Kylie Early
I spent nearly two weeks tracing one of the richest travel circuits on earth, from the spice-scented shores of Zanzibar through the great plains of Tanzania and Kenya, and into the misty forests of Uganda. This was my Abercrombie & Kent African Specialist familiarization trip, and it gave me firsthand knowledge I now use to build itineraries for my own clients heading to East Africa. Here is where I went, what I loved, and why this region belongs on your list.
Zanzibar: An Island of Layered Cultures
I started on Zanzibar, staying in a private villa at Xanadu on the island's east coast. Zanzibar is a jewel in the Indian Ocean, ringed by beaches that rank among the finest in the world, with a culture that blends African, Arab, Indian and European influences. Here you'll spend your days at Xanadu with a private butler, guided sea kayaking, snorkeling and stand up paddle boarding just steps from the villa. It was the perfect slow start before the pace of safari, and it is exactly why I recommend Zanzibar as a beach extension to any Tanzania itinerary.
Tanzania: Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti
From Zanzibar I flew into Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania's northern safari circuit.
Tarangire National Park was our first stop, with towering baobabs, termite mounds, sweeping savannah and vast swamps that draw in elephant herds and plains game. I stayed at Chem Chem Lodge, in a luxury tented suite, and the game drives felt wonderfully unhurried.
Next came the Ngorongoro Crater, staying at Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp. The crater's ethereal blue-green vistas and extraordinary concentration of wildlife make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason. Our guides packed a cooler of drinks and snacks along with a table and stools so we could walk through the crater and enjoy a proper sundowner, a detail that made the day unforgettable.
From there we drove into the Serengeti, staying at Sanctuary Kusini, with a full day dedicated to exploring the park. Lions, leopards and cheetahs move through the grass alongside herds of elephant and plains game, and the scale of the landscape is something photographs never quite capture.
Kenya: Masai Mara and Laikipia
A short flight from Serengeti South and a border crossing into Kenya, then a flight into the Masai Mara, where I stayed at Sanctuary Olonana along the Mara River. The Mara is often called the jewel in Kenya's wildlife crown, with wide open grassland, gently rolling hills and rivers cutting through the reserve that create some of the highest density and diversity of wildlife I have seen anywhere.
From the Mara we flew by charter into the Borana Conservancy in Laikipia, staying at Lengishu. Laikipia is a quieter safari experience, deeply focused on conservation. The region is home to half of Kenya's endangered black rhino population and half of the world's Grevy's zebras, and I spent my time here on game drives by day and night, guided bush walks, mountain biking and a horseback excursion, along with a behind the scenes look at conservation work on the ground.
Uganda: Entebbe and Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
The trip closed with an extension into Uganda, a country I had wanted to experience for years. I began in Entebbe, on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, staying at the stylish No. 5 Boutique Hotel, with its easy, laid back charm.
The highlight of the entire journey came in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, staying at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp after a short flight from Entebbe to Kihihi. Bwindi is aptly named: densely tangled, steeply rising rainforest, one of the oldest and most biodiverse in the region, and home to over 300 mountain gorillas, roughly half the world's population. My morning of gorilla trekking here was without question one of the most moving wildlife encounters of my career. Sitting quietly a few feet from a gorilla family in the forest, watching them feed, play and watch you back, is an experience that stays with you long after you are home.
Why This Circuit Works
What makes this journey so special is the range within a single trip: an island escape in Zanzibar, three distinct safari ecosystems across Tanzania and Kenya, and a face to face encounter with mountain gorillas in Uganda, all woven together with seamless flights and outstanding properties. Having traveled this exact route myself, I can help design a version tailored to your pace, your interests and your travel dates, whether that means more time in the Mara, a private villa extension on the coast, or adding gorilla trekking as the grand finale.If East Africa has been on your mind, I would love to start planning your journey.