Bwindi Forest Gorilla Tours

How Much Does A Safari In Uganda Cost?

How Much Does A Safari In Uganda Cost?: Uganda coined the pearl of Africa is one of the top Africa safari destinations and is on top of most of the traveler’s bucket list, a safari to Uganda offers you an adventure to some of the fascinating destinations in the country and enjoy several experiences.

On the average, the cost of a Uganda safari is between USD $ 150 and USD $1,000 per person per day.

The cost of chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda is USD 250 per person per trek and the cost of a gorilla trekking permit is USD 800 per person per trek.

The average cost of a safari in Uganda generally depends on your travel style.

The table below gives you an insight in the costings of a safari in Uganda per person per day depending on your travel style, as a traveler you can use this table to quickly match your daily budget to the kind of Uganda safari you can afford.

If you want to see mountain gorillas – the most iconic wildlife attraction, you need to budget $ 800 for the gorilla trekking permit alone.

Traveling during the low season months of October to November and March to April helps reduce the cost of your Uganda Safari.

Comfort Level Private (Per day) Group (Per day
Budget Accommodation $ 250 $ 200
Mid-range Accommodation $ 425 $ 250
Luxury Accommodation $ 600 $ 550
High End Accommodation $ 1000 N/A

These rates exclude additional costs like international flights, tips and personal items.

Uganda National Park Fees

While on a safari in Uganda’s safari parks, you will pay an entry fee for each park that you intend to visit. The fees are charged per 24-hour period and do not include the activities.

Note: The entry fees for the gorilla parks of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are included in the gorilla permit for those going for gorilla trekking experience.

Below are the park fees for other Uganda’s best national parks

Murchison Falls National Park Entry Fees

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 45
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 35
  • East African Citizen: UGX 25000

Entre fees for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 40
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 30
  • East African Citizen: UGX 20000

Entre fees for Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Mount Elgon National Park and Semuliki National Park

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 35
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 25
  • East African Citizen: UGX 15000
How Much Does A Safari In Uganda Cost?
Zebras in Lake Mburo National Park

Uganda Safari Parks Activity Cost 2024/2026

Besides the above mentioned parks, visitors will be charged activity fees. Popular Uganda safari activities include gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation experience, chimpanzee trekking, bird watching and guided nature walks to mention just a few.

According to rankings, Uganda has the best gorilla trekking destinations in Africa as the permits are more affordable.

For example, gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi gives you roughly 4 hours with these gentle giants for the same cost as a gorilla permit in Rwanda which gives you just 1 hour with the gorillas.

Below are some of the Uganda parks activities and their costs

  1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Safari Costs

Gorilla Trekking Permit Price:

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 800
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 700
  • Rest of Africa: USD$ 500
  • East African Citizen: UGX 300,000

Gorilla Habituation Experience Permit Price

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 1500
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 1000
  • Rest of Africa: USD$ 1000
  • East African Citizen: UGX 750,000

Birding and Day Nature Walks Price

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 40
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 30
  • East African Citizen: UGX 30,000

Batwa Forest Exploration Cost

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 40
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 40
  • East African Citizen: UGX 40,000
  1. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Safari Costs

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 800
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 700
  • Rest of Africa: USD$ 500
  • East African Citizen: UGX 300,000

Golden monkey trekking Permit Price

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 60
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 50
  • East African Citizen: UGX 40,000

Batwa Cultural Trail Price

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 80
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 70
  • East African Citizen: UGX 30,000

Volcano Hiking Cost

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 100
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 80
  • East African Citizen: UGX 50,000
  1. Kibale Forest National Park Safari Cost

Chimpanzee trekking

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 250
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 200
  • East African Citizen: UGX 180,000

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Permit Price

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 300
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 250
  • East African Citizen: UGX 250,000
  1. Murchison Falls National Safari Cost

Guided day game drive

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 25
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 20
  • East African Citizen: UGX 25,000

Guided night game drive

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 40
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 35
  • East African Citizen: UGX 40,000

