Budget travel in Uganda

enter image description here Credit: RoadTrip Uganda

As with many safari destinations, if you want to save money on lodging on your holiday in Uganda, choose to stay at hostels and campsites outside of the national parks.

Transport-wise, the most affordable way to travel is via public transport on buses and minibus taxis, although it’s difficult to reach the more remote national parks on public transport.

If you’re travelling to Uganda on a tight budget then you may not want to spend US$600 on a gorilla tracking permit. Chimpanzee trekking is much cheaper – but note that permits vary hugely in price depending on which reserve you do it in. In Kalinzu Forest it’s US$40, while it’s US$150 at Kibale Forest. There are plenty of other wallet-friendly activities to do in the country’s parks and reserves, from guided birding walks for US$30 to fishing in Lake Mburo National Park for US$15.

Local restaurants are your best bet for good-value meals – a plate of meat stew with sides will cost around US$2. You can also cook for yourself if you’re staying at a campsite or self-catering lodging by buying food at markets and supermarkets.

If you travel during the low season months of April, May, October and November, you’ll be able to pick up discounted rates on lodging and you may be able to get discounted gorilla tracking permits.

Our Recommended Itinerary

Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 1

Entebbe, arrival
at The Boma Entebbe
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 2

Your drive to Kibale is well worth it
at Primate Lodge Kibale
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 3

Full day with the Chimps
at Primate Lodge Kibale
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 4

Onwards to Queen Elizabeth
at Ishasha Wilderness Camp
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 5 to 6

Witness the unusual tree climbing lions
at Ishasha Wilderness Camp
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 7

Bwindi National Park all to yourself
at Buhoma Lodge
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 8

Gorilla trekking, enjoy every minute
at Buhoma Lodge
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 9

Buhoma Village walk
at Buhoma Lodge
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 10

Drive via Kisoro to Rwanda
at Mountain View Gorilla Lodge
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 11

Visit the Dian Fossey Tomb
at Kigali Serena
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
  • Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

day 12

Fly Home

View Full Itinerary

Popular Uganda Safaris

These popular itineraries can be customised to match your budget and travel dates



You might also like

Uganda in March

Credit: andBeyond March marks the start of the first rainy season of the year in southern Uganda, while it’s still dry in northern Uganda. It’s not an ideal time to travel for gorilla trekking and wildlife viewing. ...

Read more

Getting around in Uganda

One way to travel Uganda independently is by hiring your own car. Hiring a 4x4 is highly recommended, because most roads are unpaved and are often extremely bumpy and potholed, and most of the roads in the national parks are only suitable for 4x4s. However, driving on rough Ugandan roads is not for the feint hearted, and if you don’t have much experience driving in Africa it might be…

Read more

Walking safaris in Uganda

Guided walks and treks are offered in many of Uganda’s parks and reserves, the most popular being gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest and Budongo Forest Reserve. In Bwindi and the forest reserves you can also do guided walks to spot other primates, as well as butterflies, birds and small mammals. On the Big Four reserves of…

Read more

Couple safaris in Uganda

Credit: Kyaninga Lodge Uganda has lots to offer for adventurous, wildlife-loving couples who are looking for memorable experiences, whether it’s tracking primates in the rainforest, seeing rare wildlife and birds on safari in game parks, climbing Africa’s third highest peak or white-water rafting on the continent’s longest river. If you want to get off the beaten track and away…

Read more

Travelling to Uganda

From Europe and North America you can fly to Entebbe in Uganda either via the African cities of Addis Ababa, Kigali or Nairobi or via the Middle East, going through Dubai or Doha. ...

Read more

Solo travel in Uganda

The best region for solo travellers in Uganda is Western Uganda, where you’ll find most of the national parks and reserves as well as magnificent landscapes and a huge array of different activities. In Western Uganda, you can go mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Bwindi and Kibale Forest, wildlife spotting and birdwatching on the rivers and savanna of Queen Elizabeth National…

Read more

Budget travel in Uganda

Credit: RoadTrip Uganda As with many safari destinations, if you want to save money on lodging on your holiday in Uganda, choose to stay at hostels and campsites outside of the national parks. Transport-wise, the most affordable way to travel is via public transport on buses and minibus taxis, although it’s difficult to reach the more remote national parks on public transport. If…

Read more

What to pack for Uganda

Make sure that your vaccinations are up to date before you travel, and don’t start your trip without first buying comprehensive travel insurance that covers you for medical evacuations. Bring any medication you might need for the duration of your trip, as well as a well-stocked first aid kit with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antidiarrheal medication, antibacterial ointment,…

Read more

Ready to start your adventure?

+27 (0)21 422 3498
   discover.africa
    info@discoverafrica.com
    Mon - Fri: 8AM - 9PM GMT+2