Top 4 National Parks in East Africa
Top 4 National Parks in East Africa: Everyone wants to have the best safari experience possible. We have a variety of expectations, including what animals we want to see, the kind of lodging we want to stay in, the amount of adventure we want to have, and the location that will provide us with the best value for our money.
We all want to visit the best national park when we travel to East Africa, but there are so many options due to the vast number of national parks spread across the various East African nations. These and other factors will always determine where we end up on our safaris. We have therefore compiled a list of the top four East African national parks that we believe would fit your preferences and fulfill the majority of your safari needs in order to assist you in reducing your alternatives and simplifying your search for a place.
Bwindi National Park in Uganda
Africa’s Top 4 National Parks 1. For the straightforward reason that it is home to more than half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi National Park in Uganda is one of the most popular parks in East Africa. The park’s impenetrable rain forest, which gives it its name, is home to several well-known primates. In addition to the endangered mountain gorillas, the ancient forest is home to more than 320 tree species, seven monkey species, 120 animal species, over 200 butterflies, and 360 bird species.
The park is situated in southwest Uganda and is roughly eight to nine hours away by road from Kampala, the city of Uganda; it is three to four hours away from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda; and it is an hour’s flight from Entebbe International Airport in Uganda.
In addition to its well-known mountain gorilla trekking activity, which draws an average of 10,000 visitors each year, this park offers additional activities for visitors to enjoy, such as hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching, forest nature walks, and community interactions.
Budget, medium, and luxury lodging options are available both inside and outside the park.
In addition to an amazing mountain gorilla trekking experience, a trip to Bwindi National Park will provide you with breathtaking natural views, extensive community interactions, particularly with the Batwa people, and numerous other perks that will elevate your safari.
The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
Africa’s Top 4 National Parks 2. Because of the diversity of wild species found there, Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is referred to as the wildlife sanctuary in East Africa. With a total size of 12,950 square kilometers, Serengeti National Park is a component of the larger Serengeti ecosystem, which also includes Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Maswa Game Reserve, Grumeti Game Reserve, and the Ngorongoro conservation area.
Lions, wildebeests, gazelles, zebras, giraffes, leopards, baboons, elephants, and hippos are among the creatures that inhabit the Serengeti National Park. Additionally, some birds and reptiles are known to call it home.
Every year, wildebeest and other animals like zebras and gazelles migrate from Kenya’s Maasai Mara to the Serengeti or from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara. This annual migration always delights park visitors. Because the park is adjacent to the Ngorongoro crater, park visitors get the opportunity to see the crater as well.
Although you can take a one-day game drive to see a few of the creatures that are not in the deep wild, comprehensive game drives in this park can take up to four days. You will have an amazing gaming experience at the park that you will never forget.
Comprehensive sunrise, day and nighttime animal game drives, seeing the wildebeest migration, hot air balloon rides, touring the Moru kopjes, bush dinners, and camping under the stars are just a few of the activities available to visitors to this park.
The park can be reached by road or by air. The total time for the flying option, including the time needed to transfer from the airstrip to your lodging, ranges from two to five hours, depending on the flight and which airstrip you are landing at. You can fly from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport to one of the park’s seven airstrips.
It will take you eight to ten hours to go by road from Arusha to Serengeti National Park, with the majority of the time you will stop for the night.
There are lodging options in and around the park that range from low-cost to high-end.
You will witness all five of the big five creatures, as well as the majority of common and some of the rarest wild animals, in one location when you visit this park.
The Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya
Africa’s Top 4 National Parks 3. One of the best game reserves in Africa is the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in southwest Kenya. It is a component of the Serengeti ecosystem and shares a boundary with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is six or more hours’ drive from the Maasai Mara game reserve. Similar to the Serengeti, the park is home to a diverse range of animal species, and a full game viewing experience will take two to three days.
The renowned wildebeest, which yearly migrate between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara, as well as impalas, antelopes, leopards, lions, rhinos, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, topis, baboons, and others, are among the creatures that may be found in the Maasai Mara. The Mara River in the park is home to crocodiles and hippos, among other aquatic creatures.
Comprehensive day, evening, and nighttime game drives, nature walks, horseback riding, hot air balloon rides, bird watching during park picnics, and cultural excursions are some of the park’s top tourist attractions.
Additionally, you can fly to any of the nine airstrips in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Budget, medium, and luxury lodging options are available both within and outside the park.
You will be astounded by the variety of plants found in the park and its environs, and a visit to this park is a wild life wonder that you will never forget.
The Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
East Africa’s Top 4 National Parks: Volcanoes National Park is well-known for its mountain gorillas, much like Bwindi National Park. The park is primarily visited for mountain gorilla trekking activities and is also home to endangered mountain gorillas. The park’s five volcanoes, which are a part of the Virunga Massif and the Hagenia rainforest, give the mountains a green cover and serve as the ideal habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas.
Other primates and animals, including buffaloes, spotted hyenas, golden monkeys, and forest elephants, can be seen in the park. More than 100 tree species can be found in the rainforest, 29 of which are unique to the Virunga protected area.
Golden Monkey Trekking, Volcano Hiking, Cultural Experiences, Caving, and Nature Walks are some of the other visitor activities in this park.
It takes two to three hours to drive from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, to the park, which is conveniently accessible by road. Budget, medium, and luxury lodging options are available both within and outside the park.
You will have a fantastic and exhilarating experience of the Virunga conservation region when you visit this park.