East Africa is the dream safari destination for many travelers. Known for the Great Migration, sightings of Africa’s Big 5, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, mountain gorillas, great beaches and more, the region offers a wealth of options for luxurious adventures. This area of Africa has excellent air and road connections, allowing you to easily visit more than one country on safari and expand your African adventures.
Tanzania and Kenya are home to some of the better-known safari experiences including game drives to see the Great Migration and the Big 5, cultural interactions with tribes like the Maasai and Samburu, post-safari beach extensions for rest and relaxation and much more. Tanzania boasts the continent’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, while Kenya boasts the continent’s second highest, Mount Kenya. Tanzania also affords the chance to trek chimpanzees in its remote western reaches.
Rwanda and Uganda offer both traditional safari activities, as well as the chance to trek primates in their natural environment. Very little compares with the thrill of spending an hour with endangered mountain gorillas as they go about their daily activities or watching chimpanzees moving through the forest. Lesser-known species also abound in some of these ecosystems, giving you the chance to see golden monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, mangabeys, baboon species and more.
With so much to see, what can you do in two weeks or less on safari? Here we will explore ideas and possibilities for your customized East Africa safari that include popular parks and conservation areas, the chance to experience top wildlife sightings and staff-recommended accommodations.
With just 14 days you can experience the Best of East Africa on our fantastic adventure to Kenya and Uganda. In Kenya, you will have the chance to see Africa’s much sought after big game, from lions and elephants to wild dog, the Great Migration (seasonal) and more. Then track endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda, all in just 14 days. We partner with a curated selection of luxury and deluxe lodges, finding the perfect combination for you. While in Kenya you’ll spend exciting days on safari enjoying activities like day and night game drives, walking safaris, horseback and camel rides fishing, mountain biking, cultural visits to Samburu villages, visits to anti-poaching sniffer dogs and more. Days blend into beautiful evenings at unforgettable accommodations like Ol Donyo Lodge and Mara Plains Camp for memorable safari nights.
In Uganda you will experience one of the most special safari activities on the continent: trekking to see endangered mountain gorillas. With just over 1,000 mountain gorillas on earth found in only three countries (Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo), trekking to see the great apes is a rare privilege. You’ll have one hour with the gorillas each day that you trek with just 8 total travelers visiting each gorilla group.
Pro tip: We love the scenic helicopter flight from Ol Malo Lodge to Lake Turkana for a one-of-a-kind day trip. We think it’s worth the additional cost!
For those who want the Best of Kenya and Tanzania, we’ve crafted a safari offering the top accommodations and game viewing. Over 11 days, you’ll stay at luxury camps that are among our favorites and were also named as some of the best safari lodges and hotels in the world on Travel + Leisure ‘World’s Best’ lists. You’ll visit famous national parks including the Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park, as well as a private reserve that borders the Serengeti for more exclusive game viewing. Depending on the season, you’ll have the chance to witness the Great Migration and these are some of the most prolific wildlife areas on the continent hosting countless mammal and bird species. From enjoying breakfast with giraffes – yes, really – at renowned Giraffe Manor to enjoying an armchair safari from your 360-degree veranda from your luxury tent in the Serengeti, it will be an unforgettable experience!
Our 12-day Rwanda and Tanzania Highlights Safari gives you a front row seat for Africa’s incredible wildlife in Tanzania’s top parks, including Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and the world-famous Serengeti. After getting a full dose of lions, zebras, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs and more, your adventure will continue in Rwanda, the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” where you’ll walk in the footsteps of primatologist Dian Fossey to trek in the Virunga Mountains to see the largest primates on earth. You’ll also hike to Fossey’s gravesite, take scenic tours and enjoy fascinating cultural interactions with traditional tribes. As with all of our safaris, you will have top notch guides, along with the best accommodations and food throughout your journey. From a stay in a magical treehouse at Tarangire Treetops to a luxurious villa at Singita Kwitonda Lodge in the shadows of a volcano, your lodgings will be as unforgettable as your safari!
We hope these ideas have inspired your wanderlust! When you work with AAC, we will collaborate with you to create a safari that is totally unique to you.
If you are ready to create your own customized East Africa safari adventure, contact one of our Journey Specialists to start planning. Then subscribe to our newsletter below for more safari stories and travel inspiration.
Photos courtesy AAC Livingstone Club member Brian W., Mara Plains Camp, AAC Journey Specialist Nell Pollak, Ol Donyo Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Giraffe Manor, Tarangire Treetops and Singita Kwitonda Lodge