Explore Eco Safaris
Explore Eco Safaris is a locally based tours and travel agency specialising in custom made safaris, we exist to meet your demand for your Explore Eco safari in the East African region. We have a team which has knowledge of various safari and travel destinations and our clients are assured of getting the best unrivalled safari deals, added values and finest quality at each destination. Our safari packages are accompanied with appealing bonus benefits ranging from price guarantees to convenience, enhancement of travel packs and array of enticing top up options which are unique to each and every destination. We run safaris in all game reserve and national parks in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and DR. Congo.
Visit Uganda Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and DR.Congo
East Africa region is one of the greatest tourism destinations in the world with a booming tourism industry, East Africa as a region offers countless sights of wildlife, birdlife and some of the best wilderness and adventures in the world. As a great tourism destination, East Africa region comprises of some of the world’s famous features and attractions ranging from wildlife, birdlife and physical features such as mountains, Rivers and vegetation. Attractions in East Africa include 6 world Heritage Sites including
UNESCO Sites in Uganda
- Bwindi Impenetrable national park – a home to the biggest population of the remaining Mountain gorillas. The park is located in South Western Uganda.
- Kasubi Tombs – a burial site for 4 kings of Buganda Kingdom and other members of the royal family, the site is found in Kampala city of Uganda
- Rwenzori Mountains National park – shelters Mountain Rwenzori he 3rd highest mountain in East Africa with Margherita Peak standing over 16,000 feet above the sea level. The mountain found in Uganda and lies in the East African Rift Valley.
UNESCO Sites in Kenya
- Fort Jesus, Mombasa – This architecturally unique structure was built following the orders of King Philip I of Portugal is a fort on the Mombasa Island built in 1593 – 1596 to guard the port of Mombasa and holds a strong sentiment as the first attempt a western power to establish influence over the Indian Ocean Trade.
- Lake Turkana National Parks – consists o 3 national parks around Lake Turkana, the most saline lake in East Africa and the deepest desert lake in Africa. Lake Turkana is the breeding grounds for the Nile Crocodiles, hippos and a number of snake species and a stopping point for the migratory birds. These parks include Sibiloi national park, South Island national park and Central Island national park.
- Mount Kenya national park – Mountain Kenya standing at 5,1999 meters is the 2nd tallest mountain in Africa, the mountain has rugged terrain and houses a number of game animals such as elephants, cape buffaloes, antelopes, forest hogs, colobus monkeys among others.
- Lamu Old Town “The cradle of Swahili civilization” – this town is the best preserved and oldest Swahili settlement in the coastal strip of East Africa hosting some of Kenya’s most conservative societies, the town is located on a small island off the coast of Kenya close to the Somali border and it is believed to be established in 1370.
Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley – comprises of 3 interconnected shallow lakes that is Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita in the Great Rift Valley. The Lake System covers 32,034 hectares and is the only natural site in Kenya on the UNESCO Heritage list
UNESCO Sites in Tanzania
- Serengeti national park – named from Maasai language meaning endless plains, the park is one of a kind places in East Africa hosting some of the biggest population of wildlife in Africa and it is the only 2 national parks in the world hosting the annual wildebeest migration – The wildebeest migration on earth.
- Mountain Kilimanjaro – this undoubtedly the most visited mountain on the African continent is found on the Kilimanjaro region and Kilimanjaro national park covering an area of 1,600 square kilometers. Mount Kilimanjaro stands at 5,895 meters above sea level.
- Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
- Zanzibar’s Stone Town –
- Selous Game Reserve –
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area –
Gorilla Trekking
GORILLA TREKKING
Gorilla Trekking is one of the most sought safari activities in Africa offering visitors with an ultimate opportunity to meet the endangered mountain gorillas.
The endangered mountain gorillas are one of the critically endangered animals in the world and they are found only in 4 destinations in the world that is Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in DR.Congo.
Gorilla Trekking Experience
Gorilla trekking experience starts as early as 08:00 pm with a briefing session at the park’s headquarters where rangers take you through the rules and regulations to follow during this thrilling experience.
Trekkers are then grouped into 8 people and are assigned one of the habituated gorilla families to trek, headed by armed rangers and guides you will then hike into the jungle looking for mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking takes approximately 2-6 hours depending on the gorilla family you are trekking and they spent the previous night.
After meeting the gorillas, you are to stay in their presence for one hour while observing their behavior which is so similar to that of human beings. After one hour, you trek back to the park’s headquarters where trekkers are rewarded with gorilla trekking Certificates marking the end of the experience.
