Plan Your First Uganda Safari

How to Plan Your First Uganda Safari?

To get the most rewards from Uganda’s plenty, unique, and hidden attractions, you have to do a little research for your trip. And safari vacations and travel services details the tips on how to plan your first Uganda safari.

A vacation in Uganda offers a meticulously organized adventure, standing out as an exceptional holiday experience. While possible to fly in, rent a car, and explore, this is rare for first-time visitors. They are hesitant due to the risk of navigating unmarked dirt roads, potentially patrolled by armed rangers, gorillas, and chimpanzees.

Use safari experts like safari vacations and travel services to help you select an itinerary and arrange transportation, meals, and lodge or hotel. Our driver/guide will be in time waiting for you when you land at the airport. And from here, you’ll be in the hands of professionals who will manage your entire trip and take you incredibly close to fearsome beasts. For a first-time safari in Uganda, you’ll be amazed at how flawless they will make your experience. Here are a few tips from local professionals you should consider.

On your first Uganda safari, plan to spend at least eight days visiting the primate destinations in southwestern Uganda. That should allow you to see chimps, wildlife, and gorillas in three different places and spend at least two nights each. Walk with chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, go on a game drive, take a boat safari, and spend incredible moments with mountain gorillas on this safari trip.

If you’re hoping to explore Uganda’s more extensive safari circuit and see the primates, plan to spend at least two weeks. Generally, you will spend long morning and evening hours walking in rainforests or driving on animal game trucks each day. So, two full days in each animal reserve guarantees that you’ll see a lot.

Uganda has tropical weather and this guarantees to encounter many big animals without interruptions from heavy downpours. Uganda’s rainforests guarantee chimps, gorillas, and other primate sightings during the dry seasons. Elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffalos, and lions can be seen in the three major parks. The Kidepo Valley in the extreme northeast has some of the best big cat sightings.

On average, a Uganda safari costs between USD 200 to well over $1,000 per person, encompassing essential expenses like government permits, accommodation, and transportation between attractions. Factors like the level of accommodation comfort, choice of destinations, and included additional activities actively influence the variation in pricing. The quote typically does not include international airfare.

The gorilla permit, which costs $700 or $1500, tips the scale on the safari cost. Most lodges will include meals with special dietary requirements on the room price of about $65 to more than $1,000 a night.

Your travel company pays the guides, drivers, and service providers. Expect to pay about $50 per day for optional activities and meals, and about $100 to $300 per day for a 4×4 vehicle with gas and a driver/guide. The amount you spend on tips is your discretion, although your trip manager and lodge operators will advise.

Which animals to see on safari?

Uganda is a unique safari destination offering a fantastic mix of savannah and forest animal sightings. Mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are highlights, but many smaller primates can also be seen.

Uganda offers the best primate experiences anywhere in the world. Twenty primates species jump roam rainforest canopies across western Uganda. Some of the specials you may bump into on your forest walking adventure include patas monkey, l’Hoest’s monkey, red-tailed monkey, golden monkey, red colobus, mangabey, or even the country-wide spread black-and-white colobus.

Uganda also offers great savannah wildlife viewing safaris. The Big Five (elephants, leopards, rhinos, and Cape buffalo) are present. Lion is reasonably common in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Kidepo Valley National Parks, where they prey on abundant antelope. Elephants, leopards, Cape buffalo

Accommodation and meals

From hostels to luxury forest lodges, you can find accommodations near prominent park entrances like Bwindi Impenetrable, Kibale Forest, and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. You’ll have plenty to choose from, but you would instead leave the lodge recommendations to your travel company, who will also make reservations on your behalf. You will find gorilla trekking accommodation a bit more expensive, falling between $200 to above $1000 for a decent night with meals.

You’ll find tented camps and lodges in the savannah parks, clusters of individual cabin-like single ensuite rooms, and one or two large buildings for shared spaces like dining. The lodge rooms are usually very decent, attached to private bathrooms with heated showers and flush toilets. All your meals will be at the lodge. Most lodges supply the usual toiletries, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

The local guides

Most Ugandan travel companies will include a local guide who will drive you between places, manage your safari trip and furnish you with relevant information during the journey. The guide is usually in-touch, via mobile phone, with the lodges and your trip planner, ensuring everything goes to plan and exceeds your expectations.

Elsewhere you will have guides supplied by Uganda Wildlife Authority or the Lodges. They’re highly trained professionals whose their areas and the best wildlife spotting areas. You may pay extra to have your own vehicle or share a vehicle with other guests. But this is usually taken care of in your all-inclusive trip price.

Plan Your First Uganda Safari with a licensed safari company

Even for a seasoned safari traveler, understanding Uganda’s travel logistics can be a challenging, especially when planning. Most people recommend using a licensed tour operator like safari vacations and travel services for your first Uganda safari.

Local safari operators know their destination. They live in it, have traveled the destination extensively, and plan safari trips for a living. They are a great source of information about the most important places to visit, where to stay, when you visit, hidden gems, and how to navigate the local logistics.

You can trust safari vacations and travel services to give you all the recommendations and help you plan the entire trip without worrying. They’ll consider your budget concerns and ensure they don’t hit above the belt.

Most first-time Uganda safari travelers prefer to work directly with a reputable, registered company. Additionally, when it comes to safari vacations and travel services, having a trustworthy partner is crucial. Furthermore, whoever assists in planning your inaugural Uganda safari trip will also handle your transportation between remote camps. In this regard, we ensure your seamless movement in specially customized 4×4 safari vehicles.

Planning your first Uganda safari is made easy with professionals like Safari Vacations and Travel Services. Simply email or text us at info@ugandarwanda-safaris.com. We’ll promptly provide you with a tailored quotation based on your interests, dates, and budget.

Safari vacations and travel services designs itineraries in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC with over 10 years of experience.  We are proud of our reputation for executing some of the most highly-rated vacation experiences. Our local consultants plan with you your preferred itinerary using expert ground knowledge. We take care of all the local logistics like permits, accommodation, and transport as well as managing your entire trip, from start to finish.

Contact Safari Vacations and Travel Services for inquiries, advice, permit bookings, and seamless logistics. Let us assist you in organizing transportation, accommodation, and hiking permits for a hassle-free safari experience. Reach out to Safari Vacations and Travel Services to ensure a smooth and convenient journey from the moment you arrive for your safari adventure.