East Africa is one of the most iconic regions in Africa, offering a unique safari experience and a sought-after vacation destination. In 2026, this region will provide an unforgettable safari experience, featuring encounters with savannah wildlife, primates, and cultural communities.
East Africa is made up of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi. All these countries are known for their awe-inspiring safari landscapes, rich wildlife, and evolving conservation driven by tourism. These countries have several taglines according to the safari experience, and some of these include;
- Uganda – The pearl of Africa – Where gorillas meet the Nile.
- Kenya – Land of the Masai and the wildlife migration.
- Tanzania – endless plains and timeless wonders.
- Rwanda- land of a thousand hills and gentle giants.
In general, East Africa is tagged as the heartbeat of Africa’s adventure.
Some of the best destinations that you can visit on a safari to East Africa include;
Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti National Park is situated in the northern part of Tanzania near the border of Tanzania and Kenya. The park is within the Mara region and the eastern part of the Simiyu region, and it was established in 1940.
The park is known for the annual wildlife migration in the world, which occurs annually. The name of the park originates from a local Masai word, “Siringet,” which means a place where land runs forever.
Serengeti National Park is home to several species of wildlife that include lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, hyenas, topis, hippos, warthogs, and over 500 bird species.
The great migration of the wildlife in this park involves over 2 million wildebeests, which is a seasonal cycle where the wildlife is in search of water and pastures. The migration cycle of the wildlife includes
- December -March. In these months, wildlife always congregate for calving in the southern Serengeti.
- In April to May, the wildlife move through the Guremeti river, which is a major crossing area of the wildlife where the crocodiles lie as they wait. This occurs in the western corridor of the park.
- July -October. The wildlife herds cross one of the deadliest rivers, the Mara River, that is infested with crocodiles, as the wildlife cross to the Masai Mara River. In this month, the wildlife are always in the northern region of the Serengeti National Park.
While on the safari to the Serengeti National Park, there are several activities that you can engage in, and they include Game drives, hot air balloon safaris, cultural encounters, walking safaris, and sundowners.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated within the south-western region of Uganda and is home to several mountain gorillas. This park is a habitat for almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas.
It is divided into 4 sectors that include Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Ruhija. All these sectors have several habituated gorilla families that are available for tracking.
There are over 20 gorilla habituated families that are available for tracking. The gorilla habituation process takes about 2 years for the gorillas to get used to the human presence.
To track these gorillas in 2026, you are supposed to have booked a gorilla permit, which is a legal document that is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. To book this permit, you are supposed to use reliable and licensed tour operators.
The cost of the gorilla permit includes 800 USD for foreign non-residents, 700 USD for foreign residents,500 USD for the rest of the African residents, and 300000UGX for the East African residents.
On a safari in 2026 to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can also engage in the gorilla habituation, which is done only in the Rushaga sector. The gorilla habituation permit is limited to 4 people a day.
The cost of the gorilla habituation permit includes 1500 USD for foreign non-residents,800 USD for foreign residents, and 750000 USD for East African residents.
Masai Mara National Reserve.
Masai Mara National Reserve is nested in the south-western Part of Kenya, which is also known as the most iconic wildlife conservation area. This reserve is made up of the vast grassland vegetation type, with several concentrations of wildlife.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is situated in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Wildlife around this reserve includes lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, cheetahs, zebras, wildbeests, giraffes, and many other species of wildlife.
The reserve is known for its backdrop of the world’s impressive wildlife migration that occurs annually. Some of the activities that you can engage in this reserve include game drives, Hot air balloon safari, cultural encounters, and nature walks.
Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park is nestled in the northwestern part of Rwanda, which is primarily known for the mountain gorilla encounter. It is part of the Virunga region that hosts 5 of the 8 Virunga ranges.
Volcanoes National Park is situated on the international boundary of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Some of the Virunga Ranges in the Volcanoes National Park include Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhavura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo.
Volcanoes National Park holds a history of conservation works that were led by the late Dian Fossey, where this park was a primateology base in the 1970s during the works of the late Dian Fossey. In this park, you can encounter primates that include mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.
In this park, there are over 13 gorilla families that are available for tracking. To track these gorillas, you are supposed to book the gorilla permit in time.
The cost of the gorilla permit is 1500 USD for foreign non-residents, 500 USD for foreign residents, and 200 USD for East African residents. These gorilla permits are issued by the Rwanda Development Board.
Other activities to engage in the Volcanoes National Park include golden monkey trekking, a community visit to the gorilla guardian village, and many others.
zanzibar
Also known as a spice island, it is Tanzania’s coastal land that is situated within the indian ocean. This island is known for its stunning beaches and rich colonial history, with its stunning capital, the stone town.
Zanzibar is made up of several other islands that include Unguja and Pemba. On an East African safari in 2026, there are several activities that you can engage in during a safari to Zanzibar, and they include a visit to Stone Town, spice tour, snorkeling, cultural community visit of the Swahili, sky diving, and many other activities.
Murchison Falls National Park
This is the largest National Park in Uganda situated in northwestern Uganda, which is crossed by the river Nile. This park was initially called the Kalega National Park and later on it was changed to Murchison Falls in 1953.
This park is made up of the tropical and savannah vegetation types, where part of this park is covered by the Budongo forest. On a 2026 safari to Murchison, there are several activities that you can engage in, and they include game drives, boat cruises, hiking to the top of the falls, chimpanzee trekking, and many others.
Mombasa
Mombasa is a coastal capital city that is situated in the southwestern part of Kenya. Historically, this was the capital city of East Africa during the colonial period.
Mombasa is a great destination for anyone planning a combined safari that is blended with beach and savannah wildlife. During a safari to Mombasa, there are several destinations that you can encounter, like Diani Beach, Tsavo West National Park, Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park, several Swahili cultural communities, and many others.
What is the best time to go for an East African safari
This is one of the great questions that you need to ask for the best experience on an East African safari. The best time depends on what you want to see during the safari, as these safaris depend on the great migration, gorilla encounter, predator encounter, and many others.
The best time to engage in an East African safari is from June to October and December to February. In these months, it is easier to spot wildlife at the water sources, roads are more accessible, and vegetation is short for wildlife viewing.
As you need to plan on how to engage in an East African safari in 2026 , feel free to contact us for a best memorable experience.