Ultimate Guide Road Tripping Across East Africa
Ultimate expeditions in East Africa start with early planning. East Africa is a preferred region for wildlife viewing and considering its vast size, dealing with an experienced tour operator on the ground to plan your road trip is by far the wisest decision one can make. There is a lot to explore on a road trip in East Africa –from wildlife to primate watching. Here is an ultimate guide to road tripping across East Africa.
The East African Visas
East Africa isn’t a small region, and exploring it requires adequate time and preparation. The main member states in East Africa include Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Uganda, etc. To have easier access to East Africa and visit each country, you can obtain the East African tourist visa. This is the joint tourist visa and with it, you can travel to at least 2 countries. This is far better than obtaining visas for entry to individual countries. The East African tourist visas costs USD 100 and the charge is non-refundable. This visa is valid up to three months from the date it will be issued to you.
Renting a car and camping gear for your East African road trip
Hiring a car is one important thing you must fulfill to have an ultimate road trip in East Africa. You can have your self-drive rental car and camping gear booked early before the actual date of visiting any of the East African countries; Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan or Burundi.
4x4 rental cars recommended includes the full time 4x4 Land Cruiser, Super Custom, Coaster Buses for large groups, Safari Land Cruiser, Land Cruiser Prado, Toyota Rav4, Nissan Patrol, and others.
Where to visit in East Africa?
East Africa offers variety of experiences to enthusiastic nature lovers or even if you are interested in honeymoon holidays. The best places to travel to include Lake Victoria, Nairobi, Zanzibar, Kampala, Kigali, Arusha and national parks/reserves to tour include Maasai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park, Tsavo National Parks, Amboseli National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Samburu National Reserve, Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Ruaha National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and many others.
Health/medication
The recommended vaccination certificates visitor need on East African safari include hepatitis A & B, Yellow fever, meningitis and others. You will also need some anti-malarial tablets the fact that your exploration will concentrate around the wilderness areas. While in these areas, there are higher chances to encounter mosquitoes and this puts visitors at the risk of getting malaria.
Getting around
There are many options that tourists can take to getting around East Africa. The commonest of all is road transportation and this means, you must hire a car in the respective destination you plan to visit for a vacation. A 4x4 tourist car is more recommended for road trips whether you plan to visit Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania or Uganda. Different countries have different routes leading to the finest parks, reserves and other tourist sites for your exploration.
The main routes to consider on a self-drive Uganda safari for instance include the Western, Southern, Northern and Eastern circuits. The Southern and western circuits offer remarkable wildlife encounters, particularly primate watching. If you are traveling purposely to see mountain gorillas, then taking the Western circuit is worth it. Get to explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on our uniquely designed gorilla safaris. The 2 parks are geographically set in Southwestern Uganda, about 8-9 hours’ drive starting from Kampala capital.
In Kenya and Tanzania, the main safari highlights are wildebeest migration and big 5 game viewing. Kenya wildebeest migration is perfectly enjoyable at the Maasai Mara National Reserve and in Tanzania; you can visit Serengeti National Park in the country’s Northern tourist circuit.
Planning a trip| when to go |getting there
East Africa welcomes tourists all year-round, thanks to the favorable weather and climatic conditions. However, the best season or time to travel for road tripping is during the dry season; June, July, August to September and December, January, and February.
Getting there
Entebbe airport is the main entry point for guests visiting Uganda for a holiday and Kampala is the capital city; Nairobi is the capital of Kenya with one of the busiest international airports. Connecting to Rwanda is easier with RwandAir to Kigali airport or drive from Uganda through Katuna/Chanika border.
Safety
Like other regions, East Africa is a safe and secure destination although there are some crimes like casual theft in the market or urban areas.
Money
All East African safari destinations accept USA Dollars and other currencies like euros or pay using credit card, often happens at the luxury hotels. The common currency used is a shilling –in Uganda –UGX Shilling, Tanzania –Tanzania shilling, Kenya –Kenya shilling and Rwanda –RwF.