Africa Bucket List: Best Things to Do in East Africa.

There is too much for one traveler to experience across the huge continent of Africa. It can be difficult to decide what to do in Africa when there are so many amazing possibilities. To help you sort through all the incredible options, we’ve put together two bucket lists for Africa: one for the Best Things to Do in Southern Africa and another for the Best Things to Do in East Africa.

Some of the greatest East African adventures, pastimes, and sights can be found below.

Top Activities in Kenya
Maasai Mara Balloon Safari

A hot air balloon ride over the expansive, open grasslands of the renowned Masai Mara National Park is the ideal way to take in the breathtaking scenery. It is a breathtaking experience to witness the African bush awake from above, and flights typically depart as the sun rises.

In addition to getting a sense of the vastness of this untamed region, you may be fortunate enough to witness herds of Africa’s most beloved animals—antelope, giraffe, and wildebeest, to mention just three—grazing on the plains where they call home.

The Wildebeest Migration, also known as the Great Migration

Have you ever heard the continuous, northward-moving hoofbeat of roughly 1.5 million wildebeest? You may get a sense of the Great Migration’s force by adding more than 200 000 zebra, nearly 500 000 Thomson’s gazelles, and numerous other herd species.

Since the beginning of time, animals have been traveling in a circle each year across the Masai Mara and Serengeti in search of food, closely pursued by their predators. It is truly a breathtaking sight to behold.

Although the same path is taken annually, the dates vary somewhat because this is nature and is not governed by Western calendars. Witnessing the Great Migration in Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, made much more so by the uncertainty of whether you will see it or not. To find the best times to go, visit one of our ABS consultants.

See The Great migratory Africa, which provides answers to frequently asked questions about migratory safaris, for more in-depth information.

Off the island of Lamu, snorkeling

Located just off the coast of Kenya is Lamu Island, a tropical paradise. Imagine a warm, clean sea with white sand beaches, coral reefs, and bayside dhows.

The island of Lamu is a snorkeler’s paradise. There are many reefs with living coral and vibrantly colored reef fish around the Lamu archipelago. There are numerous dhows that will carry you out to the reefs, and the water is kind and warm. This region is also home to dolphins and turtles, so if you’re lucky, you might wind up playing with some turtle pals.

The first mosque was constructed in Lamu in the 14th century, therefore the city’s architecture is ancient and exquisite, with a lot of Swahili and Muslim influences. If you’re not into water activities, you can spend days visiting the ancient town, which has tight alleyways, elaborately carved doors, and mostly foot (and donkey) traffic.

For reasonably priced tour choices, check out our Budget Kenya Safaris or look through our schedule of forthcoming trips that leave Nairobi according to your vacation dates.
Tanzania’s Top Activities: Big Five Safari in Ngorongoro Crater

An ancient volcano that fell is the Ngorongoro Crater. It was constructed some two million years ago, and within its relatively small area, it has built a bowl-like formation that is 18 kilometers in circumference and has highly different landscapes.

The stunning Ngorongoro Crater is located in northern Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which contains a portion of the Serengeti. Because it offers “food on tap” within the steep walls of the “bowl,” it is teeming with fauna and has the highest density of predators in the world.

Make the treacherous and rocky descent into the crater by 4×4 and camp on the crater’s wooded rim for breathtaking views. Numerous creatures will greet you there.

Read our article about Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area to learn more about the Ngorongoro Crater.

Mount Kilimanjaro climb

“I scaled Africa’s tallest mountain.”

Everybody would be proud to say that now. And with vistas of Africa, what a journey it is. Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the globe in addition to being the highest mountain in Africa.

Therefore, this is not something to be taken lightly on your bucket list. It calls for significant endurance and a certain degree of fitness. You can undertake trips up Kili with or without assistance, depending on your degree of fitness. You can choose to have assistance with all of that or carry your own backpack and cook for yourself.

Climbing Kilimanjaro is an adventure of a lifetime, regardless of how you choose to do it.

To learn the specifics of climbing to the top of Africa, see Climbing Kilimanjaro.

See our schedule of upcoming Arusha tour departures or go through our Budget Tanzania Safaris for reasonably priced trip options.
Top Activities in Zanzibar
Zanzibar is an island off the coast of Tanzania that is known as the “Spice Islands” because it is home to several aromatic spices, such as cloves and nutmeg. It’s a warm, tropical paradise with a wealth of historical history, beautiful waters, and islands covered with palm trees that offer excellent diving conditions.

