How to Plan Amazing Uganda Safari On Budget

Uganda safari is a hot destination choice in Africa but the times are tough and so traveling on budget to save some coins is necessary. We should never trade holiday time for anything but can improvise to fit our budget and interests.

Knowing what you wish to do on your Africa safari in Uganda is so important in tailoring the right itinerary for your holiday. Uganda has a lot of interesting activities worth making part of your African vacation. Some of the hot budget Uganda safari activities include Gorilla trekking, game drives in the parks, chimpanzee trekking, birding, boat trips, hiking and so much more

Where To Go On Budget For Uganda Safari

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The standard cost of gorilla trekking permit is $700 per person per trek no matter your travel budget. You can still save on accommodation by renting tents or staying in budget accommodation facilities in Bwindi Forest.

Sometimes especially the shoulder seasons that is March to May and November flashy accommodation facilities may offer discounted rates to visitors. You can use this chance to have the best of your gorilla trekking safari at friendlier budget.

Though some tourists use public transport to go to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it may get costly when you lose your baggage and you are not sure of arrival time too. The buses make endless stops yet they do not reach the park. You need to hire a car to get to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest from there stop.

At Arch Safaris And Tours, we do car hire services but must have our guide driver.

 Game Drives In Uganda National Parks

A number of Uganda National parks offer activities on different budget. You can limit on the number of game drives in order to save on the fuel. Drive through busy tracks in the park so that you can access abundant wildlife and take enough photos for memory.

Murchison national park has the biggest number of chances to watch a range of wild animals. When you drive through the southern sector of the park, you may get to see animals like lions, Warthogs, herds of elephants, herds of buffalos, Rothschild giraffes, leopards, water bucks, bush bucks and so many others.

Queen Elizabeth national park game drive through the Kasenyi sector gives you chance to watch a number of Uganda Kobs that feed from this area. Chances of spotting lions camouflaged to catch a meal are high here. Going through the crater lakes track gives you chance to a wonderful view of numerous wet and dry craters like Lake Nyamunuka with an all year round putrid smell. During the game drive in Queen Elizabeth National park, you may get to see herds of elephants, herds of buffaloes, water bucks, topis, bush bucks, Giant forest hogs, mongoose and so many others.

Lake Mburo National park is exceptional for impalas, Zebras, giraffes, warthogs, buffaloes to mention but a few.

Kidepo Valley National park game drives are carnivores’ joint where you may get to see jackals, cheetahs, lions, spotted hyenas, side-stripped jackals, bat eared fox, aardvark, klipsinger, elephants, bohor reedbuck, hartebeests, oribi to mention but a few.

Booking accommodations that favor your budget gets you chance to see a number of wild game and relax while on holiday in Africa.

Birding Safari on Budget In Uganda

Uganda is a birding haven for Africa and as long as you select the right birding Uganda destinations, accommodation can be booked according to your budget. The number of days and people travelling with for birding can also cut down the cost of your Africa Birding safari.

Uganda host over 1000 bird species that live in a diversity of habitants, and the list is burgeoning all the time. Uganda hosts even rare bird species on the red list of IUCN including Albertine endemics like Shelley’s Crimsonwings, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis, Strange Weaver, shoe bill and so many others. Where to find them varies from location to location.

Some of the birding Uganda destinations include Murchison Falls National Park. queen Elizabeth National Park, Mabamba Swamp, Kidepo valley National Park with the biggest birds the ostriches, Botanical Gardens, Lake Mburo National Park, Lake Bunyonyi Islands to mention but a few.

Boat Trips on Budget Uganda Safari

A number of water bodies are distributed in Uganda where boat trips for fun can be organised. Before leaving Kampala or Entebbe you can enjoy a boat trip to Ngamba Chimpanzee sanctuary. This island is home to orphaned, abandoned and homeless chimpanzees that cannot return to there original community.

A boat trip to Murchison Falls is the dynamite of your Uganda safari experience. Watching a wide range of wildlife feeding from Nile river banks is exceptional.  Enjoying the roaring sound of River Nile as it squeezes through the 6 meters wide bend to burst out vigorously is mind-blowing experience. The public boat operated by Uganda wildlife Authority is fairly cheaper. The boat operates the morning and afternoon sessions.

