UGANDA SAFARIS & TOURS

EXPLORE THE PEARL OF AFRICA ON AN UNFORGETTABLE UGANDA SAFARI

UGANDA SAFARIS MAP

Looking for an adventure of a lifetime? Look no further than a Uganda Safari!

With lush landscapes, diverse wildlife, and breathtaking natural wonders, Uganda is the perfect destination for anyone seeking an unforgettable experience.

Whether you’re a nature lover, an adventure junkie, or just looking for some peace and quiet, a safari in Uganda has something for everyone.

So pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to explore one of the most beautiful countries in the world!

Uganda Safaris and Tours Elephant

CREATE YOUR DREAM UGANDA SAFARI

We would love to help you custom-make the perfect safari itinerary, so contact us today!


     

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    Our Best Uganda Safaris and Private Tours

    Here are our top picks of safaris in Uganda, that cover the very best that this amazing country has to offer. All completely customisable to your needs of course!

    UGANDA SAFARI REVIEWS

    A safari in Uganda offers travellers the opportunity to discover a land of pristine natural beauty. Described as “the Pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill, Uganda offers some of Africa’s finest geographical and natural beauty, making it a tourist haven.

    But don’t just take our word for it. Hear from clients that have already trusted us to create a once-in-a-lifetime Uganda safari…

