10 Things To Consider Before Booking A Uganda Safari In 2025-26

The 10 things to think about in 2025–2026 before making a reservation for a safari in Uganda. When planning a safari in Uganda for 2025–2026, think about the activities you want to partake in. In Uganda, gorilla safaris are the most popular activity. Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offer gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experiences.

Uganda is known as a country blessed by nature because it is one of the few safari destinations with pristine yet exclusive locations. Chimpanzee safaris, wildlife drives in different locations, Ugandan birding, various water sports, cultural safaris, etc. are all possible activities during a safari in Uganda. During the Uganda safari, you must decide where to go and what to do.

Because demand for lodging is very high during the busiest times of the year, which are June to September and December to January, plan ahead for your nights on a Uganda safari. The majority of Uganda safari attractions offer lodging on-site or nearby.

Selecting a mode of transportation in advance is crucial while traveling to Uganda safari sites. Since most of these upcountry Uganda safari spots are served by daily domestic flights from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip, you have the option of traveling by road or by air.

If you need a visa before entering Uganda, get one beforehand. Even while you can get one at immigration, it could take a long time, especially if your Uganda safari starts when you get there.

Bring the appropriate Uganda safari equipment for the activities you intend to engage in during your trip. Bring the appropriate equipment if you intend to go on chimpanzee safaris or gorilla trekking in Uganda. For you to fully enjoy the event, even additional activities need to be taken care of.

Despite lacking a coastline, Uganda is the gem of Africa and offers a wide variety of safari activities. Having the support of a seasoned and professional safari company, such as Monumental Expeditions and Safaris, which has been in business for more than a decade, would be beneficial. Our knowledgeable safari staff is available to answer any questions you may have about Ugandan tourism and assist you in selecting the ideal Uganda safari activities for the duration of your vacation.

What Should I Take Into Account Before Making a 2025–2026 Uganda Safari Reservation?

Choose Things to Do While on a Safari in Uganda
Gorilla tours, trekking, or gorilla habituation experiences are the most popular safari activities in Uganda. In the activity known as “gorilla trekking,” visitors look for a family of completely habituated gorillas and spend an hour with them.

Each mountain gorilla trekking family may have no more than eight visitors per day. On the Gorilla Habituation Adventure safari, visitors accompany a group of habituators and researchers to a family of semi-habituated gorillas and spend four hours with them.

For either of these activities, it would be beneficial to obtain a gorilla permit ahead of time, particularly during the busiest months of June, July, August, September, December, and January. There are only 168 gorilla trekking permits and 8 gorilla habituation experience permits available in Uganda; these are the only licenses available each day. For gorilla safaris in Uganda, a minimum of three days should be taken into account.

Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park are additional safari activities in Uganda. Ugandan chimpanzee safaris get you closer to the closest relatives of humans in the wild, which can be found in places like Kalinzu Forest, Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest, Kyambura Gorge, and Kibale National Park.

With more than 1000 bird species known to call Uganda home, birdwatching there is among the greatest in Africa. The rare shoe bill stork, saddle bill stork, Handsome Francolin, Shelley and Dusky Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Turaco, and others are among the species you might see in Uganda. Birds on the IUCN Red List are also found in Uganda. Mabamba Swamp, Lutembe Beach, Mpanga Forest Reserve, Mabira Forest, Bwindi Forest, Kibale Forest, and other locations are among the places in Uganda where birdwatchers can go.

Uganda During a safari in Uganda, you can participate in water activities such as launch safaris in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks, sports fishing on the Nile, white water rafting on the Nile, visiting the Nile’s source in Jinja, and more.

Being a diversified country, Uganda offers incredible cultural experiences. Although these traditions originate from several ethnic groups, they can all coexist in Uganda. You can discover a great deal about Uganda’s tribes and their customs. In addition to Kyabazinga of the Busoga Kingdom, the Kabaka is the king of the Buganda Kingdom and Omukama of the Bunyoro Kingdom.

Choose your lodging for the Uganda safari.

The majority of safari attractions in Uganda offer lodging on-site or nearby. These lodging options are divided into three categories: budget, mid-range, and upscale. Your choice of lodging for the Uganda safari has a significant impact on the kind of gorilla safari package you end up choosing.

Take into account the location where your gorilla permit is scheduled while making reservations for lodging for the gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to connect different parts of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park since the lands are divided, making navigation tough.

Since morning and afternoon are the ideal times for game safaris, it is crucial to spend the night in or near the game safari sites, even if you are only visiting the game parks. When you get there later in the day for a game drive, you might not see as much.

Select a mode of transportation to get to the Uganda safari locations.

Transportation by Road

The most popular way to go to Uganda safari locations is by road. A terrific safari, however, requires a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition and a skilled and experienced driver guide due to the upcountry routes. The driver needs to be well-versed in the many routes that go to some Uganda safari spots.

