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Uganda Budget Safaris & Gorilla Tours

4.4/5  –  440 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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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

4.4/5 440 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...

Full Review

Brian Marsh  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Oct 8, 2025
Put this on your bucket list, WOW.
5/5

Just wow. We loved this entire country and their people, what lovely, helpful, humble people. We felt safe everywhere we went (walking everywhere) and enjoyed everything from their sit down restaurants to the local food, rolex. There were...

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Jacqui Fairbrass  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Sep 26, 2025
Vibrant, friendly, beautiful country
5/5

A superb mini safari with Gatsio Safaris to Murchison Falls which included a Nile Cruise and visit to the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.
Not very crowded and a wonderful array of wildlife in the park. Beautiful Lodge at Pakuba Safari Lodge

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Cathy Broderick  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Sep 22, 2025
Amazing opportunity to see gorillas in their natural habitat
5/5

This was an amazing experience. From Murchison Falls, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, crossing the equator twice, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, to Lake Mburo, this...

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Chris  –  
Canada CA
Reviewed: Sep 22, 2025
Stunning!
5/5

Our safari included the chimpanzee trek in the Kibale National Forest, the savannahs in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, and the gorilla trek in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We were so fortunate to...

Full Review

All 440 Uganda Reviews