KenyaMasai Mara National Reserve
Kenya's most famous reserve, with big cats at high density and the wildebeest migration crossing from July through October.
- Big Cats
- Great Migration
Destinations
Explore East Africa through its most remarkable wildlife landscapes.
From Kenya's vast savannahs and Uganda's ancient rainforests to Tanzania's iconic plains, discover the destinations that shape every safari we create. Every landscape offers its own wildlife, ecosystems, seasons, and unforgettable experiences.
Kenya
Uganda
Tanzania
East Africa, At A Glance
Three countries. Endless wildlife experiences.
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania sit side by side across the same Rift Valley system, sharing migratory herds, ecosystems, and, for the wildebeest, an annual border crossing of their own. Treated as one connected region rather than three separate trips, they complement each other far more than they compete: Kenya's open savannah, Uganda's rainforest and primates, and Tanzania's vast plains and crater each bring something the others cannot.
35+
National Parks & Reserves
1,300+
Bird Species
The Big Five
Across Multiple Ecosystems
Great Migration
World-Famous Wildlife Spectacle
Mountain Gorillas
Uganda's Signature Experience
Choose Your Chapter
Jump straight to a country.
Kenya
The classic safari, Big Cats, the Great Migration, and the widest range of landscapes in one country.
- Big Cats
- Migration
- Rift Valley Lakes
Explore Kenya
Uganda
Mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and rainforest birding found nowhere else in the region.
- Mountain Gorillas
- Chimpanzees
- Albertine Rift
Explore Uganda
Tanzania
The Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the other half of the migration story.
- Serengeti
- Ngorongoro
- Elephant Herds
Explore Tanzania
Chapter 1 of 3 · Kenya
The classic East African safari destination.
Kenya is Intra Africa Tours' home territory. Our routes cross the country from the Masai Mara and Amboseli in the south, up through the Rift Valley lakes, into the Aberdare highlands and Mount Kenya's slopes, and out to Samburu and the northern reserves.
No other country in the region offers quite this range in a single itinerary. A guest can watch the wildebeest migration cross the Mara River in the morning, stand beneath Kilimanjaro with elephants at Amboseli two days later, and finish the week among Grevy's zebra and reticulated giraffe in the dry north, three entirely different landscapes without ever leaving Kenyan soil. It's this diversity, paired with reliable infrastructure and decades of guiding experience, that makes Kenya the backbone of most first-time safaris we design.
Kenya
KenyaAmboseli National Park
Elephants beneath Kilimanjaro. Open plains and seasonal wetlands make this one of Kenya's most iconic backdrops.
- Elephants
- Kilimanjaro Views
KenyaSamburu National Reserve
Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, and the Northern Five in terrain that feels entirely different from the Mara.
- Northern Five
- Dry Country
KenyaLake Nakuru National Park
One of Kenya's most reliable rhino-viewing sites, with flamingo concentrations along the alkaline shoreline.
- Rhino Sanctuary
- Flamingos
Why Choose Kenya?
Four reasons guests return to Kenya first.
Big Five Safaris
Reliable, high-density sightings across the Mara, Amboseli, and the northern reserves.
The Great Migration
Front-row access to the Mara River crossings between July and October.
Photography
Open savanna light and habituated wildlife make Kenya a favourite for serious photographers.
Family Safaris
Established infrastructure and shorter transfer times suit first-time and family travellers well.
Also across Kenya
Beyond the destinations above, our Kenya routes also draw on:
- Shaba National Reserve. Adjacent to Samburu, quieter, similar species mix with fewer vehicles.
- Buffalo Springs National Reserve. Completes the northern trio with Samburu and Shaba. Riverine woodland and open acacia.
- Aberdare National Park. Highland forest ecosystem. Bongo, elephant, buffalo, and colobus in the forest; unique montane bird species.
- Nairobi National Park. Kenya's only park within a capital city. Wildlife against a skyline; a strong short-visit option.
- Lake Naivasha. Freshwater rift lake. Fischer's Lovebird, hippos, and an easy boat-based birding morning.
