Why a Safari in Uganda Deserves Your Attention
When European travellers picture an African safari, Kenya’s Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti usually come to mind first. But there’s a growing reason why seasoned safari-goers — and first-timers alike — are choosing Uganda instead. A safari in Uganda offers something no other East African country can match: mountain gorillas and Big Five game drives in a single trip.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Kenya is famous for the Great Migration and wide-open savannah. But here’s what most people don’t realise until they compare:
Cost: A Uganda safari costs roughly 30-40% less than an equivalent Kenya itinerary. A 7-day Uganda safari with gorilla trekking starts from around $2,500 per person, while a comparable Kenya trip (without gorillas, since Kenya has none) runs $3,500-4,500.
Crowds: The Masai Mara receives over 300,000 visitors annually. Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park sees a fraction of that. You’ll share game drives with 2-3 vehicles instead of 20.
Unique wildlife: Uganda is one of only three countries where you can trek to see mountain gorillas in the wild. A gorilla permit costs $800 — half the price of Rwanda’s $1,500 permit. Add chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest ($250) and you have a primate experience unmatched anywhere on earth.
Tanzania’s Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are bucket-list destinations, no question. But Tanzania is also East Africa’s most expensive safari country. Park fees alone can run $70-80 per person per day, compared to Uganda’s $40.
A 10-day Tanzania safari typically costs £5,000-7,000 per person from London. The same duration in Uganda? £2,800-4,000, including gorilla trekking. For travellers wanting both, Nature Nest Safaris runs combined multi-country itineraries from £6,500 per person.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi: Hiking through misty bamboo forests to sit with a family of mountain gorillas is consistently rated one of the world’s top wildlife experiences. Uganda has over half the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population.
Tree-climbing lions: Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha sector is one of only two places in Africa where lions regularly climb trees. The other is Tanzania’s Lake Manyara — but Ishasha has far fewer tourists.
Murchison Falls: The world’s most powerful waterfall, where the entire Nile forces through a 7-metre gap. Boat safaris on the Nile here offer hippo, crocodile, and elephant sightings with a thundering waterfall backdrop.
Kidepo Valley: Regularly voted Africa’s best-kept wildlife secret. This remote park in northeastern Uganda rivals the Serengeti for raw, uncrowded game viewing — and you’ll likely have it almost to yourself.
Direct flights from London to Entebbe run daily with multiple airlines offering competitive fares. Flight time is approximately 9 hours — similar to Nairobi or Dar es Salaam. British citizens need a visa ($50, available online) and a yellow fever vaccination.
3 days: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi — fly in, trek, fly out. From $1,200 per person.
7 days: Bwindi gorilla trekking + Queen Elizabeth game drives + Kazinga Channel boat safari. From $2,500 per person.
10 days: Add Murchison Falls and Kibale chimpanzee trekking. From $3,500 per person.
14 days: The full Uganda circuit including Kidepo Valley. From $4,500 per person.
Check our full Uganda safari guide for detailed itineraries and park-by-park breakdowns.
Nature Nest Safaris is based in Uganda and runs all safaris with our own vehicles and guides — no UK middlemen adding 30-40% to your price. We handle everything: airport transfers, permits, accommodation, and internal flights.
Ready to plan your safari in Uganda? Contact Nature Nest Safaris at book@naturenestsafaris.com or call +256 777 131 912.
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