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Uganda Budget Safaris & Gorilla Tours

4.4/5  –  404 Uganda Reviews

Uganda offers a great range of budget safari tours. It is increasingly being recognized as one of Africa’s most underrated but rewarding wildlife destinations. Tracking mountain gorillas is a must-do bucket-list wildlife encounter, and Uganda is one of only three countries home to these charismatic apes (the other two being Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo). And while mountain gorillas have put Uganda on the travel map, it also offers the chance to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) in some of Africa’s most uncrowded savannah reserves.

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1-20 of 436 cheap gorilla trekking tours & safaris to Uganda
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5 Questions About Uganda Budget Safaris

1. Why should I choose Uganda for a budget trip?
2. What is included in a Uganda budget safari?
3. Can you describe a typical day on a Uganda budget trip?
4. What type of accommodations can I expect?
5. What are the typical costs of a Uganda budget safari?
 
 

5 Questions About Uganda Budget Safaris

Answered by Ariadne van Zandbergen

Why should I choose Uganda for a budget trip?

“Uganda is less expensive and offers more variety than Kenya and Tanzania, which are the more obvious choices for a safari in East Africa. Uganda is a brilliant mix of savannah and forest. The country is also relatively compact, making a driving safari more attractive and saving on expensive domestic flights. Reputable tour operators offer comfortable camping safaris and there are plenty of mid-range hotels to choose from. Self-drive safaris have become an increasingly popular holiday option as well, with specialized companies offering this type of adventure tour. Travelers to Uganda usually want to go mountain gorilla trekking, and this is quite an expensive activity. If you can afford it, the one-off gorilla permit expense of US$800 is more than worth it. And it’s pretty much half the price of gorilla trekking in neighboring Rwanda.”

1

What is included in a Uganda budget safari?

“The inclusions in a budget safari in Uganda can vary according to the package. Make sure what is and isn’t included in your budget safari package is clear and in writing. Extras can add up quickly and may even cause unexpected tensions with your tour operator on the ground. Check, for example, if airport transfers are included. Breakfast is usually included, but dinner and lunch might not be. Don’t forget to budget for drinks. Laundry, while sometimes included in top-end safaris, is usually not included on a budget safari. Whatever level of safari you’re on, tips are always expected (and never included).”

2

Can you describe a typical day on a Uganda budget trip?

“Most itineraries for a Uganda budget safari will cover a drive-around circuit of Uganda’s top attractions. A typical day on safari in one of the savannah reserves usually starts with a wake-up call before sunrise. After a quick cup of coffee, you’ll be on your way to look for predator action. Mid-morning, you might come back to the lodge or campsite for brunch. You’ll get some time to rest during the midday heat. Then you’ll go out again wildlife viewing on an afternoon drive, or maybe a boat trip. Other days, you might take a packed lunch with you and spend a full day out. This is so you can reach areas farther away from your base. Days in the forest, where chimpanzee and gorilla trekking are the main activities, will be different. You will usually leave for the trek after a hearty breakfast and come back to your base for a late lunch. After a morning clambering around slippery forest slopes, the afternoon is usually spent at leisure. As time is usually limited to a safari of 5 to 14 days, the schedule tends to be tight and demanding. There will be days spent viewing wildlife in the parks and other days driving between the parks. The roads can get rough, and driving times can mean long hours in the vehicle. Usually there’s enough of interest between the parks to keep you occupied.”

3

What type of accommodations can I expect?

“Uganda has matured as a tourist destination in recent years. As tourist figures have risen, new accommodations have opened up in and around all the parks. There are now options available for most budgets. Uganda is slightly behind some other safari destinations in terms of ultra-luxury facilities, but it has a nice niche in the mid-range category. Budget and mid-range accommodations are usually located outside the parks, within a half-hour drive to the gates. Budget accommodations used to be slightly shabby in Uganda, but some new neat, no-frills places have sprung up in recent years. The traditional safari camp style has become more popular and there is a tendency toward cottages and permanent safari tents. Permanent safari tents are, in effect, a canvas room with proper beds and en suite facilities. Real camping is usually the cheapest option and some companies offer a very comfortable setup. The campsites are usually inside the parks, well located for wildlife viewing and often in stunning locations.”

4

What are the typical costs of a Uganda budget safari?

“You should budget on a starting price of US$300 per person per day. This price obviously depends on a lot of factors and that makes it difficult to put an accurate figure on the cost of a Uganda budget safari. While a safari is usually not cheap, opting for camping or budget accommodations will require a much lower budget when compared to using established mid-range and luxury accommodations. The season when you travel makes a difference too, as low- or high-season rates may apply. The parks don’t lend themselves to mass tourism, which is part of the appeal. That does mean that costs tend to be high, even on a cheap Uganda safari. Most safaris in East Africa are tailor-made and transport is usually in sturdy 4x4 vehicles with pop-up roofs to facilitate wildlife viewing. There are some hidden costs on a safari, such as tips for rangers and guides, fees for optional activities and drinks. On most safaris the park fees, accommodations, transport, tour guide and all meals are included. Confirm with your tour operator what is included and what is not. Tips for your guide can add up. If the guide did a good job, a tip of around US$10 to US$15 per person per day will be expected.”

5

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 404 Reviews
Expert
Lizzie Williams  –  
South Africa ZA

Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Mountain Gorillas, Chimps and Birds in Lush, Well-Watered and Incredibly Green Hills and Valleys
4/5

Most of the superlative descriptions you read about Uganda are totally true: it really is a place of shimmering lakes, lofty mountains and mysterious forests. Uganda is best known as the place to see mountain gorillas, and no safari to the...

Full Review

Expert
Sue Watt  –  
United Kingdom UK

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

Great Apes, Great Landscapes, Great Adventures
4/5

Most people understandably come to Uganda for its gorillas. Almost half of the world’s population of around 1,060 mountain gorillas lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla national parks, and spending that precious...

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Astrid EM  –  
South Africa ZA
Reviewed: Jan 20, 2025
A quick visit with amazing experiences to friendly, beautiful Uganda
4/5

Only having 3 days to see as much as possible, I opted for 1 day of relaxing on the shore of Lake Victoria where I enjoyed the view, discovered a multitude of birds (I am a birder) and met very friendly people. The next day I puttered along...

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Henrik  –  
Germany DE
Reviewed: Jan 11, 2025
It's definitely worth a visit
5/5

Great tour filled with unforgetable moments. Doing the 3 day gorilla trekking means that you will spend a lot of time in a car getting to and back from Bwindi National Park (road conditions in Uganda are unpredictable), but both the gorilla...

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Abhi Varshney  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Jan 1, 2025
Uganda delivered amazing wildlife, unmatched friendliness and beautiful scenery.
5/5

Tubale Safaris, and Arthur in particular, were simply amazing. Nothing was too much trouble for Arthur. We felt welcome and safe the entire trip. The wildlife that we saw was beyond our wildest expectations - we saw the big 5, plus so...

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Malte Lukas  –  
Germany DE
Reviewed: Dec 27, 2024
The friendliest and colourful wildlife I have ever seen!
5/5

I went on safari with my girlfriend in Uganda in December. It was definitely the best way to explore the animals and the landscape there. We were able to see much more and much closer to the wildlife than we expected. The accommodation met...

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All 404 Uganda Reviews