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Email this page to a friend Africa Travel Newsletters > Africa Safari Planner
1. Africa Safari Planner - Your Best Time for an East Africa Safari
East Africa is endowed with numerous safari adventure options, which call for advance planning to ensure the best experience. Generally, the best time to go on safari to East Africa is when the animals are easy to spot and are in large numbers. This depends on the region or country that you visit and the type of safari that best suits you. Below is a country specific guide to help you plan your next East African safari.
Boasting some of Africa's finest beaches and enchanting wildlife sanctuaries, East Africa -composed of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda -, is a popular travel destination among tourists from all over the world. Tanzania is home to Mt Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa, the world renowned Ngorongoro crater and the scenic Serengeti plains among other attractions.
Kenya, on the other hand, is endowed with 48 wildlife parks and reserves; including the world famous Maasai Mara, Tsavo, Mt. Kenya, Lake Nakuru, Aberdares and Amboseli as well as other numerous attractions. Uganda also boasts enough share of attractions including the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park and the picturesque Murchison Falls among many others.
Tanzania is one of the best places to see wildlife in Africa. Straddling a massive 954,087 sq km in area, the country boasts 13 national parks and 14 game reserves as well as several protected marine reserves. The most popular Tanzania safari destination is the world-famous Serengeti National Park which is home to an incredibly huge array of wildlife.
Many people on Tanzania safaris also find Ngorongoro Conservation area - a World Heritage Site, and the grasslands around Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, quite enchanting. Other attractions in Tanzania include the Great Rift Valley, Olduvai Gorge – the cradle of humankind, and Zanzibar – the spice island placed off the coast of Tanzania.
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro, situated in the northern Tanzania region are the ideal destination for those who want to watch the Great Migration. Said to be the world's greatest natural wildlife spectacle, the migration sees colossal herds of wildebeest, zebra and other hoofed animals moving from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya. During this epic exodus, over 1.5 million animals make the 'death-plunge' into the raging waters of the Mara River – presenting a feast for the lurking crocodiles and other predators.
The best time to go on a Tanzania safari is during the months of February and March when the zebra and wildebeest have their young. During this period you will be able to spot predators that happen to be at their highest numbers as well as enjoy seeing baby animals roaming about. June to November is Tanzania's dry season and a good time to go on a migration viewing safari at the Serengeti. And if you want to include a hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro to your Tanzania safari, then you should consider visiting between January- March and September- October.
December through March can get hot and humid especially in southern and western Tanzania making it uncomfortable to spend quality time in the bush. Tanzania experiences rains from March to May in the north, and from November to May in the south and west. During the rainy season water is in plenty and animals tend to spread out making your game viewing safari less satisfying.
Except for citizens of some African and commonwealth countries, all visitors to Tanzania are required to carry a visa. It is recommended to obtain a visa in advance from Tanzania's Embassies and High Commissions as some airlines may require it before allowing you on board. It is also possible to obtain your visa on arrival at Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro (Arusha) international airports and at the Namanga Gate on the Kenya /Tanzania border. However, citizens of several African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries may not be issued with a visa on arrival. You should contact the Tanzanian Embassy nearest to you just to be sure.
Bordering Tanzania to the south, Kenya is the leading travel destination in the East African region. From the arid northern region to the magnificent coastal region, Kenya remains the heart of the African safari experience. Generally, Kenya safaris guarantee you to see the big five – lion, buffalo, leopard, rhino and elephant as well as other popular wild animals.
Masai Mara National Park is the most popular destination among visitors to Kenya. The vast savanna dotted with occasional acacia trees lies between the border of Tanzania and Kenya and is the northern extension of the Serengeti. Masai Mara is most famous for the annual wildebeest migration which takes place there.
The Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration occurs between July to September and involves thousands of wildebeest moving from the Serengeti in a millennial old search for greener pastures. The animals migrate back in October and November. Any visitor to Kenya is advised to include Maasai Mara on their safari itinerary, not just to see the wildebeest, but also the hundreds of other species that make this park their home.
Other popular destinations in Kenya include the Amboseli, Tsavo, Aberdares, Lake Nakuru and Mt Kenya national parks. Amboseli is renowned for its large herds of elephants and it gives tourists vast views of grasslands only broken by the snowcapped peaks of Mt Kilimanjaro to the south. Tsavo, the largest national park in Kenya, is good for safari and so are the other Kenyan national parks and reserves.
The best time to go on a wildlife viewing safari in Kenya is dry season, usually January through March and July through October. During this period animals tend to congregate around permanent sources of water and are easier to spot. The vegetation is also not so lush making it possible to view animals from a distance.
Visitors to Kenya are required to have a visa except for citizens of some commonwealth countries. Visas can be obtained at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi) and Moi International Airport (Mombasa) upon arrival although this may delay you. It is always advisable to obtain visas in advance from Kenyan Embassies and High Commissions. Beware that visitors' passports must remain valid for 3 months from the date of entry.
Situated to the west of Kenya, Uganda is endowed with a wealth of attractions. Indeed the beauty of Uganda is such that Sir Winston Churchill - Britain's World War II Prime Minister – termed this landlocked East African country as the “Pearl of Africa”. With a network of 10 national parks and several other protected areas, Uganda is increasingly becoming a popular safari destination in East Africa offering wildlife enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the country's bio-diversity.
A majority of people going on a Uganda safari head straight to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve for enchanting gorilla tracking adventures. The Impenetrable Forest Reserve was gazetted in 1942, elevated to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 1992 and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
Bwindi is home to about half of the world's remaining population of the endangered mountain gorillas – about 300 individuals. A trek through Bwindi in search of the endangered mountain gorilla is ranked among the world's premier wildlife encounters.
Other interesting safari destinations in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Mt. Rwenzori, Mgahinga and Mt Elgon national parks. Supporting 95 mammal species and a remarkable 612 species of birds, Queen Elizabeth National Park is a remarkable destination for lovers of wildlife as well as birding enthusiasts. On the other hand, Murchison, Rwenzori, Mgahinga and Mt Elgon national parks collectively hold an incredible array of wildlife and birdlife and make for an unforgettable Uganda safari.
Uganda's national parks are best visited during the dry seasons; from December to March or June to September. The rainy seasons are usually from March to April and October to November and these months should be avoided as the downpour makes gorilla tracking quite difficult even for the most adventurous.
To enter Uganda, you will need a visa. They are usually available at all major land borders and at the Entebbe International Airport situated 35 km south west of Kampala, the capital city. You will also need an International Health Certificate showing proof of a yellow fever vaccination within the past 10 years.
Temperatures in Uganda are generally warm during the day and it therefore advised to bring light clothing. Evenings are usually cooler especially in high altitudes and so you will also need to pack a few light sweaters.
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