Enquire
Why book with us?

What are you looking for?

Hello traveller!

It's in Cape Town now.

We're sorry. Our safari planners aren't available now. Our office hours are 08:00 - 19:00 (GMT+2).

Call us to speak to an experienced safari planner.


Alternatively, we recommend...

travel-form-icon

Complete our travel enquiry form to connect with a safari planner

ENQUIRE TODAY

Food and Tipping in Uganda

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

Tipping in Uganda is not obligatory but many travellers do leave tips. This extra money really helps boost the income of people working in the tourism industry. For restaurants, you can tip 10% for good service, and if you want to tip a taxi driver, then you can round up your fare.

It’s usual to tip drivers, safari and gorilla tracking guides, and porters at the end of a safari or hike. For guides, you can tip between USD$10 to $20 per day per guest, for a porter US$5 to US$10, and for a private driver you can tip US$20 to US$30 per day for the group. Most travellers also leave tips for the lodge staff (US$5 to US$10 per guest), and many lodges have their own tip box where you leave money to be shared out amongst the staff.

In terms of food, you’ll find the usual international fare at tourist restaurants and hotels. For local food served at eateries and restaurants, the most common main dish is a stew of meat, beans, or groundnuts served with posho (maize meal) and matooke (mashed green bananas). Cassava, sweet potato, white potato, yam, and rice are also common starches. Street-side snacks include things like chapati (flatbread) filled with eggs and onions (known as a rolex), mugati naamaggi (a pancake filled with minced meat and egg), and samosas.

Popular drinks are tea (try the chai-spiced tea) and coffee – two of Uganda’s crops – as well as lager beer, banana and millet beer, and fermented banana wine.

If you have any dietary requirements (such as vegan or vegetarian food), be sure to notify your travel planner in advance of your stay.

Ready to plan your tailor-made safari?

909 Reviews - 5/5 Stars

Craft your journey with the expertise of our dedicated Africa Safari Experts

Start Planning

What Our Guests Have to Say?

Read recent reviews from travellers who have planned and booked their trips with us

star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"We live in Australia and I honestly didn’t know who to contact about organising a trip of a lifetime and I really wanted someone that knew Africa and not someone that was from Australia and just guessed. I found Discover Africa on TikTok and got in touch..."

Natalie Flick, Australia29 Jun 2026

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"Magic tour, the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen in all my life, I really love this ancestral land: nature, wise animals, and humans with very big heart."

Griselda Woo Gonzalez, Mexico12 Nov 2025

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"Megan with Discover Africa did an excellent job planning our trip. We are from the US and it was so great to get her help. It made our trip so much easier. We flew into Cape Town and were there a few days. Then we were flown to Kruger National Park. Our sta..."

Catherine Hughes, United States14 Oct 2025

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"Susan and the team from Discover Africa you have excelled yourself through the initial contact to the very end of our journey. We were dazzled with the views of Cape Town. Victoria Falls and of course the game parks. The animals did not disappoint the spect..."

Andrew Wales, Australia29 Sep 2025

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"I chose a travel agency for four reasons. Years in business, quantity and quality of reviews, customisability, and local expertise. Discover Africa and my agent, Adelle, met or exceeded all expectations. I gave Adelle my budget and modified one of their sug..."

Thomas, Costa Rica12 Sep 2025

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"Justin helped me book my camp experience with short notice, he made the whole process very easy, took care of everything, was easy to contact and my trip was perfect."

Jen Flack, Australia09 Sep 2025

Read More
View All Testimonials

Our safari traveller reviews are independently verified and sourced from trusted third-party review platforms.