Uganda Safari: Embark on an unforgettable Uganda Safari Tour

We bring a wealth of experience to your Uganda Safari Tours. Having worked extensively in the travel industry as a photographer, marketeer, and travel consultant, I've personally explored the places we visit in Uganda on our group trip.

My commitment to providing the best service is reflected in the relationships I've built over time and the careful selection of accommodations. For my Uganda Safaris, I work together with a local Ugandan Safari Tour Operator with many years of experience in the Safari World.

Together, we take care of the logistics and we are provided by an experienced English speaking driver/guide who knows Uganda on the back of its hand.

With my devotion to high-quality authentic and ethical travel experiences, I'm passionate about making your Uganda safari adventure extraordinary.

Absolutely! From booking hotels to coordinating transfers, arranging local guides, and organizing activities and excursions, our local tour operator in Uganda takes care of complete Uganda safari Packages.

Together, we can arrange both authentic Uganda Group Trips and Customized Uganda Itineraries. Ranging from a Luxury Uganda Safari to a Budget Uganda Safari, we tailor our services to meet your unique travel preferences, so don't hesitate to get in touch if you want a private safari trip or if you're looking for different dates than the ones scheduled.

We work with a preferred booking agent who can manage both international and domestic flights to and from Uganda on your behalf. This collaborative approach ensures a smooth Uganda travel experience.

You can also book the flights by yourself. Use for example Skyscanner to compare flights to Uganda.

The journey itself is not very difficult, and anyone with a normal condition can participate in this trip. The only activity that can be tough and intensive is the Gorilla Trekking. The trekking can last two hours, but sometimes also seven hours. It depends on where the gorillas are located. If you are unsure about your fitness, we recommend you to contact us beforehand.

Our (custom) Uganda Safari itineraries have a comprehensive trip price covering hotels/lodges, car, transfers, driver/guides, park fees, meals, water during safari days, activities, and Photographic tutoring by Kim Paffen.

While the Uganda trip price is inclusive the above elements, certain items are not inclusive of the safari trip price. Examples that are excluded are: tipping, visas, shopping, (alcoholic) drinks, travel insurance, washing clothes, and international flights.

Tipping is not typically included in the price for your safari in Uganda. In Uganda, tipping is not mandatory but customary. Tips are given as a gesture of gratitude, and the amount given will depend on your satisfaction. As many first-time visitors find it challenging to gauge how much to give, here are some Uganda tipping guidelines:

Safari Guide: $25 or more per day, per group.
Porters (carrying luggage at lodges/hotels): $1 - $2 per porter.
It is customary to give the tip at the end of the trip if you have the same guide for a few days. Tips can also be given in Ugandan Shillings.

It depends if you prefer a custom-made private itinerary or if you opt for one of our scheduled Small Group Photo Safaris in Uganda, so please consider factors like flight costs, preferred (mid-range or semi-luxury) accommodations, and additional expenses for meals, tips, and shopping.
Be prepared to budget between 6000 and 7000 USD for a 18-day photo safari trip in Uganda accompanied by a driver/guide and photographic guide. That budget is including flight, all meals, mid-range to semi-luxury accommodations, water in the car, park fees and all cultural activities and game drives.

1 - We require a non-refundable USD 2250 deposit to reserve your seat on our Uganda safaris and book the Gorilla (800USD) and Chimp permits (250USD) to be sure of a spot on the trekking as they sell out quickly. Therefore, permits can only be booked and secured by having them paid in advance.
2 - Full payment (100%) due 60 days before trip departure to have a confirmed trip.
3 - Bookings made within 60 days before start of trip, must be paid in full (100%) to have a confirmed trip.
4 - You can either pay the amount in full to reduce transfer/currency costs or pay in 2 installments. The final installment has to be paid for, no later than 60 days prior to the departure date.

We prefer electronic bank transfers, more information is provided when you decide to make a booking.

