East Africa Travel Guide

Month: April 2017

  • Best Places to Visit in Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania

    Operating out of the Red Chilli Hideaway – a popular backpacker stop-off in Kampala – this safari heads to Murchison Falls national park, the country’s largest. After a picnic overlooking the falls and a night in basic camp on the banks of the Upper Nile, the safari then takes in a morning game drive in the park’s Nile delta at Lake Albert – where you might see lion, leopard, giraffe and elephant – followed by a boat trip on the river. The camp is simple and facilities are communal but it is one of the few budget alternatives to Murchison’s luxury getaways. After a second night at the camp, the safari moves on to the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, where guests learn to track rhinos with one of the rangers. Transfer to Rwanda

    A visit to Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda. This beautiful jungle is the largest rain forest in East Africa and is home to 12 primate species, including chimpanzees. Second stop we make is Volcanoes National Park, where Dian Fossey studied the Mountain Gorillas. You will never forget a meeting with the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. The mountain gorillas in the Virunga range get all the attention but Rwanda is home to numerous rare primates, most of which can be found in the staggeringly beautiful Nyungwe Forest national park in the south-west of the country.

    The forest is best known for its large troops of chimpanzees but is also prime swinging grounds for L’Hoest’s monkeys, Angola Colobus, Vervet monkeys, and a range of others, along with around 300 bird species. Best of all, the cost for this whole package, which includes a day of tracking chimpanzees through the mountains, a nature walk, and two nights in a comfortable forest lodge with full board, still costs less than a single ($750) gorilla tracking permit up north. We end our trip in Rwanda in Kigali, from where we fly to Tanzania and this all can be much amazing on a self drive option travel and you can visit this “Website” to rent a very reliable 4×4 WD vehicle.

    The first national park we visit in Tanzania is Lake Manyara, one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a shallow but huge soda lake, located at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. This park is famous for its tree-climbing lions. After that, we go to the Ngorongoro Crater, featuring one of the highest concentrations of game and arguably the densest population of predators and carnivores in Africa. A safari in the Serengeti is a bucket-list aspiration for many, which means that most tour packages to this game park push the definition of “affordable”. Nevertheless, the expansive Savannah and woodlands here are home to incredible wildlife spectacles, especially during the famous wildebeest migration, when up to two million animals are on the move (it is expected to take place from July on wards this year).

    All of the “big five” are here, acting out their impulses with National Geographic-style theatricality, as safari van passengers stare agog. This four-day camping safari includes multiple game drives and a visit to Ngorongoro crater, the three-million-year-old extinct volcano that herds of tourists descend into to see herds of wildlife on the crater floor.

  • Where to Experience Wildlife and Gorilla Tours in East Africa

    Nature Adventure Africa Safaris Ltd, Uganda takes pride in offering you the most enjoyable and memorable east African safari experience including gorilla safaris. You may decide to visit all the east African countries or visit one particular – the choice is yours. You may desire to trek gorilla safaris or wildlife trips to see the big five in either Uganda or Rwanda or Tanzania, You will realize that a single visit in the east African region will not be enough.

    Drive around Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania in private vehicles unless if you request to join some of our scheduled gorilla tours in Rwanda which are organized on occasional basis and sometimes on request by clients. If you are a nature lover, we will take you to some of the recognized United Nations heritages sites like the Ngorongoro crater, Serengeti and Mara plains, Kilimanjaro, Bwindi impenetrable Forest, volcanoes national park, Murchison Falls National Park and many more sites.

    Depending on your passion, just mention it and we will identify the site suitable for you to visit. We are ready to help you experience the best of services and also some of the most welcoming communities in the world, that you will live to talk about for the rest of your life. Are you wondering about the best time to see gorillas, and the best place to see gorillas in east Africa? Or do you have questions about the best time to visit Uganda, Rwanda or Kenya and Tanzania? We provide all the details once you reach us on our websites as well as email.

    We give all advise on your areas of interest, activities or sites of interest and even the smallest of details and we promise to take everything into account from the time we pick you from the airport, to take you to the very first accommodation you are staying in, to the activities and then back to the airport for your departure flight, We promise to pay attention to details in order to achieve the goal of an enjoyable and memorable safari in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. We are also skilled at organizing cultural tours to different cultural villages across east Africa such as the Batwa communities, the Maasai communities, Mombasa and Zanzibar plus many others in their authenticity. We take you to the most authentic communities that give you a clear picture of the ancient African people.

  • Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Congo

    The Republic of Congo gives you a chance to experience some of the most beautiful spot the mountain gorilla in Africa, and see some incredible wildlife. A journey to Congo is not just about the wildlife, but the amazing areas which they call home. Congo is one of the 3 countries in Africa blessed with mountain gorillas one can easily be arranged setting off from Kigali crossing over to Congo for gorilla trekking.

    Within the democratic Republic of Congo, the mountain gorillas are found in Virunga National Park which also is a UNESCO Heritage site. The park is located in the eastern side of democratic Republic of Congo and borders both Uganda and Rwanda. This park has 200 gorilla individuals mostly situated in the southern part of the park. On my trip to Congo I was told that the park is managed by both the authorities of Congolese national park and institute of Congolais pour la conservation de la Nature (ICCN).

