East Africa Tours: 13 Adventures to Top Your Bucket List

An African overland tour is the ultimate way to disconnect from the humdrum of everyday life and get your boots dirty. Also, there’s hardly a better place to get lost than East Africa. It’s the land of great escapes. The orange sunsets, untamed wildlife, captivating cultures, and endless savannas make you feel as though you’ve reached the end of the world.

Staple items on an East African tour include witnessing the Serengeti’s thundering migration, trekking to find endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, and observing the lion prides of the Masai Mara. While these are undeniably incredible experiences and we encourage everyone to do them, there are so many other adventures and sights in the region that intrepid tourists shouldn’t miss. In fact, you could spend your entire life on the road and still not manage to experience all that East Africa has to offer.

But worry not, my fellow explorer! I’ve rounded up a list of the region’s most underrated gems to experience while you’re on your East African overland tour.

East Africa Bucket List: Kenya

The world-famous Masai Mara National Park, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli National Park are all prime safari destinations on a Kenya safari tour. But there’s more to Kenya than just traditional game drives. So if you want to go really off the beaten tourist track in East Africa, here are a few must-see attractions and activities …

1. Raft on Tana River

If watching lions stalk their prey is not enough of a rush for you, then whitewater rafting on the Tana River is sure to get your blood pumping. This epic rafting spot in eastern Kenya boasts powerful rapids and spectacular white water.

The river provides whitewater rafting lovers with Class II to Class V rapids, as well as stretches of calm drifts where you can catch your breath and check out the incredible scenery.

2. Visit Lake Turkana

Located in northwestern Kenya, Lake Turkana is the largest desert lake in the world and a conservation hotspot. Its saline waters are the breeding ground for a plethora of wildlife. From Nile crocodiles and hippos to migratory birds, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity.

Also, the Koobi Fora Formation sits just to the east. This is an important paleontological site where hominim fossils were found, so the region might have been the birthplace of mankind.

3. Dine in a cave restaurant

An astounding array of rarities can be found in Kenya. While on your travels, you’ll have the opportunity to spot endangered animals, discover ancient fossils, and watch wildlife spectacles unseen anywhere else on Earth. If you thought it couldn’t get any more exciting, then how about dining in an ancient coral cave?

Set in a cave believed to be 180,00 years old on gorgeous Diani Beach, Al Barbour’s Cave Restaurant is a unique establishment that definitely warrants a visit. Although the cuisine is international, the freshly caught seafood and barely touched coral interior pull guests back into an historic era.

4. Explore Hell’s Kitchen

Hell’s Kitchen, also called the Marafa Depression, is a strange sandstone canyon and one of Kenya’s best-kept secrets. Known as “the place broken by itself”, it was once a great sandstone ridge. With time, it was worn down by wind, rain and floods into a series of jagged-sided gorges.

Legend has it that there was once a small town located in the gorge. One day all of the town’s people had a vision telling them that a miracle was coming and that they had to leave. Everyone moved except one old woman who refused to go. The abandoned town then supposedly vanished, leaving the Marafa Depression in its place.

5. Revel in the bustle of Mombasa

When foreigners think of overlanding in Africa, they seldom imagine exploring bustling cities. But to skip out on discovering Mombasa would be a huge mistake. This city is one of the country’s oldest and a melting pot of languages and cultures.

With a blend of Indian, Arabian and African influences, this busy port is intoxicating and packed full of adventure. The UNESCO-listed Old Fort Museum is definitely the highlight attraction in this ancient city. From old-world towns to festive carnivals and aromatic spice markets, you won’t be left wanting.

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East Africa Bucket List: Tanzania

A Tanzania safari tour is the Africa of storybooks. Amazing wildlife, white-sand beaches, the vast Serengeti, and Mount Kilimanjaro – Tanzania has all of these adventures and more in one adventurous country.

Though going on a Great Migration safari in Tanzania is one HUGE bucket list check, there are also a number of mini checks you shouldn’t miss.

6. Explore Dar es Salaam

Having evolved from a sleepy fishing village to an eclectic metropolis, Dar is one of my favorite cities in East Africa – despite its infamous traffic. This former capital city is the hub of Tanzania and is full of things to do.

Many travelers simply pass through the city completely; those who stay are rewarded with bustling markets, delicious local cuisine, and the city’s vibrant and diverse cultural scene.

