Your Ultimate Uganda Safari Cost Per Person/Day/Night Guide

Uganda Safari Cost Per Day

A daily Uganda safari cost ranges from roughly $250 for budget trips to over $1,000 for luxury experiences, with mid-range options costing around $400–600 per person per day. The total price depends on accommodation, activities like gorilla trekking (which costs hundreds of dollars on top of daily rates), and the level of service, with permits for gorilla and chimpanzee tracking being significant additional expenses.

Rates are in USD $ unless otherwise indicated.
Rates exclude additional costs, such as international flights, tips and personal items.

Additional Uganda Safari Costs Explained

The subsequent chart outlines some supplementary expenses in Uganda—some apparent, others less so—that you may need to incorporate into your overall budget.

International Flights:
There are a limited number of direct international flights to Uganda from regions beyond Africa. Routing through Nairobi (Kenya) or Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) is frequently more economical, as these are the primary regional air hubs with robust global links.

Visa Costs:
The majority of countries are required to pay US$50 for a single-entry visa. If you plan to travel to Kenya or Rwanda (Tanzania is excluded from this visa), obtain an East African tourist visa for US$100.

Accommodations:
Safari accommodations in Uganda are often less expensive than those in neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania. A few hundred US dollars typically secures a comfortable accommodation. Prices are elevated in proximity to parks that provide gorilla trekking.

Vaccinations:
A yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for admission into Uganda. The humid climate results in a prevalence of mosquitoes, making it prudent to implement measures against malaria.

Tips:
Gratuities are anticipated in high-quality hotels, safari lodges, and camps. Guides and drivers anticipate receiving gratuities. Bring several hundred US dollars in smaller denominations to accommodate gratuities. The suggested amount is US$30 per individual each day.

Travel Insurance:
Conventional travel insurance suffices for the majority of safari endeavours, including gorilla trekking. Before travelling to the remote, infrequently visited far north, where historical security concerns have arisen, ensure that your insurance is applicable for that area.

Factors Influencing the Cost of a Uganda Safari

The overall expense of a Uganda safari fluctuates significantly based on several factors. The critical factors are the season of travel, the parks and reserves you intend to visit, and the level of exclusivity you are willing to pursue.

Length of stay

When purchasing a comprehensive Uganda safari through a single firm, the daily rate often decreases marginally with an extended duration of the safari. Conversely, if you are crafting your own schedule, the daily expenses remain rather consistent regardless of whether you stay a weekend or a month in the country. Renting a 4×4 vehicle with a driver is consistently more economical on a daily basis when contracted for an extended duration.

Level of comfort of accommodations

The level of comfort desired directly correlates with the expense of a Uganda safari. In comparison to Tanzania, Ugandan safari lodgings provide unexpectedly favourable value. A double room at a respectable mid-range safari lodge or camp is available for US$200.

Location of the accommodations

Safari lodgings in Uganda are often categorised between those located within protected areas and those situated at a further distance. The former are typically less expensive. The areas adjacent to Ugandan protected zones are generally more developed than those in much of Kenya and Tanzania. Proximate to the primary gates of the nation’s national parks, there frequently exist towns and villages. Numerous options for accommodation are rather inexpensive. Accommodations near the parks that provide gorilla trekking are typically more costly than comparable establishments in other locations.

Group size

Participating in an organised group tour may be more economical than travelling independently. Particularly if it is arranged through a local Ugandan operator rather than an internationally based firm. Park entry fees remain same, regardless of whether one is travelling alone or in a large group, as they are always charged on a per-person basis. As an enhancement to your structured safari, and for a distinct experience for the more intrepid, you may consider assembling a small party, procuring a vehicle and driver, and exploring various regions of the country at your convenience. This will provide you with a sense of autonomy and adaptability.

When you want to go

Uganda adheres to the traditional East African climatic pattern, characterised by two rainy seasons occurring from March to May and from October to November. In contrast to Kenya and Tanzania, numerous renowned national parks in Uganda are rainforest parks, where precipitation of different amounts can be anticipated throughout the year. If you can navigate muddy walking trails and hazardous roads, the onset and conclusion of the rainy seasons may be opportune periods to visit due to generally reduced expenses. The peak seasons from July to August and December to February are the most crowded and costly periods for visitation.

How you get around

The most convenient, but costly, mode of transportation is by air. AeroLink employs light aircraft to link the principal national parks. However, even the briefest journey is improbable to incur a cost significantly lower than US$300 per individual. The country’s limited size and the near vicinity of numerous parks result in many individuals opting to hire a 4×4 car and driver instead of flying, starting at US$130 per day. In Uganda, this method of transportation likely offers more flexibility and the opportunity to see more of this remarkable country outside its parks and reserves.

Where you want to go

Traversing into the forest to observe habituated gorillas constitutes the most profound wildlife encounter available on the world. However, one must compensate for the privilege. Gorilla licenses are priced at US$800 per individual, allowing for one hour of interaction with the gorillas. Chimpanzee permits are priced at US$250 in Kibale National Park, the premier location, while they are more economical, ranging from US$100 to US$120, at alternative sites such Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest, and Kalinzu Forest Reserve. The most effective method to reduce the expenses of a Uganda safari, given the high fees associated with gorilla excursions, is to forgo gorilla viewing entirely. Uganda possesses numerous additional protected areas teeming with fascinating species that may be explored at a significantly lower cost.

Add-ons

A white-water rafting excursion near Jinja, located on Lake Victoria at the Nile’s source, or a walk in the Rwenzori Mountains are increasingly popular activities, however both will significantly increase your expenses. A few days of relaxation on the beaches of Lake Bunyonyi is significantly more economical. It is a picturesque lake adorned with numerous islands, offering a variety of affordable lodging options.

Extensions

A brief safari in Kenya is a favoured complement to a Uganda safari and is particularly simple to arrange if one travels through Nairobi. This will significantly increase overall expenses.

Specialised interests

A specialised safari in Uganda is likely to concentrate solely on monkeys or avifauna. Uganda is arguably the premier safari location in Africa for anyone seeking to observe chimpanzees, gorillas, and smaller primates; nonetheless, the expense of gorilla and chimpanzee viewing permits is substantial, resulting in a high overall cost for such a safari. A bird-watching safari will incur higher costs for a specialised guide; nevertheless, it is generally more economical overall due to the potential for visiting lesser-known parks and reserves.