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How to Travel Crowd-Free – Off-Season East Africa Travel Guide

Off-season travel not only lets you have a great vacation in a low budget, but it also lets you explore popular tourist destinations without the crowds! 

East Africa is an amazing vacation destination to visit year-round. Traveling here off-season guarantees a peaceful and enjoyable vacation. 

 

Best Time to Travel Off-Season

If you’re traveling to East Africa off-season, the best time to travel is from November to January and March to June. In the former months, you may experience short spells of rainfall, while in the latter, you can experience a few spells of long rainfall, particularly in March and April. 

There are many benefits of traveling during this time – safari and accommodation rates are much cheaper, you get to observe the flora and fauna without crowds surrounding you, and you can also observe exciting migratory birdlife that only visits East Africa during this season.

 

Accommodation

If you’re traveling off-season, you will not need to book your accommodation months in advance. You can book your hotel/lodge 2-3 days in advance, or even on arrival. You’ll get accommodation for a lot cheaper in the off-peak season. If you book your accommodation on arrival, make sure you bargain for a fair price. 

 

Ideal Spots to Visit Off-Season

  • Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Home to the Big Five, Serengeti offers excellent wildlife viewing year-round. You can even spot over 500 species of birds here! Explore the vast plains of Serengeti on a game drive, a horseback safari or on a hot air balloon!

  • Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania

At Lake Manyara National Park, you can observe tree-climbing lions. The boardwalk here also offers fantastic views. 

  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to the beautiful and gigantic Ngorongoro Crater, which provides scenic views. You can also spot the Big Five here. 

  • Zanzibar Island, Tanzania 

Zanzibar is a beautiful island located off the coast of Tanzania. You can enjoy numerous watersports here including scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kitesurfing and paddleboarding. 

  • Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The Masai Mara National Reserve offers sighting of the Big Five, along with the Great Migration. Witness millions of herbivores migrate to and from the Masai Mara. 

  • Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Amboseli National Park offers stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. The mountain is situated across the border but can be seen from Amboseli on clear days. In fact, your chances of spotting the mountain are better after a rainy day, when the sun is out and all the fog/smoke has cleared up.

Other than these popular tourist destinations, you can always visit the main cities of East Africa. Here’s a list of the Best Cities to visit in East Africa for more details!

 

Preparing for Rainy Days – Literally

Although the showers aren’t really long enough to cancel your plans in most areas, make sure you’re prepared for rainy days. Keep a long rain coat with you, some backup battery flashlights in case the electricity goes out, and a power bank.

Remember, traveling during the off season means that some of your plans may get disrupted by the rain, especially in March/April in Tanzania. Don’t be disheartened and always make the best of the situation you’re in!

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to East Africa and travel crowd-free!