

Lonely Planet
East Africa
East Africa is the Africa of childhood longings, a wild realm of extraordinary landscapes, peo-ples and wildlife in one of our planet’s most beautiful corners. Lonely Planet will get you to the heart of East Africa, with amazing travel experiences and the best planning advice.
Lonely Planet’s East Africa is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Feel the pounding of hooves as wildebeest stampede across the plains of the Serengeti; get close to gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda; hike on the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of East Africa and begin your journey now!
This is the Burundi chapter from Lonely Planet’s East Africa guidebook.
Tiny Burundi is an incongruous mix of soaring mountains, languid lakeside communities and a tragic past blighted by ethnic conflict. Sadly, at the time of writing, the entire country was con-sidered unsafe to visit.
- sample the great nightlife and delicious food of the sultry capital, Bujumbura
- maps
- experience the soft white sands, warm waters and a stash of cool beach bars that make Saga Beach one of the most enticing inland beaches in Africa
- transport
- watch antelopes and hippos splash and stomp through Parc National de la Rusizi, just out-side Bujumbura
- restaurants & accommodation
Coverage includes: Understand Burundi, Burundi Today, History, Culture, Environment, Introduction, Burundi at a Glance, Fast Facts.
This is the Detour: Democratic Republic of the Congo chapter from Lonely Planet’s East Africa guidebook.
Carpeted by huge swaths of rainforest and punctuated by gushing rivers and smoking vol-canoes, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the ultimate African adventure. A small but fast-growing tourism industry has seen travellers return to what is easily one of Africa’s most thrilling – and challenging – destinations.
- stare down in wonder at the lava lake of magnificent Nyiragongo – quite simply a once-in-a-lifetime experience
- maps
- visit the habituated mountain gorillas that thrive in the thick forests of Africa’s oldest na-tional park, Parc National des Virunga
- transport
- cross gorgeous Lake Kivu to the friendly town of Bukavu, from where you can explore DRC’s most overlooked national park, Parc National de Kahuzi-Biéga
- restaurants & accommodation
Coverage includes: Goma, Parc National Des Virunga, Bukavu, Under-stand the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC Today, Culture, Environment, Survival Guide.
This is the Kenya chapter from Lonely Planet’s East Africa guidebook.
This is the land of the Masai Mara, of wildebeest and zebras migrating in their millions with the great predators of Africa following in their wake, of the red elephants of Tsavo, of the massed millions of pink flamingos stepping daintily through lake shallows.
- experience expansive savannah and endless wildlife in Masai Mara National Reserve
- maps
- draw near to elephants in the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro for Kenya’s most famous pic-ture-postcard views, at Amboseli National Park
- transport
- trek to jagged peaks on sacred Mt Kenya, Kenya’s tallest and Africa’s second-tallest
- restaurants & accommodation
Coverage includes: Nairobi, Southern Rift Valley, Longonot National Park, Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate National Park, Nakuru, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara & Western Kenya, Narok, Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara North Conservancy, Naboisho Con-servancy, Olare-Orok Conservancy, Olderikesi Conservancy, Lake Victoria, Western Highlands, Central Highlands & Laikipia, Nyeri, Aberdare National Park, Laikipia Plateau, Mt Kenya Region, Southeastern Kenya, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Voi, Mombasa & the South Coast, Mombasa, South of Mombasa, Lamu & the North Coast, Kilifi, Watamu, Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve, Gede Ruins, Malindi, Lamu, Northern Kenya, Isiolo to Moyale, Maralal to Turkana’s Eastern Shore, Marich to Turkana’s Western Shore, Under-stand Kenya, History, Kenya Today, Daily Life, Religion, Arts, Environment, Survival Guide.
This chapter contains the Welcome to East Africa, East Africa’s Top 16, Need to Know, If You Like..., Month by Month, Itineraries, Safaris, Gorilla Tracking, Travel with Children, and Countries at a Glance chapters from Lonely Planet’s East Africa guidebook.
Your journey to East Africa starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on choosing your safari.
- tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
- list of highlights and best experiences
- everything you need to know about travelling with children
- user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing
Coverage includes: Welcome to East Africa, East Africa’s Top 16, Need to Know, If You Like: Primates, Big Cats, Rhinos & Elephants, Hiking & Trekking, Islands, History & Ruins, Beaches, Diving & Snorkelling, Creature Comforts, Month by Month, Itineraries, Safaris, Gorilla Tracking, Travel with Children, and Countries at a Glance.
This is the Rwanda chapter from Lonely Planet’s East Africa guidebook.
Stunning little Rwanda is known as the Land of a Thousand Hills thanks to its endless mountains. Nowhere are they more majestic than the Virunga volcanoes in the northwest, and hidden among the bamboo forests are some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas.
- hike the forested slopes of the Virungas in Volcanoes National Park for a close encounter with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys
- maps
- hack through steamy rainforests in search of colobus monkeys and chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park
- transport
- confront the horrors of the genocide at the haunting Kigali Genocide Memorial
- restaurants & accommodation
Coverage includes: Kigali, Northwestern Rwanda, Musanze (Ruhengeri), Volcanoes National Park, Gisenyi (Rubavu), Southwestern Rwanda, Huye (Butare), Nyanza (Nyabisindu), Nyungwe Forest National Park, Cyangugu (Rusizi), Kibuye (Karongi), Eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park, Understand Rwanda, History, Rwanda Today, Culture, Reli-gion, Arts, Environment, Food & Drink, Survival Guide.
