Authority campsite.
Bwindi Forest National Park – Uganda it is located in southwestern Uganda, with thick vegetation like its name suggests. Every day when tourists go out for the famous gorilla trekking adventure the ranger guides have to cut vegetation for trackers to access way to where gorillas nested the previous night.
It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site with its rich diversity in hosting different flora and fauna and being home to half of the worlds remaining mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is divided into different sector heads where gorilla trekking tours happen that is Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija and Buhoma. There are currently 22 gorilla families habituated for tourism in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The park is home to about 120 mammals’ species that are rarely seen as they hide in the thickets of the dense forest. These include the large mammals and the very small mammals. The animals of Bwindi Forest include; Elephants, duikers, buffaloes, golden cats, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, black-fronted Duiker, yellow-backed duiker, clawless otter, side-striped jackal, civet, numerous bats and rodents.
For gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi, book your permit at least 3 months prior to secure your day especially if you prefer a certain location at $800. Only 8 individuals from 15 years of age are permitted to visit a gorilla family per day. You need to be in good health condition otherwise you will not track because humans and gorillas can easily pass diseases to each other.
You will be briefed by your guide way before tracking and advice you to stay at least 7metres from the gorillas and do not use flash while taking photos. Once you locate the gorillas, take one hour to watch the gorillas then descend to the park headquarters for your trekking certificate.
Bwindi forest is a prime Uganda birding spot this means that the bird lovers are highly welcome. There are excellent site guides in the communities who are very knowledgeable about the birds in the area especially the endemics.
Enjoy Nature and waterfalls walks. There are various trails into the forest for your different interests. You have trails leading to beautiful waterfalls where you can dive in the water. You walk along with an armed Uganda wildlife ranger guide for your protection in case you bump into a wild animal and also giving you information about the place since he knows every thing.
Go for community walks and Cultural experiences. You can choose to take on the Batwa experience – a people that lived in the forest for many years. Here you will be to re-visit the forest with them and experience how they lived in the forest, how they co-existed with the gorillas and the other animals for years.
Buhoma community tours where you can visit handcraft shops, Batwa community, traditional healer, primary school and finally learn how bananas are used to make juice, beer and gin and taste. Go for Nyundo community Eco trails and King Bakyara’s waterfall trail. Tour the village Aquaponics project with Conservation through Public Health.
Where to stay in Bwindi gives a number of choices for instance Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Silver back Lodge, Mwebesa House, Chameleon Hill, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Broad bill Forest Camp, Kiho Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Safari Lodge, Gorilla Heights and many more. All this will depend on the sector you will track from as well as the travel budget you have to determine the cost.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – Uganda it is located on the south-western corner of Uganda in the town of Kisoro and the smallest national park in Uganda and covers an area of 34 square kilometres. While here, you enjoy its natural beauty characterized by Savannah grasslands, woodlands, tropical forests, montane forests, marshes/swamps, bamboo forests, Afro-montane forests, bogs and semi-alpine vegetation.
Gorilla trekking is the main draw to this park at $800 per permit. About 80 mountain gorillas are found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Only one group of gorillas the Nyakagyezi gorilla group is open to tourism in Mgahinga. The activity starts at 8 am with briefing and after briefing, visitors are led by the park rangers to find the group.
While tracking the gorillas, expect to encounter pristine forest, primates, birds and other forest creatures. The time taken tracking the gorillas will depend on the location of the group that day and can take anywhere between 2 to 3 hours. Once you locate the gorillas take one hour with them then back to the headquarter for your trekking certificate.
Golden monkey tracking is another enticing activity while in this park at $100. They look cute with beautiful golden coats. Golden monkeys are rather small monkeys with an adult weighing about twenty pounds. They are very playful and active primates living in large groups that can contain 80 individuals.
They spend most of their time on top of trees feeding off bamboo shoots or insects on the slopes of the Volcanoes. The activity starts at 8am with briefing taking between thirty minutes to three hours to locate them and once you locate them, take one hour with them. There is a possibility of going for the longer golden monkey habituation experience with researchers at an extra cost.
While in this park, it is possible to hike to the top of all the three volcanoes in a period of three days (Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhavura). Climbing to the top of the three volcanoes will reward hikers with amazing views of all the three countries, the Virunga ranges of mountains, crater lakes, swamps, rare alpine vegetation, the Rwenzori Mountains, Bwindi impenetrable forest and Lake Edward. Those used to hiking may find hiking to the summit of these mountains easy but inexperienced hikers need to be well prepared.
