Expansive landscapes, awe-inspiring wildlife, ultimate isolation and the most thrilling of experiences are just a handful of things that you find in East Africa. The birthplace of countless species as well as the epicentre of the nature’s wildest wonders, Africa is not just a journey into unknown lands, it is a journey into our own history. While one might spend decades ingraining the flavour of the entire continent, there are certain binding experiences that leave the deepest of impressions on travellers, as they leave with more than they came with. Here are just a few of them.
CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA
While there are series of natural wonders that will make you gasp, few will ever come close to the feeling of achieving the feat of climbing Africa’s highest mountain, literally soaring above the cloud, atop the world! Not only this, the view throughout the final stretch of the trek to the summit is unbelievable. The Karanga camp just shy of the peak will offer you the opportunity of a lifetime – touching marshmallow clouds while standing above them, as the sun rises in the distance and awakens the world beneath you. You can also spot Meru – Kilimanjaro’s little sister in the distance. The peak itself also offers views of sparkling glaciers and Mawenzi’s spikes breaking through the uniformly ragged cloud cover, as the satisfaction of accomplishing the formidable climb amplifies the humbling yet exciting feeling of standing atop the world.
BIG GAME AND THE GREAT MIGRATIONS, TANZANIA
One of the most striking experiences that one can be involved in when in Africa is the great migration. A circular grazing path populated by over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras makes for one of the most jaw dropping natural acts that you would ever witness, as the endless Serengeti plains tremble under the unison of these majestic creatures. Expansive safari expeditions with accommodations of immense luxury await you in the middle of the vast plains, as you witness the big five in their habitat – Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhinoceros and Cape buffalo. If the majestic beauty of these does not suffice, the scenic landscapes and rejuvenating sunrises will provide the perfect icing on this humbling journey.
Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda
Unbeknownst to many, this is nature’s treasure trove tucked to safety in South-west of Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi is a quaint place with ethereal beauty dotted with 29 islands in varied sizes and unique shapes amidst the plush green of the surrounding hills. While a lot can be done to in Lake Bunyonyi, let’s delve deep to get an insight about this place.
Located between the two districts of Kisoro and Kabare and close to the border of Rwanda, it is a freshwater lake with the reputation as the second deepest lake of Africa. With the depths varying between 144ft to 2952ft, swimming in this lake is truly an unmatched experience as you surrender yourself to depths of water.
Once you reach there, don’t be surprised by the sight of birds flying as Lake Bunyonyi is home to as many as 200 species of birds, thus garnering the name Bunyonyi which translates to “Place of many little birds.” Lake Bunyonyi is 16 miles long and 4.3 miles wide. It sprang to life as an aftermath of a volcanic eruption that occured 8000 million years ago.
Gorilla Tracking at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
The Bwindi Forest is home to roughly half the world’s mountain gorillas population and is divided into four zones for tracking gorillas. It’s the oldest in tracking gorillas and is sure to provide you with the most exciting chase ever! Permits will have to be taken beforehand as a maximum of 8 people are allowed to track one gorilla group per day.If you are planning an Uganda Adventure, make sure you don’t miss out on this wonderful experience.
BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO, MOZAMBIQUE
Nestled quite literally in the middle of nowhere, the Bazaruto archipelago is a cluster of 15 islands off the coast of Mozambique, and makes the perfect setting to unwind while witnessing unseen beauty. Dozens of bird species like flamingoes and fish eagles, dolphins, crocodiles as well as the elusive dugongs will appear out of the clear waters as you sit at a serene white sand beach with no other noise to disturb you. If there was ever the blend of serenity, luxury and natural beauty for the traveller, the Bazaruto Archipelago would be on the top of the menu. The Azura retreats lodge at the Benguerra island has won quite a few awards for luxury and location, while being set amidst a Marine national park, allowing for some of clearest and most unmatched whale and dugong viewings!
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