    RossW
    RossW
    2023-04-01
    The Best Tour/Safari I've Ever Taken In short, this was the best tour/safari I've ever taken in 20+ years of traveling! We debated different tours/operators, but after completing the '10-Day Tailor-Made Holiday & Tour in Uganda –Big 5 Safari' tour, I can't image there being a better option.From the beginning when we first made contact with 'Home To Africa' to the end of the tour, everything went as smoothly as possible. Communication with the company was excellent and we didn't experience a single issue during our 10-day tour. Everyday was a new adventure and the daily events kept us busy (but we weren't overly rushed). The itinerary was well thought out as it did a good job balancing game drives, boat rides, treks, rest time, eating, shopping and driving between destinations.Our guide for the tour, Amos, was simply outstanding. His vast knowledge of African wildlife and his passion for being in the wilderness is unbeatable, and it really added to our experience in Uganda. He was flexible when needed, but he kept us in line to make sure we stayed on schedule. He kept the conversation going when appropriate, but he would also allow us to enjoy the peacefulness/quietness of the wild.The lodges which were selected for the tour were also top notch. With a mix of tents, lodges and hotels, I feel that we got to experience a nice range of accommodations in Uganda. Not to mention the meals served in these places were of excellent quality. And they provided so much food...hunger was never a concern!All-in-all, I couldn't provide a higher recommendation for this company. Simply put, everything was perfect, and we hope to use 'Home To Africa' once again in the future.Thanks for a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
    joan a
    joan a
    2023-03-30
    Viaje al centro de la Selva Muy buena experencia con gorilas y chimpances ,muchas fotos, el trato excelente y muy seguroMuy agradecido a Lili la guia nativa con un perfecto castellano y a Derek el conductor que estuvieron a tope con nosotros muy amables y atentos en todo momento haciendo del viaje una gran aventura ,gracias
    reeeto
    reeeto
    2023-03-29
    Amazing time in Uganda! I spent 8 days on tour through Uganda with my wonderful guide, driver, and in the meantime friend, Karim. He is a very safe and cautious driver and explains very patiently everything about the country, the animals, the culture and so on and he answered all of my questions. I really enjoyed to travel with him.The booking process with Home to Africa was super friendly and they were very flexible with accommodating many wishes from my side. So in the end I had a tour tailored exactly to my wishes.I thank Karim and the entire company so much for this incredible time, that I could spend in beautiful Uganda!
    Lukas123456810
    Lukas123456810
    2023-03-28
    Fantastic Tour! The communication while booking the tour was great. The team is very responsive and also flexible regarding the tour planning. We even planned an extra stop in Kampala, which was no problem at all. The tour was fantastic! We had an excellent guide Peter, who was very kind and made a lot of effort to show us the country. We booked the budget accomodations which were still very much above our expectations. During the safaris, we saw the Big 5. Also the Chimp and Gorilla trekking was successful. The vehicle was a land cruiser - great for the long rides. Highly recommend this tour agency!
    Gorazd D
    Gorazd D
    2023-03-23
    We had a great time Iztok M wrote perfectly in previous review. It was great experience and we had a great time. Thanks to Home of Africa and our guide Benon. He was great! We saw lions, leopard, hippos, elephants, gorillas and much more. Thank you again
    Iztok M
    Iztok M
    2023-03-21
    Great trip We had "5-Day Pearl of Africa Chimps and Gorilla Trekking Safari" tour and it was very well organised and with a good "off season" price. The choice of the lodges was very good and more than we expected from a budget offer. Our driver/guide Benon was kind, planned everything perfectly, listened to our wishes and he was a good resource of many information about Uganda. He also managed one critical situation very good: There was a truck stucked sideways on our way to Bwindi and he payed some local guys to dig the hill for like 2 hours so we could drive around that truck. All the daily experiences were amazing with gorillas to be the best of all. It was such a good experience to see those endangered animals just living their lives, eating, playing. It was magical. Thanks again to Home of Africa for such a good vacation.
    Carol P
    Carol P
    2023-03-20
    Perfectly organized splendid experience in the Beautiful National Parks of Uganda I did 7-Day tour and Vacation in Uganda with Gorilla Trekking with Home to Africa. It was just me and my delightful competent guide/driver Karim. Seeing Chimps and Gorillas so close in their natural habitat was the obvious highlight, but the boat ride in the channel between the lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park was very enjoyable, especially seeing elephants wading into the water. I loved the safari drives in Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo was like I had read a strategic stop between Bwindi and Entebbe, AND it really had a lot of animals. One thing about safaris is that with every additional drive and every additional place, you see something new or in a different way. Also, the Eagles Nest Lodge had the most incredible views. A perfect place to sip wine and reflect on all you experiences.I chose budget accommodations and the cabins were all pleasant, hot water, comfy beds and beautiful surroundings. The food was pretty good and they all had a bar of some sort.My experience was so much better because of Karim. He was a perfect handler. He spoke very clear English and had a funny sense of humor. He made sure I knew what was expected and what I should wear and have with me. He made sure I did not forget anything anywhere. He advocated for me. His driving skills kept me calm and he was great company; a curious intelligent person. If I saw a rare bird, Karim did not rest until that bird was identified. In addition, he also did not rest until I was safely out of Uganda. It was clear that with Home to Africa I was important and in good hands. I always felt my safety, comfort and quality of experience were top priority.
    Holly R
    Holly R
    2023-03-13
    Uganda at its best Our experience with Home to Africa was exceptional. Hedmond in the front office was easy to work with, responding to all our questions and supplying us with numerous suggestions and solutions for our 12 day safari .Our personal guide and driver, Derrick, was excellent. He gave us a wealth of information on the culture, sights, and animals of Uganda. Derrick speaks 7 languages and was able to converse with everyone we encountered. He went above and beyond to make this our very best vacation.Each day was a new experience: visiting national parks, walking in the bush, and taking river boat rides or night game drives.If you intend to visit Uganda, this is the company to contact.
    Ayala and Yizhar
    Ayala and Yizhar
    2023-03-12
    Very well organized trip with an excellent guide We had a 8 day safari trip of bird watching and primates. It was very well organized. Our guide-driver, Amos, was amazing: fluent in English, highly intelligent, knowledgeable, kind and patient, He took care of everything and was just fun to hang out with. The amount and beauty of the species we encountered went beyond our expectations - a new wonder every day. We saw many of the Albertine Rift endemic birds and unique mammals (chimps, gorillas, lion etc.) with the help of excellent local guides. The activities were varied: game drive, hiking and boat ride. Communication with Hedmond, the sales manger was very good and everything went as planned. The service at the lodges was also very good. We highly recommend this company and guide.
    Gertrude R
    Gertrude R
    2023-03-07
    Expérience inoubliable, un voyage de rêve Nous venons d'effectuer un circuit inoubliable de 12 jours dans tout l'Ouganda incluant des treks pour aller voir les chimpanzés et gorilles. Tout était parfaitement organisé, et notre guide Vianney, parlant un excellent français et toujours à notre écoute et disponible, a su nous faire découvrir une diversité de la faune et de la nature incroyable. Un grand merci à lui. Nous tenons à préciser que tous les lodges étaient magnifiques, dans un cadre somptueux, et le personnel d'une grande gentillesse.

    Experience the Real Uganda

    World-class accommodation, great food, hospitable people, good weather, lush green countryside and an abundance of wildlife make Uganda one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Africa.

    Home to the greatest concentration of primates on the planet (including half the world’s mountain gorilla population), the source of the mighty River Nile and magnificent all year snow-capped peaks on Rwenzori Mountain, Uganda is an adventure enthusiasts’ paradise.

    Bird-watchers and big 5 animal lovers alike agree, this country is a true African gem waiting to be discovered.

    Rafting the Nile offers a world-class adrenaline adventure, but the country’s most unforgettable experience is tracking mountain gorillas in their misty habitat of Bwindi and nearby Mgahinga Forest.

    Gorilla trekkingin bwindi national park
    Queen Elizabeth National Park

    In a matter of days, you can see some of the world’s rarest creatures and unique to Uganda.

