Top 10 2023–2024 East Africa Bucket List Experiences For Your Safari Tour: Most people who want to travel and discover new locations around the globe need a singular experience to enhance their memories of their vacation. In order to provide that once-in-a-lifetime, unforgettable event that both thrills and inspires, bucket list activities are necessary. It might be difficult to choose the ideal activity for your clients, so we have put together a list of some of our favorite uncommon bucket list experiences that will elevate their trip to East Africa to a whole new level.
You couldn’t see everything that Africa has to offer even if you spent your entire life exploring the continent. But most of us aren’t that fortunate to be able to. We’ve compiled a list of the must-see locations and activities in East Africa. Here are top ten activities to include in your East Africa bucket list for your upcoming safari tour:
1. Glass Bottom Balloon Safari
A thrilling first-of-its-kind adventure, the Glass Bottom Balloon flies passengers high above Tanzania’s enormous Central Serengeti and Tarangire National Park. A ballooning safari will now have a completely new dimension thanks to this original design. The Great Wildebeest Migration will be visible to visitors through a glass panel directly under them, and they will also get wonderful views of the plains and grazing animals below. One of the finest hot air ballooning locations in the world may be captured in images from approximately 1,000 feet in the air. Your clients can unwind and have a sumptuous champagne breakfast in the Serengeti Plains after spending the morning taking part in this very unique bucket list adventure.
2. Diving off Mafia Island
Mafia Island is well known throughout the world for its superb diving, pristine waters, and vibrant coral reefs. This island paradise, which was designated as Tanzania’s first marine park in 1995, is only 80 miles off Dar es Salaam’s shore. The island is easily incorporated into your clients’ itineraries and is only a 30-minute flight away from Dar.
Chole Bay is a location on the island where diving is very popular. Divers can see over 460 different kinds of fish, sea turtles, and a variety of corals, such as blue-tipped staghorn, gigantic table coral, and whip coral, in this area. Your clients will have the chance to swim and/or dive with migrating whale sharks, the largest fish on earth, during the whale season, which lasts from October to February. When not diving, they can relax on the laid-back island and explore the 16 lighthouses, several local communities, and isolated sandbars along Mafia’s south coast.
3. Breakfast at Giraffe Manor
We strongly advise travelers to spend a night or two in Nairobi, the country’s capital, before going on a safari in Kenya, especially at the renowned Giraffe Manor boutique hotel. This ancient vintage manor house, which is only 30 minutes’ drive from the airport, is situated on 140 acres of land and has 10 opulent guest rooms.
Additionally, you can have a delicious breakfast there while observing giraffes. Around 20 endangered Rothschild giraffes make up the herd, which roams the manor’s grounds. The giraffes are famous for their unusual breakfast antics, which include poking their long necks through the dining room windows and consuming food directly from customers’ hands. The local employees can provide fascinating details about the personalities of each giraffe because they all know them by name. The animals are housed at the Nairobi Giraffe Center, a nearby wildlife sanctuary.
Please be aware that Giraffe Manor can sell out up to 12 months in advance, so plan ahead with us at Focus East Africa Tours if you’re interested in this Experience.
4. Ngorongoro Crater Floor Banquet
The largest unbroken intact volcanic caldera in the world is the Ngorongoro Crater, an ancient volcano. The Serengeti’s eastern border is flanked by this almost three million-year-old wonder, which is also known as the Garden of Eden of East Africa. There are approximately 50 different species of large mammals living there, as well as a great variety of scenery and wildlife, including the famously vivid pink flamingos.
Visitors can now take advantage of a special lunch banquet on the crater floor after a thrilling Big Five game viewing experience in the Ngorongoro Crater itself. A group of butlers will serve a delicious assortment of hot, mouthwatering dishes as the creatures of the crater pass by under the shade of big trees. This feast is made totally in accordance with the tastes and preferences of clients and is the ideal family activity, Top 10 2023–2024 East Africa Bucket List Experiences
5. The Great Migration (aka the Wildebeest Migration)
Ever heard the sound of 1.5 million wildebeest moving steadily north in a flood of hooves? You may get a sense of the strength of the big migration by including more than 200 000 zebra, nearly 500 000 Thomson’s gazelles, and a wide variety of other herd species.
