African Safari Holidays – Tours Attractions in East Africa
For those considering going on an African safari holiday, East Africa, comprising of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania is a rich tourist destination offering an unforgettable experience which encompasses beach travel in some of the best unspoilt beaches in the world, infamous as the world’s safari destination affording tourists the best safari adventures ever known to man not forgetting an exhilarating cultural experience.
The region has a diverse landscape boasting of two of the highest peaks in Africa namely Mt.Kilimanjaro [the highest in Africa] located in Tanzania and Mt.Kenya located in Kenya; Lake Victoria the world’s largest fresh water lake and the source of river Nile; the world’s second deepest lake known as lake Tanganyika, the great rift valley not to mention a variety of flora and fauna unique to this part of the globe.
East Africa has an equatorial climate comprising of cool and dry latitudes. Unique to this region is the Kiswahili language which originated here and is often used as the National language in especially Kenya and Tanzania and is quickly taking root in other neighboring countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Being a British colony all three countries are well conversant with the English language.
Like any place in the world you are bound to experience the good, the bad and the ugly. In east Africa however the good out weigh the latter two. Making headlines are the destinations such as the Maasai Mara renowned for the annual wildebeest migration a spectacular natural phenomenon where an estimated 1.4million wildebeest, 500,000 zebras and 200,000 gazelles cross the Mara River during the months of July through to August.
The scenery is so spectacular that it was earned its place as the 7th wonder of the world. The big 5 namely the Lion, Leopard, buffalo, Elephant and Rhino are found in almost all the parks in East Africa, this title is due to the fact that they are difficult hunt giving hunters a daunting task every time.
The Serengeti national park in Tanzania attracts quite a significant number of tourists and has been named a world heritage site by UNESCO with Ngorongoro conservation area including the Ngorongoro crater where safaris are experienced 2000ft deep at the floor of the crater and the Olduvai Gorge [the cradle of mankind] an anthropologist’s paradise being a favorite of most.
Uganda is infamous for gorilla safari at Bwindi impenetrable national park, a UNESCO world heritage site home to half of the world’s most attractive species namely the mountain gorilla, a gentle giant and an endangered species. The Murchison falls where the world’s longest river detonates through a narrow cleft in the rocks 7meters wide plunging 141 ft to join Lake Albert is a magnificent site that leaves most marveled.
This natures’ paradise has plenty of other parks on offer for those on an African safari holiday including Kenya’s Amboseli national park, Samburu national reserve, Tsavo national park, Nakuru national park among others; in Tanzania we have lake Manyara national park, Tarangire national park among others; in Uganda we find the queen Elizabeth national park, Magahinga gorilla national park, Kibale forest national park a mention of a few.
Apart from the big 5 you will find animals such as Wildebeest, Zebra, Impala, Hartebeest, Topi, Buffalo, Waterbuck Cheetah, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, Eland, Hyena, Baboon, African wild dog, Giraffe and many more.
Bird lover’s are not to be left out as east Africa is the unrivaled bird paradise of the world with each park having a few hundreds species of birds. Standing out are the flamingos found in their millions in Kenya’s Lake Nakuru national park and Lake Bogoria national park not to mention Lake Magadi in Ngorongoro crater and Lake Natron both of which are found in Tanzania.
Apart from the parks and lake regions numerous other bird species can be spotted in forests such as Kakamega forest Kenya, Mahale mountain forest Tanzania and Mpanga forest Uganda. Some of the bird species likely to be spotted in these countries include the marabou stork, fish eagle, crowned crane, ostrich, hornbill, secretary birds, eagles, parrots, hoopoe, Fischer’s lovebird, grey-rumped spur fowl, babbler-like rufous-tailed weaver a mention of a few.
Overall an estimated over 1000 bird species can be spotted in East Africa alone.
With its location straddling the Indian Ocean both Kenya and Tanzania offer superb beach holiday destination with Zanzibar and Watamu beaches toping the list. After an adventurous safari in the East African parks, a few days at the beach helps in relaxation affording you the chance to unwind whilst soaking up the African sun amidst spectacular backdrops comprising of the azure waters of the Indian Ocean perfect for swimming, shady palm trees and a colorful chain of fringing coral reefs.
On-shore breezes temper the heat and the humidity with year round average high temperatures of 27 – 31° Celsius. Various water sports are also on offer and include snorkeling, windsurfing, deep sea fishing, deep sea diving, kite surfing a mention of a few. Visits to marine parks and historical sites are also available.
The coastal towns of East Africa include islands such as Lamu, Wasini, Chale, Pate, Funzi, Manda, Mombasa, Malindi and Kiwayu all of which are in Kenya; in Tanzania we have the spice island of Zanzibar, Pemba Island, Mafia island, Chumbe Island, Bongoyo Island, Fungu Yasini Island, Kilwa Kisiwani, Dar es salaam marine reserve among others.
Most of these towns are of great archeological interest with most possessing ruins of forts, mosques, towns and in rare cases towns for example in the case of the Gedi ruins in the Kenya coastal town of Malindi. Islands like Lamu and Zanzibar evokes east Africa’s exotic past as they have managed to maintain their original status dating back many centuries.
East Africa has a rich diverse cultural background from an estimated 150 tribes classified as Bantu, Nilotes or Cushites. The major tribes include the Buganda of Uganda, the Kikuyu of Kenya and the Chagga of Tanzania. The most interesting of all are the nomadic Maasai tribe who can be found in both Kenya and Tanzania.
Despite a heavy western cultural influence, the east Africans have managed to maintain some traditional practices such as wife inheritance among the nilotic people, circumcision of both male and female the latter being outlawed though still being practiced by some; burial ceremonies, rite of passage, traditional marriage ceremony, baby naming ceremonies among others.
Cultural tourism creates the chance to show case our treasured traditions whilst giving it a great value and a sense of community spirit. The governments, through concerted effort have gone an extra mile in encouraging and celebrating culture in order to ensure it is preservation and protection for the future generations. The people are very warm and welcoming to visitors making all feel like they belong.
Tours packages covering these three east African countries are often arranged giving you the very best the region has to offer leaving you with a memorable experience etched in both you heart and mind.
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East Africa is truly like nowhere else, whether you are of wildlife safari in Kenya or Tanzania, or lying on a sun kissed white sand, turquoise waters beach in Zanzibar or even gorilla trekking in Uganda – these are experiences you won’t be able to have anywhere else in the world.
Serengeti migration is always a great thing nature has offered to human kind. I believe this about time when the Serengeti great migration happens. To really explore this phenomenon you need to be there to see it.