- Lake Elementeita. Alkaline soda lake between Nakuru and Naivasha. Pelicans, flamingos, and shorebirds.
- Lake Baringo. Freshwater rift lake to the north. Hemprich's Hornbill, Goliath Heron, and dry-country species.
- Lake Bogoria. Alkaline soda lake with hot springs. Kenya's most reliable Lesser Flamingo site.
- Kinangop Plateau. Highland grassland stronghold for Sharpe's Longclaw and other endemic grassland species.
- Mount Kenya (Castle Forest area). Mid-altitude forest belt. Hartlaub's Turaco, forest hornbills, and Africa's second-highest peak overhead.
- Gatamaiyu Forest. Compact forest reserve near Kikuyu with a good density of forest species.
- Karura Forest. Urban forest in Nairobi. Convenient for a short introduction to Kenyan forest birds.
- Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park. Compact park east of Nairobi. Buffalo and forest birding on a single mountain.
- Mau Eburu Forest. Small volcanic forest with several highland specialists.
Chapter 2 of 3 · Uganda
The Pearl of Africa.
Uganda offers three wildlife experiences that Kenya cannot: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, and the Shoebill at Mabamba Swamp. Beyond those headline draws, Uganda holds over 1,070 bird species, the western arm of the Rift Valley through Uganda is one of the most biodiverse places on the continent.
For guests wanting maximum diversity across a single trip, Uganda is the natural extension of a Kenya or Tanzania safari. Ancient rainforest, papyrus wetlands, savanna, and the Rwenzori foothills sit within a few hours' drive of one another, and over half of Africa's mainland bird species occur somewhere in the country. Add mountain gorillas and chimpanzees to that mix, and Uganda becomes less an alternative to East Africa's grasslands than a deeper, greener chapter of the same story.
UgandaBwindi Impenetrable Forest
Uganda's most famous forest. Home to mountain gorillas and a concentration of Albertine Rift endemic birds.
- Mountain Gorillas
- Albertine Endemics
UgandaKibale Forest
Africa's richest chimpanzee habitat, paired with the adjacent Bigodi Wetland for a long list of forest birds.
- Chimpanzees
- Primates
UgandaQueen Elizabeth National Park
Open savanna and lakeside habitats. The Ishasha sector is known for tree-climbing lions.
- Tree-Climbing Lions
- Kazinga Channel
UgandaMurchison Falls National Park
Uganda's largest national park. The Nile's dramatic gorge and falls sit alongside strong game viewing.
- Big Game
- The Nile
“Uganda offers one of Africa's richest combinations of mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, endemic birds, rainforests, and savannah wildlife in a single safari destination.”
Intra Africa Tours
Also across Uganda
Beyond the destinations above, our Uganda routes also draw on:
- Mabamba Swamp. The primary site for the Shoebill in Uganda. Birding is done by dugout canoe through papyrus channels. The Shoebill is one of the most sought-after birds in East Africa and Mabamba is the most reliable site on the continent. Other targets: African Marsh Harrier, Blue-headed Coucal, Great Blue Turaco, Grey Crowned Crane.
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Ruhija and Buhoma). Uganda's most famous forest. Home to mountain gorillas and a concentration of Albertine Rift endemic birds. The Mubwindi Swamp trail in Ruhija holds Grauer's Broadbill, Handsome Spurfowl, Rwenzori Apalis, and several Congo Basin rarities. The Buhoma sector delivers a mix of Guinea-Congo forest species and montane Albertine Rift endemics in the same morning.
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Foothill and montane forest birding in the Virunga range. Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Turaco, Stuhlmann's Sunbird, Albertine Boubou, and Archer's Robin-Chat are the key targets. Shares the gorilla experience with Bwindi.
- Kibale Forest and Bigodi Wetland. Africa's richest chimpanzee habitat. Kibale and the adjacent Bigodi Wetland together deliver a long list of forest birds including 15+ Great Blue Turaco in a single walk, Hairy-breasted Barbet, and Shining Blue Kingfisher.