Since the beginning of time, animals have traveled a cyclical annual journey through the Masai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park in search of grass, closely pursued by their predators. It is an amazing sight to see.
Although the same route is taken each year, the dates vary slightly because this is a natural phenomenon not governed by western calendars. Witnessing the big migration is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, made even more special by the uncertainty of whether you’ll see it or not.
6. Snorkeling off Lamu Island
Just off the Kenyan coast sits Lamu Island, a tropical paradise. Imagine a harbor with dhows and clear, warm water with coral reefs. The island of Lamu is a haven for snorkelers. There are various reefs with living coral and vividly colored reef fish around the Lamu Archipelago. Many dhows will carry you out to the reefs, and the water is warm and inviting. This region is also home to turtles and dolphins, so if you’re lucky, you might come across some turtle pals while having fun.
The first mosque was built in Lamu in the 14th century; therefore, the city has a long history. As a result, it has stunning, historic architecture with a significant Muslim and Swahili influence. If watersports aren’t your thing, days can be spent wandering through the ancient town, which has tight alleyways, finely carved doors, and mostly foot (and donkey) traffic.
7. Climb Kilimanjaro
I scaled Africa’s tallest mountain. Anyone would be proud to say this right now. And what a journey it is, with views of all of Africa. In addition to being the tallest peak in Africa, Kilimanjaro is also the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
As a result, crossing this off your bucket list should not be done casually. It demands tremendous endurance and a certain degree of fitness. Trips to Mount Kilimanjaro can be performed by people of all fitness levels; the assistance level is entirely up to you. You have the option of either getting help with all of that or carrying your own backpack and cooking. Whatever method you choose, scaling Kilimanjaro is an once-in-a-lifetime event.
8. See the gorillas in Bwindi, Uganda.
You won’t need more than one encounter with gorillas in Uganda to realize how close they are to us. It is amazing to observe these severely threatened animals in their natural jungle habitat. Unfortunately, they are dying out at an alarming rate, so these lovely creatures may not be around for very long. Fewer than 800 are thought to be left.
Stay at one of Bwindi Impenetrable Park’s charmingly named community rest sites and contribute to the local community as well as the shy and lovable Mountain gorillas. Sustainable human settlements will significantly reduce the terrible gorilla killings and habitat degradation, Top 10 2023–2024 East Africa Bucket List Experiences
9. Never miss Zanzibar!
Zanzibar is an island off the coast of Tanzania that is referred to as the “Spice Islands” because it is home to many farms that grow aromatic spices like clove and nutmeg. It’s a warm, tropical paradise with plenty of diving options, azure waters, and palm-fringed islands, all full of historical significance.
The capital, Stone Town, has a long history and was a stop along both the slave and spice routes. It is a colorful combination of winding lanes, intricately carved doors, bustling markets, and amiable people, with a strong Arabian and African influence on both architecture and lifestyle, Top 10 2023–2024 East Africa Bucket List Experiences
10. Explore Pemba Island
One of the most magnificent places in East Africa is the lonely and paradisiacal Pemba Island. Due to its abundance of owls, colobus monkeys, Pemba flying foxes, African goshawks, palm-nut vultures, green pigeons, malachite kingfishers, crowned hornbills, and miniature antelopes, the island is a fantastic place to view wildlife and observe birds. Visitors can go to the quiet and exclusive Vumawimbi Beach, a pristine stretch of white sand where they can swim in the clear waters! They can dive at Misali Beach and look for marine life such as whale sharks, sea goldies, seahorses, striped marlins, anemones, makos, sailfish, tiger sharks, swordfish, crabs, spearfish, manta rays, lionfish, moray eels, urchins, and the stunningly vibrant coral reef.
