Visitors on cheap Uganda safaris can experience the country’s unrivaled and stunning biodiversity, cultural heritage, and landscapes. To get such affordable tour experiences, potential travelers have to consider the following.
Consider the number of days
Ensure to adopt a tour package that can be done in a few days for instance, a gorilla trekking tour can take at most 3 days. This is in comparison to taking a gorilla trekking tour of about 5 days which may lead to higher expenditures. The fewer the days, the cheaper the safari.
Join a group of fellow travelers
Taking advantage of group travels can help you save some money that would otherwise be spent if you were a solo traveler. Some costs can be shared for example car hire, fuel, accommodation and some tour activities where discounts are offered for groups. If you do not have friends or family to travel with, contact a reputable tour operator to link you up with other travelers seeking a common goal as you are.
Travel during the low tourism season
It is important to be aware that the peak tourist season is the dry season. In Uganda, this falls in the months of December, January, February, June, July, and August. Therefore, avoid traveling for safaris during these months of the year but do it in the wet months of the year. These occur in March, April, May, October, and November. During these months, tourist numbers are low, and some tours and travel services are offered at discounted fees. These services include accommodation some tour activities and car hire.
Choice affordable accommodation
With a variety of accommodation options offered for travelers on Uganda safaris, you should opt for what suits your budget. There are budget lodges and hotels in and outside the safari destinations so you should take advantage of their existence to save money during your safari.
Consider the mode of transportation
There are various transportation options available for visitors on Uganda safaris. These range from road, air, water, and rail. The cheapest of them is the road, especially over long distances. Budget travelers should utilize this mode to save as much money as possible yet experience equally captivating tour adventures.
Even on the road, different vehicles have different costs. For example, a 4×4 safari vehicle is slightly more expensive than a saloon car, and using public means is even cheaper than private transportation. Additionally, a self-drive safari is cheaper than a guided safari, since the latter involves paying for the services of the driver guide. However, this approach is only good if you have maps and knowledge regarding the rules and regulations of the tour destination.
Make advanced booking
These occasionally come with discounts on various services or activities. Some accommodation facilities, tour service providers, and car hirers do this to attract clients. You can get information about such tour operators or accommodation service providers on the internet, or get recommendations from trip advisors and other reputable travel bloggers.
Pack your food
Packing your food on a safari should be non-perishable and should include snacks. This is important for budget travelers on Uganda safaris to reduce expenditures on meals, that might be ridiculously expensive in the tour sites.
Book through a local tour operator
Since they are comparably cheaper than an international tour agency. The local tour operator is also vastly knowledgeable on tour and travel services that could suit your budget.
Take advantage of promotions or special offers
There are always special offers from various tour operators, hoteliers, restaurateurs, tour sites, and others. These can be done during certain special days or seasons, including Christmas, Eid, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Women’s Day, etc.
Choose free or cheaper safaris
Travelers on Uganda safaris can take advantage of the country’s wide range of free tour activities, including birdwatching, nature walks, and village tours among others. Other tour activities in Uganda that can be enjoyed by travelers on budget safaris include trekking Mount Rwenzori, abseiling, tubing, visiting the Uganda Museum, exploring public markets, touring the Nyero Rock Paintings, and others.
Here are some of Uganda’s prominent tourist destinations that travelers on budget safaris can take advantage of.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, in southwestern Uganda, with its rich biodiversity and landscapes is the most visited. With over 90 mammal species and at least 600 species of birds and 10 different primate species, travelers on a budget can get an opportunity to witness something truly amazing. The park is also endowed with Maragambo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, Kazinga Channel, Lakes George and Edward, and others.
Murchison Falls National Park, in northwestern Uganda, is famous for the Murchison Falls, Victoria Nile, and vast savannah grassland and woodland. With over 556 species of birds and 144 mammal species, budget travelers can get an opportunity to enjoy their safari experience.
Kibale National Park, in southwestern Uganda, is dubbed the primate capital of the world since it has over 1,499 chimpanzees and other 12 primate species that include vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, L’hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and others. The tropical rainforest also houses over 370 bird species and various flora that can be witnessed by travelers on budget safaris.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in southwestern Uganda, is home to almost half of the total number of mountain gorillas in the whole world. There are over 20 habituated gorilla families that can be trekked and witnessed by travelers on budget safaris in their natural homes. The cheaper tour activities at Bwindi include the Batwa tours, birdwatching, forest walks, and many others. There are numerous lodges around the park where budget travelers can stay.