What are you looking for?

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?

933 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
Trustpilot review

"I worked with Adelle on our travel itinerary and from start to finish she was incredibly. She arranged all flights, transfers, accommodations and tours perfectly! The accommodations and tours were beyond our expectations! The entire experience was seamless ..."

Elizabeth Conte, United States•28 Sep 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Trustpilot review

"My best friend and I just recently returned from an excursion in South Africa. There are simply not enough adjectives to describe this experience. Starting with the initial “interview” with Matthys Van Aswegen…. Matt was so thorough, so personable and extre..."

Teri May, Canada•31 Aug 2026•

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Trustpilot review

"I have just returned from my third African safari organised by Discover Africa, and once again Susan did an outstanding job of planning every detail. The journey began at my favourite destination, Kruger National Park, where the wildlife experiences were..."

Gary Lowen, Australia•18 Jul 2026•

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

"It was an extensive planning process to put together a 24 day safari and adventure trip covering Victoria Falls, Mana Pools and Hwange Park in Zimbabwe, followed by a wonderful experience in Botswana on the Chobe River and Okvango Delta. There were flight c..."

Tami Jones, United States•19 Nov 2025•

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, Mexico•12 Nov 2025•

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

"Discover Africa and their trip advisor Megan Warrington did a fantastic job arranging our trip to Cape Town, Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), and the Chobe River and Kwara Camp in Botswana. We originally planned this trip a few years ago, but had to cancel. Megan..."

Roger Pennifill, United States•12 Nov 2025•

Read More
View All Testimonials

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