Sometimes the roads are clumsy, so the driver’s guide needs to be very aware of the potential highway conditions based on the weather in order to prevent leaving you stranded if your car is unable to navigate. Keep in mind that Ugandan roads can occasionally be dusty and uneven, so don’t count on a pleasant ride. Prepare to get a massage from Africa.

Monumental Expeditions and Safaris features a fleet of well-maintained safari cars that are frequently inspected before a safari begins, as well as a team of skilled and experienced driving guides who are knowledgeable with the routes up the country.

Utilizing air transportation while on safari in Uganda

Domestic flights to northern Uganda safari destinations like Murchison Falls National Park, Kasese Airstrip, or Mweya to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, or Semuliki Valley National Park are available daily from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to upcountry airstrips like Bugungu or Pakuba. Airstrips at Kihihi or Kisoro lead to Lake Bunyonyi, Mgahinga National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and other locations.

Due to restricted seating on domestic flights in Uganda, reservations are required since people who are traveling upcountry also reserve tickets, occasionally causing a shortage.

Entebbe Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip provide charter flight services, but you have to book them in advance to have all the required clearance.

Get a Ugandan visa in advance.

In the event that a visa is required for travel to Uganda, apply for one ahead of time. Although it takes time, especially if your Uganda safari is beginning on arrival, a visa can be obtained at immigration upon arrival. A Ugandan visa now costs around $50 per person.

Feel free to apply for an East Africa visa if your safari is starting in one of the East African nations, such as Rwanda, Kenya, or Tanzania. You can enter two East African nations with this one visa without having to reapply.

Bring the Proper Safari Equipment for Uganda.
For your safari in Uganda, you can bring fewer luggage. Your room is sufficiently open and you have adequate room in the car if you bring only a few pertinent bags on your Uganda safari. Certain safari activities in Uganda require particular equipment, such as:

Safari boots, long-sleeved shirts and pants, bug repellent, garden gloves, a safari heart, and any other personal belongings are essential when going on a gorilla walk.

Insect repellent and clothing in wilderness-friendly hues like tan and khaki are good things to bring on game drives in Uganda. Avoid colors like blue, white, and black since they can draw stinging insects like tsetse flies, safari bonnet, and others.

Since the temperature in the majority of Uganda safari places gets extremely cold in the morning and late afternoon, don’t forget to bring some warmers. Make sure to review the Ugandan weather prediction for the time of your safari.

Tell kids what to expect on a safari in Uganda.

Make sure to educate your kids about Uganda and what to expect during a safari if you intend to take them along. It rains a lot during the intense rainy seasons in Uganda, a tropical nation with hot weather. Only eligible youngsters who are at least 15 years old are permitted to participate in activities such as gorilla safari.

This is due to the fact that going on a gorilla safari necessitates walking through the bush, which may occasionally be rather difficult. During a gorilla safari, you must be patient as you must determine when to locate the mountain gorillas. Since this is a rainforest where animals dwell freely, teach the kids to keep an open mind and not get fixated on spotting specific creatures during the game safari.

For your tour, pick the Uganda safari package.
Our safari quotes at Monumental Expeditions and Safaris are bundled based on budget, midrange, and luxury. You must be able to choose the ideal Uganda safari package while staying inside your spending limit. The components of each safari package in Uganda vary.

Our safari consultant will contact you to discuss your safari needs when you contact us. We need to know your preferences, the number of people you plan to travel with, the number of days you will be on the Uganda safari, the safari package you want to take, and other details. If you would like to add anything special to your Uganda safari, such as a preferred hotel type or the gorilla trekking location, please let us know. Time spent looking for the ideal availability is reduced with the use of these details.

Think about when you schedule your tour in Uganda.
June, July, August, September, December, and January are Uganda’s busiest travel months; yet, because of the tremendous demand for tours throughout the nation, most of the logistics that support them are in short supply during these months.

Due to their limited quantity, certain safari permits, such as those for chimpanzees, gorillas, and golden monkeys, must be reserved in advance. It is difficult to discover availability during the busiest time of year, particularly at the last minute.

March, April, May, and November are the slowest travel seasons in Uganda, with less visitors visiting the country for safaris. Consider scheduling the Uganda safari during this season if money is tight.

Safaris are in high demand throughout the holidays of Easter, Christmas, and New Year’s, therefore reservations must be made well in advance.

Explain why you are going on a safari in Uganda.

If you have a specific reason for booking the Uganda safari, let them know in advance. For instance, if you are going on a honeymoon safari in Uganda, let them know right once so they can treat you like a honeymooner.

If there is a Uganda safari activity that you would like to accomplish on a certain day to commemorate a significant life event, please let us know. Make sure to mention this well in advance so that all of your safari arrangements are made accordingly.

Reserve your Uganda safari in advance.
Make travel arrangements at least three months prior to your Uganda safari to prevent disappointment. This is to maintain a high level of amenities that facilitate safari activities in Uganda.