7. Swim in Kuza Cave

After your overland tour in Tanzania, head to the country’s Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. With its beautiful beaches and coral reefs, Zanzibar is a true bucket list destination.

Hidden away on the lush and seldom-visited Jambiani Island, Kuza Cave is a geological formation with a fascinating history. The cave has long been a sacred space for local people. It’s believed that locals have journeyed to this spot within the Earth’s underbelly for thousands of years to hold ceremonies and pray.

8. Go on a spice tour

Zanzibar has long been one of the world’s leading producers of spices, such as clove, cardamom, cinnamon and black pepper. While you’re enjoying the beautiful sandy beaches and clear seas of the main island, be sure to also go on a spice farm tour. 

On the tour, you’ll be smelling and tasting the spices that Portuguese traders brought to the island back in the sixteenth century. Today, the legendary spices of Zanzibar have made their mark on the island’s tasty cuisine, so much so that food served in Zanzibar has a remarkably distinctive taste that is almost impossible to find anywhere else in the world.

9. Swim with whale sharks

It’s not just Tanzania’s national parks that are brimming with wildlife. Zanzibar as well as Mafia Island off the south coast of Tanzania offer nature lovers the ultimate water-based adventure. Snorkeling with whale sharks is a marine safari you’ll never forget. These gentle creatures aren’t actually sharks. They’re the biggest fish in the world, and it’s perfectly safe to swim with them.

10. Eat out in Stone Town

There’s no better place in East Africa to feast on local cuisine than in Stone Town on the west coast of Zanzibar Island. The food market at Forodhani Gardens is, without a doubt, my favorite place in Zanzibar. I say this because it serves up the most mouthwatering food.

Set on the promenade, this bustling market is an al fresco banquet. My suggestion is to skip the fish kebabs and look out for local delicacies. My favorites are urojo (soup with potato balls), chipsi mayai (omelet with French fries), pilau (spiced rice) and cow soup (a local breakfast).

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East Africa Bucket List: Uganda

It’s no wonder Winston Churchill dubbed Uganda the ‘pearl of Africa’, as it has dense, misty forests, snow-peaked mountains, and sprawling savannas. A safari in Uganda can include game drives in Murchison Falls, spending time with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and going on a sunset cruise on the Nile.

These are the quintessential Ugandan experiences to have, but the thrills don’t end there. So when planning the Uganda portion of your East Africa overland itinerary, here are five unmissable Ugandan experiences – and where to find them.

11. Go rafting on the Nile 

Most people know that the Nile River is the longest in the world. But did you know that it begins in East Africa, and specifically in Uganda? When you’re near Lake Victoria in the south of the country, you’re also near the town of Jinja. This is where many argue that the mighty Nile starts.

Jinja, Uganda’s adrenaline capital, is home to some of the world’s finest grade-five white-water rafting and other adventure activities. The volume of water creates some intense rapids, which are a drawcard for thrill-seekers. But when you’re ready to bring down your heart rate, nothing can compare to floating along the Nile while taking in the landscape.

12. Go zip-lining at Griffin Falls

If you thought Uganda couldn’t get any more action-packed, then think again. Mabira Forest, also near Lake Victoria, is primed for exhilarating activities.

This lively forest has it all, from guided hikes to mountain biking. There’s also a network of zip lines that includes one stretching for 250 m across River Musamya. If you ever wanted to get in touch with your inner Tarzan, then this is the place! In addition to the thrills, your lofty vantage point affords epic wildlife viewing of unique animals. These include grey-cheeked mangabeys and red-tailed monkeys.

13. Get your boots dirty in the Rwenzori Mountains

Those who prefer fresh mountain air over gushing rapids won’t be left wanting either. Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains in the west of the country are home to six of Africa’s 10 tallest mountains. While most travelers bypass these peaks in favor of Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro, these mountains are Uganda’s best-kept secret.

In fact, the Rwenzoris are so under the radar that they barely see a thousand trekkers a year. But don’t let the small number of hikers fool you into thinking the treks here are easy. The range is roughly 120 km long and 65 km wide, with six main massifs. The tallest massif is Mount Stanley, which has two peaks: Margherita (5,109 m) and Alexandra (5,083 m).

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Editor’s note: this post on East Africa’s lesser-known adventure destinations and activities was first published in 2019 and has since been updated to reflect up-to-date information.