Where to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking is the highlight safari activity in Uganda and it is done in 2 sections (Uganda gorilla destinations) that are Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park, Uganda is a hosts the highest population of the endangered mountain gorillas in the world recorded to be over 800 individuals.
In total, Uganda hosts 21 habituated gorilla families which are available for gorilla trekking with 20 gorilla families found in Bwindi impenetrable national park and 1 gorilla group in Mgahinga Forest national park.
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
Bwindi impenetrable national park is the best gorilla trekking destination in the world loved by travelers for hosting the largest population of mountain gorillas. Bwindi impenetrable national park is considered to be the most visited Uganda safari destination located in the extreme Southwestern Uganda, on the rim of the Rift Valley and stretching in the districts of Kabale, Kanungu and Kisoro.
The park comprises of mist-covered hillsides sheltered by one of the ancient and very biologically varied rainforest in Uganda that dates back to more than 25,000 years and comprises of about 400 varied plant species.
Bwindi impenetrable national park hosts half of the population of gorillas in the world recorded to be over 300 mountain gorillas with 20 habituated gorilla families, Bwindi gorilla families are found in 4 sectors (tracking regions) that are Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park offers visitors an encounter with one of the habituated gorilla family in one Bwindi gorilla trekking sectors. Below are the list of mountain gorillas to encounter in Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Buhoma sector
- Mubare Gorilla Family
- Habinyanja Gorilla Family
- Rushegura Gorilla Family
- Katwe Gorilla Family
- Muyambi Gorilla Family
Ruhija Sector
- Bitukura Gorilla Family
- Oruzongo Gorilla Family
- Kyaguliro Gorilla Family
- Mukiza Gorilla Family
- Mukiza Gorilla Family
Nkuringo Sector
- Nkuringo Gorilla Family
- Bushaho Gorilla Family
Rushaga Sector
- Nshongo Gorilla Family
- Bikingi Gorilla Family
- Mishaya Gorilla Family
- Kahungye Gorilla Family
- Bweza Gorilla Family
- Busingye Gorilla Family
- Kutu Gorilla Family
- Mucunguzi Gorilla Family
- Rwingi Gorilla Family
MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK
Mgahinga Gorilla national park also known as Mount Mgahinga Gorilla National park is another gorilla destination in Uganda, the park is also located in the South Western part of Uganda in Kisoro district.
Mgahinga Gorilla national park lies in the Virunga Conservation Area comprising of Virunga national park in DRC and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. These parks form 434 square kilometers and Mgahinga Gorilla national park is the smallest of the 3 national parks.
Mgahinga Gorilla national park stretches around 3 of the Virunga volcanoes that are Mt. Muhavura (4,127 meters), Mt. Gahinga (3,474 meters) and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645 meters).
Mgahinga Gorilla national park hosts one habituated gorilla family available for gorilla trekking safari, Nyakagezi gorilla family consists of 9 family members that are 4 silverbacks, 2 infants, 2 adult females, and 1 juveniles and is under the leadership of a dominant silverback called Mark.
Where to go for gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes National Park also known as Parc National des Volcans and is the most visited safari destination in Rwanda, the park is located in the far northwest of Rwanda protecting the steep slopes of a magnificent mountain range. Volcanoes national park is named after the chain of dominant volcanoes making the Virunga Massif, there 5 volcanoes in the park including Mt.Karisimbi – the higest a 4,507 meters, Mt. Bisoke, Mt. Sabinyo, Mt. Gahinga and Muhabura.
Rwanda hosts a good population of mountain gorillas which are divided into 2 that is those for study or research purposes and they are strictly accessed by scientists and researchers only. Among these are Beetsme and Pablo’s Shida which have the highest number of gorillas.
The others are habituated gorillas open for tourism purposes, there are 10 habituated gorilla families. Habituated gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park include
- Ugenda
- Umubano
- Susa group
- Karisimbi
- Sabinyo
- Hirwa
- Amahoro
- Bwenge
- Group 13 (the Agasha group)
- Kwitonda
Where to go for gorilla trekking in DRC
Gorilla trekking in Democratic Republic of Congo are done in Virunga national park which is also part of the Virunga Conservation Area, the park is Africa’s most biodiverse protected area and a one of 4 mountain gorilla safari destinations in the world.
Virunga national park is located in the Albertine Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo with Goma as the nearest city, the covers an area of 7,768 square kilometers.
Virunga national park is a great habitat for the critically endangered mountain gorillas hosting around a third of gorilla population in the world residing in the forests on the lush slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes.
Virunga national park’s southern sector around Bukima, currently inhabits 8 habituated mountain gorilla families/groups which are open for gorilla trekking.
