How To Experience Uganda Safari On A Budget

Experience Uganda safari on a budget by choosing the activities you desire to include in the Uganda tour Itinerary of your choice and within your means. Gorilla safaris in Uganda are open to tourists of any category be it basic, mid-range or up Market.

Most Popular Safaris

3 Day Murchison Falls National Park safari

2 Day Lake Mburo game & Boat safari

3 Day Lake Mburo wildlife, boat & walking safari

4 Day Kidepo Valley Fly in Safari

3 Day Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari

3 Day Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking safari

16 Days Primates, Game & Culture

19 Day Best of Uganda Safari

3 Day Fly in Gorilla Habituation Safari

5 Days Gorillas & Game Safari

For gorilla safari in Uganda, you need to make a choice from gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience. During gorilla trekking, a maximum of 8 tourists follow a fully habituated gorilla family and spend one hour with them. Gorilla habituation experience is an adventure where a maximum four tourist accompany a team of researchers and spend four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family in the wilderness.

Uganda is gifted by nature and other than the gorilla safari, during Uganda safari, one can choose to do chimpanzee trekking, game safaris, birding in Uganda, water activities, golden monkey safaris, mountaineering and others.

Reserving logistics that support Uganda safaris is very important during the budget safari such as accommodation, transport, driver guides and many others. Taking advantage of the seasons on the Uganda tourism calendar may be a great strategy when planning the budget Uganda safari. Use the help of a professional safari company like Encounter Africa Safaris for advice and tailor an itinerary that suits your budget and interests.

What activities to Do On a Budget Uganda safari

Primate Safari Activities In Uganda

Uganda is one of the few countries in the world that still offers safe haven for a number of primates to thrive. It is no wonder that the biggest population of the only mountain gorillas left in the world are residents of Uganda. Some of the primate safari activities you can choose for the budget safari in Uganda include

• Gorilla Safaris In Uganda

Two gorilla safari adventures are available in Uganda that is gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the only gorilla trekking destination in Uganda with so far about 20 gorilla families open to the public. To do gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, you need a gorilla permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority.

The gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are booked according to the areas under which the park is divided that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga.

Gorilla habituation experience is also open to the public with so far 4 gorillas families open in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

What Is The Cost Of Gorilla Safari Permit In Uganda

Currently the cost of the Uganda gorilla trekking permit is $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for other African and 300000shs for East Africans.

The current cost of gorilla habituation experience permits in Uganda is $ 1500 for foreign nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents, $1000 other Africans and 7500000shs for East Africans.

The cost of the Uganda gorilla safari permit includes 4 hours of gorilla habituation experience or 1 hour of gorilla trekking, park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, security, mountain gorilla conservation support and other.

• Chimpanzee tour on Uganda safari

Chimpanzee tour on Uganda safari is possible but you can choose to do chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience ( CHEX). During chimpanzee trekking tour in Uganda, tourists follow a fully habituated chimpanzee troop and spend an hour with them. Chimpanzees habituation experience maximum four tourists with a team of researchers follow a semi-habituated chimpanzee community to spend four hours with them.

Uganda chimpanzee trekking safari is in different destinations including Kibale National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu Wildlife Reserve, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and others.

Chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX) is so far in two destinations in Uganda Kibale National Park and Budongo Forest.

How much is the cost of Chimpanzee Safari Permit In Uganda

At the moment, the cost of chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale National Park is $250 for international nonresidents, $200 for international residents and 180,000 for East Africans.

Kyambura gorge chimpanzee trekking permit cost is currently at $100 for foreign nonresidents, $80 for international residents and 50,000 shs for East Africans.

Chimpanzee habituation experience permit cost for Kibale National Park is currently $300 for foreign nonresidents, $250 for International residents and 250,000shs for East Africans.

The cost of chimpanzee trekking or Habituation experience permits for Kibale National Park includes four hours of chimpanzees habituation experience  or 1 hour of chimpanzees trekking, park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, chimpanzee conservation support,

The current cost chimpanzee habituation experience permit for Budongo forest is $230 for international nonresidents. Contact us for more information.

• Golden monkey safari on Uganda budget tour

The golden monkeys are charming primates that are some on the endangered species in the world. Golden monkeys physically differ from other monkeys because of their larger bodies that are covered in golden brown hairs at the lower bottom. They live in communities under the leadership of an alpha male.

In Uganda, golden monkeys are residents of Mgahinga National Park in the southwestern corner of Uganda. One can do golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience. During golden monkey trekking, tourists follow a fully habituated golden monkey troop to spend one hour with them.

During golden monkey habituation experience, tourists with researchers follow a semi-habituated habituated golden monkey community and spend four hours with them. Some level of fitness is necessary because the topography of Mgahinga National Park is ragged due to serious volcanic actions in this area.

At the moment the cost of the Uganda Golden Monkey trekking permit is at $60 for international nonresidents, $50 for international residents and 40,000shs for East Africans.

The current cost of go Uganda golden monkey habituation experience permit is at $100 for foreign nonresidents, $80 for international residents and 100,000shs for East Africans.

