Great Lakes Safaris

Great Lakes Safaris is a Kampala-based safari operator with more than two decades of experience in Uganda, Rwanda and the wider region. It is the kind of company to contact if your time in Kampala is the start or end of a longer journey into Uganda's national parks, rather than a source of short city tours. Its stated focus is on enrichment, conservation, community initiatives and responsible tourism.

Its published itineraries show the range. In Uganda, the 7 Day Uganda Discovery Safari and the 15 Day Uganda Classic Safari cover the country's main parks and primate experiences. For Rwanda, there is a 4 Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari, a 5 Day Volcanoes and Lakes of Rwanda trip and an 11 Day Rwanda Discovery Safari. The company also sells travel packages for the Rwenzori Marathon in western Uganda, a race named after the Rwenzori Mountains. Ask whether an itinerary can be adapted to your dates and interests before you book, and compare it with the other trips on the website.

Great Lakes Safaris also presents a collection of lodges and camps, grouped as its Boutique and Adventure collections. They include Primate Lodge in Kibale National Park, a forest park known for its primates, Elephant Plains Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Pabidi Lodge, Budongo Eco Lodge, Simba Safari Camp, and Mwamba Lodge in Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. Booking a safari with a company linked to its own lodges can make planning simpler, as transport and accommodation are arranged together.

This operator suits travellers planning a safari of a week or more, families and couples who want an organised private trip, and runners heading to the Rwenzori Marathon. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are issued by the national authorities and sell out in busy periods, so start planning early and ask the company to confirm permit availability before you commit to dates.

Contact the team by phone from Kampala, on either of its two published numbers, or through the website. The company publishes a monthly newsletter, Journey Beyond, and is active on social media, which is a good way to see recent trip reports before you get in touch.