Vizuri Africa Safaris | Best African Safari Tours & Gorilla Trekking

Africa is known to be a home for beautiful countryside landscapes, diverse wildlife, and culture. The rolling hills and savannah grasslands found in East Africa are a favorite destination for tourists as they host tons of wildlife and different primate species. Outstanding game drives, cultural tours, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, bird watching, among other activities.

For a typical safari in Africa, you will visit Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda for the greatest adventure. Each country has a variety of diversifications to offer; for example, Uganda and Rwanda for gorilla trekking, Kenya and Tanzania for the wildebeest migration, and many water bodies that offer an amazing spectacle.

Best Places to Enjoy African Safari Tours –Wildlife/Big 5 & Gorilla Trekking Adventures

East Africa’s Top Wildlife Destinations

Queen Elizabeth National Park

This is also called the Medley of Wonders, named after the visit late Queen Elizabeth II. It has a unique feature of tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. It is also a savannah game park, especially the Kasenyi Plains, which allows tourists have savannah game drive to sight animals such as the Big Five (Elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions). Rhinos can be seen in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Ishasha sector is the most outstanding destination for the park, famous for tree-climbing lions. These are usually seen laying on tree branches, which is a rare characteristic of predators. This however, helps them avoid the scorching sun and easily sight prey.

Kyambura Gorge is also a must visit as it hosts a large number of chimpanzees. It is also known as the Valley of Apes, which has a good number of bamboo trees that provide a suitable home for the primates.

The Kazinga Channel is a good place to visit while here. It offers an opportunity for a boat cruise during which you will see predators such as hippos and Nile crocodiles.

Murchison Falls National Park

This is an attraction with one of the most majestic falls in the world. The Nile River is seen forcing its way through a 7-meter-wide narrow gorge, which creates a typical beautiful scenery.

Since it also has savannah grasslands, a game drive in a 4×4 vehicle is also very feasible to sight the lions, elephants, leopards and buffaloes (Big four). Other animals include Rothschild’s giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, Oribi, Uganda kobs, hippos and Nile crocodiles during the Nile boat cruise, among others.

Kidepo Valley National Park

This is the untamed, untouched part of the wilderness in Uganda. It is called so because it rarely has many visitors, mostly because it is located in the far northeastern part of Uganda. However, it has a good number of things to see, especially in its specific parts.

Narus Valley

In the Narus Valley, you will be able to have a savannah game drive to sight elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes. You will be able to also see birds such as hornbill, secretary birds, Karamoja Apalis and ostriches. Other animals include cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, bush pigs, and antelopes.

Kanangorok Hot Springs

This is also an icon for in Kidepo Valley National Park, which has a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius, originating from hard rock. The name of the place means black stones. It is located about 40 kilometers from Apoka Rest camp.

The water from the hot springs is considered healthy for local treatment by the locals and the water can be used as it is, especially for tea and boiling eggs.

Lake Mburo National Park

In southern Uganda, you will find Lake Mburo National Park. You will have an opportunity to view another dimension of wildlife such as Impalas, Zebras, Elands, antelopes, and the Uganda Kob among others.

Amboseli National Park

In southern Kenya, you will find Amboseli National park. You will find giant elephants, swamps and mashes, and views of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is a good site for game drives, wildlife photography, birding, and cultural visits to the Maasai.

Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve is a home for the wildebeest migration and the great Masai culture. You will witness the wildebeest crossing the Mara from Serengeti National Park of Tanzania.

Nairobi National Park

It is located 10 kilometers from Nairobi City and is home to big predators such as leopards cheetahs (occasional) and lions, which are divided into different prides such as Athi, Mokoyet, and Kingfisher.

Herbivores such as buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and hippos can also be sighted here alongside black and white rhinos and antelopes. Impalas, gazelles and waterbucks, among others.

