Road notes from East Africa
Permits, park fees, seasons and road conditions for driving yourself through Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
Rwanda Bisoke Volcano Hike: Crater Lake Summit in the Virunga Mountains
Mount Bisoke (3,711 m) in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is the easiest of the Virunga volcano summits accessible from the Rwanda side — a 6–8 hour…
Kenya Tsavo West National Park: Mzima Springs and the Shetani Lava Flow
Tsavo West National Park (9,065 sq km — part of the larger 21,000+ sq km Tsavo ecosystem when combined with Tsavo East) is the more topographically varied of…
Uganda Entebbe: Botanical Garden, Chimpanzee Sanctuary and the Lake Victoria Shore
Entebbe — Uganda's former colonial capital, situated on a Lake Victoria peninsula 40 km from Kampala — is where every Uganda safari begins and ends (Entebbe…
Tanzania Serengeti vs Kenya Masai Mara: Which Park Wins?
The Serengeti versus Masai Mara debate is the most common East Africa safari planning question — and one where the "correct" answer depends entirely on what…
Kenya Diani Beach: The South Coast Safari and Beach Combination
Diani Beach — 30 km south of Mombasa on Kenya's south coast — is Kenya's finest beach resort area and one of East Africa's best beach and safari combination…
Uganda Northern White Rhino Conservation: The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Story
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (70 sq km, in Nakasongola District, 175 km north of Kampala on the main Kampala-Gulu road) is the only place in Uganda where wild…
Tanzania Kilimanjaro Climb: Marangu vs Machame Route Comparison
Choosing between Kilimanjaro's routes is the most important decision for any prospective climber — and the Marangu versus Machame comparison is the one that…
Kenya Aberdare National Park: The Ark Night Game Viewing and Mount Kenya Views
The Aberdare National Park in central Kenya — a high-altitude volcanic massif (up to 4,001 m at Ol Donyo Satima peak) covered in montane forest, bamboo, and…
Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking Comparison: Kibale vs Bwindi vs Kyambura
Uganda has four main chimpanzee trekking sites — Kibale Forest National Park (the largest habituated population and highest permit fee), Bwindi's Kyambura…
Kenya Safari for First Timers: What to Expect, What to Pack and How Much It Costs
A first Kenya safari generates a set of questions from nearly every visitor who has never been to Africa: What will I actually see? How close will I be to the…