Top 5 Affordable African destinations for Christmas

Somebody once said that you don’t have to be rich to travel. You only need to find cheap holiday destinations, for instance, in East Africa.

The tourism industry is opening up, and there is a lot for people to see without necessarily breaking the bank.

East Africa is a perfect destination to experience that once-in-a-life adventure you need. You’ll get to explore the culture of the people as you enjoy a wide range of natural scenery and wildlife.

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With a limited budget, you can have a great time visiting these cheap holiday destinations in East Africa:

1. Gombe Stream National Park – Tanzania

Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania is one of those cheap holiday destinations in East Africa that should be on your bucket list.

The park, located in the westernmost region of Tanzania, comprises steep valleys, woodlands, grasslands and tropical rainforests.

There is a lot to do here, from hiking and swimming in Lake Tanganyika to trekking and seeing a lot of chimpanzees and snorkelling. The wild chimpanzees you’ll come across at Gombe Stream have lived for about fifty years.

Chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park.

Apart from chimpanzees, other primates at Gombe Stream include red colobus monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys and blue monkeys.

2. Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Sanctuary – Uganda

Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Nakasongola district, is home to one of the most endangered animals in the world, the rhino.

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It is the only place in Uganda where tourists can do rhino tracking. The sanctuary, which is one of the cheap holiday destinations in East Africa, is a perfect place for canoe rides, night walks, relaxation and birding.

Rhino Fund Uganda and Uganda Wildlife Authority established the sanctuary to re-introduce the rhinos which were almost getting extinct in the wild.

Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Sanctuary currently has 32 southern white rhinos.

Rhinos at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Sanctuary.

3. Mount Elgon National Park – Kenya and Uganda

Mount Elgon National Park is a must-visit place if you’re in love with nature and beauty. The park, which is a cheap holiday destination in East Africa, is at the border of Kenya and Uganda.

Mount Elgon National Park is home to elephants, buffaloes, monkeys and antelopes. Apart from seeing the wild animals, you can also enjoy biking, hiking and exploring caves such as the famous Kitum Caves.

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The national park is ideal for game viewing, as you’ll come across lions, elephants, buffaloes, monkeys, baboons, giraffes and zebras.

Akagera National Park has over 490 bird species and large pods of hippos and Nile crocodiles.

After a long day of enjoyment, you can spend the night in one of the hotels in the park.

What is the best country to visit in East Africa?

Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
Rwanda

How can I go to Africa on a budget?

Find cheap plane tickets
Be flexible with departure and arrival
Avoid high season in Africa
Apply for a visa online or on arrival
Use public transport whenever possible
Buy a local sim card
Avoid ATM’s
Eat street food and buy food at markets
Avoid fancy beaches and resorts
Skip African safaris

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What is the Best Time of the Year to Visit East Africa?

July to October is the best time to visit East Africa. Visitors planning to visit the rainforests of Uganda and Rwanda should avoid travelling between April and May.