East Africa is diverse with a number of life-changing adventurous treks. There are quite a number of Discovery Journeys you can be part of while here but for the love of adventure, you must ensure to visit these 5 national parks for the ultimate adventure trekking experiences.
Volcanoes National Park
This is located in the Northwestern part of Rwanda and among the most prominent National Parks in East Africa. The park is a renowned mountain gorilla trekking destination with 12 habituated gorilla families. Mountain gorillas are the most endangered primate species and Volcanoes National Park is one of the few places you can see them.
Adventurous treks to the gorillas start with a briefing at the park headquarters. The activity strictly starts in the morning and you are therefore expected to be at the park by 7:00 am. During the briefing, you are told about the gorilla trekking guidelines and then guided to the forested mountains. This trek to the gorillas takes 1 to 4 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Once you get to them, you stay in their presence for an hour getting to know more about them.
A mountain gorilla encounter in Volcanoes National Park is very remarkable and a must do trekking adventure. For this adventure, you can book a 1 day or more depending on your schedule. It is however important to book in advance as mountain gorillas are in high demand. Rwanda is also scheduled to host a series of events including the possibility of the Grammy Awards in 2025. Such events attract many people from different walks of life who end up on adventurous treks gorilla trekking topping the list.
Mount Rwenzori National Park
Mount Rwenzori National Park is one of the least explored destinations in Uganda and East Africa in general. The park primarily comprises Mount Rwenzori and it is located in the western part of Uganda. Mount Rwenzori is an iconic mountain range that stretches along the Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo border. The major peaks are snow-capped and Margherita, the mountain range’s highest peak stands at 5,109 meters above sea level. It is the highest point in Uganda and the third in Africa after Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro.
Trekking the Rwenzori Ranges is truly remarkable and enables you to explore the mountainside and the various wildlife species there. This adventurous trek starts on the foothills of the mountain which are covered with a montane forest. From here you hike through the vegetation zones that change with altitude. Each vegetation zone favors particular wildlife that you will see on the hike.
Glaciated lakes are spectacular and quite a site to see on this mountain hike. As you draw to the summit you start a layer of snow that you trek through till you reach the summit. Reaching the peak of the snow-capped Rwenzori ranges is everyone’s dream and it is indeed worth the journey. Rwenzori Hiking takes 5 to 7 days depending on one’s physical fitness and interest. This hike is among the top adventurous treks in Uganda and a Must for avid mountain climbers. Our 11 Days Rwenzori Hiking safari covers this Trek and other destinations in Uganda.
Gombe National Park
Gombe National Park is a chimpanzee trekking destination in Tanzania. The park is relatively smaller covering a land area of about 35 square kilometers. Gombe National Park is mountainous with steep valleys and varying vegetation types. It is famously known for chimpanzees and it is here that Dr. Jane Goodall started her research about chimpanzees.
The park is remote and best be accessed by boat. This exclusive location alone makes Gombe the ultimate chimpanzee trekking destination. Beyond chimpanzees, there are many other primate species here including red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, and over 200 bird species. You can therefore be part of various adventurous treks while visiting Gombe.
Such less-traveled destinations are our ideal Discovery Journeys destinations and we highly recommend them for exclusive safari experiences.
Kahuzi Biega National Park
Kahuzi Biega National Park is located in Eastern DRC in the southern Kivu province. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the remaining Eastern Lowland Gorilla population in the wild. Eastern lowland gorillas are endangered and their population could reduce further if the primate species are not well protected. The Democratic Republic of Congo has been having civil wars since the 1980s and these have resulted in the loss of humans and wildlife plus the destruction of property.
There are many cases of poaching and wildlife trafficking. All these have hindered a lot of tourism activities from taking place to destinations like Kahuzi Biega. Despite that political and civil confusion, Kahuzi Biega National Park remains a must-visit adventure trekking destination.
Trekking to the lowland gorillas in the forested mountains is unmatched. Even better, these gorilla species are the largest of all and you therefore get to meet the real giants of the primate world. This national park is also among our top seller Less traveled Discovery Journeys destinations. while here you can opt for the normal gorilla trek or the lowland gorilla habituation trek.
Mount Kenya is an extinct Volcano and Africa’s second-highest peak. Its highest elevation stands at 5,199 meters above sea level but is believed to have been 6,500 meters when it was active a million years ago. Mount Kenya is among the few snow-capped mountains in East Africa with several impressive glaciated features. The glaciers are however receding rapidly due to climate change and a global rise in temperatures.
Hiking Mount Kenya is among the most adventurous treks you can ever take. It has impressive landscapes including lakes and U-shaped valleys. The Mount Kenya hike starts from the mountain foothills which have a rich biodiversity. This ranges from the semi-arid ecosystem slowly transcending to the Afro-montane vegetation which also changes the more you hike. Mount Kenya hike lasts a couple of days depending on the hikers’ fitness.
Magical Kenya has several adventures you can partake but this Mountain Hike is a Must.
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