There are experiences that are worth trying out and if you ever leave Africa without trying them out, then you haven’t lived. Just undertaking African safaris is one of the most unforgettable trips you will ever take. Right from the time you set foot in any African country, the ambiance will give you a warm reception but setting foot in any of the safari destination will leave you imagining how blessed the Continent is.
They say Africa is where the real magic happens, as savannah plains meet the jungles, beautiful and warm people welcome visitors with wide smiles as well as zeal of introducing the beauty of the Continent.
There are surprisingly some African safari experiences that once you taste will leave huge impacts in your life as well as memories that you will cherish for a lifetime. Nothing beats the thrill of breathing fresh air as you walk through the dense jungles For this reason, we bring you the 5 African safari experiences that you will cherish forever and they include;
- Game viewing
African safaris conjure images of driving through open savannah plains on-board open roof safari vehicles and therefore, your trip is incomplete without game viewing in your bucket list. The sweeping savannah landscapes just create the perfect background for travellers to relish game viewing. The top safari destinations for this activity are Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Etosha National Park in Namibia, Chobe Safari Lodge in Botswana, Kruger National Park in South Africa and Murchison falls National Park in Uganda among others.
During this safari experience, visitors come across African bush elephants, leopards, giraffes, common elands, lions, zebras, Cape buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, lesser and greater kudu, Klipspringers, wildebeests, Kobs, cheetahs, serval cats, to mention but a few. If game viewing is part of your plans for African safaris, then don’t forget to pack pair of binoculars, pair of shorts, binoculars, sunglasses, hat and a backpack.
- Great wildebeest Migration
What is an African safari without experiencing the great wildebeest migration? The cyclic movement of huge animal numbers (over 1.5 million wildebeests accompanied by gazelles, impalas and zebras) happens annually between Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.
This movement largely depends on seasonal rains as well as grass demands, hence making it a worthwhile experience for every traveller undertaking East African safaris. This trend happens throughout the year and the climax is the River crossings as animals struggle through crocodile-infested waters, then encounter other predators especially lions patrolling the banks of the Rivers.
- Birding tours
Browsing through different ecosystems for exceptional species of stunning feathered-beauties is another African safari experience that you will cherish forever. The varying habitats (wetlands, coastlines, savannah plains, deserts, Rivers and Lakes, marshes, woodlands and montane forests) in the African Continent make it a wonderful birding hot spot with over 2341 bird species, of which about 60% are endemic to Africa.
While every African country offers bird watching experiences, Uganda is said to be the best with over 1080 species within its area of 241,037 square kilometers.
- Mountain gorilla trekking
The unrivalled and incredibly unbeaten experience of venturing onto a gorilla safari in Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga Parks, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park or Congo’s Virunga National Park to see the iconic mountain gorillas is another safari experience that you can’t afford to miss. These Giant Apes are surprisingly only found in 3 countries in East-Central Africa and this alone makes the experience of seeing them worthwhile.
With less than 2000 individuals left, seeing them isn’t easy and requires gorilla permits that offer access to only 8 visitors per habituated gorilla group each day. This outstanding African safari experience is not an easy walk through the Park but hectic with one hour of observation and photography at the end of the trek.
- Mind-blowing cultural experiences
Africa is undoubtedly a melting pot with numerous tribes, languages as well as unique traditions, which not only vary according to country but also regions. For cultural tours in East Africa, travellers are introduced to the outstanding arts and crafts, dressing, folklore, delicious cuisines as well as traditional music and dances of the Masai people, Batwa, Karamojong and many others.
For visitors that fancy festivals, the Nyege – Nyege festival in Jinja city is a perfect place to be. Learn about history and culture of Slave trade. For each country you visit in Africa, be prepared to experience what their culture offers.