Habituated Mountain gorilla families in Virunga national park include
- Kabirizi family
- Bageni Family
- Mapuwa Family
- Rugendo Family
- Lulengo Family
- Munyaga Family
- Humba Family
- Nyakamwe Family.
Gorilla
Trekking Rules and Regulations
Gorilla trekking safari experience is governed by a set of rules and regulations drafted for the protection of the gorillas and the visitors as well. Gorilla trekking rules and regulations are passed on to the trekkers during the briefing session before trekking into the forests to meet the gorillas and these include
- Trekkers must be 15 years or more
- A group of 8 people are allowed to visit one gorilla group per trek
- Visitors with any sort of illness will not be allowed to participate in trekking
- One gorilla family can be visited every day
- Always stay 10 meters away from the gorillas
- Do not feed the gorillas
- Do not make unnecessarily noise and movements while in the jungle
- Follow the instructions of the rangers
- Do not mimic the actions of the gorillas
- When taking pictures make sure your flashlight is off.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking
Since the four gorilla destinations are found in densely forested areas, it can be done all year round as the weather conditions are almost similar throughout the year. However the best time for gorilla trekking is in the months of June, July, August and September. These periods are relatively dry, kind in mind that it can rain any time in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga Gorilla national park, Virunga national park and Volcanoes national park.
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Our Top Destinations
Bwindi NATIONAL PARK
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in south western Uganda and is known for being a habitat for the endangered gorilla species. During a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, tourists engage in searching for these gorillas in their natural habitat in the impenetrable forest.
MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Murchison Falls national park was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1926 and later gazetted as a national park in 1952. Murchison falls national park covers a total area of 3,840 square kilometers and is bisected by the Victoria Nile into two sectors that is the northern and the southern sector.
KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Kibale national park reserves an evergreen tropical forest which harbors a lot of wildlife species spatially distributed in different ecosystems that range from thick evergreen forests, swamps, woodlands, and open savannah among others. Kibale national park is located in the western region of Uganda and occupies an area of about 776 sq.km. It is located in the great western rift valley.
VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Volcanoes national park is a stop centre for all Rwanda gorilla safaris sheltering the highest number of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Conservation area. It the most accessible gorilla national park in the world. Besides gorillas, Volcanoes National park is a home for golden monkeys, a variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects
MASAAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Masaai Mara national reserve forms the Mara- Serengeti ecosystem which is the oldest in the world, the ecosystem is the largest across East Africa. Maasai Mara national Reserve was named to honor the local Maasai residents that are the ancestral inhabitants of the region.
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Serengeti national park is a location for the wildebeest migration which takes place annually at the destination as over 2 million wildebeests move across the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. The wildebeest migration brings many tourists to Tanzania which one of the largest animal migrations in the world.
Explore the Pearl of Africa
Explore Eco Safaris lets you indefinitely explore the Pearl of Africa through Various Destinations
Our Top Safari Packages
3 days Uganda Gorilla Safari
3 days Uganda Gorilla safari in Bwindi impenetrable national park offers you an encounter with the rare and critically endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi
6 days Kenya Safari
6 days Kenya safari is an adventurous Kenya safari taking you on a safari visit to two of the most interesting Kenya safari destinations that is Maasai Mara national reserve and Lake Nakuru national park.
3 days Lake Mburo safari
3 days Lake Mburo safari takes you on a Uganda safari adventure to Lake Mburo national park the smallest savannah park in Uganda, though this park is small in this size, it is famous for various species of wildlife.
3 Days Chimpanzee Tracking safari, Uganda
3 days Chimpanzee tracking safari takes you on a Uganda primate safari to Kibale Forest national park – a primate capital in East Africa for an amazing and rewarding experience of chimpanzee trekking.
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Popular Safari Activities
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is defined as a hike to the tropical forests of Africa to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. It is an out-door activity where tourists are allowed to see mountain gorillas for one hour after purchasing a gorilla permit
Chimpanzee Trekking
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda involves walking through the jungles of rain forests in search of them for about 2-5 hours depending on the location of the primates and on finding them, visitors are limited to only one hour in the presence of the endangered primates.
Bird watching
Uganda Birding Safaris is regarded as one of the most highly reputable local birding and wildlife companies. Travel with Birding Journeys Uganda for tailor made short and long bird watching safaris in Uganda & Rwanda at affordable rates
Why Travel with Us
We’re on a journey to transform ordinary African safaris into extraordinary safaris Tours. We are your guide, bringing you personal experiences. Wherever your travels take you, we’ll show you the unique and unmissable things to do in your destination. With Explore Eco Safaris creating memorable moments has never been easier.
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