Travel to East Africa: safaris and great parks

Kenya and Tanzania host the Masai Mara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. Budget 200 to 400 dollars per day for a mid-range lodge safari, and 7 to 10 days to combine two parks without excessive transfers. The great wildebeest migration crosses the Mara river mainly from July to October, the busiest and most expensive period of the year for lodge and mobile camp accommodation.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest costs around 700 dollars per daily permit in Uganda, versus 1500 dollars in neighboring Rwanda, which pushes many travelers toward Uganda for a tighter budget. The hike lasts 2 to 8 hours depending on where the tracked gorilla group is located that day by the rangers, across mountainous, humid terrain. Rwanda compensates with shorter transfers from Kigali airport and denser luxury lodges around Volcanoes National Park.

Lalibela's rock-hewn churches and the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest places on the planet, make Ethiopia a distinct destination, more cultural and geological than wildlife-focused. The dry season from October to March remains the most practicable, as rains make some northern roads impossible to cross by vehicle. A 10 to 12-day loop can link Addis Ababa, Lalibela and the Danakil, with long internal transfers on mountain roads.

After a safari, many travelers add 4 to 6 days on Zanzibar's beaches, under an hour's flight from Nairobi or Dar es Salaam. UNESCO-listed Stone Town blends Arab, Indian and Swahili influences, while the island's north holds the most sought-after beaches, especially around Nungwi. The quieter south draws divers and dolphin watchers off the coast of Kizimkazi, with fewer resorts and lower prices.