CANCELLATION POLICY (non-negotiable):
- 2250 USD deposit is non-refundable because this amount is needed to secure your Gorilla & Chimp permit and make lodge reservations. We travel in a group so reservations are based on a set number of people.
- If you cancel more than 90 days before the start of the trip, the whole trip price (minus the non-refundable deposit) will be refunded. Note, that If I have a new group trip planned, we can offer to transfer the non-refundable deposit to the next group trip.
- If you cancel between 90 - 31 days before the start of the trip, 50% of the total payment (minus non-refundable deposit) will be refunded
- If you cancel 30 days or less before the start of the trip, the amount is 100% non-refundable

Emergencies, although rare, can happen! Please book travel insurance (required for this trip) to keep you protected in case of unexpected emergencies. See the next FAQ about travel insurance.

Secure a travel insurance (mandatory) before arriving in Uganda to participate in travel activities.

For this trip, it's mandatory to have a travel insurance to cover emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage, theft or loss of personal baggage, money, cancellation, emergency travel and accommodation, lost baggage and any other cover the clients deems fit.
Other than compulsory insurance, the decision of which insurance cover he/she obtains is solely the responsibility of the client. The client acknowledges that without such travel insurance, client will be responsible for all costs arising from any cancellation, re-routing or rescheduling of your trip or any emergency (medical or other kind) that may arise during your travels.

You (client) agree that in the event of you failing to purchase adequate insurance cover, you will not hold us responsible for any harm or loss that you may suffer.

Health: The client accepts that to participate in the tour requires a measure of physical fitness and health and it is the client’s obligation to ensure that he/she is medically fit to embark on the tour.

If you don't have a Travel Medical Insurance yet, I highly recommend Safety Wing

For vaccinations to travel to Uganda, you can visit a travel health clinic, as requirements vary by country.

Recommended vaccinations for travel to Uganda include Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, and DTP. Other diseases present in Uganda include Typhoid Fever, Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, Rabies, and Meningitis. Consult with a knowledgeable travel medicine doctor to determine if vaccination is advisable for you. Having the "Cholera not indicated" stamp in your vaccination booklet can prevent issues at border posts.

Yes, Malaria is a risk throughout Uganda. There is no vaccination against malaria. We recommend the use of anti-malarial tablets. You can discuss this with a travel medicine doctor.

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by malaria parasites transmitted through mosquito bites. The parasites first multiply in the liver and then in red blood cells. Symptoms include cold shivers followed by fever, often preceded by flu-like symptoms.

To protect yourself from mosquito bites, bring along insect repellent containing DEET and cover your body well in the evenings. Use mosquito nets (if you wish), and bring your antimalarials. Long pants and sleeves during sunset hours will also help to avoid mosquito bites. Consult a travel clinic for personal advice regarding your travel plans.

For going on safari in Uganda, your passport must be valid for at least six months upon departing your country and possess a minimum of four blank visa pages, equating to two facing blank visa pages.

Check the Uganda embassy or consulate requirements. All foreign nationals require a Uganda Visa. Apply for your Uganda eVisa through the official Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration. This is the only authentic Visa Application Portal for Uganda visas and it costs $50. It's very quick and simple to apply for a Uganda visa online. Initiate this process at least two weeks before departure as it typically takes approximately 10 days to complete.

This is what you need: a passport copy, a recent passport-size photo, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate. You also have the possibility to apply for an East-Africa Tourist Visa (for example if you also travel to Kenya and Rwanda) or a multiple-entry visa.

You can still get a Uganda visa on arrival, but that takes time and NOT the preferred way to get your visa for Uganda. I highly recommend applying for your Uganda visa online.

Pack essentials include valid passport, visa, air tickets, expense money, inoculations, and clothing suitable for safaris. Consider traveling light with soft luggage. You should also bring a day pack to carry essentials whilst out on safari in Uganda.

