Planning ahead for a February safari holiday?
If so, this is a month we’d recommend for bringing together three very different wildlife experiences across East Africa: mountain gorillas in the forests of Rwanda or Uganda, the Great Migration’s calving season in the southern Serengeti and whale sharks in the waters around Pemba.
Trek with Gorillas
Begin with four nights in the forests of the Virunga region or southern Bwindi. Two gorilla treks allow time to encounter different family groups and observe how behaviour changes from one day to the next. Accompanied by trackers who understand the forest and its inhabitants, you’ll follow paths through dense vegetation before spending an hour in the company of mountain gorillas.
Witness the Great Migration
After an overnight stay in Kigali, fly to Tanzania and the Serengeti’s southern short-grass plains. In February, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather here to give birth, drawn by the mineral-rich grasses that follow the seasonal rains. The plains fill with newborn calves, watchful mothers and predators alert to every movement. Four nights in a tented camp give you time to follow the herds and understand this part of the migration beyond a single game drive.
Snorkel with Whale Sharks
From the Serengeti, fly onwards to Pemba. Less visited than neighbouring Zanzibar, the island is fringed by coral reefs and surrounded by clear Indian Ocean waters. Spend a week at Manta Resort, with time to snorkel, dive or simply settle into the slower pace of the coast. February also falls within the season when whale sharks may be seen in the surrounding waters, creating the possibility of swimming alongside the world’s largest fish.
End with a night or two in Zanzibar. In Stone Town, carved wooden doors, former merchants’ houses and winding lanes reveal the island’s long connections with Arabia, India and the African mainland. It’s a fitting final chapter to a journey that moves from mountain forest to open plains and the Swahili Coast.
Let’s Plan Your African Adventure
Over the course of the trip, you’ll see how wildlife is shaped by altitude, rainfall, migration and ocean currents, guided by people who can place each encounter in its wider context.
Few itineraries bring together such different ecosystems so naturally. Speak to our Africa specialists, Illona and Chris, to plan your journey through East Africa’s forests, plains and coastline.
