5 Best National Parks in East Africa

5 best National Parks in East Africa. When it comes to African safaris, East Africa is one region that never disappoints nature lovers. Boasting of her breathtaking landscape, abundant wildlife, great adventures, and more, East Africa has for long stood out as the leading and favorite African safari destination, offering a range of unique wilderness experiences.

From the mesmerizing wildebeest migration, mountains, valleys to thrilling mountain gorilla trekking adventures, a visit to East Africa is worth every penny and time. The beauty of visiting East Africa for a holiday is that there are plenty of opportunities.

Visitor wilderness experiences in East Africa revolve around immersing yourselves in the golden savannas, the dense rainforests, and bamboo forests to interact with different wildlife, primates, birds should be a must-do.

East Africa is comprised of about 6 states- Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Burundi. Each of these states has beautiful National Parks with unique wildlife and other attractions. When choosing a park to visit, consider exploring those with a huge profusion of wildlife. Below are some of the 5 best National Parks in East Africa;

National Parks in East Africa

1. Volcanoes National Park
2. Masai Mara National Reserve/Park
3. Serengeti National Park
4. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
5. Kibale National Park

1. Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is undoubtedly one of the 5 best National Parks in East Africa. Situated in the extreme Northwest of Rwanda is a splendid Volcanoes National Park, a 160sq.km Rwanda safari park is famous for its magnificent mountain ranges and endangered mountain gorillas.

Volcanoes National Park

Established in 1925, Volcanoes National Park is one of the most visited parks in East Africa attracting the majority of visitors to gorilla safaris in Africa. The 160sq.km lush bamboo park spans within Virunga Conservation Area- VCA and protects a range of wildlife including mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, forest elephants, duikers, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, spotted hyenas, buffaloes, bush pigs plus other primates.

There are also 200 bird species and they comprise Albertine rift endemic species. On birding tour in Volcanoes National Park, some of the colorful bird species to expect to sight include the Rwenzori batis, dusky crimson wings, Rwenzori double collared warblers, Grauer’s rush warblers, Rwenzori turacos, Archer’s ground robin chat;

Strange weaver birds, red-faced woodland warblers, handsome francolins, Rwenzori Apalis, Rwenzori nightjars, blue-spotted wood dove, cinnamon chested bee-eaters, baglafecht, red-backed shrike, and others.

Volcanoes National Park is tourists’ favorite safari destination in East Africa for many reasons. But, most importantly gorilla trekking (gorilla permits are available for booking at USD1500), golden monkey tracking, volcano hiking- conquer the highest peaks of Virunga volcanoes at Karisimbi 4507m, Sabyinyo volcano, Muhabura, Bisoke, and Gahinga volcanoes; birding to identify the 200 bird species.

Alternatively, tourists can go explore Musanze caves, hike to Dian Fossey tomb site to have insight into her gorilla conservation legacy, visit the Iby’Iwacu cultural village for cultural safari, and more.

2. Serengeti National Park

Located in the Northern Tourist Circuit of Tanzania, Serengeti National Park is a renowned land of endless plains. It was created in 1951 and it is most popular for the annual great wildebeest migration and a huge concentration of other wildlife especially all the big five game members- elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, lions plus giraffes, zebras, antelopes such as elands, gazelles, etc.

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is one of the vast savanna parks in East Africa. It expands on the land area measuring up to 14763sq.km with a variety of habitats where a range of its special wildlife thrives from. Serengeti is best visited for great wildebeest migration experience, game drive, hot air balloon safaris, birding, camping, cultural safaris in the Maasai village, and more.

3. Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve also often referred to as a National Park lies in the far South-west of Kenya, home to the great wildebeest migration- best enjoyed from July to October. This is an extensive savanna safari park covering over 1510sq.km of land area and protects a huge profusion of wildlife. Masai Mara is a stronghold to not only millions of wildebeests but also the big five game- buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards.

Masai Mara

In addition, the magical Mara Reserve/Park protects several gazelles, zebras, elands, impalas, oribis, hyenas, duikers, warthogs, waterbucks, reedbucks plus 500 bird species such as rosy throated long claw, Clarke’s weaver, cisticola, African jacana, little bittern, laughing dove, Sharpe’s pipit, lappet-faced vulture, grey herons;

Nyanza Swift, martial eagle, emerald spotted wood dove, green sandpiper, African fish eagle, ostriches, spur-winged goose, Pel’s fishing owl, white-winged tern, striped kingfisher, blue napped mousebird, grey rumped swallow, black cuckoo, and others.

4. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

If mountain gorillas are some of the unique primates that you have always wanted to see, then no better to consider visiting than Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Located in the far Southwest of Uganda, Bwindi stands out as one of the premier gorilla trekking destinations worth visiting to see mountain gorillas.

Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Others include 3 of the Virunga Conservation Area (VCA) parks- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Kisoro, Virunga National Park in Congo, and Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri. Bwindi alone is home to more than 120 mammal species which include over 459 mountain gorillas that live harmoniously with chimpanzees and other wildlife, birds, etc.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is made of 4 sectors- Ruhija, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Rushaga. It can be reached within 8-9 hours’ drive starting from Kampala and from Kigali city in Rwanda, it can take you 4-5 hours to drive up to the 331sq.km Bwindi National Park.

5. Kibale National Park

Famous as the primate capital of the world, Kibale National Park is with no doubt East Africa’s premier chimpanzee tracking destination. Over 13 primate species, 375 bird species including the African green breasted pitta, countless butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, floral species all thrive within Kibale Forest National Park’s 795sq.km.

Kibale Forest National Park

There are many ways to explore and experience Kibale National Park. Tourists can have the best of chimpanzee tracking, chimpanzee habituation experience starting from Kanyanchu Visitor Centre, birding, forest/nature walks, cultural experiences, and more.