Bird watching is yet another interesting activity for the ones in love of them. Over 110 species of birds can be found in the caves, forests, lakes and mountains of Mgahinga National Park. It is the best activity during the rain season since they nest in that same period yet even the migrants from Europe escaping the winter season reach here in the same season.
Yellow-Vented Bul bul, yellow – throated long claw, White-starred Robin, White-necked raven, White – naped Raven, White – naped Raven, White Starred Robin, Western Green Tinker bird, Wax Bills, Thrush and Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Striped breasted Tit, Streaky Seed eater, Stray seed eater, Stone Chat, Speckled Mouse bird, Southern Red Bishop, Shelly’s Dusky Crimson wing, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Night jar, Rwenzori double-collared sun bird, Rwenzori Batis, Rufous chested swallow, Regal Sun bird, red – throated alethe, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Red necked spur fowl, Pin-tailed whydah, Paradise Fly-catcher are among the species in the park.
Nature walks are also amazing in the park. One of the walking trails lead up to the beautiful village plantations for a close encounter with some of the local folks like the Batwa.
The trail takes about five hours to complete going through different vegetation types providing opportunities to see primates like the golden monkeys and the caldera on the gisozi hill.
While going for nature walks using any of the trails, always be alert and listen to the sweet melodies coming from the resident birds and loud calls of monkeys as they jump from tree to tree.
The Batwa Trail and cultural visit is one you shouldn’t miss while in this park. Here you get to learn about their past way of life and current challenge of dealing with a new life outside the safety of the forest.
These Batwa guides will endeavour to explain their history by taking you to the forest to understand how they used to live in the forest as hunters, warriors and gatherers. They will take you to the ancient Ngarama caves where their leaders held war meeting and made sacrifices to their gods. You will also be led to their community for cultural entertainment including listening to sorrowful songs about their lost life, fading culture and an unfamiliar new world.
There are several hotel and lodge options. Lodges are available near the park, in Kisoro and in Kabale town. These categorized into luxury, mid-range and budget lodges. These include Chameleon Hill Lodge, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Mount Gahinga lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge, Traveler’s Nest Hotel, Virunga Hotel, Lake Mutanda Campsite, Mutanda Lake Resort, Bwindi Jungle Lodge and Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp.
Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda it borders neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo covering a vast 8,000 kilometres square, this stunning area protects five of the nine staggeringly beautiful Virunga Mountains, each characterized by steep slopes that are blanketed in thick green, tropical rain forest.
It is one of only four forest reserves in the world that protect mountain gorillas and where gorilla trekking adventures occur. The park gives visitors a unique opportunity to trek and spend intimate moments with the critically endangered mountain gorillas on trekking adventures within the untamed jungle. The park is home to approximately half the worlds remaining population of the, critically endangered, mountain gorilla.
Most people visit the park to encounter the mountain gorillas, but that’s not all you will find in the park. You might spot mammals, such as elephant and buffalo, giant forest hog, Colobus monkeys, bush pig, bush buck, black-fronted duiker, spotted hyena, golden monkeys and over 200 colourful bird species.
There are now twelve groups of habituated mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, and gorilla trekking tours in the park to see these endangered animals is a poignant experience that you will never forget. You will have every chance of successfully tracking a silver back or mother caring for her young as they show off in front of you.
Travelers to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda are required to buy gorilla permits each costing $1500 for an hour’s interaction. This may be done through a tour operator which is done in advance of 6 months to avoid miss out on the permits since they book and finish them early.
Gorilla trekking activity starts at 7 am with briefing at Kinigi park headquarters, thereafter visitors get assigned to gorilla family and start a guided hike in search for the gorillas. Trekking may take 2-5 hours depending on the family being tracked and walking speed of the participants.
Only 8 people are allowed to track on habituated gorilla family per day. Once they find gorillas, visitors get to spend a period of 1 hour with these endangered species observing their behaviours, learning about them and taking photos.
Golden monkey trekking is yet another most done activity in Volcanoes National Park which attract thousands of travelers into this jungle. Golden monkeys are exceptional creatures which every traveler should not miss out on the Rwanda safari. Its only in Volcanoes Rwanda and Mgahinga gorilla national parks that travelers can see golden monkeys in their natural habitats.
Fortunately, golden monkey trekking costs $100 which is relatively cheap compared to gorilla trekking. Golden monkey tracking is less strenuous than gorilla trekking since monkeys feed around the lower slopes of the mountain where they can be easily be trekked.
