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Uganda Shared Group Tours

4.4/5  –  392 Uganda Reviews

Uganda is an excellent destination for a group safari. Its popular western safari circuit provides a thrilling introduction to Africa’s varied habitats and animals. Here you can hike through tangled rainforests in search of gorillas and chimpanzees, watch plains dwellers such as elephant, buffalo and the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, and enjoy boat safaris on some of Africa’s most wildlife-rich rivers and channels. Uganda offers group safaris suited to all interests. These range from 3-day gorilla trekking trips to relaxed 2-week itineraries that cherry-pick the finest national parks, as well as more specialized tours that focus on photography or seeking out some of the country’s 1,080 bird species.

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6 Questions About Uganda Shared Group Tours

 
 

6 Questions About Uganda Shared Group Tours

Answered by Philip Briggs

What are the pros and cons of a group trip in Uganda?

“For single travelers and couples, joining a Uganda group safari will generally be cheaper than booking a private tour. The main reason for this is that road transport costs work out to be much cheaper when split between several people. For solo travelers willing to share accommodations with another group member, this is another potential saving because single supplements often add 50% to 75% to the ‘per person’ room price. That said, the overall saving on Uganda group packages might not be as much as you expect, because shared accommodations, meals, park fees and most activity charges (including a costly gorilla trekking permit) will be the same either way. Joining a group safari adds an element of sociability that might be particularly welcome to solo travelers or gregarious couples. This can pan out both ways. If some group members rub each other up the wrong way, there is a risk of personal politics dominating your trip. But if everybody gets on, it can greatly enhance your holiday. The likelihood of personality clashes developing into a problem increases with the duration of the safari. It’s unlikely to be an issue over 3 or 4 days, but it could become one over 2 weeks. Another possible negative of a group safari is that there tends to be less flexibility around travel dates. Even if the departure isn’t fixed, it will need to be suitable to all group members.”

1

Are there specialized group safaris for bird-watchers and photographers?

“Yes, there are, and dedicated group safaris are particularly worth looking at for travelers with these special interests. This is partly because the itinerary of a specialized safari will be customized for that interest group. Photographic safaris, for instance, are likely to take extra care to be out in the best light, and to line up vehicles for the best angle. Bird-watching tours tend to focus on birding hot spots, to be out and about when the birds are most active, and to engage local guides with specialist bird knowledge. What’s more, many specialized group packages are led by an acknowledged expert, such as a professional ornithologist or published photographer. It is worth noting that serious photographers and bird-watchers (as well as others with special interests) may find it frustrating to join a group safari that isn’t dedicated to that interest group. If no suitable specialist group tour is available, they would be better to arrange a private safari.”

2

What types of vehicles can I expect on a Uganda group safari?

“Most group safaris in Uganda use a stretch Land Cruiser or a similarly rugged high-clearance 4x4 to travel between destinations as well as for game drives. These vehicles typically take a maximum of seven passengers and are reasonably comfortable, but they lack the smoother suspension and speed of a standard car. It is normal for safari vehicles in Uganda to have pop-up roofs, which is great for watching and photographing distant wildlife.”

3

What is the maximum group size recommended for a safari?

“If you’re traveling in a single stretch vehicle, the maximum group size will be seven people (one in the front and three rows of two in the back). This can be a bit squashed, especially as the vehicles have limited luggage space. When there is a full quota of passengers, bags will probably need to be carried on a roof rack when driving between destinations. For this reason, a more comfortable group size would be four or five people. Larger groups are often split between two or more vehicles on specialist group tours led by professional photographers or ornithologists.”

4

Is there a minimum age for a shared trip in Uganda?

“There’s no blanket minimum age for group safaris in Uganda, but many operators will impose an age limit on clients. In the case of tours that include gorilla and chimp trekking, this might be influenced by the minimum age limit of 15 years old for gorilla trekking and 12 years old for chimp trekking. In other instances, it might be because certain lodges and camps on the itinerary have a minimum age restriction, which could be anything from 4 to 12 years old. Even if the operator does not specify an age limit, parents with young children (especially those prone to tantrums or crying) might want to consider whether it is reasonable to impose this on other group members.”

5

How much do Uganda group safari packages cost?

“Typically, you would be looking at around US$300 to US$500 per person per day for a Uganda group safari. But this will depend on many factors including group size, duration, itinerary, accommodations and activities. For instance, a budget camping safari that does not include gorilla trekking (which costs US$800 per person) might be much cheaper. By contrast, packages that use luxury lodges and/or domestic flights, or that employ a specialist tour leader, could be a lot more expensive. Whatever you pay, the rate should normally include all costs related to accommodations, meals, transport, activities and national park visits, but usually excludes drinks.”

6

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 392 Reviews
Expert
Mark Eveleigh  –  
United Kingdom UK

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

Fantastic Wildlife and Some of the Friendliest People in Africa Make Uganda Unbeatable
5/5

I spent a month travelling around Uganda with a self-drive, expedition-prepared Landcruiser and visited almost every national park in the country. Uganda was a revelation! I had not expected such a richness of wildlife nor such great...

Full Review

Expert
Ariadne van Zandbergen  –  
South Africa ZA

Ariadne is a renowned African wildlife photographer whose work is featured in many well-known guidebooks and magazines.

Gorilla Tracking in Uganda
4/5

Uganda’s biggest attraction is mountain gorilla tracking. Seeing these gentle giants has been one of my best wildlife experiences ever. With Congo being unstable, Rwanda is the only other country where this is offered. Aside from...

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Joe Breedon  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Sep 28, 2024
Uganda is an unrivaled destination to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants,&hippopotamus's.
5/5

The people of Uganda were amazingly hospitable. Dav Safaris provided an excellent 7-Day safari to several major National Parks where we saw a wide variety of large animals and birds. The highlight for us was trekking mountain gorillas in...

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Balint  –  
Hungary HU
Reviewed: Aug 27, 2024
Exceptional beauty and poverty.
4/5

I visited the western half of Uganda that is full of green and wonderful. Murchison and Queen Elizabeth National Parks provide the opportunity to meet lots of wild species, and In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest you can visit gorillas. The...

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Schellenberg Andrin  –  
Switzerland CH
Reviewed: Aug 18, 2024
It's an excellent country to see the whole range of animals including primates
5/5

Our highlight was definitely the gorilla trecking. It was amazing to so those huge primates from very close and oberve them eating, playing and commuinicating. It was amazing how clean all the accomodations were on the whole trip. People...

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Natalie  –  
Hong Kong HK
Reviewed: Aug 6, 2024
Uganda is worth visiting
5/5

My friends and I spent 12 days in Uganda in July. This was our first time to travel to the country. It is worth visiting. The people are polite and friendly. The sceneries are beautiful. There are also full of wild lives. The most...

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