The Ultimate Safari Guide To East Africa : The Best East African Safaris: The Ultimate Safari Guide to East Africa: The Complete Guide to the Best Safaris in East Africa: East Africa provides a traditional Out of Africa safari experience with its expansive grasslands, a variety of wildlife, vibrant Maasai and Samburu warriors, luxurious hotels, and tented camps. The infrastructure is excellent, and visitors are made to feel very welcome. Of particular note is the network of airports that connects the remote areas to the main international aviation hubs of Nairobi, Kenya, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Kampala, Uganda.
East Africa is home to gorilla sightings in the jungles of Uganda and Rwanda, the warm beaches of Zanzibar, and Kenya and Tanzania, two of Africa’s most popular safari destinations. For every kind of traveler, including honeymooners, family vacationers, and lone travelers, East Africa has it all. The major safari attractions that are top ranked in Africa and that are most visited by tourists include the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the Volcano National Park in Rwanda, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, the Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania, the Zanzibar island, the Tsavo national park in Kenya and many more all are located in East Africa.
East Africa has it all: great wildebeest migrations, hiking safaris on Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Mount Meru, and Mount Rwenzori, gorilla trekking, beach vocations, cultural tours, big five safaris, and so on. More information about some of the best sights and activities in East Africa can be found here. Major tourist destinations in East Africa include the following:
Gorilla Trekking.
The most well-known locations for gorilla trekking are the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda and the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The experience of being so close to these magnificent and endangered animals will live in your memory forever.
The Great Migration.
This animal phenomenon that exists in the Serengeti and Masai Mara is shared by Tanzania and Kenya. Its rich wildlife has resulted in the world’s highest concentration of migratory mammals, which are visible in the parks nearly all year round.
Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kilimanjaro, one of Africa’s most famous peaks, will not disappoint you if your objective is to scale its peak or just to explore the plains beneath it, which are home to a variety of wildlife species.
Ngorongoro Crater.
In Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater, several animals can be found in a natural amphitheater. When its volcano erupted, lush plains replaced the largest continuous caldera in the world.
Travel To And From East Africa.
Travellers can choose to go to East Africa on a road safari, a scheduled safari, an air safari, or a combination of all three. You have two options for driving: a private safari with a driver-guide just for your group, or independent travel. There is a lot more variation in the places you visit and the lodgings you stay at, but the cost could be high.
A planned excursion is the least expensive form of transportation. Here you can get together with a group of about seven people and divide the cost of the vehicle and the driver. Regretfully, you will have to follow the itinerary and make use of the provided lodging.
The most practical way to travel to East Africa is by plane, preferably into the parks or as close as possible. The lodge where you are staying will pick you up at the airport, and you are free to use the safari vehicles as you please. You can even plan your itinerary to include aspects of both flying and a private road safari. Many opt for this option because it brings you closer while also offering the convenience of a little bit more freedom and flexibility.
When To Plan East Africa Safari Tour.
Depending on the weather and the type of safari you wish to go on, you can decide when to start planning your vacation. There are advantages to travelling off-season as well, as the animals are easier to access and the reserves are less crowded. Besides, it will be much less expensive.
The Great Migration takes place between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. In quest of sustenance and water, over 1.5 million wildebeest, 300,000 zebras, and various antelope cross the plains and crocodile-infested rivers as the seasons change. In Kenya, October through November is the best time to witness this, but the animals travel back and forth often during this period. You can still see the migration’s final leg if you travel after September.
Millions of zebra and wildebeest calves are born in January and February during the wet season in the Serengeti. After the mating season, when the habitat dries out, the animals are forced to migrate back north. Basically, you can visit this place year-round and witness a diverse range of animals. February and March are probably the best times to see the migration in Tanzania because so many animals are giving birth to their young during these months. This is also the period when the predators are most active.
The best time to travel to East Africa is during the dry season, which runs from January to March and again from July to October. Animals gather near water sources such as rivers, lakes, and swamps because there are fewer lush bushes, which makes it easier to identify them.