Go hiking to see Dian Fossey’s grave that is located between Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes near the Karisoke research centre that she started. When you visit her grave, you will still see Digit’s tomb and other graves of gorillas that were killed. The hike to and from Dian Fossey’s tomb takes about 6hours. You will learn about her life, her research and the legacy she left behind.
Visit Rwanda’s twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo are located in the village between Musanze and Uganda Border of Cyanika in the northern province of Rwanda. A hike to the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo is an amazing experience for any traveler on a Rwanda tour.
The trail will start in Musanze town, taking you down to Mukwangwa River where you will walk through the rural setting as you learn about the day-to-day lifestyle of Rwandans as you visit the lake Ruhondo. It’s 3 hours guided walk by the community/local guide who will tell you stories related to community members and formation of the lakes.
You can also visit gorilla guardians village/IbyI’wacu cultural village and learn how to prepare local meals, how traditional marriage in Rwanda and local beer, learn the traditional medicine and end with the cultural entertainment. Visiting this cultural village after your gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park is too entertaining as you learn and participate in the cultural traditions of Rwanda.
Virunga National Park – Democratic Republic of Congo consists of an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Rwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the Savannah on the slopes of volcanoes. Mountain gorillas are found in the park, some 20,000 hippopotamuses live in the rivers and birds from Siberia spend the winter there.
Gorilla trekking is the key attraction in Virunga National Park. You must book in advance at $400 for you to be able to trek gorillas in Virunga national park. Once that is done, you will only wait for that day which will start early morning with a briefing to what to do and that happens while with the gorillas. There are 8 gorilla groups available for you to trek depending on your level of fitness.
After the briefing, eight people will be allowed to trek in a particular gorilla group. The trekking activity will take an average time ranging from 30min to 6hours depending on the location of the group. Once you locate the gorillas, you will take one hour with them learning their behaviours, watch them feeding young ones as well as taking photos.
A hike to Nyiragongo volcano is yet another interesting activity in Virunga national park. The hike to the top will take between 5-6 hours. Its the world’s largest active volcano with a rewarding lava lake. Hiking to the top of mountain Nyiragongo and spending the night at the top of this mountain is indeed as thrilling as can be.
Nyiragongo volcano is one of the adventurous places one would consider themselves super brave after hiking to its summit for a view of the red glow that is produced by the boiling magma under the mountain.
Chimpanzee habituation and tracking is yet another vibe in Virunga national park. These are one of the incredible primates that live in the tropical rain forests on the Virunga Mountains in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There are 32 chimpanzees in the forest which are available for tracking at a fee of 100 $ per person. Book for your chimp trekking permit at Mikeno lodge. Chimp tracking starts at 6:00am for guests and a group of only 06 people visits a chimp family and once they spot the primates, they will interact with them; watching how the chimps de-nest, hunt, breastfeed and more behaviours. After an hour of this interaction, guests leave group for other activities or to relax.
Birding in Virunga National Park is another activity not to be missed if a bird lover. It is a home to over 700 bird species. This indicates that bird lovers would have a great experience during bird watching in the park. Bird watching is done in varied vegetation where a number of bird sightings are found; it could be in the mountainous areas, the swamps, the rain forest and all other landscapes.
Nature walks in Virunga National Park is a perfect activity for the nature lovers. Walking through the trails in the rain forests of Virunga national park is one of the spectacular activities to do on a gorilla safari in Democratic Republic of Congo.
As the ranger guide leads you through the forests, you will get to the most silent corners and be entertained by beautiful songs of birds. Also, expect to spot some of the park’s residents like the monkeys, elephants, buffaloes, lions, zebra, giraffes and crocodiles and hippos at Lake Edward.
Kahuzi Biega National Park is one of the biggest protected areas in the democratic republic of Congo known for harbouring the eastern lowland gorillas. About 170 individuals have been recorded in the highlands.
Eastern lowland gorillas are larger than the mountain gorillas. The specie is making one of its last stands here and faces the possibility of extinction.
Tracking the gorillas involves hiking though the dense tropical rain forests, swamps and even highlands depending on the last location of the gorilla group. While tracking the gorillas, it is important to listen to the instructions of the rangers at all times.
Tracking can take between thirty minutes to 6 hours. You are only allowed one hour with the gorillas. Use this time to observe the family keenly. You should be able to spot juveniles playing, females nursing the young ones and the dominant silver back looking out for any danger to the family.