Serengeti National Park

This is one of Tanzania’s most iconic travel destinations. It is known for being home to the Great Wildebeest Migration that takes place in different stages at different times of the year. These include

January to March (calving season): Large herds of wildebeests and other animals such as gazelles, zebras, among others gather in southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains.

April to May (north trek): This is a season of long rains, where the herds start moving into Central Serengeti

June (Grumeti River crossings): The large herds of wildebeests face their first river obstacle, which is Grumeti.

July to September (peak Mara River crossings): The animals cross the Mara River to head to the Masai Mara of Kenya, which is the real peak of the migration.

October to December (the return south): The wildebeests head back to Serengeti through the east for the next calving season.

Tarangire National Park

This is located in northern Tanzania and is famous for massive elephant herds and baobab trees. It is also has predators that include caracals, African wild dogs, cheetahs, leopards and lions. Herbivores include cape buffaloes, zebras, waterbucks, impalas, giraffes and wildebeests.

Lake Manyara National Park

In Tanzania, you will find that tree-climbing lions are the most eye-catching animals when you visit Lake Manyara National Park. They are always seen on acacia branches, which is a rare behavior among lions.

However, there is more to find such as flamingos which appear seasonably. Other water birds such as storks, pelicans and other recorded species. Elephants that are characterized by long tusks can also be sighted in the park.

Akagera National Park

This is located in Eastern Rwanda, and it is the only savannah game park here. For this reason, visitors can have savannah game drives. During this activity, you will be able to see rhinos, leopards, lions, warthogs, zebras, Masai giraffes, impalas, defassa waterbucks among others.

Gorilla Trekking in Africa

Gorilla trekking in Africa is a unique adventure involving long hours of traversing through the lush forest trails to observe habituated mountain gorilla families. In East Africa, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo offer unforgettable encounters with mountain gorillas in their natural setting. Here are the leading gorilla trekking destinations to explore in East Africa.

Bwindi Forest National Park:

This is located in southwestern Uganda, which is 512 kilometers from Kampala. It is the highlight for tourists who visit Uganda, as they always desire to have a firsthand experience with the mountain gorillas.

Visitors usually engage in long-hour treks on the dry trails of the park just to locate mountain gorillas. The activity is usually led by park ranger guide(s) who will brief you and led you through the forest to help you locate the primates.

They are best are usually found in their natural environment usually doing activities such as feeding, grooming, building nets, nurturing young ones and many other activities.

Mgahinga National Park:

It is located in southwestern Uganda, only 482 kilometers from Kampala. You will have a long trek to find mountain gorillas in their natural environment.

Volcanoes National Park:

In Northern Rwanda, you can find Volcanoes National Park, which is known for mountain gorillas. This is the only place in Rwanda to find mountain gorillas in their most natural environment. After the trek, these primates are spotted doing activities such as feeding, nurturing, grooming, building nests, and communicating.

Chimpanzee Trekking in East Africa

Chimpanzee trekking in East Africa is also among the greatest primate adventures visitors desire, and often comes second after gorilla trekking. It gives the greatest time with these habituated primates in their natural environment.  There are different places in different destinations in East Africa where one can find chimpanzees in the wild. They include among others;

Kibale National Park:

Kibale is known for hosting the largest number of chimpanzees there is in the world. This park is located in western Uganda, 358 kilometers from Kampala. Park ranger guide (s) brief and lead the way of the trail. When they are located, you will see them vocalizing, communicating, feeding, moving and swinging in trees and doing many other activities.

Kyambura Gorge:

Kyambura Gorge is located in Queen Elizabeth National Park and also known as the Valley of Apes. It has a great number of chimpanzees that can be spot through the vocalizing they usually do. In their natural habitat, they love to communicate, groom and play with each other.

Budongo Forest

In Murchison Falls National Park, you will locate Budongo Forest where you will find more chimpanzees.

Nyungwe Forest National Park:

This is the main location where to locate chimpanzees in Rwanda. It is a montane forest that supports about 500 species. To see them, one must undertake a chimpanzee trek so as to locate habituated chimpanzee families.