Bring a valid passport; be sure to check the expiry date. Also pack a photocopy of the photo page and the entry stamp page of your passport as an additional piece of identification. Please store these photo copies in a different place to your travel documents. If your passport is in a hotel safe, or if you were to lose your passport this precaution would prove invaluable.

Here's a link to a safari packing list

Uganda offers rich photo opportunities. Carry enough memory cards, and batteries. A 200 mm (or longer) telephoto lens is very useful for wildlife photography on safari but if you're not into safari photography that much it is not a must. A wide angle lens (f/e 16-35mm) is great for photographing Uganda's beautiful landscapes.

During the complete Uganda safari and on game drives, you will travel in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, a safari jeep (Toyota Landcruiser), equipped with a specially made panoramic roof, allowing you to photograph or film while standing inside the vehicle. Our safari vehicles have comfortable seats, all positioned by a window so you can also spot animals while seated. You will be accompanied by a highly experienced guide and photographic tour leader.

The local currency in Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling, however, US Dollars are widely accepted. It is advisable to carry cash in US Dollars, but please note: only bills from 2003 onwards are accepted; those dated before 2003 are unfortunately not. Credit card payments are accepted in some accommodations, but substantial surcharges apply.

You can withdraw money with your debit card in Uganda. However, this is only possible in the bigger cities. During the safari, there are few places where we get to an ATM. Please ensure you have enough US Dollars in cash on hand during these days.

Is Uganda Safe? Yes, it is safe to travel Uganda and the country has low crime rates. Avoid travel by road outside major towns at night (except between Kampala and Entebbe Airport). It’s better to avoid the South Sudan border region and Karamoja in the very north, but it’s definitely safe to travel to Kidepo Valley National Park, close to the border with South Sudan. If you do want to travel to these areas, consider hiring a reputable local guide. I've been traveling in Uganda a few times over the years and I felt safe at all times.

There are 41 living languages in Uganda, but the country has only three official languages: Luganda, Swahili, and English. English has been Uganda’s official language since its independence in 1962. Luganda is the most widely spoken indigenous language and the second language alongside English. Swahili is more symbolic than functional; it's an African lingua franca and shares with English the characteristics of being the most influential trans-ethnic language in East Africa.

We partner with Chigo Tours and giving back is at the heart of what they do. Chigo creates a difference in local people's lives. So, how do we give back?

1. Educational support: for every booking, we donate $10 to buy a computer for girls in rural primary schools in Uganda to learn basic computer skills and get inspired. These computers are maintained by Click Uganda, a local an organization that engages volunteer travellers to teach basic computer skills in rural primary schools.

2. Welfare support: for every booking, we give a $5 donation to support orphaned children with food and basic sanitary materials for girls at Ruhija Community Orphanage School, near Bwindi.

3. By including special visits, like the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, we give back to the conservation of the endangered white rhino in Uganda. And by f/e carrying out a boat tour in Mabamba Swamp with a local fisherman, we contribute to this fishing community that indirectly conserves the Shoebill.

4. It’s our policy to encourage clients to pay extra $15 directly to local porters. that live near the park. They help us to carry backpacks or give a push/pull at sections which appear difficult to manoeuvre along the trekking trail. We encourage travelers to contribute tips to rangers who are guiding clients during the trek. Tips motivate them as they take care of primates, including gorillas and chimpanzees. Note: the payment to porters will keep them away from carrying out activities in the forests that would otherwise have a negative impact on the environment and these primates.

5. The Tour has short breaks in the program to visit local establishments, projects & innovations with opportunities to learn traditional basket weaving, joining a cooking class, and directly buying products made by f/e women.

6. We work with Lodges that employ staff from local community, have an organic approach to meals, use locally sourced products and organically grown vegetables from the community.

You can find more information about traveling in Uganda in our comprehensive  Uganda Travel Guide covering the best things to do in Uganda, the best time to travel to Uganda, things to know before you go and off-the-beaten-path explorations in the Pearl of Africa.