Boat cruise to Murchison Falls  

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 30
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 25
  • East African Citizen: UGX 30,000

Top of the falls visit

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 15
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 10
  • East African Citizen: UGX 10,000
  1. How Much Does A Safari In Uganda Cost?
    Buffalo in Queen Elizabeth National Park

    Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari Cost

Guided day game drive

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 25
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 20
  • East African Citizen: UGX 25,000

Guided night game drive

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 40
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 35
  • East African Citizen: UGX 40,000

Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 30
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 25
  • East African Citizen: UGX 30,000

Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 100
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 80
  • East African Citizen: UGX 50,000

Lion Tracking Price

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 200
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 150
  • East African Citizen: UGX 200,000
  1. Lake Mburo National Park Safari Cost

Guided day game drive

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 20
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 15
  • East African Citizen: UGX 20,000

Guided night game drive

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 30
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 15
  • East African Citizen: UGX 50,000

Nature Walk

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 25
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 20
  • East African Citizen: UGX 10,000

Boat cruise on Lake Mburo

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 30
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 25
  • East African Citizen: UGX 20,000

Cycling Tour in the park

  • Foreign Non Resident: USD$ 30
  • Foreign Resident: USD$ 25
  • East African Citizen: UGX 30,000

Additional Uganda Safari Costs Explained

The list below covers some additional Uganda safari costs that you might need to add into your overall budget of Uganda Safari.

  1. International Flights

To get to Uganda for your safari, you will need international flights. Most of the Uganda safari quotations do not include international flights to Uganda unless specifically requested.

Direct international flights to Uganda are not common and it is often considerably cheaper to fly via Nairobi and change to a Kenyan budget airline from there.

  1. Visa Cost

A Uganda Visa is required by most nationalities including those of EU (European Union), United States and Australia. The single – entry visa or Uganda Tourist Visa costs $ 50. If you will also be traveling to Kenya or Rwanda, then get an East African Tourist visa for $ 100.

  1. Accommodation

Make sure you have checked your flight schedule, if you arrive in the afternoon. Your Uganda tour may start the next day and so you might need accommodation before your safari begin.

Also, this may apply at the end of your safari if you have an early morning flight. Uganda safari accommodation is generally a little cheaper than in neighboring destinations like Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya. A couple of hundred US dollars will often you get a very pleasant place to stay, around the gorilla national parks of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park prices are higher.

  1. Vaccinations

Health – wise you may probably need several vaccinations before arrival in Uganda, a yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry into Uganda.

Uganda is situated on the Equator and the equatorial climate means that mosquitoes are common in Uganda, it is that recommended that you take anti-malarial medication (seek advice from your local doctor).

  1. Tips

Tipping in Uganda is expected in better – quality Uganda safari lodges, hotels and camps. Safari drivers and guides also expect to be tipped, you can bring a couple of hundred dollars in smaller bills to cover tips.

For example US$ 10 to 15 per person per day.

  1. Travel Insurance

Standard travel insurance is fine for most Uganda safari activities including gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking, if you are heading up to the remote, little – visited far northeastern corner – Karamoja Region of Uganda where there have been security issues in the past.

Check that your travel insurance is valid for that region.

  1. Souvenirs And Curios

It is always nice to take something memorable home with you or get gifts someone back home, there will be plenty of opportunities to shop around for something special as a keepsake from your Uganda Safari.

  1. Alcoholic Drinks

Alcoholic drinks are not included in the cost of Uganda Safari, if you are partial to scotch or beer. The best budget for some recreational drinking.

  1. Laundry

Packing space in normally limited due to weight restrictions on flights, laundry services are available at safari lodges, hotels and camps. But this service comes out of your own pocket.

Factors Influencing The Uganda Safari Cost

There are other variables that can influence the overall cost of a safari in Uganda, the general cost of a Uganda safari tour varies hugely depending on several factors.

The most important are the time of the year you will be visiting the country, the national parks and wildlife reserves you wish to visit and how exclusive you are prepared to go.

