Top 8 Things to Do in East Africa

A game drive in East Africa is an immersion into the wilderness to view the natural wonders of animal ecosystems. From woodlands to savanna, rivers to lakes, you can watch natural selection at play as the wildlife filters through the diverse topography.

Find access to Africa’s Big Five on Serengeti safaris, search for hippo pods, or explore caves when looking for wild dog dens. A typical game drive can take place in an open-air four-wheel-drive vehicle or a closed-top 4x4, with either option taking you off the beaten path for exciting opportunities to view the wildlife up close.

Best Places for Game Drive: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania • Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, Tanzania • Amboseli National Park, Kenya • Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The Great Migration is a natural wonder. Over a million wildebeest and zebra travel across East Africa over the Tanzanian and Kenyan borders. The hordes resemble a great wave spreading across the landscape to the horizon.

The hooves thunder as they travel, following the changing seasons. The phenomenon can be viewed on traditional game drives or unique safaris that provide different perspectives of the animals as they travel across savannas and waterways in a sweeping sea.

You can witness the epic natural spectacle on Tanzania Great Migration safaris and Kenya Great Migration safaris.

Best Places for the Great Wildebeest Migration: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya • Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

The beaches in East Africa shine with golden coastlines and powdery sands. While often overlooked for wildlife, those in countries like Kenya and Tanzania demonstrate crystal-clear waters and quiet escapes.

With elegant resorts, access to marine reserves, and introductions to local culture and mouthwatering seafood, the shores of East Africa are a great place on which to lounge, embrace the sunshine, or view a different kind of wildlife.

Find comfort on the soft East African sands with our Zanzibar vacation packages, or explore our best African safari and beach vacations.

Best Places for Beaches: Anse Source d’Argent, Seychelles • Nungwi Beach, Tanzania • Shela Beach, Kenya • Mnemba Island, Tanzania

East Africa has sensational cuisine that blends local ingredients with continental spices that demonstrate the broader connection to centuries of maritime trade.

Authentic cooking methods and interesting culinary techniques create mouthwatering treats. Local breweries add to a unique ambiance, with dishes offering unique tasting experiences.

Whether sipping cocktails with local fruits, finding spices on an antique plantation, or enjoying the combination of tropical and seafood flavors, East Africa is a marvelous foodie destination.

Best Places for Food: Zanzibar, Tanzania • Mombasa, Kenya • Kigali, Rwanda • Beau Vallon, Seychelles • Eldoret, Kenya

The mountains, hills, and volcanic slopes around East Africa provide magnificent opportunities for exploring on foot. From trekking the tallest mountain on the African continent to tracing ancient footsteps across a region where some of the oldest traces of human life have been discovered, East Africa offers trails for all levels of fitness throughout the year.

Hiking and trekking take you beyond the wildlife for an immersive cultural and scenic experience, revealing how the landscape has affected world history, local heritage, and a connection to the animals.

Best Places for Hiking: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania • Rwenzori Mountain Range, Uganda • Mt. Karisimbi, Rwanda • Mt. Sabinyo, Uganda • Usambara Mountains, Tanzania • Mt. Kenya, Kenya

Alternative safaris provide new opportunities for viewing and engaging with the wildlife of East Africa from a safe and respectable distance.

Get on the ground for a more intimate look at the traces wildlife leaves behind throughout the day, enjoy expansive panoramic views of the landscape from an aerial perspective, or immerse yourself in the landscape as you sit camouflaged in a bunker, quietly waiting for a rare sighting.

Rather than from the singular lens of a four-wheel-drive vehicle, alternative safari experiences offer different excursions that upend and exceed expectations.

Best Places for Alternative Safaris: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda • Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda • Serengeti, Tanzania • Amboseli National Park, Kenya • Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania

A gorilla trek can be the most memorable wildlife excursion in East Africa as it challenges a person’s perception of the wildlife and wilderness as they trek through dense jungle terrain.

With an allotted amount of time to view the gorillas once found, the combination of witnessing them in their natural habitat and the complete absence of a schedule in terms of how long it can take to find the troop and return to base creates a compelling and unforgettable challenge that is rewarded by witnessing the endangered animals.

Whether enjoying a Uganda gorilla trek or Rwanda gorilla trek, the forests of East Africa are marvelous places to see the iconic primates.

Best Places for Gorilla Trekking: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda • Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

The importance of museums is never understated as they provide a window into local culture and international heritage, as well as the point at which the two connect.

Some of the best museums in East Africa address sensitive topics, but make the information available in a way visitors can understand, connect with, and learn from the experience, taking away important lessons.

By connecting with local and international visitors, the museums in East Africa enhance the surrounding landscape and open the door to specific histories, mesmerizing art, and fascinating archeology, each touching on the overall importance of sharing culture by making museums stewards of the greater community.

Best Places for Museums and Cultural Heritage: Nairobi, Kenya • Kigali, Rwanda • Samburu National Reserve, Kenya • Amboseli National Park, Kenya • Arusha, Tanzania • Manyara, Tanzania

Balance adventure and relaxation or indulge in exceptional scenery as you experience the wonders of East Africa. Celebrate the beaches, trek the jungle terrain to find gorilla troops, or visit fascinating museum galleries that reflect local and international culture.

Discover new ways to travel and explore with inspiration from our featured East Africa safaris and tours, or discover new ideas in our East Africa travel guide.