Overall, a safari in East Africa can provide some of the most life-enriching and unforgettable travel experiences. The origin of all safaris in East Africa is recognized as the place for wildlife safari holidays. East Africa is home to many of the first safari parks and reserves. Africa boasts an abundance of wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and a diverse range of attractions, however, a safari to East Africa is exceptional. From the unique and breathtaking scenery of the thick rainforests of Bwindi National Park in Uganda, the Ngorongoro Crater – a World Heritage Site – to the endless plains of the Serengeti and the highest density of wild animals in the world at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where the wildebeest migration takes place every year. And to top it all off, the beautiful coastline of Zanzibar and the world’s third largest and deepest lake, Lake Malawi.

There’s a variety of African destinations that one could tour on a self-drive holiday. However, when looking at the number of people who research and visit Africa each year, the need for local knowledge and insight might be slightly overlooked. Many tourists planning a self-drive safari would naturally think of Kenya and Tanzania, but there are even more reasons to explore the beauty that is East Africa. Countries like Rwanda and Uganda offer such tours on a very low budget and have more to offer to those who love exploring the wilderness of Africa. Safety concerns do arise, and I explain further what it is that makes self-driving holidays so unique and how to ensure that safety is maintained throughout the journey. As with any other type of holiday, self-drive safaris in East Africa might not be for everyone. However, the unique experiences a self-drive holiday can provide make the time spent on the road rewarding and fulfilling. I hope that throughout the website, we will give the inspiration and help that is needed to plan and execute a self-drive safari for a memorable holiday in East Africa.

A safari is a journey – a Swahili word that has etched itself into the English language to mean a wildlife tour or holiday, especially in Africa. When most people think of a safari, it conjures up images of game drives in open-topped vehicles on a quest to find the “big five” – lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinoceros. This traditional form of tourism usually involves a paying clientele visiting protected areas or game reserves to view wildlife. Cross-border safaris in East Africa include the countries of Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania, and they take the same general form but with an emphasis on visiting ‘destination sites’ including game reserves, parks, forests, lakes and mountains. What makes them different to the traditional variety is that destination sites are often the target of tourism development.