  1. The Length of your Safari

The length of your safari stay on a Uganda safari has a direct impact on how much it is going to cost you. The longer you stay on safari, the high your safari cost will rise.

The cost of your Uganda safari per day does not change much whether you spend a weekend or a month in the country hiring a safari vehicle and driver is always cheaper per day if you hire the vehicle for a longer period.

  1. Level Of Accommodation You Want

Just like any holiday, accommodation (where to stay) takes a huge share of your Uganda safari budget and the more comfort you require, the more a Uganda safari will cost.

There is a wide variety of accommodations with various amenities available throughout Uganda and prices vary as much as the styles.

  1. Location of your Preferred Accommodation

Uganda safari accommodation is generally split between those found within the safari national parks or protected areas or those that are a little further away.

The latter is usually cheaper, the areas surrounding Uganda safaris national parks tend to be more developed than in much of Tanzania and Kenya.

There are often villages and towns not far from the main entrances to the country’s wildlife safari parks, several of them have fairly cheap accommodations.

Accommodation close to the Uganda gorilla safari parks are almost way expensive than similar places elsewhere.

  1. Your Group Size

Traveling on an organized Uganda group tour (organized through a local tour operator) can be cheaper than traveling alone, for example a lone travel will shoulder the full transport cost of a safari vehicle over the number of days it is hired. Any expense that can be shared can be reduced by adding more people to your safari.

One thing that never changes, whether you are traveling solo or in a big group is the park entry fees and the gorilla trekking permit which are always per person. As an add-on to your organized Uganda safari and for a different experience for the more adventurous, you could try and create your own small group, hire a vehicle and driver an explore some of the country at your leisure. This will give you a sense of independence and flexibility.

  1. When You Want To Visit Uganda

Another thing to consider when planning your safari to Uganda is the season, Uganda follows the classic East African weather pattern with two rainy seasons between March – May and October – November.

However, unlike Tanzania and Kenya, some of the most famous national parks in Uganda such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale Forest National Park are rainforest parks and rain of varying quantities can be expected year-round.

But if you can deal with some mud, lots of leeches and some slippery roads, then the start and end of the rainy seasons can be reasonable times to go on a safari Uganda with overall lower costs. The July to early September and Christmas high seasons are naturally enough the busiest and priciest times to visit.

  1. How Do You Want To Get Around

By Air is the easiest way of getting around Uganda, flight companies like Bar Aviation and Aerolink  offer domestic flights using small planes to connect the major Uganda national parks.

However, Uganda fly-in safaris are very expensive. Even the shortest hop is unlikely to cost less than $ 200 per person, the small size of the country and close proximity to many of the parks mean that rather than flying many people hire 4×4 safari land cruiser and drive (at around $ 125 per day) or a minivan for US$ 50 per day.

Perhaps this is the best way to get around Uganda as it allows greater flexibility and the chance to see more of this stunning country than just the parks and reserves.

  1. Where You Want To Go

The destination you want to visit on a Uganda determines the cost, to see wild mountain gorillas in the forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga you need a gorilla permit which costs $ 800 per person. This allows to spend one hour with the gorillas.

To chimpanzees, chimpanzee permit cost $ 250 at Kibale Forest National Park – the best place in Uganda to see chimpanzees. In Kalinzu Forest, it costs $ 50.

With all aspects of Uganda gorilla safari being expensive, the best way of keeping the cost of your safari in Uganda is not seeing the mountain gorillas at all. Uganda has many other protected areas full of interesting wildlife that can be visited for much less.

  1. Add-Ons

There are several activities you can add on your Uganda safari including white-water rafting adventure on the Nile River in Jinja or a trek in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park is gaining in popularity, each of these will add a chuck on money.

  1. Extensions

Safari in Tanzania or a safari in Kenya is a popular add-on-to a Uganda Safari Adventure and is especially easy to organize if you fly via Nairobi, this will add quite considerably to overall tour costs.

 

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