Virunga National Park
DRC Virungas: mountain gorillas, Nyiragongo volcano hike, and lowland forests further south.
Destination type: National park
Kidepo Valley National Park
Remote Karamoja wilderness: cheetah, large herds, and cultural visits with little crowding.
Lake Mburo National Park
Compact park between Kampala and Bwindi: zebras, boat on the lake, walking safaris, and night drives.
Masai Mara
Kenya’s flagship reserve for the wildebeest migration (Jul–Oct) and year-round big cats.
Amboseli National Park
Elephant herds on the dry lake bed with Kilimanjaro views on clear mornings.
Serengeti National Park
Endless plains and the migration circuit (calving in south, river crossings in the north).
Ngorongoro Crater
Collapsed caldera with a dense wildlife concentration including black rhino.
Murchison Falls National Park
Nile game drives, boat to the falls, and Ziwa rhino tracking en route from Kampala.
Volcanoes National Park
Home of Rwanda mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkeys, Dian Fossey hike, and Bisoke crater. Base around Kinigi / Musanze.
Akagera National Park
Rwanda’s Big Five savannah park on the eastern border: lions, elephants, boat cruise on Lake Ihema.