How Much Does A Uganda Safari Cost? (2023-2024 Update) : Uganda is a more economical African safari destination when compared to Rwanda. Focus East Africa Tours examines all the expenses related to a Uganda safari in this cost guide, including what to budget for travel, gorilla tracking, and excursions to Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Murchison Falls. The price of your Uganda safari will depend on a few aspects, just like it does for all other safari locations in Africa. Your Uganda safari budget will be impacted by your journey plans’ duration, level of comfort, available lodging alternatives, mode of transportation, and party size.
Making the most of your African safari budget? Focus East Africa Tours covers the major factors that will affect the price of your Uganda safari in this guide.
HOW MUCH DOES A UGANDA SAFARI COST PER DAY?
Here is a general guide for your Uganda safari cost per day that you may use as a general budget safari cost calculator to get things going. Budget safari, mid-range safari, and luxury safari are the classifications we’ve utilized. Flights to Uganda, travel insurance, and extras like tips and mementos are not included in this price.
- Budget Safari: US$250 to US$350 per person per day
- Mid-Range Safari: US$350 to US$550 per person per day
- Luxury Safari: US$ 700 to US$ 1000 + per person per day
These safari costs are intended to provide you with a brief summary. Check out Focus East Africa Tours ‘ Uganda safari packages for current and accurate price information.
GETTING THERE: UGANDA FLIGHTS
The principal airport serving Uganda is Entebbe International Airport. All safaris to Uganda land and start from Entebbe. The time of year and your departure city will affect the price of your flight. Traditionally, when the majority of people can travel, flights are more expensive around holidays like Easter and Christmas. There are seasonal variations in flight prices, and you can monitor them by utilizing a specialized website like Google Flights, Kayak, or Skyscanner. Enter your dates to see which ones are the most cost-effective choices. Alternatively, if you’d rather communicate with a live person, get in touch with a local travel agency, who may give you suggestions on when to go on a budget.
In Uganda, the months of June through October are the driest (and drier) and busiest for tourists. Unfortunately, because game viewing is so amazing at this time of year, this is peak safari season throughout East Africa. It is also the finest season to witness the huge wildebeest migration in Tanzania and Kenya, while the weather in Uganda is more agreeable for gorilla tracking. The dry landscape and thinning vegetation allow you to see more wildlife. Although Uganda might be considered a year-round destination, March to May and November to December can get wet. The rainy season in Uganda poses logistical obstacles, such as inaccessible roads. You must choose when you wish to leave. Flight prices during the peak season can quadruple those of the off-peak season.
You can take a chance and try to find less expensive flights in the shoulder seasons of May to early June and late October to late November if you are flexible and feeling lucky. Although the weather is a gamble and might go either way, you might be able to locate cheaper flights. Additionally, there will be fewer visitors during this period, resulting in a more relaxing and private safari experience.
UGANDA TRANSPORT AND YOUR TRAVEL BUDGET
Uganda is not a very large nation when compared to nations like Tanzania and Kenya. The majority of safari packages to Uganda include transportation to and from your safari destinations, such as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park, as well as shuttle service from Entebbe International Airport. The benefit of doing this is that you won’t have to deal with negotiating over fares, car rental logistics, insurance fees, taking cabs from the airport to your hotel, and other issues. Instead, you’ll pay one amount up front.
You can choose from private metered taxis, matatus, standard buses, rental cars, and the common boda-bodas in Uganda. The cheapest and most economical mode of transportation, boda-bodas are favored by both locals and daring tourists. However, you should exercise caution before getting into one. The Uber of the boda-boda world, Safe Boda, is a tech startup that wants to train drivers and mandate helmet use. Mutatus are likewise inexpensive, but because of the stop-start nature of the industry, they take longer and can become crowded. Taxis for private hire cost more money. Long-distance coaches or buses are an alternative for longer trips, and renting a car is also a common choice. Toyota Ravs, Hi-Aces, or Land Cruisers are popular rental vehicles in Uganda and can be booked with or without a driver. A breakdown of some of the transportation expenses associated with an African safari is shown below.
- Based on using a taxi in a big city, the average transportation cost for independent travelers is about $20 USD per person per day.
- $40 to $130 for airport transport from Entebbe to Kampala
- Boda boda, sometimes called a piki piki: approximately $1.50 USD
- Around Kampala, mutatus costs between $1.50 and $2.50.
- Depending on the vehicle and the length of the rental, rental automobiles can range in price from US$40 to US$400 per day. A Toyota Rav 4 might cost US$65 for one to four days, US$60 for five to nine days, or US$50 for ten days or more. A driver is included at this price. Costs don’t include fuel.
The above Transportation costs are meant as a guideline only and may vary.
UGANDA VISA COSTS
Visitors must have a current passport in order to enter Uganda. Most nationalities can obtain 30-day tourist visas upon arrival; alternatively, they can make an online reservation through Uganda’s user-friendly e-visa system. A single entry visa cannot cost more than $50, and multiple entry visas cannot cost more than $70.00. Prior to your trip, it is crucial that you confirm the details with your local travel agent because visa requirements differ from one nation to the next.
COSTS OF UGANDA NATIONAL PARK
You must pay an admission fee to enter each park you visit while in Uganda. Charges are made for a 24-hour period only; activities are not included. The top national parks in Uganda have these park entrance costs.
