Where and When
East Africa's reputation as the ultimate safari destination is well deserved. The iconic safari landscape is here – the endless savanna where honey-toned lions loiter in the tall grasses as wildebeest and zebras cast wary glances. Here too is the safari of the elephant herd at dusk, browsing a stand of acacia on the dusty plain, the great blue-toned Mt. Kilimanjaro looming out of the horizon into the sky, its snow-capped peak shrouded by clouds.
Elsewhere, the wildebeest migration is always underway as hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebras, antelope, and gazelle make their yearly circuit of the Serengeti-Mara, all watched closely by the lions, leopards, jackals, and hyenas that hunt them.
East Africa hosts a variety of ecosystems, each of which is home to a variety of flora and fauna: open savannas, dense forests, soda and freshwater lakes, alpine meadows, coral reefs, brilliant beaches, river deltas and whitewater, searing desert. From industrious dung beetles and brilliantly colored butterflies to the world's largest vultures and elephants bathed in glowing red dust, these landscapes teem with astonishing variety.
Here are a few of our favorite places to experience that variety.
When to Go and Other Important Dates
When is the best time of year to go on safari?
Kenya and Tanzania are great year-round destinations. July through August and the month of December are the busiest times in Kenya and Tanzania. Lodges and parks can be crowded with tourists and reservations often must be made six, eight, even nine months in advance. July and August also happen to be the best time to catch the wildebeest in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. See our discussion of the great migration, here, to learn more.
Seasonal rains hit hardest from March to May (with lighter rains falling October to December).
January and February are wonderful months to visit East Africa since the hot, dry weather is considered by many to be East Africa's most pleasant. It's also the time of year when bird life flocks to the Rift Valley lakes in the greatest numbers, attracting bird-watchers from around the globe.
What is the weather like in Kenya and Tanzania?
Kenya straddles the equator, and Tanzania is not far south, so both countries enjoy a tropical climate. The coasts are hot and humid, while the inland areas are generally temperate, due to the altitude. The northern parts of Kenya are very hot and dry. The average annual temperature in Nairobi (altitude 4,980 feet) is 77°F maximum and 56°F minimum. The coastal town of Mombasa (altitude 50 feet) is 86°F maximum and 73°F minimum.
There is plenty of sunshine throughout the year and summer clothes are appropriate year round. Nights and mornings can be quite cool. The long rains occur from March to May and short rains occur November and December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and when it does come, it often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is from February to March and the coolest is July to August. Click here for more details.
When and where can I see the great migration?
Always; the annual wildebeest migration never ends. The herds roam the grasslands and rolling hills of Tanzania and Kenya in a great counter-clockwise loop. Their travels carry them from their breeding grounds in the southern reaches of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to their summer foraging grounds in Kenya's Maasai Mara Reserve and back again, over and over. The massive herds, nearly two million wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, and gazelles, generally begin crossing the Mara River into Kenya and the Mara Triangle in late July and begin the return March in late September. During the rest of the year, the herd can be seen in different parts of the massive Serengeti National Park.
You can learn more about the great migration here.
How many days would you recommend for a safari?
It largely depends on budget and available travel time. The shortest programs we arrange are three days / three nights. Anything shorter is a blur. Our most popular programs are seven or eight days. They include:
Where Can I Learn More?
First of all, continue browsing Kenya.com. We have included a lot of relevant information in our descriptions of destinations and lodges.
We think Lonely Planet produces good travel guides, and their guide to East Africa is no exception. Ernest Hemingway's The Green Hills of Africa, an account of his hunting safari on the Serengeti in the early 1930s, remains East Africa's classic travelogue.
Online, the tourism agencies both East African nations provide worthwhile information for travelers, as well as links to more detailed sources (for Kenya, and for Tanzania).
The Kenya Wildlife Service is charged with protecting and securing the country's natural gifts. Their
website is filled with information about the flora and fauna found in the parks and reserves.