The Queen Elizabeth National park Kazinga channel never disappoints as you get to see a number of animals that quench thirst from the banks. Some of the animals include lions, elephants, buffaloes, Defassa water bucks, topis, warthogs and so many others. A great number of Nile crocodiles and schools of hippos spend there day in the water of Kazinga channel.

Community visit on Uganda Safari

Getting a glimpse into the life of ordinary Uganda is interesting. Uganda is gifted by various ethnic tribes each with a different but interesting cultural background. Ugandans are so proud and attached to there tribes.

You may get the chance to spend a day with a local family from central Uganda where there staple food is steamed bananas locally referred to as matooke. Take part in basket weaving, mat making, pottery and so much more as organised for the day.

The Ankole people are mainly cattle keeper so you may have the chance to go herding, milking, mingle staple food which is millet cake called Kalo, churn milk into butter and so much more. Selecting a community closer to your residence saves you money on fuel expenses.

What To Pack For Budget Safari In Uganda

Packing light, relevantly and within manageable weights saves the money of paying a porter to carry your baggage. Sometimes the safari vehicles may be over packed especially if you are travelling with a big group.

Long shirt and trousers for any one booked to do gorilla trekking because the jungle is tough and rough for your open skin. Covering up saves you from stinging insects and biting nettles.

Tracking boots for any jungle activities where your active participation is required like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, nature walks and so much more.

Sandals or flip flops for activities with in the car like game drives where you don’t need to get down and dirty.

Dirt friendly sleeveless or shorts for activities done in the car and in hot conditions

Insect repellants as most Uganda safari activities are outdoors in the wilderness where stinging insects are part of. You need to keep away from swarms of biting insects.

Sun screen to smear on your skin and protect it from the scotching sun rays that heat the pars during extreme drought periods

A poncho or rain coat as at times Uganda receives severe rains especially the March to May period or mid-October to November. Gorilla trekking is exceptional because it rains regularly without warning. You need to keep warm to enjoy the trek

A fleece or sweater in order not to get cold in extremely cold Uganda destinations like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking.

Garden Gloves

 For gorilla trekking experience, you may have to hike to locate the mountain gorillas so youneed to hold a tighter grip using garden gloves.

Some sun glasses to protect your eyes from sun rays and flying insects in the jungle

A pair of stocking

Tacking in your trousers in stockings when heading for gorilla trekking gives extra protection to you from stinging nettles and insects

Sound proof flash-less Camera

 Chimpanzees and gorillas are threatened by flash photography so use one which is flash less.

A light water proof bag

Carrying your belonging in the jungle or on game drive keep you more organize and protects them from getting into contact with humid which may spoil there functionality.

Energy snacks to munch on when you get tired while in the field

A torch to use while in your room or tent when the lights go out in the night.

Which Is the Best Park For Budget Uganda Safari

Uganda national parks have both similarities and differences in the wild game they harbor. Some of the wild animals are common all while others are reserved to particular parks. Murchison falls national Park is renowned for a big population of Rothschild giraffes and oribi, Lake Mburo is famous for the Zebras and impalas, Bwindi Forest is a gorilla trekking destination, Queen Elizabeth National park a center for tree climbing lions, Kidepo Valley National park celebrates the huge number of carnivores in the country.

Some wild animals are common to almost all parks like warthogs, water bucks, Uganda Kobs, Buffaloes, elephants, crocodiles, hippos in most water bodies with in the parks. The difference in scenic views created within and out of the Uganda National Parks is lovely.

What Is the Best Time To Book Budget Uganda safari

Any time Uganda National parks and any other destinations in the country are open for tourists visits. You need to book in advance so that you are left with no choice especially those attractions with limit in numbers of those to attend.

The drier months that is June to September are weather friendly and animals feed from the open grass area. The trails to the mountain gorillas and chimpanzee trekking are drier and accessible.

How Many People Are allowed to Do Uganda Safari

Uganda safari is open for any number of people but they must be with a safari leader. This ensures proper order and time spent on activities to be done. Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking have a limitation on the age that is 15 years and above are allowed to do gorilla trekking and only 8 trekkers per trek. 12 years and above are allowed to do chimpanzee trekking in Uganda.

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