Safari cost per day in Uganda (2026)
Expect about $285–$590 per person per day for a mid-range lodge/tented camp with a shared vehicle, before international flights. Daily costs are dominated by lodging, then park fees.
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Daily cost breakdown per person
Two adults on a 7-day trip, tips included, no flights or extras. Low–high range, USD per person per day.
Shared vehicle, February (peak)
| Per person per day | Budget camping | Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Luxury camp/lodge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park & conservation fees | $40–$45 | $40–$45 | $40–$45 |
| Lodging (per night) | $25–$60 | $200–$420 | $480–$580 |
| Vehicle & guide | $30–$90 | $30–$90 | $30–$90 |
| Tips | $15–$35 | $15–$35 | $15–$35 |
| Total per person per day | $105–$230 | $285–$590 | $565–$750 |
Shared vehicle, April (lower-fee month)
| Per person per day | Budget camping | Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Luxury camp/lodge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park & conservation fees | $40–$45 | $40–$45 | $40–$45 |
| Lodging (per night) | $25–$60 | $200–$270 | $380–$400 |
| Vehicle & guide | $30–$90 | $30–$90 | $30–$90 |
| Tips | $15–$35 | $15–$35 | $15–$35 |
| Total per person per day | $105–$230 | $285–$440 | $465–$570 |
Private vehicle: cost per day for the whole vehicle
A private 4x4 with driver-guide (up to 6 guests) is about $200–$290 per day per vehicle Estimate – split across everyone in the vehicle. ESTIMATE: Kenyan Land Cruiser hire rates used as a proxy. (A Ugandan-registered tour vehicle pays only about UGX 30,000 entry per day under the UWA tariff, which we ignore.)
Daily park and conservation fees
| Fee | Adult (non-resident) | Child | Status & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murchison Falls National Park UWA Conservation Tariff Jul 2024-Jun 2026 (still published as the live tariff). | $45 per 24 hours | $25 Ages 5-15 USD 25; under 5 free. | Verified Uganda Wildlife Authority verified 2026-10-16 |
| Queen Elizabeth / Kidepo / Kibale / Lake Mburo / Bwindi (Category A) UWA Conservation Tariff Jul 2024-Jun 2026 (still published as the live tariff). | $40 per 24 hours | $20 Ages 5-15 USD 20; under 5 free. | Verified Uganda Wildlife Authority verified 2026-10-16 |
| Mountain gorilla tracking permit (Bwindi/Mgahinga), per adult USD 800 normally; USD 600 low-season permits in April, May and November (non-reschedulable). Includes that day's park entry. Minimum age 15. | $800 ($600 in Apr/May/Nov) per adult, includes park entry that day | – | Verified Uganda Wildlife Authority UWA circular 26 Feb 2026 verified 2026-10-16 |
| Chimpanzee tracking, Kibale National Park, per adult USD 250 now (incl. entry), USD 200 low-season, rising to USD 300 from 1 Jan 2027. Children are not charged in this calculator. | $250 ($200 in Apr/May/Nov) per adult, includes park entry that day | – | Verified Uganda Wildlife Authority UWA circular 26 Feb 2026 verified 2026-10-16 |
Nightly lodging rates
| Tier | Per person / night (sharing) | Status & sample properties |
|---|---|---|
| Budget camping | Off-peak $25–$60 Peak $25–$60 | Sourced
Camping USD 8 pp up to a basic twin tent USD 35 per tent (Red Chilli Rest Camp, Murchison). Meals are not included in those rates, so an estimated USD 15-25 pp/day for meals is added. Red Chilli Rest Camp, Murchison FallsOur own assumption |
| Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Off-peak $200–$270 Peak $200–$420 | Sourced
Full board: Chobe Safari Lodge 'from USD 200'; Paraa Safari Lodge standard room USD 270 (low) to USD 420 (peak). Reseller guide. Paraa Safari Lodge Uganda prices 2026 |
| Luxury camp/lodge | Off-peak $380–$400 Peak $480–$580 | Sourced
Paraa Safari Lodge Safari/Honeymoon Suites (USD 380-580 pp). Only this top-of-market lodge sampled; ultra-luxury Uganda camps not sampled. Paraa Safari Lodge Uganda prices 2026 |
Ways to lower the daily cost
- Travel in a lower-fee month (April, May and November gorilla permits are USD 600).
- Share a vehicle: a private 4x4 is split across up to 6 guests.
- Mix tiers: camp in the parks, upgrade for one or two nights.
- Choose lower-fee parks for part of the trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a safari cost per day in Uganda?
Roughly $285–$590 per person per day for a mid-range lodge/tented camp with a shared vehicle (two adults, 7-day trip, tips included, flights excluded), depending on month. Other tiers are shown in the table. Estimates, not quotes.
What is the daily park fee in Uganda?
Murchison Falls National Park: adult $45 per 24 hours; Queen Elizabeth / Kidepo / Kibale / Lake Mburo / Bwindi (Category A): adult $40 per 24 hours.
How much does a private safari vehicle cost per day in Uganda?
We use about $200–$290 per vehicle per day with a driver-guide (an estimate proxied from Kenyan Land Cruiser hire rates), plus park fees for each passenger. A shared seat is roughly $29–$90 per person per day.
Is the daily cost cheaper on a longer trip?
Per-day fixed costs (park fees, lodging, vehicle) do not fall much on a longer trip, but the cost of international flights is spread over more days, so the all-in cost per day drops as trips get longer. Private vehicle hire rates sometimes fall for longer hires too.
How should I tip per day on safari in Uganda?
Published guidance (mostly Kenya-focused) suggests about $10–$20 per person per day for a shared driver-guide, $40 per vehicle per day for a private guide (up to about $25 per person), and $5–$15 per person per night for lodge staff.
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