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Uganda Luxury Safaris & Gorilla Tours

4.4/5  –  396 Uganda Reviews

Uganda has developed into a world-class safari destination. Its tourism industry is now ready for a clientele looking for luxury accommodations, a high level of service, good food and polished operations. The main attraction is mountain gorilla trekking, a must-do bucket-list wildlife encounter that is only otherwise available in Rwanda. And while gorillas first put Uganda on the travel map, the country has a lot more to offer. This includes superb chimp trekking, bird watching and monkey viewing, as well as classic savannah safaris in search of the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino).

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6 Questions About Uganda Luxury Safaris

1. Why should I choose Uganda for a luxury trip?
2. What is included in a Uganda luxury safari?
3. Are gorillas the highlight of a Uganda luxury trip?
4. Can you describe a typical day on a Uganda luxury safari?
5. What type of accommodations can I expect?
6. How much will this safari cost?
 
 

6 Questions About Uganda Luxury Safaris

Answered by Ariadne van Zandbergen

Why should I choose Uganda for a luxury trip?

“An up-and-coming destination, Uganda has a lot to offer. Top-end luxury tourism is still in its early stages, but all of its main destinations have at least a couple of lodges that cater to the luxury market. Scheduled flights now connect the most popular destinations. And accessible charter flights are also opening up the country to people looking for a luxury safari. Gorilla trekking has been on many East African safari itineraries for a long time. However, for the luxury market it is still mostly done as an add-on to a Kenya or Tanzania safari. Uganda is becoming more equipped to offer luxury safaris though, and travelers can now consider spending their safari in Uganda only.”

1

What is included in a Uganda luxury safari?

“Uganda is following the trend of all-inclusive luxury safari packages. Many of the top lodges offer stays inclusive of all meals, activities, drinks and laundry. Some lodges even include a free massage to relax you after a day out in the forest or on the bumpy park roads. Check in advance for details of what is and isn’t included, to avoid any unexpected costs while on the road. Tips are never included in the package, and they can add up. There are many people involved in making your luxury safari memorable. As well as the staff at the lodges (this often includes a private butler and housekeeper) and your driver and guide, there will be porters, park guides and trackers to tip as well. Your tour operator can advise you on the recommended amounts, but a guideline for the guides is US$10 to US$15 per person per day.”

2

Are gorillas the highlight of a Uganda luxury trip?

“For most people, gorilla trekking is the highlight of their Uganda safari. It is an activity not to be missed and the main reason most travelers come to Uganda. Gorilla trekking has received a lot of publicity in recent years and it is one of the highlights of African travel. Most budget travelers and even backpackers will fork out a relatively high price for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. You might even want to consider doing two treks as there are many different gorilla groups in Uganda, and each visit tends to be different. The composition of all the groups is different as well. Some groups have more than one silverback and some have a lot of babies. The two national parks in Uganda that offer gorilla trekking have a very different feel. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a thickly vegetated rainforest. But the gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are mostly found in the bamboo zone on the Virunga Mountain slopes.”

3

Can you describe a typical day on a Uganda luxury safari?

“The variety of habitats in Uganda makes for a balanced safari, with game drives, boat trips and forest hikes. There isn’t really a typical day, as it depends on the activities planned. A day on safari in one of the savannah reserves usually starts with a wake-up call before sunrise. After a steaming mug of coffee, you’ll be on your way to look for the big cats and other predators. Mid-morning, you might come back to the lodge for brunch. You’ll get some time to rest during the midday heat, taking advantage of your luxurious surrounds. Then you’ll go out again wildlife viewing on an afternoon drive, or maybe a boat trip. Other days, you might take a day trip into the park to reach interesting wildlife 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 depart for the trekking after breakfast and return to your lodge or camp for a late lunch. After a morning spent clambering around slippery forest slopes, leisure is the priority in the afternoon.”

4

What type of accommodations can I expect?

“There is a variety of luxury accommodations available in Uganda. Some of the older lodges are relatively big hotels with most modern conveniences, such as 24-hour electricity, wifi throughout the lodge, air-conditioning, and hair dryers in the rooms. The current trend, however, is more toward small, exclusive rustic accommodations that typically feature about 8 to 10 tastefully designed units. There are a lot of different designs out there, with many favoring the use of canvas and thatch. This is either in the form of a traditional standing safari tent under a thatched roof, or canvas on wooden frames (something between a room and a tent). The emphasis is on exclusivity and service, and the style of the architecture and decor is usually in keeping with the environment. You might be assigned a private butler and housekeeper, who will take care of all your needs. This includes bringing you coffee for those early morning wake-up calls and cleaning your shoes after gorilla trekking. To keep the carbon footprint low, many of these lodges work on solar power and only have electricity at certain times of the day. Wifi might only be available in the communal lounge and hot ‘bush showers’ may have to be on request.”

5

How much will this safari cost?

“For a luxury safari in Uganda, you should budget between US$600 and US$1,000 per person per day. This is just an estimate because most Uganda luxury tours are tailor-made and a lot of variables are involved, making it difficult to put an actual figure on the final price. Some parks and lodges in Uganda are very remote and your safari will probably be a mix of driving and fly-in. The parks don’t lend themselves to mass tourism, and while this is part of the appeal, it bumps up the cost of a luxury safari. There are some hidden costs on a luxury safari, such as tips for rangers and guides and fees for optional activities. Commonly included are accommodations, park fees, transport, a tour guide and three meals per day. Depending on your tour package, drinks could also be included. Be aware that tips for the guides add up. A general guideline is US$10 to US$15 per person per day. On a luxury safari some people tip even more.”

6

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 396 Reviews
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...

Full Review

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

Markus Janser  –  
Switzerland CH
Reviewed: Nov 20, 2024
What a nice surprise
5/5

We (Father with two teenagers) headed of to a nine day private Safari in Uganda to see the Gorillas. And we did not get disappointed, we spent an hour with them, an amazing experience. However, we where surprised and charmed by the...

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Jorge Camacho  –  
Spain ES
Reviewed: Nov 5, 2024
Awesome experience
5/5

Our recent trip to Uganda could not have met our expectations more. The country has well deserved the title of ‘pearl of Africa’, the country is impressive, the landscapes are spectacular and having an endangered wonder like the gorilla...

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Leah  –  
Canada CA
Reviewed: Oct 23, 2024
A beautiful country with exceptional service industry and private wildlife encounters
5/5

We travelled through Uganda and Tanzania over three weeks. The time we spent in Uganda was incredible. The country is a lot quieter to travel through, which makes the game drives feel intimate when you have the wildlife all to yourself...

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Val  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Oct 12, 2024
A new adventure every day
5/5

We toured Uganda for 17 days mid range accommodation. We took many game drives, launch trip on Kazinga Channel, gorillas and Chimpanzee trekking, plus visted Lake Bunyonyi and local villages. We had the most amazing holiday with many...

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All 396 Uganda Reviews