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Best Uganda Safaris And Tours

Explore The Pearl of Africa

Our best Uganda safaris range from solo safaris to group tours with your family and friends to even personally customized best Uganda safaris and tours.

Through our Uganda safaris, every traveler will experience a simple and efficient manner of booking amazing Uganda gorilla safaris and tours, the best Uganda wildlife safaris and highly affordable Uganda tours accompanied with the finest service, comfort, and sense of safety.

This selection of the best Uganda safari and tour packages include budget, mid-range and luxury options but if you can’t find what you’ are looking for, one of our Uganda Safari Experts will happily tailor-make a a Uganda trip to suit your needs, interests and budget

15 Top Tourist Attractions and Places to Visit on Uganda safaris

Popular Uganda Safaris and Tours

Why Visit Uganda?

Uganda safaris

So, why go for a Uganda safari? Uganda may not be a famous safari destination as Kenya or Tanzania but it is certainly one of Africa’s best safari destinations.

Villages are filled with friendly locals. Roads are lined with mango, banana, and jackfruit trees. Rolling hills are home to working coffee and tea plantations.

Rivers and lakes are flanked by wetlands and thickets. This is the emerald Eden of Africa, where greenery is contrasted with red fertile soil and dense forest jungles are a home to wild mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and monkeys.

In his 1908 book titled My African Journey, Sir Winston Churchill referred to Uganda as the ‘Pearl of Africa’, to convey the beauty, variety, and natural wealth of the land. Today, the name is as valid as ever, as Uganda has grown into one of Africa’s most wonderful safari countries.

Uganda is one of only three countries in the world where it is possible to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, and has the highest number of them.

Recommended Uganda Tours By Experts

Best Uganda Safaris Destinations

what to pack for Uganda Safaris?

The best Uganda safaris destinations are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kibale Forest, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, and Kidepo Parks. Our Uganda safaris and tours take you to these destinations and other amazing Uganda safari places to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, the Big Five, giraffes and other incredible Uganda wildlife.

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Of the top Uganda safari destinations, the mountainous, forested Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a Natural World Heritage Site.

With nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest offers possibly Africa’s best gorilla trekking experience in ancient rainforest jungle with some of Africa’s highest levels of biodiversity and exceptional forest birdwatching opportunities.

2. Kibale National Park

Another great Uganda safaris park is Kibale National Park – the home of chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Kibale is famous for its primate diversity that vast forest including Blue, Red-tailed, and Black-and-white colobus monkeys.

But for most visitors, Kibale’s main attraction is the population of over 1500 wild chimpanzees. Visiting our closest relative in Kibale is a truly thrilling bucket-list experience.

3. Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is most alluring safari destination for game viewing Uganda safaris. Other top attractions include the world’s strongest waterfall for which the park is named and the wildly tropical stretch of River Nile that divides the park in 2 sections as it flows toward Lake Albert.

4. Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most popular destination for Uganda safaris. This is partly due to its closeness to the gorilla trekking forests of the southwest as well as its status as one of most bio-diverse protected areas in East Africa.

The park is home to four of the Big 5 animals and the bird checklist of over 600 species is the most of any national park in East Africa.

5. Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is one of the most surprising Uganda safaris parks. Often visited on short Uganda safaris or dropped into a Uganda safaris itinerary to break the long drive from the gorilla trekking forests of the southwest, it has a tendency to over-deliver.

Uganda National Parks Table

Uganda has a total of 10 National Parks and 12 Wildlife Reserves that are managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority. The table below shows all 10 National Parks of Uganda, their location and key attractions.

National ParkLocationKey Uganda Safari Attractions
Bwindi Southwestern UgandaGorillas, Forest birds
Mgahinga Southwestern UgandaGorillas, Golden Monkeys, Volcano hiking
Queen ElizabethSouthwestern UgandaBig Game, 612 bird species
Murchison FallsNorthwestern UgandaMurchison Falls, Big Game, Waterbirds
Kibale ForestWestern UgandaChimps, Monkeys, Forest birds
Kidepo ValleyNortheastern UgandaBig Game, predators, scenery, birds
Lake MburoWestern UgandaMany antelopes zebras, birds
SemulikiWestern UgandaHot springs, Rift valley, forest birds
Rwenzori Western UgandaHiking, Snow, Afro-montane plants
Mount ElgonEastern UgandaHiking, Forest birds

Best Places To Stay On Safari In Uganda

Most Uganda safaris parks and reserves offer a good variety of accommodation options. Our selection of Uganda safari accommodation ranges from affordable tented camps to luxurious lodges. If you need help, just contact us for advice on choosing the right accommodation for your requirements.

