Tourism Update has hunted down some of the top adventure experiences across East Africa.
A 10-day tour of Ethiopia will begin in Addis Ababa, where guests can see a number of archaeological sites, followed by a visit to the Simien Mountains National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guided hiking excursions around Sankaber campsite, the Jinbar waterfalls and Cheneck campsite immerse guests in the scenery and wildlife.
Guests will then be able to interact with the rural community of Amhara, experiencing their culture and surrounds, followed by an afternoon visit to the Debre Birhan Silassie Church.
A boat trip on Lake Tana allows guests to enjoy the views and visit a number of monasteries, followed by an afternoon hike to the Blue Nile Falls.
A drive to Lalibela will bring guests in proximity with rock-hewn churches, including St. George Church, as well as other historical sites.
Mt Kilimanjaro Mountain Adventure
Year-round mountain climbing routes (aside from the April to May rainy season) take guests up Mount Kilimanjaro, with various routes available including the Machame Whiskey Route, Rongai Route, Umbwe and Marangu Route.
Ultimate East Africa – Nairobi to Stone Town
Intrepid travellers can challenge themselves with a 22-day adventure, which kicks off in Nairobi, with the tour driving across Kenya’s Rift Valley. Crossing the border into Uganda, guests will camp outside the country’s capital, followed by a day spent in the Kalinzu Forest Reserve. A chimpanzee-tracking excursion will be followed by a visit to a tea plantation in the reserve. Travellers will then experience a guided mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
From there, the tour returns to Kampala, with a stop for lunch at the equator. Adventure activities can then be enjoyed at Jinja, where guests can raft down the White Nile River or mountain bike through the hills.
A crossover into Kenya takes the group to Eldoret, then Nairobi, then through to Tanzania. Here, guests will visit a Maasai village and meet some locals who will share some of the tribe’s experiences.
Off to the Serengeti National Park, where guests can enjoy the wildlife, have a morning hot air balloon ride over the park; go across to Ngorongoro Crater; then travel on to Zanzibar.
10-day Tanzania Parks & Zanzibar adventure
This 10-day adventure allows guests to search for the Big 5 in the plains of the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, and witness the Great Migration, while camping in the wilderness. Travelling up Tanzania's Rift Valley Escarpment, they will explore the historic Stone Town in Zanzibar, then experience snorkelling and scuba diving in the pristine waters.
Mountain Gorillas private adventure
Rwanda is known for its gorilla experiences, and this adventure will give guests two opportunities to track and observe these majestic mammals in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. Some of the gorilla families are able to be observed closely, due to habituation to humans.
A multi-sport adventure tour in Burundi will challenge travellers while allowing them to enjoy the beauty of Burundi. Tours are completely customisable, incorporating hiking and biking, as well as sea kayaking, horseback riding, and white water rafting. The aim is to get travellers off the beaten track, and into the essence of the country.