In Tanzania, the dry season, which runs from June to November, is also when most animals gather near bodies of water. Tanzania has different rainy seasons. While it rains in the south from November to March, it rains in the north from November to December and again from March through May. April is usually the wettest month, so roads get washed out and it can be difficult to locate animals.
If you want to go gorilla trekking in the Ugandan jungle, the best time to visit is during the cooler, drier months. The wettest months are January and February, as well as again from June through September, even though rain usually falls during the year. Going mountain gorilla trekking during the other months, when it rains almost every day, is incredibly difficult. The same is true for trekking with gorillas in Rwanda. The short dry season (December to February or June to September) offers the best trekking conditions and the lowest risk of malaria.
Let’s examine a few of the safari experiences that each nation in East Africa has to offer:
1.Kenya.
Kenya, which has many national parks and reserves with an abundance of wildlife, is the best place to see the Great Migration. Anybody’s dream vacation should include a safari in Kenya, which offers a variety of experiences from expansive savannahs to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya. From the Indian Ocean in the east to the point where Lake Victoria joins Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in the west, there are a gazillion options and possibilities for a safari. Take to the skies in a hot air balloon to get a new perspective of this vast region, follow Maasai guides as they lead you through the savannah, or join the dust clouds of the yearly migration of animals. Top destinations to visit and explore in Kenya include the following:
Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve, a unique sanctuary for the conservation of wildlife spanning 1,510 square kilometres, borders Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park on the south. Home to lions, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, elephants, African buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, various antelope species, bird species, and other animals, it is the premier safari destination in East Africa.
The nomadic Maasai tribe is the source of the term “Masai,” which describes the characteristic flat-topped acacia trees, shrubs, and bushes that adorn the reserve’s landscape. The September–November wildebeest migration is one of the highlights of the year and a top wildlife safari experience.
Travelling by car from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is the most efficient way to reach Masai Mara. Depending on where you have made your hotel reservations, the trip will take five to seven hours. Because of the bad state of the roads, it is advised to take a 44 vehicle for this trip. This is the most economical way to enter the reserve and gives visitors an opportunity to see a little more of the rural and cultural aspects of Kenya. For independent travelers, there’s the option to rent a tour minibus van or a 44 Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep.
Another option available to tourists is to take a flying safari, where aircraft take off from Wilson airport in Nairobi and land at the airstrip of the Mara reserve. Safari cars are then utilized to take guests to their respective lodges. The Masai Mara offers a wide range of lodging options, including hotels, opulent lodges, tented camps, camp sites, and private homes.
There is no shortage of things to do in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Activities include game drives, bush dinners, sundowners, walking and hiking safaris, horseback riding safaris, and safaris with hot air balloons. One of the most popular trips is to a traditional Maasai tribal community, where you can witness this nomadic people’s unique way of life.
Lake Nakuru National Park.
At 1,754 metres above sea level, Lake Nakuru is situated on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. Because this location is surrounded by forest, bushy grassland, and a lake, visitors can benefit from the great natural diversity and various ecosystems this place has to offer. When it was first constructed in 1961, all that was there was the lake and the mountains that surrounded it.
In Maasai, Nakuru means “dust” or “dusty place”. In Lake Nakuru National Park, excellent activities include hiking, picnics, game drives, and bird watching. Nonetheless, the vast quantity of flamingos that make their nests there is the reason it is so well-known. Along with more than 70 southern white rhinos, it also boasts one of the largest populations of black rhinoceroses in the country more than 25. The Big 5 are represented in the park, along with the Rothschild’s giraffe, both subspecies of waterbuck, and numerous other animals. Another common sight is a python, which is usually seen crossing roads or hanging from trees.
The park is easily accessible by car and is conveniently located 156 kilometres to the northwest of Nairobi. The two main gates are the less frequented Nderit gate, which visitors use to enter the park from the Masai Mara or Elementaita, and the Lanet gate, which links the park to the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. There is also an airport there that serves the park. There are several places to stay in the park, including the self-catering Naishi Guest House, 13 campgrounds, picnic areas, and two privately owned lodges, the Lake Nakuru Lodge and Sarova Lion Hill Lodge.