Uganda safaris tours

Best Lodges in Bwindi

Uganda Safari Lodges in Kibale National Park

  • Kibale Forest Camp
  • Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
  • Mountains of the Moon Hotel
  • Crater Safari Lodge
  • Kyaninga Lodge
  • Ndali Lodge
  • Primate Lodge
  • Isunga Lodge

Lodges In Queen Elizabeth National Park

  • Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Ishasha Wilderness Camp
  • Kyambura Gorge Lodge
  • Katara Lodge
  • Elephant Plains Camp
  • Kikorongo Safari Lodge
  • Park View Safari Lodge
  • Kasenyi Safari Camp
  • Bush Lodge
  • Enganzi Game Lodge
  • Pumba Safari Cottages

Safari Lodges in Murchison Falls National Park

  • Nile Safari Lodge
  • Paraa Safari Lodge
  • Murchison River Lodge
  • Pakuba Safari Lodge

Lake Mburo National Park Lodges

Best Hotels in Entebbe

Best Time To Visit Uganda For Tours

The best time to visit in Uganda is during the dry season. This is when there is less vegetation to hinder your view wildlife, when animals are more likely to congregate near water sources. It is also when the trails are less muddy and slippery for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. The prime months for game-viewing and primate trekking tend to be from June to early September.

  • Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest is January, February, June, July, August,
  • Best time for birding in Uganda is December, January and February.
  • Best time for game viewing safaris in July, August, December and January.

Top Uganda Safari Activities

Uganda safaris

Whatever your need, our safari specialists will build Uganda safari activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Uganda.

Read more on the best things to do in Uganda

How Much Does A Uganda Safari Cost In 2024?

  • The average cost of safari in Uganda is between US$ 200 to $ 1000 per person per day.
  • A perfect budget Uganda safari costs about $ 250 (Private) to $ 200 (group tour) per day
  • A Mid-range Uganda Safari costs $ 400 (private per day) to $ 250 (group tour per day)
  • A Luxury Uganda safari costs around $ 600 (private per day) to $ 550 (group tour per day)
  • A high end Uganda safari starts from around $ 800 per person per day
  • Permit to see the gorillas of Uganda costs US $ 800 per person per day.
  • Chimpanzee tracking permit costs $250 (Kibale National Park)
  • Park entrance fees is US$40
  • You can hire a car to take you to the parks at $100 to $200 per day.
  • Boat cruise on Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Park costs $ 30 per shift.
  • Rhino Visits at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary costs US$50 per person.

Read more about Uganda safari cost

List Of Top Animals To See On A Uganda Tour

Uganda diverse landscapes means its wildlife offering is huge. Mountain gorillas are its most famous animals of Uganda course, and they are what attracts many safari-goers here. But the country is home to over 340 species of mammals and 1090 bird species. Some of the top animals in Uganda include:

  • Mountain Gorillas
  • Tree Climbing Lions
  • Ground dwelling lions
  • African Elephant
  • Chimpanzees
  • Zebras
  • Golden Monkeys
  • Rothschild Giraffes
  • African Buffalos
  • White Rhinos
  • Hippos
  • Nile Crocodiles
  • Uganda Kob – Uganda National Antelope
  • Bushbucks
  • Waterbucks
  • Impalas
  • Leopards
  • Shoebills

Discover all animals of Uganda

FAQs About Uganda Safaris

Uganda is generally safe to visit. It is a politically stable country with securely operated borders. However, Uganda is no different to the rest of the world. If you plan to spend time in a city, take precautions as you would in your home country. Petty theft is common in cities, but physical attacks on tourists are extremely rare. Read more about how safe is Uganda?

Yes, Uganda have good safari. Nestled with in the heart of the Great lakes region in the Equatorial Africa, Uganda is a landlocked country characterized by endless verdant hills, expansive valleys, mountain peaks, and a scattering of giant shimmering lakes and rivers.

Roughly the size of the United Kingdom, Uganda is home to over 50 tribes and dozens of regional language that form a rich cultural tapestry of over 44 million people. Undoubtedly, what makes Uganda good for safari is its outstanding variety of wildlife.

Game viewing in savanna parks may not be as overwhelming as in Kenya and Tanzania, but this small beautiful country is proudly home to a variety of animals. Most tourists to the country will track mountain gorillas – a highly endangered species of gentle giants that needs our protection.

  • While Uganda has no strict dress code, women travellers are advised to dress conservatively.
  • Comfortable, casual clothes are best.
  • Muted colours and neutral tones such as beige, khaki and green are recommended for game viewing and primate trekking.
  • Bright colours like red, yellow, purple and white are not advisable on safari.

See our complete guide to what to pack for a safari in Uganda

A Uganda visa is required by most nationalities. Additionally, your passport must be valid for at least six months from your departure date.

Passports should have a minimum of 2–4 clean pages for visa and entry/exit stamp. You can also apply for the East African Tourism Visa (Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda) online by credit card.

Uganda safaris length varies depending on your interests, budget, specific parks, and desired activities. Typical duration ranges from 1 day to around 2 weeks. Gorilla trekking a major highlight – requires at least 3 days. Uganda has 10 parks, most of which offering different wildlife experiences and landscapes.