East Africa Safaris
Why Travel to East Africa
East Africa is the region most travellers picture when they imagine a safari. Kenya's Maasai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti host the Great Migration, one of nature's most spectacular wildlife events, while the Ngorongoro Crater offers unrivalled game viewing in a single volcanic caldera.
Rwanda adds an entirely different kind of encounter — trekking through misty bamboo forest to reach a family of endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. And off Tanzania's coast, the spice island of Zanzibar offers pristine beaches and a fascinating blend of African, Arab and European cultures for travellers who want to extend a safari with time on the coast.
How the Destinations Combine
Kenya + Tanzania
The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti form one continuous ecosystem, so many itineraries combine game drives on both sides of the border.
Serengeti + Zanzibar
A classic Tanzanian pairing — the sweeping plains of the Serengeti followed by the beaches and Stone Town of Zanzibar.
Rwanda + Tanzania or Kenya
Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda pairs well with a Big Five safari in Tanzania or Kenya, giving a trip two very different wildlife experiences.
When to Travel
The Great Migration moves in a broadly circular pattern between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara over the course of the year, so which side of the border makes more sense depends on timing — a travel designer can help match your dates to where the herds are likely to be.
Beyond the migration, East Africa follows the same broad dry-season / green-season pattern as the rest of the continent: drier months concentrate wildlife around water and tend to offer the clearest game viewing, while wetter months bring lush scenery and quieter camps. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is possible year-round, though trails can be muddier in the wetter months.