A World Bank study revealed that Africa attracted more than 33 million visitors in 2012, a remarkable increase from the 6.7 million in 1990. While more than a half of the international visits to the continent were business-oriented, a few included some touristic activities too. The other half had visitors that travelled for tourism, meeting family and friends, and other reasons.

If this statistic is anything to go by, then it’s evident that millions of people from around the globe choose Africa as their safari destination. This, then, begs the questions, why tourists love Africa, and what makes East Africa a perfect safari destination.

Companies such as Asilia Africa offer exceptional safaris in pristine wilderness areas that offers travellers an intimate experience of the natural beauty and cultural splendour that is unique to this region in Africa.

In addition, through offering exceptional safaris to guests, Asilia is able to empower and uplift these crucial areas, benefitting both the people of these areas and the nature as well.

Tourism in East Africa

The East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania) strongly depend on tourism for income generation. That’s why they are consistently coming up with innovative marketing and cooperation strategies to ensure that the tourism sector thrives.

Standardised criteria for lodges, restaurants, hotels and other services across the East African countries make it easy for visitors to find solutions that match their preferences. In addition to the uniform classification of lodges and hotels, the countries also allow visitors to use a single tourist visa – that’s convenience.

Here is a quick guide to some of the safari hot spots in East Africa:

Serengeti wildebeest migration

The Serengeti wildebeest migration is one of the primary reasons why Tanzania and Kenya have become top safari destination spots in the globe. The great migration sees over a million wildebeests, zebras and gazelles move from Tanzania to Kenya or vice versa. You can view the movement in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park or Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park.

Mount Kilimanjaro National Park

Take advantage of being in the Serengeti area to visit the Mount Kilimanjaro, which is the largest and highest mountain in Africa. It sits in the Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania and offers so much more than just the name. Some of the things you can do around this place include climbing the mountain to the summit to view the Kibo Peak, trek through the Shira Plateau, visit Chala Crater Lake or go to Olpopongi.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

This is also an ideal option when you are within the vicinity of Serengeti. It has the abundance of big 5 (African lion, African elephant, black/white rhinoceros, Cape buffalo and African leopard) and will give you a unique wildlife experience on the floor of this inactive, intact, volcanic caldera.

Ruaha National Park

Sitting right in the centre of Tanzania, Ruaha is the largest national park in the region and an exceptional wildlife-viewing area. Ruaha’s largely untouched wilderness offers a safari experience with few other tourists in sight.