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Tourism · East Africa

Places to visit in East Africa

National parks, mountains, lakes, coasts, cities and heritage sites, each with a full guide: official fees, the best months, how to get there and who to travel with.

66 places

A mountain gorilla feeding on leaves in Bwindi Impenetrable ForestNational park

Southwestern Uganda, Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Ancient rainforest and almost half of the world's mountain gorillas.

Entry US$40 · EAC UGX 20,000
The Virunga volcanoes rising above farmland near MgahingaNational park

Southwestern Uganda, Uganda

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Three volcanoes, mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.

Entry US$40 · EAC UGX 20,000
Murchison Falls pouring through its narrow gorge into the NileNational park

Northwestern Uganda, Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park

Where the Nile forces through an 8-metre gorge.

Entry US$45 · EAC UGX 25,000
Lions resting in a tree in Queen Elizabeth National ParkNational park

Western Uganda, Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kazinga Channel, crater lakes and tree-climbing lions.

Entry US$40 · EAC UGX 20,000
An alpha male chimpanzee sitting on the forest floor in KibaleNational park

Western Uganda, Uganda

Kibale National Park

East Africa's primate capital: 13 species and about 1,500 chimpanzees.

Entry US$40 · EAC UGX 20,000
Golden savanna and distant mountains in Kidepo Valley with grazing buffaloesNational park

Northeastern Uganda (Karamoja), Uganda

Kidepo Valley National Park

Uganda's most remote and dramatic wilderness.

Entry US$40 · EAC UGX 20,000
A zebra grazing on open grassland in Lake Mburo National ParkNational park

Western Uganda, Uganda

Lake Mburo National Park

Zebras, impalas and lakes, 3½ hours from Kampala.

Entry US$40 · EAC UGX 20,000
Giant groundsels on the moorland of Mount ElgonNational park

Eastern Uganda, Uganda

Mount Elgon National Park

An ancient volcano with one of the world's largest calderas.

Entry US$35 · EAC UGX 15,000
The main Sipi waterfall dropping over a high cliffWaterfalls

Eastern Uganda, Uganda

Sipi Falls

Three waterfalls on the green slopes of Mount Elgon.

Guide & costs inside
Boiling water spouting from the female hot spring at SempayaNational park

Western Uganda, Uganda

Semuliki National Park

A slice of the Congo Basin with boiling hot springs.

Entry US$35 · EAC UGX 15,000
A southern white rhino in long grass at Ziwa Rhino SanctuaryWildlife sanctuary

Central Uganda, Uganda

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Track white rhinos on foot, the only wild rhinos in Uganda.

Guide & costs inside
Lake Bunyonyi's islands and terraced hills under a blue skyLake

Southwestern Uganda, Uganda

Lake Bunyonyi

A highland lake of islands and terraced hills.

Guide & costs inside
The Nile flowing out of Lake Victoria at JinjaCity destination

Eastern Uganda, Uganda

Jinja & the Source of the Nile

Where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria, and Uganda's adventure capital.

Guide & costs inside
Waves on a sandy beach with fishing boats on the Ssese IslandsIslands

Central Uganda (Lake Victoria), Uganda

Ssese Islands

Sandy beaches and forest on Lake Victoria's islands.

Guide & costs inside
Kampala's skyline of office towers and green hillsCapital city

Central Uganda, Uganda

Kampala

Uganda's capital of hills, markets, faith and nightlife.

Guide & costs inside
A sandy beach on Lake Victoria in the Entebbe Botanical GardensLakeside town

Central Uganda, Uganda

Entebbe

Botanical gardens and Lake Victoria shores by the airport.

Guide & costs inside
The thatched Muzibu Azaala Mpanga tomb house at KasubiHeritage site

Central Uganda, Uganda

Kasubi Tombs

The royal burial ground of the Kabakas of Buganda.

UNESCO listed
Water lilies and papyrus channels in Mabamba Bay wetlandWetland

Central Uganda, Uganda

Mabamba Bay Wetland

Canoe through papyrus to find the shoebill.

Guide & costs inside
A wildebeest leaping into the Mara River during the migrationNational reserve

Southwestern Kenya, Kenya

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Big cats, open plains and the Great Migration river crossings.

