East Africa is one of the most spectacular tourist destinations in the world. Travel lovers can enjoy exciting experiences and adventures, observe the beautiful flora and fauna, and interact with friendly locals. A hiking or trekking trip is a great idea as it provides travelers with the perfect opportunity to enjoy stunning views of nature and wildlife, and enjoy a healthy activity. It can also be a fulfilling bucket list experience. Here are some top hiking and trekking locations in East Africa!
- Mount Kilimanjaro
Standing tall at 5869m, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain. A paradise for adventure enthusiasts, it offers a stunning aerial view of the surroundings, as well as beautiful biodiversity. The mountain can be hiked year-round. Tourists can also enjoy a private waterfalls tour or a forest nature walk!
- Pugu Hills
Near Dar Es Salaam, Pugu Hills is a beautiful hiking trail where tourists can enjoy trekking. Here, tourists can enjoy scenic views of the serene lake and the vivid greenery. The region is home to hyenas, butterflies, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, colobus monkeys, baboons, elephants, mongooses, pangolins, galagos, warthogs, jackals, and impalas, making it a great spot for wildlife viewing. Visitors can trek up to locations such as the local cattle market, a cave that is seen as sacred by the Zaramo people, and the great bat caves which are home to the Tanzanian wooly bat, horseshoe bat, and Hildegarde’s tom bat. Pugu Hills Forest Reserve is one of the oldest forests in the world. The river Msimbazi flows through this coastal forest, making the region full of stunning flora and fauna.
- Mount Meru
The scenic and serene Mount Meru is a great hiking spot as the climb quicker and easier than Mount Kilimanjaro, and tourists can even see Mount Kilimanjaro from here! As there are less travelers here, the location is ideal for those who wish to avoid the crowds, and enjoy the views and wildlife in peace!
- Ngong Hills
In Kenya, tourists can go to Ngong Hills where they can trek through the village and climb up the undulating hills. After a few hours, they reach Kona Baridi where they can find a stunning view of Nairobi, and enjoy bird watching and wildlife viewing.
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
In southwestern Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to over 400 plant species, and around half of the world’s gorilla population. Gorilla trekking is a unique and extraordinary experience as tourists can trek up the slopes with expert guides and observe gorillas and primates in their natural habitat!
- Virunga Mountains
In Rwanda, Virunga Mountains are an excellent trekking location, as tourists can enjoy a mountain gorilla trek or a Nyiragongo Volcano Trek. Nyiragongo is a stunning volcano which is home to the world’s largest lava lake. The volcano’s lower forested slopes are home to amazing animals such as chimpanzees, monkeys, chameleons, and bushbuck, that visitors can see during the trek!
- Magoroto Forest Reserve
Another great hiking trail is Magoroto Forest Reserve, a tropical rainforest at a height of 850m above sea level. This amazing location has pleasant temperatures throughout the year and offers breathtaking views from the Muheza valley to the deep blue Indian ocean. Travelers can choose among 8 official trails based on the difficulty and their fitness level. The region is excellent for bird watching and wildlife photography. Tourists can also find a number of man made lakes to dive or swim in.