    Visit Ishasha and look out for the tree-climbing lions, go tracking in the forest to see gorillas and chimps, search the marshlands for the elusive shoebill stork, wander the forest floor following the trail of forest elephants and visit a Karamojong tribe, a Batwa (pygmy) village among others to appreciate the cultural diversity.

    Top Tips for your Safari in Uganda

    COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT A UGANDA SAFARI

    The people of Uganda are among the most hospitable in Africa but it’s the cultural diversity that will surely mesmerize you! With over 56 tribal communities, each with a distinct: Cultural heritage, History, Language, Food, Dance, Dressing, Beliefs, Customs, Folklore etc., you will just be blown away. A visit to the Elgon area will unveil to you the Imbalu circumcision ceremony among the Bagisu who live at the foot of the Elgon Mountain. To the west, the Banyankole perform their Kitagururo dance, the Banyoro have their Runyege and to the North, Acholi have the Larakaraka traditional dance.

    You don’t want to miss the local and unique cuisines here! For example, there is (luwombo) – a traditional dish by the Baganda, the (eshabwe) – a Banyankole sauce prepared without fire, (atapa) – millet bread popular with the Iteso, and (malakwang) – a sour vegetable prepared by the Acholi and Langi. The other fascinating aspect of the people and culture in Uganda are the traditional dress and ceremonies. “Witnessing a traditional marriage ceremony, with great music and colorful dresses, makes a cultural safari tours in Uganda an incredibly unique experience”, recounted a traveler to Uganda.

    The Country still features monarchical kingdoms such as the Buganda Kingdom, which is one of the most organized kingdoms out of all those still in existence in Africa. Buganda’s heritage includes the Kasubi royal tombs which have been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site – and a popular spot to explore while on a Kampala City excursion. Other notable kingdoms in the country include Tooro, Bunyoro and Busoga.

    In Uganda, there are indigenous tribal groups like the Batwa Pygmies. For generations, the Mgahinga dense forest was home to the Batwa (hunter – gatherers and fierce warriors) who depended on the forest for shelter, food and medicine. Now, they lead visitors through the forests and introduce them to their old home and the techniques they used to survive in it. Meeting these indigenous people will offer you a glimpse into the history and memories of ancient Africa.

    From the gigantic, striking long-horned Ankole cattle in western Uganda and the extensive coffee plantations at the foothills of the Elgon Mountain, to the Bachwezi earth works in Ntusi and the Karamojong nomadic lifestyle in the far North-east of the country, Uganda’s diverse heritage and culture is undoubtedly vast and incomparable!

    The months of; December to February and from June to September are considered the best time to visit Uganda, but some intermittent rain is possible due to unpredictable seasonal changes. All the same, one can still visit Uganda even in the months considered “low season” and the encounter, experience is still outstanding. In fact, the “low season” months do have fewer travellers which means the parks are not crowded.

    Uganda has the best weather and climate in the world if you like. Located right on the Equator but with a snow-capped (throughout the year) Rwenzori Mountain, you may refer to it as being warm/hot and cold but not humid. The country is sunny for a larger part of the year with daytime temperatures generally hovering between 24 and 28°C. However, temperatures can drop considerably at night (to about 16 to 18°C), enough for one to bring a sweatshirt, fleece.

    The areas at high altitude such as the Bwindi, nearby Mgahinga get much colder as temperatures tend to drop to about 6°C. The parks further north, such as Murchison Falls, and Kidepo Valley are usually warmer with daytime temperatures (sometimes) at about 32°C. Rain (wet season) is generally expected twice a year, in October/November (short rains) and late March to end of May. Dry season sets in from December to February or mid-March and June to September.

    Uganda is well-endowed and the list of major attractions/destinations can remarkably be long. Think of being greeted by the sight of the largest fresh water lake (Victoria) in Africa as your plane approaches the runway at the Entebbe International Airport. How about being at the source of the Nile where it begins its longest journey through Egypt into the Mediterranean sea? Proceed East to the foothill of the Elgon Mountain (that natives call Mount Masaba due to some legend attached to its formation). There is the Sipi falls to marvel at. Continue into the pristine Pian Upe Game Reserve, the second largest gazetted area in Uganda before finally heading into Kidepo Valley NP where you will get the true meaning of being in the African wilderness. Notwithstanding the abundance of wildlife, the encounter with the Karamojong or IK tribe in this place will leave you wanting to stay even longer.