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: Entry fees: US$ 40 per adult or US$ 20 per child
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Entry fees: US$ 40 per adult or US$ 20 per child
- Queen Elizabeth National Park: Entry fees: US$ 40 per adult or US$ 20 per child
- Murchison Falls National Park: Entry fees: US$45 per adult or US$25 per child
Please be aware that there will be a tariff on your car in addition to the park costs per person if you are taking a self-drive safari in Uganda. Depending on the type of car, the fee might be anywhere from US$40 to US$200.
UGANDA PARKS ACTIVITY FEES
Visitors in Uganda will also be charged activity fees in addition to the aforementioned park Entry costs. Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey trekking, habituation experiences, bird viewing, and guided nature walks are just a few of the popular safari activities in Uganda.
Uganda is a well-liked location for gorilla trekking because permits are less expensive. For instance, for the same price as a permit in Rwanda that allows you to spend just one hour with the gorillas, the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest would provide you with around four hours with these gentle giants.
Gorilla trekking is quite popular, so permits must be reserved at least six months in advance. The price ranges for various activities in Bwindi, Mgahinga, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls are listed here.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Costs
- Gorilla Trekking Permit: US$700 (+/- 1 hour with gorillas)
- Mountain Gorilla Habituation Experience: US$1500 (+/- 4 hours with gorillas)
- Bwindi Guided Nature Walk: US$50
- Bwindi Forest Bird Watching: US$30
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costs
- Gorilla trekking permit: US$700
- Golden Monkey Trekking Permit: US$60
- Golden Monkey Habituation Experience: US$100
- Volcano climbing fees: US$80
- Guided bird watching: US$30
- Batwa Trail fees: US$80
Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari Costs
- Chimpanzee trek in Kyambura Gorge: US$50
- Guided game drive: US$30
- Boat cruise on Kazing Channel: US$30
- Guided nature walk: US$15
- Guided mongoose tracking: US$30
Murchison Falls National Park costs
- Guided game drive: US$30
- Guided night game drive: US$40
- Boat cruise to Murchison Falls: US$30
- Guided bird watching: US$30
UGANDA SAFARI ACCOMMODATION COSTS
When traveling to Uganda, you can choose from a variety of lodging options, including budget, mid-range, and, of course, luxury. Focus East Africa Tours finds mixed accommodations that offer you the best prices, keeping Uganda safaris within your budget. Tented camps, camping, low-cost lodges, bed-and-breakfasts, chalets, bungalows, guest homes, and hotels are all options for lodging. This implies that you can customize your lodging to fit your budget when selecting a safari package through Focus East Africa Tours. The price difference between a low-cost and a medium-priced Uganda safari, based on 2023 prices, is illustrated below.
Based on two people sharing, the price for a 5-day Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Lodge Safari in 2023 is per person.
- Budget accommodation: US$2701.
- Mid-range accommodation: US$3103
- High-end accommodation: US$3865
These prices are estimates only, and they could vary. If you’re considering a safari vacation in Uganda, speak with a knowledgeable safari consultant for the most recent safari prices.
UGANDA SAFARI BUDGET AND GROUP SIZE
Customizing your group size can help you save a lot of money. Uganda is no exception to the rule that intimacy and exclusivity are always more expensive. By splitting the expense of your Uganda safari with a group, you may make it more cost-effective and accessible. For instance, if you rent a car for US$80 per day and split the cost with four other travelers, it comes out to US$20 per person per day, which means each person in the group saves US$60 per day. This idea also applies to safari package deals, where Focus East Africa Tours can provide reduced rates as a result of the savings. The price differences between a 3-day gorilla trekking safari and a 6-day fly-in safari to Uganda for 2, 4, and 6 people are listed below.
Budget 3-day Uganda Gorilla Experience in Bwindi Forest Park
- 2 people: US$2710
- 4 people: US$ 2542
- 6 people: US$2485
Mid-range 7-day Uganda Gorillas, Chimps, and Wildlife Lodge Safari (maximum 6 people)
- 2 people: US$3789
- 4 people: US$3390
- 6 people: US$3257
You can make significant financial savings by going with a group, allowing you to maximize your safari budget. In addition to being enjoyable, traveling with a small group of close friends or family members can also be a wise financial decision.
UGANDA SAFARI SEASONS AND PRICES
There used to be low-season and high-season rates in Uganda. However, due to the growing popularity of gorilla trekking, permits are now always an additional expense. By visiting off-peak, you can still save money, but you should focus on your lodging and inbound air prices. Asking also never hurts. If there are any off-season specials, ask your travel agent or one of Focus East Africa Tours’ knowledgeable travel experts.
BOOK AN AFFORDABLE UGANDA SAFARI WITH FOCUS EAST AFRICA TOURS
Excellent Uganda safari vacations are available from Focus East Africa Tours. View our selection of Uganda safaris Packages if you’re interested in seeing chimpanzees, trekking with mountain gorillas, visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the Victoria Nile at Murchison Falls, and other destinations. If you’d like to speak with a live person, get in touch with one of our knowledgeable Focus East Africa Tours’ consultants and begin organizing your Uganda safari right away.