The Park now has well established trails that take you to see the primates and birds. These are the same trails used for tracking the gorillas and border patrols by the park rangers. In the company of experienced park guides you can use the Marais Musisi Trail or use the Tshibati Waterfalls Trail that go through swamps, bamboo forests and 3 beautiful waterfalls.
There are morning and evening birding schedules for the bird lovers to spot species like the African green broad bill, Congo peafowl and yellow crested helmet-shrike among others. Bird-watching can be done during the forest and nature walks.
Serengeti National Park – Tanzania it is the African paradise and one of the seven natural wonders of Africa and the World. You will be rewarded with breathtaking experience for its unique biodiversity and physical features from plains to rolling hills, valleys and mountains. Serengeti offers several tourism products. Serengeti is the oldest Park in Tanzania and well known worldwide especially for being a heart of the only great wildebeest migration remained in the World to date
The great experience of Serengeti can be fully accumulated through several game drives that take you close to the gates of nature viewing animals and other wildlife in different ecosystems of the park.
Morning game drives are the most common and most rewarding in Serengeti. You will always get chance to connect with most of the interesting wild life giving you that everlasting memory.
Catching with an early bird in the bush, most of the animals are more lively or active during morning time especially during dry season when the water is scarce and animals depend mostly on the early morning dues.
Big cats on sunbathing and mission of hunting are all incredible experiences not to be missed in the savannah grasslands of Tanzania, in fact 90% of the morning game drives are well stocked with true African wilderness experience calling you for almost every year to enjoy the amazing safaris.
The Afternoon game drive done after lunch, mainly welcomes to the park and act as a warm up for your stay in the Serengeti. This is mostly common during transit on the first day when transferring from Arusha to Serengeti.
Sometimes these game drives are not much rewarding as the morning ones especially for the big cats they will be already hiding taking shelter due to hot sun but if one is lucky can still enjoy much as the morning one. Since it is just a welcome, you don’t have to worry, the time is a head for you to maximize all the missed chances during your entry time.
Warm up for the great migration phenomenon. The annual movement of wildebeest and other grazing herbivores across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world. The migration is rarely ever the same in terms of precise timing and direction, as local conditions influence grass growth.
The Wildebeest may therefore move off the open plains earlier in some years and remain in the northern woodlands for longer in others. The most catching time for the migration will be from June to October.
Hot Air Balloon safari is the most popular and unique activity in Serengeti. It can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that offers a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the Serengeti Plains and its abundant wildlife. It starts at 6 a.m. in the morning and are conducted in different regions of the park depending upon the season.
They are conducted in Central Serengeti throughout the year, in Northern Serengeti they are conducted from July to October, in Western Corridor from June to October, and in Southern Serengeti/Ndutu from December to March. This gives chance to enjoy the park from above giving you a clear view of the entire park. After the safari, you immediately go for a bush breakfast as part of the hot air balloon experiences enjoying the sunrise in the park.
The entire ride in the air will last for about an hour during which the pilot will be navigating, moving from low and high and back to low altitude with the help of the Coriolis force so that you will be able to appreciate the Serengeti ecosystem.
you will be able to see predators such as lions and cheetahs stalking their prey, or an elephant or giraffe browsing in the treetops. Your pilot will guide the balloon over different areas of the Serengeti, pointing out interesting sights and providing commentary on the wildlife and ecosystem below. You will be able to earn a certificate at the end of it.
A walking safari in Serengeti is yet another an incredible and unforgettable experience for those interest in nature walks looking for a more immersive way to explore the African savannah.
Walking safaris offer a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the flora and fauna of the Serengeti, and to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the African wilderness in a way that is simply not possible from a vehicle.
You will be looking for tracks left by animals such as elephants and wild cats with the help of your guide. You will also notice little insects like the dung beetles and ant lions that are an important part of the ecosystems. Since there would be no noise created by the vehicle the sounds of the wild would also become more prominent.
Visit Moru Kopje in Central Serengeti which harbours some of Tanzania’s last black rhinos. This is the only place in Serengeti where you will have chances of finding them. You will be taken to the Moru Ranger Post, and transferred into a government vehicle which will be an open jeep. Journey to the Moru Ranger Post will be like any other game drive. Your guide will help you spot a variety of animals. You should be able to easily spot some of the antelope species such as topis and gazelles.
