Safari Destinations in East Africa
From the Masai Mara and the Serengeti to the mountain gorillas of Bwindi and the beaches of Zanzibar: explore the 18 parks, reserves and beaches we visit on our private safaris in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Where we go
Three Countries, One Great Ecosystem
East Africa has some of the best wildlife viewing on earth. We plan private safaris in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and many of our trips combine two countries in one journey.
The Masai Mara and the Great Migration, elephants beneath Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, rhinos at Lake Nakuru and Ol Pejeta, wild Samburu in the north and the beaches of Diani.
Kenya safaris ↗The endless plains of the Serengeti, the wildlife-packed Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire's elephants and baobabs, Lake Manyara and the white-sand beaches of Zanzibar.
Tanzania safaris ↗Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, tree-climbing lions and the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls on the Nile and walking safaris at Lake Mburo.
Uganda safaris ↗All destinations
Explore Our Safari Destinations
Every park and beach we visit, with what it is famous for and the best time to go. Choose a country to narrow the list.
KenyaMasai Mara National Reserve
Kenya's most famous safari reserve: big cats, the Big Five and the river crossings of the Great Migration.
- Famous for
- Big cats & the Great Migration
- Best time
- All year · July–Oct for the migration
KenyaAmboseli National Park
Large elephant herds on open plains and swamps, with Mount Kilimanjaro rising behind them.
- Famous for
- Elephants & Kilimanjaro views
- Best time
- June–Oct & Jan–Feb
KenyaLake Nakuru National Park
A compact Rift Valley park with black and white rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes and a lake famous for flamingos.
- Famous for
- Rhinos & flamingos
- Best time
- All year round
KenyaLake Naivasha
A freshwater Rift Valley lake with hippos, fish eagles and boat rides to Crescent Island.
- Famous for
- Hippos & boat safaris
- Best time
- All year round
KenyaSamburu National Reserve
Wild, sun-baked northern Kenya along the Ewaso Nyiro River, home of the Samburu Special Five.
- Famous for
- The Samburu Special Five
- Best time
- All year · driest June–Oct
KenyaOl Pejeta Conservancy
A private conservancy below Mount Kenya with the Big Five, black rhinos and a chimpanzee sanctuary.
- Famous for
- Rhinos & chimpanzees
- Best time
- All year round
KenyaAberdare National Park
Misty mountain forests, moorland and waterfalls, famous for tree lodges where animals visit the waterhole at night.
- Famous for
- Tree lodges & waterfalls
- Best time
- June–Sep & Dec–Feb
KenyaTsavo National Parks
Kenya's largest wilderness: red-dusted elephants, lava flows and Mzima Springs across Tsavo East and West.
- Famous for
- Red elephants & wilderness
- Best time
- June–Oct & Jan–Feb
Diani Beach
Powder-white sand, palm trees and the warm Indian Ocean south of Mombasa, the perfect end to a Kenya safari.
- Famous for
- Beaches, reef & watersports
- Best time
- Dec–March & July–Oct
TanzaniaSerengeti National Park
Endless plains, big cats on granite kopjes and the vast herds of the Great Migration.
- Famous for
- The Great Migration & big cats
- Best time
- All year · calving Jan–March
TanzaniaNgorongoro Crater
A vast volcanic caldera with an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, including the endangered black rhino.
- Famous for
- The crater & black rhinos
- Best time
- All year round
TanzaniaTarangire National Park
Giant baobab trees, the Tarangire River and some of the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania.
- Famous for
- Elephants & baobab trees
- Best time
- June–October
Lake Manyara National Park
Forest and plains between the Rift Valley wall and a shallow soda lake, known for tree-climbing lions and birdlife.
- Famous for
- Tree-climbing lions & birdlife
- Best time
- All year · driest June–Oct
TanzaniaZanzibar
The Spice Island: white-sand beaches, turquoise water and historic Stone Town, a perfect finish after a safari.
- Famous for
- Beaches & Stone Town
- Best time
- June–Oct & Dec–Feb
UgandaBwindi Impenetrable National Park
An ancient rainforest in south-west Uganda, home to around half of the world's mountain gorillas.
- Famous for
- Mountain gorillas
- Best time
- June–Aug & Dec–Feb
UgandaQueen Elizabeth National Park
Savannah, crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel, with tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and hippos by the hundred.
- Famous for
- Tree-climbing lions & boat trips
- Best time
- June–Sep & Dec–Feb
UgandaMurchison Falls National Park
Uganda's largest national park, where the Victoria Nile thunders through a narrow gorge over Murchison Falls.
- Famous for
- The falls & Nile boat trips
- Best time
- Dec–Feb & June–Sep
UgandaLake Mburo National Park
A compact park of lakes, hills and acacia savannah, to explore on foot, by boat or by bike.
- Famous for
- Zebras, impalas & walking safaris
- Best time
- June–Aug & Dec–Feb
Planning help
Which Destination Is Right for You?
Not sure where to start? Here is a quick guide to what each destination does best.
A first safari & big cats
Start with the Masai Mara or the Serengeti, where lions, leopards and cheetahs live year-round.
The Great Migration
The river crossings in the Masai Mara from July to October, or the calving season in the Serengeti from January to March.
Mountain gorillas
Trek to a gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to around half of the world's mountain gorillas.
Rhinos
Your best chances are at Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Short on time in Nairobi
Lake Naivasha is about 2 hours away, Lake Nakuru 2.5 to 3 hours and Ol Pejeta about 4 hours.
A beach after your safari
Finish on the white sands of Zanzibar after Tanzania, or Diani Beach after Kenya.
Wild & off the beaten track
Head north to Samburu, explore the vast wilderness of Tsavo, or walk and cycle at Lake Mburo.
Plan your trip
Combine Destinations on One Private Safari
Many safaris combine two or three destinations, such as the Masai Mara with Lake Nakuru and Amboseli, or Kenya and Tanzania together. Tell us what you'd love to see and we'll plan the route.
View Safari ToursPlan my safariSee What Our Guests Are Saying on TripAdvisor
Kennedy really thought of everything and put together a great package with Daydream Safaris.
Our guide, Jackson, was friendly, funny, and had eagle eyes—no animal escaped his notice. We got to see all kinds of animals, from elephants and rhinos to predators. And all up close!
For another trip to Kenya or another safari, I highly recommend Kennedy and especially Jackson, because they gave my friends and me an unforgettable trip! Thank you so much!
The accommodations and food exceeded our expectations, and everything was well organized from start to finish. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Highly recommend Day Dream Safari to anyone planning a trip to the Masai Mara.
But what made this trip truly special was our guide- Mr Jackson, a truly living legend. He had a sharp eye for spotting animals, endless stories about the wildlife and the land, and a way of finding the perfect spot at the perfect moment. His patience, humour and passion turned good sightings into moments I'll be retelling for years. We never felt rushed, and we always felt very looked after.
Although the journey just flew by, and I came home with thousands of photos, dusty boots and a heart full of gratitude. Amazing doesn't cover it. If Kenya is on your list, don't wait. Go, and go with this team. I am already planning to rebook again soon.
From the group, thank you Daydream and the team for the memorable trip. See you again soon.
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