Post COVID-19 Bucketlist – the things you should consider seeing and or doing after COVID-19 is gone.
Both the young and old have each had a dose of the current COVID-19 effects. Schools have closed (there is surely no way the kids can say they didn’t realise this), Businesses have closed for good, others hope to downsize and start afresh, industries like tourism are likely to suffer up to three (03) years of no business (see: Post COVID-19 Travel Speculations), generally speaking, life might never be the same again.
However, assuming we make it out of this, there is a couple of places, and things we might consider adding onto our Bucketlist perhaps we now call it the Post COVID-19 Buckelist. Some of these are vanishing experiences that you might have little or no chance of seeing and doing in the near future, others are simply places and sites that are worth a visit.
Recommended Post COVID-19 Bucketlist Experiences
#10. Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Mt. Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain standing at 5,895 metres/19,341 ft above sea level. The mountain is also Kilimanjaro is the fourth most topographically prominent peak on Earth. The treks up this mountain range from six to so many days. (see: Kilimanjaro climbing routes). For first-timers, we recommend taking the Rongai Route – a well-catered route, fairly flat for a couple Of days, and has had wildlife sightings of buffalo, elephants and a couple of little antelopes – we like to call it the “safarious route”.
Interested in climbing Kilimanjaro? Read our article: climbing Kilimanjaro.
#9. Witness the Great Wildebeest Migration.
The Great Wildebeest Migration – the annual migration of giant herds of grazers across Northern Tanzania and Kenya is a truly spectacular event. Over two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles closely followed by predators move through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems in search of green pasture, in a regular pattern – there is nothing like the great migration.
Interested in the Migration experience? Read our article: The Great Migration
#8. Visit the Masai Mara.
The mara is an amazing safari destination that is popular with family safaris that cater to the entire family including kids. The wildlife abundant plains will have more than just enough for everyone to gaze at. The safari lodges are built to deliver sheer comfort and are complimented with good food and remarkable service including the guides that make every day out in the park amazing. If your budget allows, we recommend adding a hot air balloon experience the only way to learn to look at things differently. This trip to the mara might perhaps be one to remember for you and the family.
Interested in the Masai Mara? Learn more by reading about Masai mara.
#7. Trek Mountain Gorillas.
Mountain gorillas can only be seen in three (03) countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo. However only Uganda and Rwanda are considered safe places to go see the endangered mountain gorillas. We like to call this a vanishing experience – something you must do now. There are only 1,000 mountain gorillas currently surviving on earth, and in the wild (can’t be kept in a zoo). While a lot of effort is put into conserving these creatures, we can’t guarantee they will be here forever!
Read more about Gorilla Trekking.
#6. Track Chimpanzees.
Chimpanzees are amazing creatures. They have a DNA similarity with humans of up to 98.7% – we like to call them our lost cousins. Chimpanzees in Africa can be seen in quite a number of locations.
In Tanzania, chimpanzees can be seen at Gombe Stream National Park – where it all started with Dr Jane Goodalls arrival in 1960, and in the Mahale National Park.
In Kenya, the chimpanzee currently living at the sweetwater sanctuary are not native to Kenya but were moved amidst civil war break out in Burundi.
In Rwanda, Chimpanzees can be seen in the far-flung Nyungwe Forest National Park bordering with Burundi.
In Uganda, there are over six locations; Budongo Forest, Kibale Forest, Kyambura Gorge, and Kalinzu Forest with two (02) of these being sanctuaries; Uganda Wildlife Education Centre – UWEC and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary located on lake Victoria.
Whether it is Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya or Tanzania that you are visiting, endeavour to catch a glimpse of the chimpanzee. Learn more about Chimpanzees in Africa
#5. Catch a glimpse of the Shoebill Stork.
The shoebill in East Africa can be seen at just a handful of locations in Rwanda and Uganda. In Rwanda, the shoebill can only be found in Akagera National Park located in the eastern part of Rwanda. The shoebill in Akagera inhabits the shoreline of the popular Lake ihema – a known birding spot in Rwanda. (see: shoebill tracking in Rwanda)
In Uganda, the shoebill can be spotted in well over nine (09) locations including Uganda National parks like Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s southern sector of Ishasha. For travellers flying in through Entebbe, we recommend visiting Mabamba Swamp only 45 minutes from Entebbe mainland – it is considered the best place to see the shoebill stork in Uganda.
Interested in shoebill tracking? Read our article: Shoebill tracking in east Africa.
#4. Chase after the cheeky Golden monkeys.
Golden Monkeys are similarly as unique as mountain gorillas. These are only seen in Uganda, Rwanda & DR Congo. They are smaller than gorillas in size and live in the bamboo sections of the great Virunga Mountains. While golden Monkey trekking can be done in three (03) locations in Uganda, Rwanda and DR. Congo, Realm Africa Safaris™ Only operate Golden Monkey trekking safaris to Uganda & Rwanda, not DR Congo – curious why? (see: why DR. Congo is considered not Safe for Golden monkey trekking).
Interested in Golden Monkey? Read our article: Golden Monkey Trekking in Africa).
#3. Raft on the Nile.
The river Nile offers quite interesting Rafting experiences. However, with the ongoing continuous construction of Hydro- Electricity power dams, rafting is fast becoming a vanishing experience. We recommend doing this while you can – perhaps after COVID-19 is gone.
Interested in rafting on the Nile? Read our article: Rafting on the Nile
#2. Fish for Africas Largest Fish.
While we all love to eat fish, we are also careful not to eat them into extinction – the reason we encourage sport or recreational fishing with emphasis to “catch & release. Sportfishing for Africa’s largest fresh-water fish can be done in select places in east Africa. We like to do this in Uganda, particularly on the River Nile inside Murchison Falls National Park.
Interested in Sportfishing? Read about Sportfishing in Murchison falls National park.
#1. Visit the Batwa Pygmies.
Culture is something not to be missed on any trip to East Africa. Rich in culture, all four (04) destinations; Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania – in which Realm Africa Safaris™ operates tours & safaris, there is at least a cultural experience for each destination. However, one that catches our attention is the Batwa cultural experience in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable forest National park. The Batwa are a minority race that was expelled from the forest they once called home after it was gazetted as a national park – home to the mountain gorillas.
Interested in the Batwa Experience? Read about the Batwa experience.
Well, we have come to the End of the Top 10 Post COVID-19 Bucketlist recommendations for persons intending to travel after the COVID -19 pandemic is contained – soon – hopefully sooner!