Note that most of the Uganda primate habitats also host other primates which you may identify along the ways including blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus, Dent Mona monkeys, olive baboons and others.

Game Safaris on budget UgandaTour

Uganda is one of the master of game safaris in Africa with less crowds. Uganda has four National game parks distributed to different parts of the country and all are open the entire year. Some of the Uganda National Park game parks include Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

During the game drives in these Uganda game parks, some of the animals you may spot include herds of elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, cheetahs, lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, zebras, elands, reedbucks to mention but a few. Some of the wild animals in the Uganda game parks are specifically found in particular parks so incase you are interested in seeing particular animals ask our safari consultant and he or she will advise accordingly.

To enjoy a Uganda game safari be open minded because finding game in the wilderness is a probability. 

Each of the game parks of Uganda has budget accommodation that you can book for the time on safari but you need to reserve it in advance.

Birding Safari in Uganda

Uganda is a birding haven in Africa with over 1000 bird species recorded a position that is compared to no other in Africa. The long list of birds in Uganda is attributed to the varied habitats where they can thrive including savannah, grasslands, swamps, woodlands and so many other habitats.

Uganda has a number of birding destinations including Mabira forest, Lwela Swamp, Mabamba Swamp, Mpanga Forest, Mabira forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Bwindi forest, Kibale forest Kaniyo Pabidi forest, Musambwa Island and others. Having a professional and experienced birding guide plus a birding guidebook is an added advantage during Uganda safari.

Some of the birds likely to see on a birding safari in Uganda include Handsome Francolin, Egyptian geese, greater and lesser flamingos, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Dusky’s Crimsonwing, Saddle bill stork, shoebill stork and others.

Water Activities on Uganda budget safari

Uganda is a land locked country that doesn’t miss the presence of the large oceans because of the several fresh water bodies distributed throughout the country. From the water bodies in Uganda, tourists can match up with the different water safari activities done from the larger water masses.

• White water rafting in Uganda

Enjoy the thrill of river Niles tide during the white water rafting experience where you sail through the tides on a tube boat. At Itanda falls and at the Victoria Nile in Murchison Falls one can enjoy the white water rafting adventure on Uganda safari. No experience is required because on ground are professional instructors to take you though what is necessary.

White water rafting has levels and you can stop where you most feel comfortable. it is an adrenaline stimulating Uganda adventure activity worth trying.

• Launch trips on Uganda safari

When on safari in Queen Elizabeth National and Murchison Falls National Park, the highlights of a visit to these parks is the launch trip. In Queen Elizabeth National Park the launch trip is on Kazinga channel while at Murchison Falls National Park the launch trip is on Victoria Nile. 

The relaxing launch trips on Uganda safaris provide a relaxing moment especially after the game drive under the scotching sun. You get to watch games that normally visit the shoreline from the comfort of your seat. Array of birds flock the banks of River Nile or Kazinga channels to feed on the free supplies from underwater that washes a shore. Watch out for the huge Nile crocodiles that share space with schools of hippos.

A boat trip on lake Mburo is always marvelous to take on while on a tour in Lake Mburo National Park because you get to watch a number of animals that move to the lake to quench thirst especially during the dry season. Lake Mburo is the largest fresh water lake in the middle of a national park in Uganda.

• Beach activities on Uganda safari

Closer to different water bodies in Uganda are several beaches which you may visit during the Uganda safari. Most of the beach activities in Uganda are around lake Victoria in Entebbe although they are not well built to the world standards.

There are other private upscale beaches around lake Victoria with better standards like at Bulago Island, Ssese Islands, Lake Bunyonyi and many other destinations around different water bodies in Uganda.

• Visit Source of River Nile

Uganda has the source of River Nile at Jinja. At the source of River Nile, tourists sail to the point where River Nile water separated from lake Victoria water dramatically. A long the way, you enjoy the evergreen vegetation that decorates the banks or River Nile and a plethora of birds that flock the shoreline.

Mountaineering on Uganda safari

Uganda has a wide range of highlands where you can test your fitness level. Mountain Rwenzori which is the highest mountain in Uganda with its highest peak Magheritah at 5019 meters above sea level can be hiked on at an average time of 7 days return trip.

There are other mountains in Uganda that you can hike in a day including Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura, Sabyinyo. Mountain Elgon in Eastern Uganda can be hike too in case you wish to do so during a Uganda safari at a budget cost. To enjoy the Uganda mountaineering safari, you need to pack the right gears to support you during this adventure.

Uganda cultural safari

While in Uganda, you can never run out of what to do with any budget. Immerse yourself in the multitude of cultures in Uganda but get ready to respect their local beliefs if you want to get more information. The people of Uganda are very friendly and ready to share their culture with the rest of the world.

Some of the outstanding cultural performances of the people in Uganda include dance performances, food preparation like Oluwombo, Eshabwe, millet posho, steamed Matooke ae other varieties. The dress codes of the people of Uganda differ, the different languages they speak to mention but a few

To enjoy the best of the Ugandan cultures, one needs to have patience and be open minded. For more information and bookings, please do not hesitate to contact our team.