Guide & costs inside
Elephants in Amboseli's swamp grass below Mount KilimanjaroNational park

Southern Kenya, Kenya

Amboseli National Park

Big-tusked elephants beneath Mount Kilimanjaro.

Entry US$90 · EAC KES 1,500
Red-dusted elephants of Tsavo EastNational park

Southeastern Kenya, Kenya

Tsavo East National Park

Kenya's largest park, home of the red elephants.

Entry US$80 · EAC KES 1,000
Elephants at a waterhole below volcanic hills in Tsavo WestNational park

Southeastern Kenya, Kenya

Tsavo West National Park

Lava flows, Mzima Springs and the man-eaters' country.

Entry US$80 · EAC KES 1,000
Reticulated giraffes crossing the Ewaso Ng'iro River in SamburuNational reserve

Northern Kenya, Kenya

Samburu National Reserve

Dry-country wildlife along the Ewaso Ng'iro River.

Guide & costs inside
A white rhino with flamingos on Lake Nakuru behindNational park

Rift Valley, Kenya

Lake Nakuru National Park

Rhinos, flamingos and Rift Valley lake views.

Entry US$90 · EAC KES 1,500
A northern white rhino grazing at Ol PejetaPrivate conservancy

Central Kenya (Laikipia), Kenya

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Big Five, chimpanzees and the last northern white rhinos.

Guide & costs inside
Mount Kenya's snow-streaked peaks above a moorland valleyNational park

Central Kenya, Kenya

Mount Kenya National Park

Africa's second-highest mountain, with treks to Point Lenana.

Entry US$70 · EAC KES 800
A tall waterfall dropping into forest in the AberdareNational park

Central Kenya, Kenya

Aberdare National Park

Misty highland forest, waterfalls and Treetops.

Entry US$70 · EAC KES 800
A buffalo grazing with Nairobi's skyline behindNational park

Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi National Park

Lions and rhinos with a city skyline behind them.

Entry US$80 · EAC KES 1,000
Nairobi's skyline at duskCapital city

Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi

East Africa's hub of museums, food and wildlife on the doorstep.

Guide & costs inside
White sand and turquoise water at Diani BeachBeach

South Coast, Kenya

Diani Beach

White sand, reefs and dhow trips on the south coast.

Guide & costs inside
Turquoise water and coral islets at WatamuMarine park

North Coast, Kenya

Watamu & Gede Ruins

Coral gardens, Mida Creek and a lost Swahili town.

UNESCO listed
Dhows sailing in the Lamu channelHeritage town

North Coast, Kenya

Lamu Old Town

East Africa's oldest living Swahili town, with no cars.

UNESCO listed
Wildebeest herds grazing across the Serengeti plainsNational park

Northern Tanzania, Tanzania

Serengeti National Park

Endless plains and the Great Migration all year round.

Entry US$82.60 · EAC TZS 11,800
Panorama of the Ngorongoro Crater floor from the rimConservation area

Northern Tanzania, Tanzania

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

A wildlife-filled volcanic crater and the Maasai highlands.

Entry US$70.80 · EAC TZS 11,800
Elephants digging for water in the Tarangire riverbedNational park

Northern Tanzania, Tanzania

Tarangire National Park

Elephant herds, ancient baobabs and 550 bird species.

Entry US$59.00 · EAC TZS 11,800
Lake Manyara and its forest seen from the Rift Valley escarpmentNational park

Northern Tanzania, Tanzania

Lake Manyara National Park

Tree-climbing lions, flamingos and a forest canopy walk.

Entry US$59.00 · EAC TZS 11,800
Snow-capped Kibo, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, above the forestNational park

Northern Tanzania, Tanzania

Kilimanjaro National Park

Climb Africa's highest mountain to Uhuru Peak.

Entry US$82.60 · EAC TZS 11,800
Mount Meru rising above Arusha National ParkNational park

Northern Tanzania, Tanzania

Arusha National Park

Mount Meru, Momella lakes and black-and-white colobus.

Entry US$59.00 · EAC TZS 11,800
The braided channels of the Rufiji River in Nyerere National ParkNational park

Southern Tanzania, Tanzania

Nyerere National Park

Africa's largest national park, explored by boat on the Rufiji.

