East Africa is a wanderer’s paradise – with endless stretches of national parks, infinite wildlife and beautiful sceneries, East Africa’s wilderness is unparalleled.
Here are the top 8 East African Destinations for travel in December 2020:
- Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam, the former capital of Tanzania, is a bustling port city with lots to explore! Here are some of the best things to do in Dar:
- Explore the Village Museum, a walk-in museum that contains different huts representing different ethnic tribes of Tanzania. You can hold the items in the huts and explore the furnished huts to learn more about Tanzania’s tribes. Cultural dances also take place at the Museum every evening!
- Shop for souvenirs at Kariakoo Market!
- Take a ferry ride to Bongoyo Island, a beautiful island getaway just 30 minutes away from Dar.
- Explore the National Museum and House of Culture – it has fascinating displays on the evolution of mankind.
- Chill at Oyster Bay and interact with the locals!
- Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a beautiful island getaway located just off the Tanzanian coast. It was once a major trading port and is also known as the Spice Island because of the many spices that are grown there. Here are some of the most interesting activities in Zanzibar:
- Explore Stone Town’s narrow streets – check out the Palace Museum, Old Fort and have delicious food at the Forodhani Gardens Food Market.
- Embark on adventurous watersports activities – Zanzibar is a hotspot for scuba diving, snorkeling, kitesurfing and many other watersports activities. It’s surrounded by abundant coral reefs and diverse marine life.
- Enjoy a delicious meal at the Rock Restaurant – which is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and literally sits on top of a rock.
- Go on a spice tour to a spice farm!
- Serengeti National Park
Serengeti is the jewel in Tanzania’s crown. Observe the Great Migration of Serengeti here. Watch millions of wildebeests and zebras migrate in a clockwise fashion from Serengeti to Masai Mara and vice versa.
Stare in amazement at the diverse wildlife you’ll find here. It’s one of the many places in Tanzania where you can spot the Big 5! Other than the Big 5, you can also spot hippos, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, gazelles, elands, and jackals.
Serengeti is also home to over 400 species of birds. You can best observe Serengeti on a hot air balloon ride and view the majestic plains of the park!
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the best place in Tanzania to spot the Big 5. You can easily spot black rhinos that are very elusive otherwise. The Conservation Area is also home to the biggest volcanic caldera in the world, the Ngorongoro Crater. Standing by the rim of the crater while observing the beauty and wildlife in front of you is an exhilarating experience!
Other wildlife species you can spot here include jackals, zebras, cheetahs, wildebeests, hyenas, gazelles and hippos. You can also observe over 400 species of birds here!
- Mombasa
Mombasa is a beautiful island city with luxurious resorts and offers a lot of activities! Here are some of the best things to do in Mombasa:
- Explore the Mombasa Marine National Park and go scuba diving or snorkeling.
- Check out diverse wildlife at Haller Park
- Head over to Mamba Village Center, a crocodile farm where you can also go horseback riding and enjoy wonderful views of the botanical garden
- Explore Fort Jesus
- Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro National Park is home to the Roof of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s the tallest mountain in Africa. You can spot a lot of wildlife here including Cape buffaloes, elephants, blue monkeys, leopards, and many others.
You can also take a hike up Mount Kilimanjaro to its basecamps and enjoy scenic views on your way. It’s one of those places that you definitely need to visit if you’re in Tanzania!
- Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara National Park has a beautiful soda lake that takes up about 2/3rds of the park! The lake often has a pinkish hue to it because of the thousands of flamingoes that line it!
You can spot unique tree-climbing lions here along with other wildlife species including hippos, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, impalas, and wildebeests.
You can also take the treetop walkway and explore the canopy of the forest!
- Arusha
Arusha serves as the gateway to the northern safari circuit of Tanzania. It’s also a great city to explore. Here are some of the best things to do in Arusha:
- Go on a coffee plantation tour and enjoy fresh, delicious coffee.
- Explore the Natural History Museum!
- Get jewelry from the Tanzanite Experience – a jewelry store that sells the Tanzanite gem, a rare gem that you can’t find anywhere else in the world!
- Shop for souvenirs at the Maasai Market.
So, what are you waiting for? Explore these 8 East African destinations with Flightlink and have the vacation of a lifetime! Don’t forget to check out the Expert Guide on Selous Game Reserve while you’re in Tanzania!