On the way, your guide will regale you with stories of rhinos and the culture and history of this region. Many rangers working here have seen the vulnerable baby rhinos grow up into confident adults. They have a deep connection with them, appreciate their different personalities, and understand their behaviours.
It will take from about 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on your interest, and apart from rhinos you will also be able to spot animals such as cheetahs, lions, and maybe even leopards!
Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Tanzania is an awe-inspiring destination that ranks among the top safari destinations in Africa. It offers a rich cultural heritage, fascinating wildlife, and stunning landscapes.
The Crater is estimated to have formed two million years ago and features various landscapes and natural features, including forests, peaks, craters, valleys, rivers, lakes, and plains. The Olduvai Gorge, Africa’s most significant archaeological site, is also located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a few kilometres north of the Crater.
Its home to a vast flamingo-filled alkaline lake that is surrounded by the highest concentration of predators in the world, including lions, hyenas, jackals, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and enormous herds of ungulates.
The predators in the area expend very little energy in hunting the massive herds of prey like Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, impalas, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests. It is common to see bloated lions lying on their backs, paws in the air, fully stuffed and damaging their noble Kingly image.
The Ngorongoro Crater is also an excellent place to take a boat safari down one of the hippo-dense rivers. In addition to the various animals, the area is also home to some endemic bird species, including the Rufous – tailed weaver, Schalow’s wheatear, and large flocks of the magnificent crowned cranes.
The main activities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are walking safaris in Tanzania to observe wildlife from the rim of the crater which can take about 6 hours, camping along the rim of the crater, visiting the local Maasai villages and a game drive around and in the crater itself.
While here, take a visit to lake Magadi the shallow, azure blue, fiercely alkaline from sodium carbonate, fringed by hundreds of long-legged pink flamingos. In the dry season, the lake shrinks leaving thick, crystalline salt pans used as licks by jackals, hyena and other animals to supplement their diet. At such a time, you will be able to see as many as possible since it becomes a collection area.
Visit the Lerai Fever Tree Forest, which consists of tall, slim yellow barked acacias forming an airy, lace-canopied wonderland of glades, is much frequented by elephant, rhino, eland, bush buck, hyrax, and hundreds of birds. The foliage is the preferred food of the rare black rhinoceros but the old forest is regenerating slowly, because of damage by elephants, which tear off whole branches rather than merely grazing.
There is no Tanzania safari would be complete without a migration safari of the excavations and modest paleoanthropological museum at Olduvai where you can also see evolutionary fossils. It is believed to be the place where man lived long ago due to the discovery of the remains of man making it an important place to visit.
Maasai Mara National Reserve – Kenya is located in south west Kenya and is a vast scenic expanse of gently rolling African savannah plains. It’s known as the ‘Home of the Big Cats’. It is renowned for having the highest concentration of big cats, not only in East Africa but worldwide, delivering exceptional big cat (lion, leopard, and cheetah) sightings as well as unforgettable big cat encounters.
It is also known as the site of the iconic Great Migration in Africa. The Great Migration includes millions of wildebeest, accompanied by large numbers of zebra, and smaller numbers of Grant’s gazelle, Thomson’s gazelle, eland, and impala venture across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, moving from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park into the Masai Mara National Reserve by crossing the great Mara River.
It starts in the Southern region of the Serengeti National Park. The ‘start’ of the Great Migration coincides with the prime wildebeest calving season, as thousands of wildebeest calves are born within a couple weeks of each other. Due to the rapid rise in the number of new-born wildebeest, there’s an equally significant increase in the number of predators, such as lions, leopards, and hyenas in the area who are constantly on the hunt for new-born wildlife.
Just as the drought starts to set in during the month of May and Tanzania’s dry season approaches, the Great Migration continues on their journey through the Serengeti up and around in a clockwise direction towards the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
September and October are deemed the top months to experience the renowned Masai Mara Great Wildebeest Migration in full force together with the highly-acclaimed Great Migration River crossings. This is where you will experience more drama as the crocodiles are on the stand by to get their next meal as well as the predators lining up around the river banks waiting for the same meal.
The park is widely known for its vast and wildly diverse wildlife species – it’s abundance and glorious diversity of wildlife is without a doubt one of the top reasons to visit the Masai Mara. Game viewing in the Masai Mara is excellent all year round with its varied landscapes, wide open spaces, temperate climate, and diverse population of resident game.
