East Africa Travel Guide

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  • Amazing Safari Encounters in East Africa

    East Africa has four major countries that offer unique exclusive wild safaris experiences to the tourists. They mainly include Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. Most of the wildlife safaris in these countries are experienced though game drives, nature walks, tracking, hiking, boat trips, hot air balloons and many other ways. Trust me going for a wildlife safari in any of the countries above is very rewarding and offers unique tourist experiences. Below are the major turning point encounters one can have on a wild life safari in east Africa.

    Maasai Mara Wildlife Safaris – Kenya

    Maasai Mara game reserve is located in the southern part of Kenya and is blessed to have one of the occurrences of the seven wonders of the wild- the wildebeest migration. The wildebeest migration involves millions of wildebeest (zebras, buffaloes, elands and Thompson gazelles) that move from the Serengeti in northern Tanzania across the Mara River searching for fresh pasture and water drinking areas. Many of these can be clearly viewed by tourists on game drives or in hot air balloon safaris in the park.

    The game reserve also has other unique wild animals that include the big cats – lions and leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, big land mammals like elephants, rhinos, a number of bird species as well as the deadly crocodiles in the Mara river. Such wild life species make Maasai Mara a unique tourism destination.

    Gorilla Tours in Uganda & Rwanda

    Mountain gorilla encounters in Uganda and Rwanda are among the wonders of the wild and most times these encounters leave many tourists touched, surprised, excited and wanting to visit the two countries for more mountain gorilla experiences. There are only 900 mountain gorillas remaining on the planet. These great apes are found in Bwindi impenetrable forest in southwestern Uganda and the Virunga volcanoes area comprising 8 volcanic mountains distributed over Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. In Rwanda, gorilla tours can be well experienced in volcanoes national park, which has 10 habituated mountain gorilla families, and in Uganda, in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with 13 habituated gorilla families as well as Mgahinga Gorilla Park with 1 gorilla family. In both the two countries, only 8 tourists are allowed to view one gorilla family, which they spend with an hour observing and taking photographs.

    Mountain gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda are sold at $750 and can be bought from the Rwanda Development Board offices in Kigali or through a local tour operator.

    Gorilla permits for Uganda can be bought at $600 from the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices or from a trusted tour operator especially those under the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO).

    Mountain Kilimanjaro Tours – Tanzania

    Situated in northern Tanzania near the border with Kenya, mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain on the African continent at an elevation of 19,341 meters above sea level. It’s located within Kilimanjaro national park that has a number of wildlife attractions that a tourist can engage in. the first and most attractive attraction is the mountain that attracts a number of hikers from across the globe.

    It’s a snow-capped mountain and its temperature freeze up to zero degrees at night. Hiking this spectacular mountain requires preparation involving getting the right hiking gear and first studying and getting more information about it.

    There are well-developed trails that lead tourist hikers uphill and at least 6,000 tourists of the 15,000 who attempt to hike the mountain reach the top. Reaching the top of Africa’s highest peak is desired by many and can be a living travel experience to tell.

    Kidepo Valley Expeditions – Uganda

    Kidepo valley national park is located in northeastern Uganda in Kaabong district. This part of the country has semi arid climatic conditions and has typical African semi desert vegetation that makes the tourists feel the real Africa in Africa.

    Kidepo is a home to various wildlife species that can be best viewed in the Narus valley that has an oases favoring the growth of fresh pastures. Because of this many animals in the keep around the valley enjoying the grass as the predators – especially the lions wait to hunt. The wildlife species that can be viewed here include zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, oribis, leopards, reedbucks and a number of birds. Tourists on game drives can best view all these.

    East Africa is among the most desired destination by many foreign tourists and indeed wildlife safaris in the area are very exclusive enabling tourists encounter some of the wildest places on the planet with remarkable and unforgettable experiences.