2. Tanzania.
Tanzania is globally recognized for being home to the Big 5, Africa’s highest mountain, the world’s largest crater, and the Serengeti’s Great Migration. But this isn’t the only reason tourists come to this East African country. With landscapes like Lake Victoria, the Serengeti, the majestic Kilimanjaro Mountains, the Ngorongoro Cradle Basin, and the Flamingo Waters of Lake Natron, it is a land of contrasts. In the East, the Afro-Arab islands of Pemba and Zanzibar are well-liked travel destinations. Tanzania’s top tourist destinations to visit and explore include the following:
Serengeti National Park.
The Serengeti National Park is without a doubt the one that shows up in the greatest number of National Geographic shows. It is the only place to experience a true African safari and is home to a plethora of wildlife. It is well-known for the Great Migration in addition to the African Big 5, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, roan antelope, Oryx, eland, wildebeest, zebra, hyena, wild dogs, serval, the endangered African golden wolf, and a variety of cats.
When the park was first created, the local lion population was alarmingly declining due to hunting. The British Colonial government of the time created a game reserve in 1921 to protect cats and other wildlife. The beginning of what is now known as the Serengeti occurred in 1951, when the Serengeti was finally established.
The word “Serengeti” comes from the Maasai word siringet, which denotes an area where the land goes on forever.
This is an excellent way to describe the area because it seems like the grasslands never end. Large crocodiles feast on zebra and wildebeest herds that try to cross the Grumeti River to the west during the Great Migration. Soil throughout the savannah region is composed of black clay. The only place you’re likely to come across the dik-dik, one of Africa’s tiniest antelopes, is the open woods to the north, where elephants roam.
The treeless plains of the Serengeti provide amazing views of the herds of animals. It is easy to see large herds of buffalo, zebra, hartebeest, wildebeest, and many other animals, even in the rainy season. In order to reach the Serengeti, flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport is the most practical option. It will take one to five hours to fly from here to any of the seven airstrips inside Serengeti National Park.
Luxurious safari camps are available for visitors to stay in at the following locations: the Maswa Game Reserve in the southwest; the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the southeast; the Maasai Mara National Reserve in the north; the Ikorongo and Grumeti Game Reserves in the west; and the Loliondo Game Control Area in the northeast. The wildlife that roams freely connects all of these areas. Among the most well-liked safari activities in the Serengeti are hot air balloon rides, walking safaris, birding safaris, game drives, and visits to Maasai tribe villages.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Over 8,200 square kilometres make up the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which was created in 1959. It is a unique protected area that combines development with resource preservation. The main draws in this area are the Northern Highland Forest Reserve, the Serengeti Plains, and the Ngorongoro Crater. Along with archaeological and paleontological discoveries at Oldupai Gorge, the region is also the site of the early human footprints discovered at Laetoli in the Ngarusi region.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the only place on Earth where people and wild animals can live together. It was recognised as a Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1971, and the UNESCO World Heritage List included it in 1979. Humans, domesticated animals, and wild animals live in harmony with one another. In the Ngorongoro grasslands, Maasai cattle are frequently seen grazing next to zebras.
The Ngorongoro crater is the main attraction for tourists visiting this area. A massive volcano erupted and collapsed some three million years ago, leaving behind a vast, uninterrupted, unflooded caldera. At a depth of 610 metres, the crater’s base covers an area of 260 square kilometres. Two additional volcanic craters with lakes, waterfalls, and lush cliffs are Olmoti and Empakai.
There are numerous animals to be seen in the area, including black rhinoceroses, spotted hyenas, jackals, rare wild dogs, cheetahs, lions, leopards, elephants, eland, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, buffalo, lions, and leopards. The Great Migration also passes through this region. Among the more than 500 bird species identified are ostriches, white pelicans, and larger and lesser flamingos.