The capital, Stone Town, has been a component of the slave and spice routes for hundreds of years. It is a lively blend of little lanes, exquisitely carved doors, busy marketplaces, and amiable people, with a strong Arabian and African influence in both architecture and lifestyle.

Take a Spice Tour

Zanzibar is sometimes referred to as the “Spice Islands,” and a spice tour is highly recommended. It’s a delightfully aromatic encounter!

Watch the growth of ylang ylang, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg. As coconut palms sway in the wind, aromas of coffee, cocoa, ginger, and nutmeg permeate the air. It is a sensory extravaganza.

At the market, make sure to purchase some spicy souvenirs to bring home!

Go to the Hotel Dhow Palace.

The majestic residence of Sheikh Mushin bin Mujbia in 1559 AD was this ancient hotel. It has since gone through several households and undergone multiple changes in purpose. The Muzammil family purchased it in 1987 and furnished and renovated it over the course of six years.
It’s like going back in time to when it first opened as a hotel in 1993. It’s a delight to see, beautifully adorned.

Explore the Zanzibar Islands by Snorkeling or Diving

Zanzibar is paradise whether you’re an experienced deep-sea diver or would rather float around on the surface snorkeling.

There is amazing coral, vibrantly colored fish, anemones, and turtles in the warm, clear water. Keep an eye out for larger marine animals such as whale sharks and barracudas.

Drinks on the Deck at Africa House Hotel at Sunset

Without a decent view of the breathtaking sunsets the continent has to offer, what would be an African vacation?

You can enjoy a glass at the Sunset Bar, sit on the deck, and watch the sun set over the warm Indian Ocean at the former colonial Africa House Hotel. Absolute happiness.

Visit Bwindi Forest to See the Gorillas

You can be persuaded that gorillas are actually not that far from humans after seeing them in Uganda. It is amazing to observe these critically endangered animals in their native rainforest habitat, which is a result of human activity. These lovely animals may not be around for very long because of the terrible rate at which they are being killed. There are thought to be fewer than 800 left.

Do your part for the local community as well as the timid and charming gorillas by staying at one of the community rest camps in the aptly called Bwindi Impenetrable Park. Reducing the destructive gorilla hunting and habitat degradation will be greatly aided by sustainable human settlements.

See our Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Africa’s Rainforests for more information about gorilla trekking in Africa, including Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

View our future excursions leaving from Kampala or browse our reasonably priced Uganda excursions that include gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
Check out our Gorilla Trekking Tours to see gorilla trekking trips in Uganda and Rwanda’s Volcanoes Park.

Ethiopia’s Top Activities
Trekking in the Simien Mountains

The Simien Mountains’ breathtaking scenery is difficult to top. Treks can last anywhere from one day to twelve days or longer, and all visitors agree that even the longest trek wasn’t long enough!

Located over 900 kilometers north of Addis Ababa, the region is renowned for its rural communities, deep valleys, rocky peaks, lush foliage, and some uncommon endemic species.

Treks are led, and you can choose the routes and level of assistance based on your comfort and fitness preferences. Steep cliffs, undulating grasslands, an intriguing local culture, an abundance of birds, and uncommon creatures will all astound you.

If you’re lucky, you might be able to see the shy Ethiopian wolf, the humorous apes, geladas, and the very endangered Walia ibex, a mountain goat with amazing horns.

Churches in Lalibela

The small religious town of Lalibela is located in northern Ethiopia as well. But there’s nothing trivial about the amazing feat of the people who lived there in the 12th century, who chiseled eleven churches out of the granite rock.

The fact that these elaborately carved structures, which have ground-level roofs, have been and continue to be utilized for Christian worship continuously since the 12th century is even more astounding.

Wear comfortable shoes because there are many steps and passages, many of which have been worn smooth by worshippers for hundreds of years. When you enter the churches, you will need to take them off, and it is better to have your head covered.

The entire area is rife with religious myth and folklore, as one could anticipate from a location this ancient. Our favorite is that, while these amazing constructions were being built, angels would visit every evening to assist with the carving.