Visiting Africa for a safari is among the most interesting and memorable experiences in the world. What’s more, Uganda is among the best destinations to do it in. since Uganda tours don’t come cheap, they don’t have to wipe out your life savings, either. You can reduce expenses essentially by going camping instead of staying at high-end luxury lodges. Regardless of whether you’re not generally a camper, you can still enjoy a camping safari in Uganda — in case you know what to do and expect.
There are 2 basic ways to go on a camping safari in Uganda. The first one is hiring a safari vehicle and you go on a self-drive tour. The other is reserving a tour with the tour company — either just to see the wildlife, or explore the whole country. In any case, you should budget about $150 per day for your excursion. That will cover food, transportation, campgrounds, and admission to the parks. The tips in this post apply in any case.
Things you should know before booking a camping safari to Uganda;
You’ll spend a lot of time on the road
Safaris are always priced as adventure travel. So different tourists are surprised to find just how sedentary they are.
In all actuality, regardless of whether you’re exploring Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth National park, Murchison Falls National Park, or Kibale Forest National Park, you will spend something like 3-7 hours on road. This is because the most interesting attractions in the country a found in remote areas.
Try not to misunderstand me — safaris are full of excitement. There’s not at all like the adrenaline surge of discovering tracks from one of the Big 5 and slowly creeping through the shrubbery looking for the animal that left them. What’s more, even from the safety of a vehicle, your heart will surely be beating when you find a lion or an elephant.
But, you may also get yourself urgently needing a stretch break after you’ve been driving for three hours without seeing a thing. And it’s not like you can simply jump out of the vehicle when you want to — for one, it’s unlawful, however, it likewise could be unsafe if a hidden animal spots you. (What’s more, if it’s a cheetah, you won’t be able to outrun it.)
Seasons matter
Rainy Season in Uganda parks
Uganda can be visited at any time of the year for a camping safari. In any case, there are pros and cons for some months. So before you pay for your Uganda camping safari, consider what you’re hoping to get out of your trip.
In case you need to visit gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or wildlife in the 12 wildlife parks in the country at its best, go for dry season (June-August is perfect). The absence of rain forces the animals out of the bush and to the water holes to drink. Sometimes you may not need to leave your campsite to look for some common animals like elephants, warthogs, and others they may visit you at the campsite or you can simply visit the nearest on-site water holes during the afternoon hours will find then taking water. Obviously, with colossal wildlife watching, chances come gigantic group. You’ll need to do a game drive in the parks.
In case you’re a lover of wildlife and landscapes of the west and northern part of the country, I’d recommend traveling in April or May. These regions get no rain in any way, and the crowds will be nonexistent. Rain may disrupt your safari further in the north, however, it’s usually a minor interruption as long as you have a 4×4 safari vehicle. Nights remain sufficiently warm to comfortably camp. Then again, you must be entirely fortunate to see Big 5 wildlife.
You likely need to avoid the months of January and February regardless. These months get truly soggy. Roads flood up north, and camping would not be a lot of fun.