    Due to the recent tragedy that killed over ten mountain gorillas, the gorilla population has improved and recovered at the same time. Many thanks go to the ranger efforts who risked their lives to save the remaining mountain gorillas. Congo is the only place in the world to see the rare banobo chimpanzee.

    On your gorilla trekking Safaris in Congo, you can be picked from your Hotel in Kigali and be transferred to Gisenyi in Goma which is the capital of North Kivu province. It takes 3 hours to drive from Kigali to Goma near the border of Democratic Republic of Congo. Virunga National Park can also be accessed from Uganda via Bunagana border.

    Gorilla trekking experience in the DRC begins early in the morning, and you’re your transferred up to the gorilla trekking staring point at Bukima a ranger’s station in the mountains of the Virunga National Park, outside the city of Goma.

    Gorilla trekking in the DRC involves hiking deep into the mountain jungle to observe a gorilla family in the wild. Visitors will be led by guides and national park rangers who keep records of the gorillas for conservation purpose and help protect them from poachers. They can determine the general area where a gorilla family will be and are skilled in tracking them.

    The length of the trek is entirely dependent on the gorillas; sometimes the guides can track them down in less than two hours, other times it takes much longer. Mountain gorillas are nomadic, travelling the jungle in families and staying in an area just long enough to clear it of food.

    The  first sighting of the gorillas, seeing  mothers holding their babies, Juvenile gorillas playing, and dominant silverbacks keeping an eye out of their family, this was an exciting experience to see mountain gorillas in their home enjoying ourselves by taking pictures and Videos of them. There are families over 35 gorillas and only an hour in their presence, wearing surgical masks to prevent and disease being passed between species. As you are watching them, our guide will busy explaining the various behaviors.

    In additional to seeing the gorillas in Congo, tourists to Virunga National Park take on other activities like Mount Nyiragongo Volcano hike. The volcano is located within the Democratic Republic of Congo inside Virunga National Park. It is also located 20km north of the town of Goma as well as Lake Kivu. Mount Nyiragongo has a crater which is two kilometers wide and also contains a lava lake. The cost for Mount Nyiragongo Hike is $300 USD per person.

    Above my experience, there are 4 tips to help you plan your trip to the DRC

    • All three countries that offer gorilla trekking, you must purchase a gorilla trekking permit in Advance. In the DRC there are not as many tour companies as in Uganda and Rwanda, so it is better to book your gorilla permit directly through Virunga National Park or you can use a tour company like the one I used, because it was trust worth; Rwanda Gorilla Safaris. This gorilla permit costs $400 USD per person, which is cheaper than in other two countries. The mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park can be visited any time of the year, although some paths are hard to navigate during the wet season from May to October, in this season gorilla trekking permits are reduced to $200 USD per person form march to May.
    • Before you travel, it is very important to get a yellow fever injection, as you will not be allowed to enter the DRC without proof of this inoculation. Hepatitis A, typhoid, meningitis, and rabies injection as well as anti- malaria are also recommended.
    • You must apply in advance for the required visa to enter the DRC which costs $100 USD per person.
    • Always set off to the jungle with the right equipment. The jungle hike can be long and steep, so you need sturdy trekking shoes, wool or moisture- socks, comfortable hiking clothes, rain gear, a first aid kit and light weight backpack that have room for plenty of water and snacks. A waterproof camera is also highly recommended since nothing ruins a good camera like jungle downpour.

  • Gorilla Photography Safaris Uganda, Rwanda and Congo

    This safari includes the impressive gorilla trekking packages in all the three countries offering chances to explore both Mountain gorillas or and even Eastern lowland gorillas in DRC Congo thriving in the natural shelters. We focus on providing you with the most unique, memorable, and personalized gorilla photo safaris tailored to your individual needs. We understand that everyone has different interests and travelers want the freedom to make their great adventure everything they want it to be.  It is only your schedule we have to honour as you personally design your safari and honour your pace.

    A 4 wheel drive safari vehicle with a pop-up-roof for maximum photography experience is provided to easy your photography work. All your equipment will be packed in the vehicle so there is no worry in losing them. We will also provide you with a bean bag / a window mount you can rest your camera for clear as well as steady shots. A knowledgeable English speaking driver guide. Private Nature Walks:  We organize private walks in several instances.  In this instance a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to see the impressive Mountain gorillas.  Most times this safari will be a private walk   accompanied by a knowledgeable Ugandan guide conversant with the area, the wildlife as well as can be able to highlight some other things you could have missed out

    Transfer to Rwanda, an early wake-up call and nutritious breakfast are followed by the drive to the park offices, where we’ll be briefed by the trackers and escorted to the beginning of the trail. From there, the adventure begins with a trek up the path to encounter the gorillas. Upon sighting the troop, we’ll stay with them and capture every detail during this magical hour before returning to the base to meet our driver. Depending on trek and drive times, we’ll enjoy lunch back at the Lodge and spend the afternoon processing images and discussing the day.

    Transfer to Congo, encounter with the Neptuno family was amazing. Neptuno the reigning silver back, the other males, females and youngsters were very engaging. They kept their eyes on us and we had been told to be alert for Neptuno performing a mock charge towards us. The family was busy digging up roots and tubers to feed upon satisfying the quest to get lowland gorilla photographs. It is only Nature Adventure Uganda with these amazing safaris yet at an affordable price.