At Ngorongoro, one can find both lush, green vegetation fed by rain and arid plants. The area has lowland vegetation that is uncultivated, highland forests, arid and semi-arid plant communities, and a lot of short grass that is used for grazing. The basin has short grass plains, lakes with fresh and brackish water, marshes, and swamps in addition to two patches of acacia woodland. In these rich, wild meadows and bushes, countless animals can roam freely.
By road, it takes about three hours to get to Ngorongoro National Park from Arusha city to the Loduare entrance gate. If you’re driving, choose a 44 vehicle, which facilitates easier park navigation. If you’re arriving by plane, take a private flight to Ngorongoro, a taxi, or the free shuttle to Arusha from Moshi’s Kilimanjaro International Airport. Here are some of the best resorts, lodges, and campgrounds in East Africa. You can go on bird-watching excursions, nature hikes, and cultural tours in addition to safaris in the reserve.
Tarangire National Park.
The Tarangire National Park is to the southeast, and the lakes of the Great Rift Valley and the Masai Steppe are to the north and west, respectively. The Tarangire River, which passes through it, gave the park its name. It is the sixth-largest park in Tanzania. The river empties into Lake Burungi as it leaves the park to the north. There are several marshes there, but eventually they dry up and leave beautiful plains for the elephants to graze on during the dry season. The park is extremely dry, even though it is noticeably greener than the Serengeti during the dry season.
Even though the park is only 2600 square kilometres in size, it is a popular safari destination. Tarangire National Park is a place you might want to consider visiting if seeing wildlife and birdwatching are important parts of your Tanzanian safari. Tarangire is one of the most seasonal parks in northern Tanzania, with a significant amount of migratory movement within the larger ecosystem. The number of animals in the park varies with the season; many species leave the area during the rainy months of November through May.
When it’s drier, from June through October, the animals return to the verdant marshes. This is the best time of year to visit Tarangire National Park. Along with the massive herds of elephants, you will also see giraffes, Thompson’s gazelle, Coke’s hartebeest, greater and lesser kudu, wildebeest, zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, and giraffes. On rare occasions, you may also spot fringe-eared Oryx, gerenuks, and an endangered black rhino.
Big cats like lions, cheetahs, and leopards seem to prefer the southern part of the park, along with hyenas and sometimes even wild dogs. Among the more than 550 bird species that have been identified are the yellow-collared lovebirds, which are widespread in Tanzania. For those who enjoy birdwatching, Tarangire is a birder’s paradise.
Most of the vegetation in the area is made up of dry open forests like acacia thickets, lots of baobab trees, and the occasional palm tree. Huge, level marshes that are impassable during the rainy season can be found in the southern woodlands. The year’s remaining months are green but dry. In this park, walking safaris have become a popular tourist activity alongside wildlife drives. In addition, visitors can see the numerous artworks along the Kolo or Dodoma road or visit a Maasai or Barabaig community.
For many, going to Tarangire entails going on a solo safari. If you’re travelling by car, you start in Arusha. Kilimanjaro International Airport is the best option if you want to travel there by air; it’s 46 kilometres from Arusha. A less expensive option is to fly to Nairobi, Kenya, and then take a bus to Arusha from there. Your tour guide will come get you from there. There are also chartered flights available via Serengeti from Arusha to Tarangire.
3. Uganda.
Uganda is home to half of the world’s surviving gorillas and is a popular safari destination in East Africa. landlocked and bounded in the south by Lake Victoria, the source of the White Nile, and in the north by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. There are endlessly arid plains, fertile plateaus, swampy lowlands, and canopies of rainforests. Uganda is a famous safari destination with many of activities such as tracking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, viewing the Big 4 of the big 5 at Queen Elizabeth National Park, or going gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Some of Uganda’s top tourist destinations include the following:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwest Uganda, on the edge of the Rift Valley. The critically endangered mountain gorilla population was the sole reason it was declared a national park in 1991. Over 120 different mammal species, including gorillas, elephants, antelopes, and other primates like baboons and chimpanzees, find sanctuary in the region’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests. Within the woodland are over 350 different species of birds.
