The Perfect East Africa Bucket List

I can’t say precisely what has precipitated the stir (perhaps a recent viewing of Simon Reeve’s Indian Ocean?), but lately, there’s a been a whole lot of conversation here at the CJHQ about making a journey to East Africa.

Our first taste of the continent came when we visited Marrakesh on our honeymoon. That trip was a dizzying-yet-delightful experience and the moment we left Morocco, we knew we would return to the continent someday.

The question was only when and where and I now think we have an answer to that question. Here are just a few of the many reasons why we are excited to visit East Africa—hopefully sooner, rather than later.

Experience Ethiopian Coffee

Ever since we moved to Amsterdam in 2014, coffee has played a huge role in our day-to-day routine. I’m not quite sure how it all started, but I think it had something to do with living around the corner from an amazing coffee shop called Trakteren.

Previous to this point, we appreciated coffee but weren’t obsessed with it, but after sipping their fantastic brew and attending a Coffee Festival one of our first weekends in town, we were hooked.

And that brings us to Ethiopia. We have enjoyed many cups of fruity Ethiopian coffee at home over the last couple years and would love to relish the rich culture of coffee in Ethiopia in person. Ethiopia is regarded as the birthplace of coffee and partaking in a centuries-old drinking ceremony would be a highlight of a trip here. Also, we would probably arrange a visit to a farm where coffee is grown and perhaps even stay the night.

See the Serengeti

This picturesque stretch of plains in Tanzania & Kenya is the epitome of wild Africa. The Serengeti is home to thousands of lions and leopards and arguably the most momentous migration of wild animals in the world: the Great Migration.

This annual event sees over a million wildebeest and zebra move throughout the region with every aspect of life (mating, hunting) taking place along the way as they cover miles, graze and cross rivers.

Ideally, we would stay at a camp near the Grumeti River so we can get a front row seat to animals making their crossing across the water.

Conquer Kilimanjaro

This is the big one. Climbing Kilimanjaro is at the summit of our East Africa bucket list. While no-one will ever confuse us with hard-core climbers (the mountains around Ullswater, England, are probably the highest peaks we’ve ever scaled), we are determined to cross this majestic mountain off our bucket list.

Why Kilimanjaro? Well, it’s the tallest mountain in Africa for starters and an ascent of the peak actually seeks the hiker climb more feet than a trip to the top of Mount Everest. It is a challenging task to be sure, but it is doable for relative amateurs like us.

There is just something special about the way Mount Kilimanjaro rises from the plains—as opposed to being part of a mountain range—that makes it so compelling.

Look In on Lalibela

If Lalibela was located in Europe, it would be world famous by now. As it’s in Ethiopia, it still resides in the shadows and is more the domain of intrepid travelers than Instagrammers. We want to make it a priority on our trip to East Africa. Ever since seeing these subterranean churches on the Amazing Race more than a decade ago, we have looked forward to seeing them and perhaps coinciding our trip with one of the moving onsite rituals.

Lounge on Lake Malawi

While the entire African Great Lakes region is intriguing, Lake Malawi mesmerizes us the most. Over 300 miles long and over 50 miles wide, this lake is Malawi’s signature sight and some of the beaches here wouldn’t look out of place in the Caribbean or Adriatic.

Case in point is Cape Maclear, which is home to sugary sand and turquoise water. Kayaking will be one of the ways we will explore the area, but we are also pining for a trip on the legendary Ilala ferry. This boat has been sailing up-and-down the lake weekly since the 1950s and it offers a truly unique travel experience. We will probably alight at Nkhata Bay, known for a host of cozy lakeside B&Bs like the Butterfly Lodge.

A to Z(anzibar)

Last, but certainly not least, on our ever-expanding East Africa bucket list is a trip to the autonomous Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. Certain places just sound exotic and full of adventure (Istanbul, Marrakesh, Rio De Janeiro) and Zanzibar is one of them.

The island’s hub is Stone Town and it was an integral spoke in the international spice trade for centuries.  As a result, it is home to a diverse mix of cultures and sights. I can’t lie though, as fascinating as the history is, the main reason we would be coming here is for the beaches as they are regarded as some of the prettiest in all of Africa.