Africa offers a wide range of adventure safaris including wildlife safaris such as primate trekking; Big Five safaris, witnessing the great wildebeest migration, mountain climbing and hiking adventures, white water rafting, cultural tours, rock climbing, and cycling. Some of the best wildlife adventure experiences include mountain gorilla, chimpanzees and golden monkey trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo and the great wildebeest migration and Big Five safaris in Kenya and Tanzania. White water rafting at the Nile River in Uganda. Mountain climbing safaris in Mount Kilimanjaro Tanzania, Mount Kenya in Kenya and Mount Rwenzori in Uganda and the Virunga volcanoes. Water sport adventures including scuba diving and snorkeling can be found in various places such as Zanzibar Islands, Diani beach and Watamu in Kenya, Banguerra islands in Mozambique, and Eastern Cape South Africa.
Primate adventure safaris
Primate tourism adventures are wildlife experiences that offer an opportunity to observe primate species including mountain gorillas, lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, colobus monkeys in their natural habitat. Seeing these primates takes effort as it involves hiking on foot with trackers and rangers in some of Africa’s dense Afro-montane tropical forests. Hiking can be challenging due to the nature of terrain and requires a moderate physical fitness.
Mountain gorilla trekking adventures
Mountain gorilla safaris are conducted in two different places which include Virunga Mountains and Bwindi impenetrable forest. Virunga Mountains are a chain of 8 volcanoes that straddle the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo and includes three protected areas of Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga national parks respectively. Bwindi forest is located in southwestern Uganda at the edge of the Albertine rift valley. Given that Virunga is still closed due to insecurity, the safest places to see gorillas are Rwanda and Uganda. Rwanda has 10 habituated gorilla families each visited by a maximum of 8 visitors for 1 hour. Rwanda gorilla permit cost is $1,500 per person available for booking through a tour operator or Rwanda Development Board.
Uganda has 23 habituated gorilla groups and offers both gorilla trekking and habituation experiences. The habituation experience allows a small group of 4 visitors to visit a semi-habituated gorilla family for 4 hours. The activity is only available in Bwindi Impenetrable forest southern sector of Rushaga. Among other sectors include Buhoma, Nkuringo and Ruhija.
Lowland gorilla trekking
Lowland gorilla trekking takes place in Kahuzi Beiga national park, a UNESCO world heritage site in eastern DR Congo’s South Kivu Province. The park can be reached through Kigali Rwanda with overland drive across border to Bukavu town.
Chimpanzee trekking
One of the best primate adventure chimpanzee trekking is done in Uganda, Rwanda, and also in Tanzania. Uganda is home to over 5,000 chimps located in over 20 forests including Kibale, Budongo, Kalinzu, Kyambura Gorge, and Bugoma forests.
Rwanda has a population of 400 chimpanzees of which most of them are found in Nyungwe forest and a few primates in Gishwati Mukura national park. Nyungwe is the main destination to see chimps in Rwanda.
Tanzania’s with over 2,000 chimpanzees live in the remote Gombe stream and Mahale mountains national parks located on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika Africa’s deepest. Gombe stream national park is home to Jane Godall’s research station established in 1962 it’s the longest active study of chimps.
Mountain climbing adventure safaris
East Africa offers a wide range of mountain climbing experiences for both experienced and novice climbers alike. Uganda alone has over 7 mountains including Mount Rwenzori, 3 of the 8 Virunga Volcanoes, Mount Elgon, Mount Kadam, Mount Morungole, and Mount Moroto. In adition to big mountains, there are several climbing and bouldering routes in Kampala capital city and across the country which include Kungu, Clarke Quarry, Rwakobo Rock, Bukasa Wall, Roma Bouldering Wall, ISU Lubowa, and Nsiita Luwazi.
In Tanzania the best mountains to climb are Mount Meru in Arusa and Mount Kilimanjaro both found in the northern circuit. Kilimanjaro Africa’s tallest mountain and the highest free standing volcano in the world offers 7 different routes of which Lemosho and Marangu routes can be hiked by beginners. Mount Meru a strato-volcano is the second highest in Tanzania with an altitude of 4565 meters (14978 feet) and takes four days to climb. Those intending to explore the off-the beaten path include Ol Doinyo Lengai 2,878 meters (9,442 feet). The active volcano is famous for emitting a Natrocarbonatite lava which is made up of sodium and potassium carbonates compounds. The volcano has erupted over 33 times with the recent eruption happening in 2024.
Kenya is a good destination for mountain climbing with Mount Kenya (5,199 m), Africa’s second tallest mountain and a UNESCO world heritage. The ancient extinct volcano is famous for its 20 tarn glaciers on the summit at Batian and other highest peaks which include Nelion 5,188 m and Point Point Lenana 4,985 m.
Aberdare mountain range
Locally known as Nyandarua Mountains in Kikuyu the ranges are located in west-central Kenya where the ranges stretch for 160 km across five counties which include Laikipia, Nyandarua, Kiambu, Nyeri, and Murang’a. The range is separated by saddle of hills with Mount Satima 4,001 m (13,127 ft) the range’s highest peak on the northern side and Mount Kinangop 3,906 m on the southern end. The main peaks to climb in Aberdare range are Mount Satima and Mount Kinangop forming the eastern wall of the East African Great Rift Valley, the peaks contains tropical forests, valleys and spectacular waterfalls such as Karuru falls on the eastern side of the ranges, the highest waterfall in Kenya within Aberdare national park. The park offers a wide range of adventure activities including cycling, birding and game viewing with rich biodiversity including lions and leopards and herbivores like elephants and the rare mountain Bongo.
Water sport adventures
Water sport adventures range from calmer activities like swimming, boat cruises, stand-up paddling, canoeing to the adrenaline pumping white water rafting. Some of the best places for relaxing water spots in East Africa include Diani beach in Kenya famous for lively beach side spots such as Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant with live music and great sea food. Zanzibar Island is another excellent destination for water spot adventures with Pongwe beach being one of the best place for swimming in Zanzibar. Kendwa and Nungwi beaches in the northern coast of Zanzibar are known for having calm waves, clearest water, and sunsets and offer a wide range of bars, restaurants. East coast Zanzibar beaches of Paje and Jiambani are good for snorkeling and exploring underwater world diving in Zanzibar is best in Mnemba Atoll waters have beautiful coral reefs and rich marine wildlife such as dolphins and sea turtles.