    From Kidepo, you don’t want to miss the Mighty Murchison Falls NP. Murchison Falls is a place like nowhere else. Hike or drive to the top of the falls and you will surely struggle to find the right adjective to describe the feeling. The experience is (……). Hopefully, you will fill the gap after being in the Murchison Falls personally. What about an encounter with the human closest relation with the wild, the chimpanzees? Proceed to Kibale Forest NP and your wishes shall be delivered. The experience is so fascinating and unforgettable. On the other hand, the scenery here is beyond description. We are talking about the rain forest on one side and on another side you are gazing at some spectacular crater lakes that you can ever imagine. Walk/hike to the “top of the world” and you will surely be left speechless.

    From Kibale, what better place than heading to the Queen Elizabeth NP, right at the foot of the fabled “Mountain of the Moons”, the Rwenzori Mountain. If you wish, you can have a few days trekking the Rwenzori Mountain. The experience is unforgettable! Encounter the Bakonjo who live at the foot of this magnificent mountain. Down in Queen you can be sure of encountering some members of the big 5 e.g. lions, the elusive leopard. There is also the boat safari along the Kazinga Channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. Drive to the Ishasha sector of Queen and there is the possibility (70%) of encountering the tree-climbing lions. The sight of these lions up in the tree is breathtaking.

    Yes, you may be wondering about the whereabouts of the gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP and the nearby Mgahinga Gorilla NP is the answer to your wish. The gorilla encounter sometimes evokes sweet emotions that can best be expressed with “tears of joy”. You got to be here. You don’t want to miss out on the Batwa pygmy people who live close to this “Impenetrable Forest” that they once called home. From Bwindi, proceed to Lake Bunyonyi. The lake is framed by lush, green-terraced hills that reach a height of (2,200 – 2,478m) but it’s the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it most magical and you could admire them all day.

    Drive to Lake Mburo NP and you can enjoy so much more including walking safari, horseback safari among others. Mburo is regarded as the safest for park (bush) walk compared to the rest. From Mburo to Entebbe, do not forget to make a stop at the Equator Crossing where you will have the opportunity to be at both the South and North hemisphere at same time. As earlier mentioned, the list can go on and on but the above are attractions that you should only miss if you must.

    While on a safari into Uganda, you may (depending on interest) undertake any of the following activities: Game drives, community and cultural encounter, gorilla and chimp trekking, boat or launch cruises, birdwatching, white water rafting on the Nile, coffee tour, mountain trekking, beach relaxation, abseiling for non-faint-hearted, hot-air balloon safari.

    We would recommend you spend at least 6 days on safari in Uganda.

    One can take a 3-day trip, but from experience it leaves one wishing he/she had more days to explore more.

    From experience, most people incur no health problems while visiting Uganda but rather enjoy themselves during the time on Safari. Nevertheless, you may consider the following in your packing:

    – Anti-malaria medicines, pain reliever, insect repellent. Simple first aid kit won’t be bad at all.
    – Pack your necessary sunscreen, hand sanitizers, sun-hat plus glasses, body creams/lotions of your choice among others.
    – Not all accommodations may provide shampoo. Feel free to carry some if necessary.

    IMPORTANT: Ask your medical insurance provider if your policy applies overseas for any emergencies. Needless to mention, ensure you have some good level of physical fitness.

    Vaccinations: Yellow fever vaccination is required. When applying for the visa, you will be required to upload proof in addition to other requirements such as copy of passport bio-data page, most recent passport photograph, travel itinerary (in place of invitation letter).

    The Uganda Shilling (UGX) is the local currency and it is available in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000. The exchange rate fluctuates between: USD 1 = UGX 3,650 – 3,850. IMPORTANT: USD Dollar bills smaller in denominations than USD 50, 100 may attract less favorable exchange rate and also USD series older than 2009 are not accepted.

    It is possible to withdraw some money from the ATM at the airport or in major towns along your safari route. If you plan to use an ATM card or credit card, it would be good to notify your Bank that you will be using your Credit Card or Debit Card for cash withdrawals from an ATM in your safari destination e.g. Uganda. In case you wish to have some local currency, the assigned tour driver-guide can always lead you to the nearby forex point.

    The main entry point into Uganda is through the Entebbe International Airport. You have to present your identification documents like passport and depending on the country of origin, a stamped visa. The visa must be obtained prior to the arrival. IMPORTANT: It is your responsibility to ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months and has several clear pages for visas prior to the departure to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa.

    Discover the National Parks in Uganda

    Your safari in Uganda will be a truly unique experience as you explore the country’s national parks, game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.

    Get up close and personal with majestic elephants, rhinos, hippos and lions among others on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park or Murchison Falls National Park. Take a boat ride along the Nile to watch animals coming down for their daily drink of water at Murchison Falls. Or take an unforgettable hike through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to get within feet of gorillas in their natural habitat!

    YOUT PRIVATE UGANDA TOUR AWAITS

    We would love to help you custom-make the perfect safari itinerary, so contact us today!