     

  • Unforgettable Safari in Masai Mara

    My colleague Joshua, is an experienced Tour Guide/Driver and a Wildlife Conservationist gives an account of one of his several Safari trips to the beautiful and famous MAASAI MARA.
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  • Tour Operators to Gain from East Africa Tourist Visa

    The three east African countries recently entered an arrangement to market the three countries as a single tourist destination;this will also help in increasing the market of safaris to Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. Serena Hotels, a leading regional investor in the hospitality also partnered with the national carrier which is Rwanda air and also met with the local tour and travel operators in order to enhance their knowledge region‘s tourist attractions.

    This will also be a great opportunity to the tour operators to grow their business regionally which will also help improving the safaris which are carried out in all the three east African countries. This is to avail relevant information about what Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda offer in terms of tourism and how they can market all these countries in order to increase the number of tourists who come to these three countries.

    The tourist visa is to help the three countries since a visitor or tourist pays $100 at the country of entry or the respective foreign missions abroad. This initiative also calls for private sector participation, but stake holders need to know how to go about the business of marketing the region as a single product. This will help in the easy movement of the safari tourists from place to another.
    The tourist attractions in the three countries offer tour operators to effectively market the region. The single tourist visa also provides a chance to understand how to sell better the safari attractions to the visitors, which later help in improving the tourism sector within the country. East Africa has a variety of tourist attractions which include; rare mountain gorillas, cultural and historical sites as well as a beautiful coast line, however not every tour operator knows about the rich potential found within the region.

    Some of the attractions also include; Masai Mara National park and the Mombasa beaches on the Indian Ocean in Kenya and the mountain gorillas which are also found in Uganda and Rwanda and not found in Kenya. Once all these are packaged together, they become more appealing compared to when they are marketed individually hence giving the visitors a more interesting experience.

  • Kenya Travel Alert July 2010 – Is it Deserved?

    The US State Department has done it again: issuing a travel alert for Kenya. They cite two main security concerns: the terrorist threat posed by Al-Shabaab, and the possibility of a repeat of violence after the August 4th constitutional referendum. You can see the travel alert here.

    The concern over al-Shabaab is largely because of the Uganda bombings which I previously wrote about. The terrorist group acknowledged responsibility for the bombings. Since then, Kenya has been on a high security alert, considering that the country’s border with Somalia is very porous. Kenya has reinforced its security troops along the border. In the past one week or so, we have heard reports of some skirmishes between al-Shabaab militants and the Kenya police. But these are not very uncommon.

    About the constitutional referendum, we Kenyans will be voting on August 4th on whether or not to adopt a new constitution. The last time we had polls here, violence erupted following the disputed results. And, like it was expected the US state department issued another travel alert.

    While I understand the fears of new violence after the referendum, I think the 2008 violence taught us a big lesson. There’s no way we are going back down that road again. Certainly, some people may try to disrupt a political rally here and there, but the government is doing a commendable job.

    So what is my take on the newest travel alert? The US state department reserves the right to warn its citizens of potential trouble. I also want to believe that the alert is informed by competent intelligence reports.

    As a Kenyan on the ground however, I remain confident in the assurances by our government that it has put adequate measures for the security of everyone in the country. For quite some time now, the government has been aware of the al-Shabaab threat and, I believe, has handled it adequately. And, going by government reports in local media, the government has also deployed many police officers in potential trouble spots to prevent a repeat of violence after the referendum.

    Needless to say however, it is good to take precaution. If you plan to travel to Kenya around this time, you’d be prudent to monitor news and information from the country. Let your travel agent know your concerns, and they will advise you.

    Update: August 09, 2010

    It is now five days since we Kenyans held the national referendum on the constitution. Contrary to what some people feared, it was very peaceful and successful during and after the referendum. Despite the rigorous campaigns before the elections, the losers gracefully accepted defeat. As Kenyans, we are all united in celebrating the dawn of a new era. Never before has there been such optimism in the country. This reinforces my belief that Kenya learnt the 2008 lesson very well, and Kenyans will never again allow the country to sink that low.

    If you are planning to come to Kenya, I can only say KARIBU SANA