The park was designated a World Heritage Site in 1994 as a result of its great natural diversity. It is also the best place in the world to go gorilla trekking. There are 35 gorilla groups in the park, with hiking access to 17 that have been trained for scientific purposes. If one is located, tourists are allowed to spend four hours with the gorilla family. In the surrounding Virunga volcanoes and the impenetrable forests of Bwindi, there are less than 800 gorillas left.
There are other reasons why tourists visit the area besides going on gorilla treks. While forest trails lead to stunning waterfalls and rift valley overlooks, community excursions in neighboring villages offer insights into the lives of the Batwa and Bakiga people who live next to the forest. With a multitude of species, including seven IUCN Red Data List species and 23 endemics (which account for 90% of all endemics from the Albertine Rift), it is also a birdwatcher’s paradise. Uganda is home to fourteen distinct species, such as the white-bellied robin chat and the brown-necked parrot. The other species found in Bwindi include about 310 butterflies, 88 moths, 200 plants, 51 reptiles, and 120 different animal species.
Although there are numerous paths that lead to Bwindi, the main trailhead at Buhoma is about 460 kilometres away from Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Travellers can also fly to the Kisoro, Savanna, or Ishasha airstrips from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala’s Kajjansi airport, depending on which gorilla group they choose to track.
There are plenty of high-end lodges, traditional Bandas, and low-cost campsites in the neighboring towns of Buhoma and Nkuringo, along with eateries, craft markets, and tour services to suit every need. However, there is no accommodation within the park itself.
Kibale Forest.
Many endangered species can be found in the tropical rainforest Kibale Forest, which is situated in southwest Uganda. The main attraction there is chimpanzee trekking. Kibale is home to about 1,500 of the approximately 5,000 chimpanzees that have been found in Uganda. The forest is located at an elevation of approximately 1,590 metres above sea level, encompassing 795 square kilometres. Its lowest point is located at 1100 metres in the Albertine Rift valley. At these varied elevations, one can find diverse ecosystems, such as moist tropical forests, woodlands, and savannah. Kibale is the best place to watch and observe chimpanzees, but you can only spend an hour with them. Eventually, after meandering through the jungles for two to five hours, travelers will find them.
The forest is home to over 70 different species of forest mammals, including elephants, buffalo, and several antelope species, in addition to the monkeys. It also has the same number of known tree species as well as over 375 different species of birds. Kibale Forest is easily reachable by car from Fort Portal, which is 22 kilometres away. In addition to chimpanzee trekking, there are forest hikes, Bigodi swamp excursions, walks around Crater Lake, and the Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru rocks that can be seen at a cave. Kibale National Park borders or is very close to four lodges: Kyambura Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, and Isunga Lodge.
Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Kibale Forest is connected to Queen Elizabeth National Park at its northern boundary. Situated on the escarpment of the east African rift valley, the 1,978 square kilometer park is an important site for biological systems. It is one of the most well-known national parks in Uganda, home to swamps, lakes, savannah, and forests. Apart from wildlife safaris, the park provides an array of intriguing historical and cultural excursions. While spending time with the locals, visitors can participate in ethnic dances and enjoy local music.
The park is home to over 95 species of mammals, including crocodiles, lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, zebras, hyenas, jackals, and many antelope species. It also has 10 species of primates, including chimpanzees, baboons, red-tailed monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys. It is home to over 600 different species of birds. Queen Elizabeth National Park is a birder’s paradise because of its richness, which provides views of beaches, woodlands, savannah grassland, and swamp birds.
Another must-see park attraction is a launch ride on the 32-kilometer-long Kazinga waterway, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. Aside from the opportunity to enjoy the refreshing water breeze, visitors can also enjoy views of various aquatic birds and animals like hippos, crocodiles, and elephants.
The park is among the few places where one can see the unusual tree-climbing lions. Most of these lions have tracking collars on, and with the help of a guide, one can see them sleeping in the grasslands or in trees in the Ishasha area of the park.