Entry US$82.60 · EAC TZS 11,800
The Great Ruaha River flowing past sandbanks and hillsNational park

Southern Highlands, Tanzania

Ruaha National Park

Remote wilderness of elephants, lions and baobabs.

Entry US$35.40 · EAC TZS 5,900
Adult male chimpanzees feeding in a fig tree in MahaleNational park

Western Tanzania, Tanzania

Mahale Mountains National Park

Wild chimpanzees on forested mountains above Lake Tanganyika.

Entry US$94.40 · EAC TZS 5,900
A pebble beach on Lake Tanganyika at Gombe Stream National ParkNational park

Western Tanzania, Tanzania

Gombe National Park

The chimpanzees Jane Goodall made famous.

Entry US$118.00 · EAC TZS 11,800
Olduvai Gorge with its eroded red rock pillarArchaeological site

Northern Tanzania, Tanzania

Olduvai Gorge

A cradle of humankind between Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.

UNESCO listed
Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano above the shores of Lake NatronSoda lake

Northern Tanzania, Tanzania

Lake Natron

Flamingo breeding grounds below an active volcano.

Guide & costs inside
The entrance to the Old Fort in Stone TownHistoric town

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Stone Town, Zanzibar

A Swahili trading town of carved doors and narrow lanes.

UNESCO listed
White sand ripples and turquoise water at low tide on Paje beach, ZanzibarBeaches and coast

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar beaches

White sand, warm water and coral reefs around Unguja.

Guide & costs inside
A palm-lined beach with a moored dhow on Mafia IslandIsland

Coast, Tanzania

Mafia Island

Whale sharks, coral reefs and a quiet marine park.

Guide & costs inside
The long white sand of Vumawimbi Beach, PembaIsland

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Pemba Island

Zanzibar's green island of cloves, forests and deep reefs.

Guide & costs inside
Red ochre human and animal figures in a Kondoa rock shelterRock art

Central Tanzania, Tanzania

Kondoa Rock-Art Sites

Ancient paintings on the rock shelters of the Masai escarpment.

UNESCO listed
A mountain gorilla mother with her infant on her back in Volcanoes National ParkNational park

Northern Province, Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Mountain gorillas and golden monkeys on the Virunga volcanoes.

Guide & costs inside
Forested hills and valleys of Nyungwe National ParkNational park

Southwestern Rwanda, Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park

Ancient montane rainforest, chimpanzees and a canopy walkway.

Entry US$100 · EAC RWF 10,000
Masai giraffes walking along a track in Akagera National ParkNational park

Eastern Province, Rwanda

Akagera National Park

Rwanda's Big Five savanna park, with lakes along the Tanzanian border.

Entry US$100 · EAC RWF 15,000
A visitor and an RDB guide looking out over the Gishwati forestNational park

Western Province, Rwanda

Gishwati-Mukura National Park

Rwanda's newest park: restored forest, chimpanzees and golden monkeys.

Guide & costs inside
Green hills and bays of Lake Kivu seen from Karongi (Kibuye)Lake and lakeside towns

Western Province, Rwanda

Lake Kivu

Beaches, islands and the Congo Nile Trail on a Great Rift lake.

Guide & costs inside
An aerial view of the Kigali Convention Centre and its gardensCapital city

City of Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali

Rwanda's green, hilly capital: museums, markets and food.

Guide & costs inside
The thatched royal palace at the King's Palace Museum in NyanzaMuseum and royal palace

Southern Province, Rwanda

King's Palace Museum, Nyanza

A royal palace, a 1930s king's residence and long-horned Inyambo cattle.

Guide & costs inside
Islands and terraced hills on Lake BureraCaves and lakes

Northern Province, Rwanda

Musanze Caves and the Twin Lakes

A lava-tube cave and the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo below the volcanoes.

Guide & costs inside
The entrance to the Ethnographic Museum (Musée National du Rwanda) in HuyeMuseum

Southern Province, Rwanda

Ethnographic Museum, Huye

Rwanda's finest collection of traditional life, crafts and history.

Guide & costs inside

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