- Semliki National Park. The most westerly birding site in Uganda and the only connection to the Ituri forest from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over 35 restricted-range Congo Basin specialties findable here and almost nowhere else in East Africa, African Piculet, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Blue-throated Roller, Rufous-sided Broadbill, and White-crested Hornbill.
- Lake Mburo National Park. Compact and underrated. African Finfoot on boat ride, African Crake, Crested Barbet. Good positioning stop between Kampala and the western parks.
- Budongo Forest, Royal Mile. Excellent chimpanzee forest with a productive trail for forest specialists. African Forest Flycatcher, Narina Trogon, White-thighed Hornbill, Cassin's Spinetail, and Grey Longbill.
A focused three-week Uganda tour covering the Albertine Rift can realistically record 500+ bird species. 20 of the 23 Albertine Rift endemic birds are achievable on a well-planned itinerary.
Chapter 3 of 3 · Tanzania
Home of Africa's greatest wildlife spectacles.
Tanzania holds 1,100+ bird species, the Serengeti ecosystem, host to the world's largest terrestrial mammal migration, and the Ngorongoro Crater, arguably the single richest wildlife-viewing location in Africa. The northern circuit pairs almost perfectly with a Kenya safari, since the wildebeest migration follows an annual loop between Kenya's Masai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti.
Guests wanting both sides of the migration route, or the specific experiences the north Tanzanian parks offer, such as black rhino in the Ngorongoro Crater, tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara, and elephant concentrations in Tarangire, should include Tanzania in their planning. Further south, Nyerere National Park and the coastal forests around Pugu Hills offer a quieter, less-visited counterpoint for travellers who have already seen the northern circuit and want Tanzania's wilder edges.
TanzaniaSerengeti National Park
Home to the wildebeest migration and the Ndutu calving grounds, producing predator-prey drama at exceptional density.
- Great Migration
- Big Cats
TanzaniaNgorongoro Crater
A collapsed volcanic caldera holding resident Big Five populations, including one of East Africa's most reliable rhino sites.
- Black Rhino
- Big Five
TanzaniaTarangire National Park
Among Africa's largest elephant concentrations during the dry season, set against an iconic baobab landscape.
- Elephants
- Baobabs
TanzaniaLake Manyara National Park
Tree-climbing lions and large elephant herds beneath an alkaline lake shoreline rich in waders and flamingos.
- Tree-Climbing Lions
- Flamingos
Best For
What Tanzania does better than almost anywhere else.
Migration
The Serengeti's northern and southern circuits cover the herds through every season.
Predators
Exceptional densities of lion, leopard, and cheetah across the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
Luxury Safaris
Some of the region's most refined camps sit inside or beside the northern parks.
Photography
The Crater floor and Serengeti plains offer some of Africa's most cinematic wildlife backdrops.
Also across Tanzania
Beyond the destinations above, our Tanzania routes also draw on:
- Arusha National Park. A compact but diverse park with Colobus monkeys, flamingos on the crater lakes, and close views of Mount Meru. Good introduction to Tanzania birds for a short stop.
- Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous). One of Africa's largest game reserves. The Rufiji River boat safari gives close access to hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds in a way that land-based game drives cannot. Less visited than the northern circuit, with a wilderness feel that the north increasingly lacks during peak season.
- Pugu Hills. An underrated coastal forest near Dar es Salaam with several Tanzania endemics and near-endemics. Zanzibar Boubou, Green Malkoha, and Reichenow's Woodpecker are among the special targets.
The northern circuit alone can produce 400+ species including several Tanzania endemics. Adding Pugu Hills and Nyerere in the south adds Congo-affinities and coastal specialists not found in the north.
Plan Your Journey
Not sure which destinations fit your journey?
Whether you're dreaming of the Great Migration, mountain gorillas, endemic birds, or a tailor-made safari across multiple countries, we'll help design an itinerary built around your interests, travel dates, and pace.
- Tailor-Made Itineraries
- Local Expert Guides
- Kenya • Uganda • Tanzania