Chimpanzee tracking occurs in the most scenic part of the park, where guests can watch a variety of bird species that nest in the trees or gather fruit while tracking the primates. If chimpanzees are not your thing, you can opt for a guided nature walk. One of the trails leads to the Maramagambo Forest Caves, where the walls are covered in millions of bars. And chimpanzee trekking can be done in Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 420 kilometres from Kampala and can only be reached by road. Another option for visitors is air travel; aircraft from Entebbe and Kajjansi International Airports arrive at several local airstrips and then connect to the park. There are several places to stay in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, such as lodges, safari cottages, tented camps, and wilderness camps.
4. Rwanda.
Rwanda is a tiny country to the south of Uganda that is well-known for its gorilla trekking, especially with the critically endangered gorilla. They combine with Rwanda’s westward-rising highlands and mountains to the east of the country’s swamp marshes and savannah plains. Bamboo forests have created a sanctuary for the rare mountain gorilla. The greatest locations and things to do in Rwanda are as follows:
Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The southern boundary of Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest woods, stretches into Burundi. Its 100,000 hectares of bamboo, wetlands, and grasslands are home to numerous animal and bird species, as well as gorillas, chimpanzees, and other primates. These habitats also offer high biodiversity.
Although the park was declared a reserve in 1903, its extent was again diminished in 1958 and 1973 as a result of poaching, fires, and deforestation. Numerous buffalo and elephants were slain. In 1995, the government started repairing the damaged tourist attractions, and in 2004 a national park was created there. This park, one of the largest in the country, is a popular destination for chimpanzee trekking. There are only two habituated groups of chimpanzees.
Another really well-liked activity in the park is the canopy walk. Hikers ascend to the tops of the trees and walk across hanging bridges to get a clear view of the forest and wildlife below. The forest is home to more than a thousand different plant species, including trees and orchids, in addition to a wide variety of animals and birds. Tourists can enjoy the waterfall and a variety of walking tours.
You can drive or take a bus to the park from the Gisakura or Uwinka receiving centres. To get to the park, visitors can also take a boat or a plane. The park only provides camping as a lodging option. For lodges and other accommodations outside of the park, reservations are required.
Volcanoes National Park.
Situated in the northern region of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is a part of the vast 160 square kilometer Virunga volcanic conservation region. It is found in the Virunga National Park in the Congo and the Mgahinga National Park in Uganda.
The mountain gorillas had a small area of land set aside as a protected area initially, but they were in danger of going extinct due to poaching. The Belgian Colonial Authorities oversaw the park’s expansion into Rwanda and gave it the name Albert National Park in 1929. The park was split as Rwanda and the Congo gained independence in the early 1960s, and by the end of that decade, its original size had been reduced to nearly half.
American naturalist Dian Fossey established the Karisoke Research Centre in 1967 while conducting research on mountain gorillas. She spearheaded the fight against poachers and for the conservation of gorillas until her murder in 1985.
During the 1990s, the park was used as a battleground for the Rwandan civil war, which put an end to tourism until 1999. Volcanoes National Park, which encompasses five of the eight volcanoes that make up the Virunga Mountains, is home to about 400 gorillas. In addition to gorillas, the park is home to a variety of other animals such as the rare golden monkey, black-fronted duiker, spotted hyena, buffalo, and bushbuck. It also harbors 178 bird species, 29 of which are exclusive to the Rwenzori and Virunga Mountains.
A gorilla tour to Volcanoes National Park gives travelers the opportunity to get up close and personal with endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, and it has the power to completely transform a person’s life. In addition, the park offers boating on the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera, hiking the Karisimbi volcano, visiting the Dian Fossey site, and taking a day trip up Mount Bisoke.
You can take public transport from Gisenyi, Kigali, or the airport to Volcanoes National Park. You could drive to Volcanoes National Park, go gorilla tracking, and then drive back to Kigali city in the same day because the drive takes about two hours. Although there are hotels and lodges surrounding the park, there are no accommodations within the park itself.