Its savannah grass lands are home to safari animals like lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino give the park the opportunity to host the big five. It is home to countless incredible and popular wildlife species, including zebra, giraffe, eland, and gazelle. Not to mention several other famous predators that freely roam the Masai Mara such as the famed spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, and the bat-eared fox.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy – Kenya works to conserve wildlife, provide a sanctuary for great apes, and generate income through wildlife tourism and offers incredible Kenya wildlife safari experiences with top game viewing. Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a beautiful destination for nature enthusiasts. The Conservancy is renowned for protecting various species, including the world’s last northern white rhinos. A wide variety of wildlife can be enjoyed, from lion to giraffe and elephant, as well as chimpanzees.
It offers both traditional safaris and a prime opportunity to witness wildlife conservation efforts firsthand. Guests enjoy the unique opportunity to explore the protected rhino sanctuary and track locally collared lions alongside dedicated researchers.
Game drives will give you full experience of the Conservancy’s diverse wildlife and myriad bird species. With the early morning drive, you will be able to sight the animals in their active time as they prepare to go and look for a meal. With the night drive, experience a unique wildlife adventure by exploring the depths of the African darkness. Discover antelopes, their predators, and nocturnal creatures like aardvark, zorilla and white-tailed mongoose. Some of these animals are incredibly rare, making sightings a special treat.
Kruger National Park – South Africa is the flagship of South Africa’s national parks and rated as the ultimate safari experience. It is considered to give you an almost indescribable wildlife experience. The largest game reserve in South Africa nearly 2 million hectares of land that stretch for 352 kilometres from north to south along the Mozambique border.
It supports more than half the world’s remaining white rhinos, along with substantial populations of buffaloes, elephants, black rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, giraffes, and one of the few viable lion populations in southern Africa. It is an excellent place for birds particularly in summer as well as other animals including baboons, warthogs, hyenas, many small predators, and around a dozen antelope species.
You will be able to enjoy the tranquillity of the Kruger National Park at sunrise during your guided morning drive. Morning drives depart a half hour before official gate opening times, which vary depending on the season, implying that you will be the only guests driving around at that time. The drives last 3 to 3.5 hours and allow you to see the sunrise over unspoiled bush.
Going on a walking safari offers a unique chance to see the animals up close and personal. The guides’ experience ensures that you not only get a chance to spot them, but lets you go home with a wealth of knowledge about the animals and their habitat. The aim of such walks is to learn and appreciate the intricate details of the nature surrounding you. Once your senses have been activated, you will be able to tune into the sights, sounds and smells more than when you are traveling in a vehicle.
The park is also home to an extensive cultural heritage, evidence of man’s interaction with the environment over many centuries. Several treasures ranging from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela are evidence of these interactions and represent the cultures, persons and events that played a role in the history of the Kruger National Park and surrounds.
The Kruger National Park and the surrounding area are home to a number of renowned golf courses, providing opportunities for golf diehards to test their skills and swing. You can test your skills on one of four different courses that are available in or near Kruger National Park – the Skukuza course, Sabie River Golf Course, the Leopard Creek Golf Course and the Hans Merensky Golf Course are some of the courses in the area.
Because the Park has a subtropical environment, the best time to play golf there is during the winter months when it is cooler. Enjoying a round of golf while getting the chance to get up close and personal with local wildlife is a win-win situation.
Hot air balloon safari flights are available over a few lodges and game reserves in the Greater Kruger Park area that have suitable terrain giving the opportunity to get this experience. You meet before sunrise and enjoy coffee while watching your hot air balloon be inflated and prepared for flight. After a safety briefing, you should be able to take off in time to see the sunrise. Then, on your hot air balloon safari, you will change altitude to look for a favourable wind that will allow you to drift gently over the landscape.
After about an hour of hot air balloon safari flight, the pilot will choose a suitable landing site where the rescue crew will be present. sparkling wine and fruit juice are served after this amazing experience.
While in Kruger, take up the wilderness trails experience. The primary goal of these trails is to provide a wilderness experience. It offers vast open spaces and a unique atmosphere that few other destinations can match. Wilderness trails views dangerous animals as part of a larger picture, rather than the entire picture.
On foot, you feel more connected to the environment than when you travel by car. Because you can see, smell, hear, touch, feel, and even taste wild things, it tunes you in to all aspects of nature. Elephants are abundant in this area of Kruger National Park, and the walks frequently follow their well-worn paths. There is a possibility of seeing white rhinos, lions, and large herds of antelope.