This is the Tanzania chapter from Lonely Planet’s East Africa guidebook.
Tanzania is the land of safaris, with wildebeest stampeding across the plains, hippos jostling for space in rivers, massive elephant herds kicking up the dust on their seasonal migration routes and chimpanzees swinging through the treetops.
- marvel at nature’s rhythms on the Serengeti Plains during the Great Migration
- maps
- scale the summit of Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro, or hike the lower slopes
- transport
- descend into a lost world of wildlife and great beauty in the Ngorongoro Crater
- restaurants & accommodation
Coverage includes: Dar es Salaam & Around, Jangwani & Kunduchi Beaches, Dar es Salaam’s Southern Beaches, Zanzibar Archipelago, Zanzibar Island, Pemba, Northeastern Tanzania, Bagamoyo, Saadani National Park, Pangani, Tanga, Usambara Moun-tains, Northern Tanzania, Arusha, Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Mto wa Mbu, Lake Manyara National Park, Lake Natron, Karatu, Lake Eyasi, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, Moshi, Marangu, Mt Kilimanjaro National Park, Machame, West Kili-manjaro, Central Tanzania, Dodoma, Kondoa Rock-Art Sites, Babati, Lake Victoria, Musoma, Mwanza & Around, Rubondo Island National Park, Bukoba, Western Tanzania, Tabora, Kigoma, Gombe National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park, Mpanda, Katavi National Park, Sumba-wanga, Southern Highlands, Morogoro, Mikumi National Park, Iringa, Ruaha National Park, Makambako, Njombe, Mbeya, Tukuyu, Lake Nyasa, Songea, Tunduru, Southeastern Tanzania, Mafia, Selous Game Reserve, Kilwa Masoko, Kilwa Kisiwani, Mtwara, Mikindani, Makonde Plat-eau, Understand Tanzania, History, People, Religion, Music & Dance, Visual Arts, Environment, Survival Guide.
This is the Uganda chapter from Lonely Planet’s East Africa guidebook.
With a tapestry of landscapes, excellent wildlife watching and welcoming locals, Uganda packs a lot into one small country. It’s home to Africa’s tallest mountain range (the Rwenzoris), the source of the Nile, the continent’s largest lake, and, of course, mountain gorillas.
- trek through the jungle to marvel at critically endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Im-penetrable National Park
- maps
- take on the wild waters of the Nile River’s Kalagala Falls, some of the best white-water rafting in East Africa
- transport
- gaze upon the world’s most powerful waterfall, Murchison Falls, during a boat ride up the Victoria Nile
- restaurants & accommodation
Coverage includes: Kampala & Around, Entebbe, Mabamba Swamp Wet-lands, Mpanga Forest Reserve, The Equator, Eastern Uganda, Jinja, Mbale, Mt Elgon National Park, Sipi Falls, Nyero Rock Paintings, Northeastern Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park, Kit-gum, Gulu, Southwestern Uganda, Fort Portal, Crater Lakes, Kibale Forest National Park, Semuliki National Park, Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Kasese, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kabale, Lake Bunyonyi, Kisoro, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Lake Mutanda, Mbarara, Lake Mburo National Park, Masaka, Ssese Islands, Northwestern Uganda, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Masindi, Hoima, Murchi-son Falls National Park, Budongo Forest Reserve, Understand Uganda, History, Uganda Today, Culture, Sport, Religion, Arts, Environment, Food & Drink, Survival Guide.
This chapter contains the East Africa Today, History, Life in East Africa, Environment, Nation-al Parks & Reserves, Tribal Cultures, The Arts, A Taste of East Africa, Safe Travel, Directory A-Z, Transport, Health, and Language chapters from Lonely Planet’s East Africa guide-book.
All the info you need on everything from history, food, tribal cultures and wildlife to flights, public transport, climate, money, the internet... you name it. Get tips for women travellers, gay and lesbian travellers, travellers with disabilities, and travellers with kids. And get the most out of your conversations with a handy language guide and glossary.
- a rundown on life in East Africa
- info on the various national parks and reserves
- full coverage of tribal cultures
- details on the dazzling variety of wildlife
Coverage includes: East Africa Today, History, Life in East Africa, Envi-ronment, National Parks & Reserves, Tribal Cultures, The Arts, A Taste of East Africa, Safe Trav-el, Directory A-Z, Transport, Health, and Language.
Inside Lonely Planet’s East Africa Travel Guide:
- Colour maps and images throughout
- Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
- Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
- Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
- Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
- Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics
- Over 120 maps
Coverage Includes: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi
ISBN: 9781786575746
Edition: 11th
Publication Date: July 2018
Writers: Anthony Ham, Ray Bartlett, Stuart Butler, Jean-Bernard Carillet, Shawn Duthie, David Else, Mary Fitzpatrick, Anna Kaminski, Tom Masters, Carolyn McCarthy, Helena Smith
672 pages, 96pp color, 118 maps | Dimensions: 128mm × 197mm
Next edition due: November 2023
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