How to Spend 3 days on Safari in Uganda

AfricaUgandaSafari
Written By Deanna Squires
 

African Elephants on the banks of the Nile in Uganda

A bucket-list dream come true

Have you ever dreamed of going on an African safari and taking a Nile cruise? I have! And finally, that dream came true.

I’d like to tell you, “You should do it!” and if it’s on your bucket list like it was on mine, maybe you should. But there’s a lot to consider before putting your Africa travel plans in motion.

Keep reading for insight into my experience in Uganda, things to consider before planning your own safari adventure, and suggestions for beautiful places to visit when the time is right.

Safety first

As I write this article (summer 2025), there is a Level 3 travel advisory in place, encouraging tourists to “Reconsider Travel” to Uganda. I registered with the U.S. Embassy’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) months before traveling to Uganda to stay informed. If you’re planning your own safari vacation (anywhere in Africa, not just Uganda), I’d encourage you to do the same.

I admit, the travel advisory gave me pause and made me question whether I was doing the right thing by going to Uganda now. Since I was going with a knowledgeable, experienced group, I reasoned that they wouldn’t proceed if it meant putting us in harm’s way. That said, as with travel anywhere in the world, proceeding with caution and common sense are important.  

If you’re planning your own safari vacation, these are some things to consider:

  1. Where do you want to go?

  2. What type of safari experience do you hope to have?

  3. Regardless of the answers to those first two questions, plan to go with an experienced and reputable group.

  4. What vaccines are required for the region you’ll be traveling in?

  5. Register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) before you go.

Seeing the Nile River for the first time from the observation deck at Chobe Safari Lodge.

Why Uganda?

Purpose & Logistics

For me, this trip was part medical outreach, part African safari. I went with a group from my church which had two incredible benefits:

  1. I got to spend time with the people of Uganda, getting to know them in a way few Americans do.

  2. All the hard part – the logistics of planning a trip to Africa – were done for me by an experienced team who’d been there before.

Natural Beauty

Uganda is just one of several African countries that offer unique and exotic safari opportunities. Something that makes Uganda unique is that it’s home to Murchison Falls National Park – the largest park in Uganda, covering nearly 4,000 acres and home to 76 animal species, including four of the “Big 5” safari animals:

Lion  |  Leopard  |  Elephant  |  Cape Buffalo

The fifth animal – the rhinoceros – was previously hunted to near extinction and, therefore, currently can only be found at the Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, a non-profit sanctuary working to grow the rhino population and reintroduce them back into the wild.

In addition to the Big 5, on a safari trek in Murchison Falls National Park, you might see:

  • Giraffes

  • Hippopotamus

  • Crocodiles

  • Several species of antelope, including Uganda’s national animal, the Kob

  • Several species of primates, including Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Baboons and Patas Monkeys

  • Warthogs

  • Jackson’s Hartebeest

  • Water Bucks

  • And countless bird species!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links for products and/or services we love. If you decide to make a verified purchase through the links in this post, I will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for choosing to wander with us. We hope your adventures are filled with as much joy and awe as we’ve experienced!

Where to Stay

If you’re planning to stay in Entebbe before or after your safari, consider Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe or the Best Western Premier Garden Hotel Entebbe. Both offer a free airport shuttle. The Protea Hotel is located on Lake Victoria with a patio area overlooking the lake and a public beach a short walk away.

There are many safari lodges and resorts to choose from. Here are two I highly recommend:

Chobe Safari Lodge

Chobe Safari Lodge was spectacular! Rooms are available in the main lodge, but I absolutely fell in love with the tent accommodations. Believe me when I say, tent life is a good life at Chobe.

My tented room offered a front patio perfect for sitting and enjoying a peaceful view of the Nile. Inside, there was a full bed with mosquito netting, a sitting area and desk with views overlooking the front patio, and a private bathroom. Golf cart escorts are provided between the lodge and tents.

The lodge itself features:

  • Patio overlooking the Nile River

  • 3-tiered outdoor pool

  • Restaurant & bar offering local and international food options

  • Fitness Center and Sauna

  • Spa Center

  • Business center & Conference facility

  • Gift shop

Activities at Chobe Safari Lodge

Onsite activities – such as a walking safari – or day trips can be arranged by Chobe Safari Lodge for an additional cost.

Paraa Safari Lodge

Paraa Safari Lodge was another beautiful resort nestled alongside the Nile River in Murchison Falls National Park. Like Chobe Safari Lodge, Paraa offers rooms in the main lodge, as well as tent accommodations. Unlike Chobe, Paraa’s tent rooms are a bit more primitive and farther removed from the lodge. For this reason, I preferred the lodge accommodation with a patio overlooking the pool and Nile.

Lodge features:

  • Patio overlooking the Nile River

  • Swimming pool with swim-up bar

  • Restaurant & bar offering local and international food options

  • Fitness Center

  • Airport shuttle available for additional fee

Activities at Paraa Safari Lodge

Activities like a Nile Cruise, Chimp Trek or Game Drive can be arranged by Paraa Safari Lodge for an additional cost.

Before you go

Travel Visa

Uganda requires a Tourist Visa that is valid for up to 90 days, in addition to a valid passport. You’ll need to make your travel arrangements prior to applying for the visa and make sure to apply within an appropriate timeframe to cover your stay.

Example: You’ll be in Uganda from July 3-12. Apply for your visa no sooner than April 20. That would allow a few days extra in case of unexpected delays.

Tourist Visa Requirements at the time of application:

  • Copy of passport, valid at least 6 months after your travel dates

  • Tour plan

  • Travel itinerary/booking

  • Recent passport-size photograph

  • Yellow Fever vaccination certificate

  • Hotel booking or reservation

Cost: $50 USD

Vaccines

Uganda requires proof of a Yellow Fever vaccine for obtaining a travel visa to enter the country. In addition, there are other vaccines to consider if you haven’t already had them, including (but not limited to):

  • Hepatitis A & B

  • Typhoid

  • Meningitis

  • Polio

  • Tetanus

We made an appointment with an experienced travel doctor who walked us through the recommended vaccines, common illnesses and how to avoid them, as well as recommended medications to pack (just in case).

 Avoiding Malaria

Malaria is still a common disease in Uganda. There are ways to help avoid contracting the illness when traveling there.

  • Pre-treat clothing and gear with permethrin insect repellent prior to going

  • Apply insect repellent with picaridin regularly while in country

  • Take an anti-malarial medication such as Malarone (taken prior, during and for a short time after your time in Uganda)

  • Ensure mosquito netting is provided for sleeping areas

What to pack

Uganda is hot - even in its cooler, wet season. It’s also a conservative nation, so it’s important to know the local acceptable attire. In many places, clothing that covers the shoulders and knees is expected (especially for females).

For certain safari excursions, long pants tucked into tall socks are recommended to protect against insect bites. The tzetse fly is common in Uganda and is attracted to blue and black, so wearing neutral colors is advised. And, of course, avoid bright red, orange, yellow and white clothing that can stand out to wild animals.

You’ll want to have a camera or a smart phone you can use to capture the beauty all around you on safari. Binoculars are also nice to have for spotting animals farther off the trails.

For your electronic devices, you’ll want to pack a Type G Travel Adapter. This is the same type of plug used in the United Kingdom, Malta and Asia.

And plenty of sunscreen, bug repellent spray or lotion, and travel-sized hand sanitizer.

Getting There

Flying to Uganda from the U.S. is a LONG travel experience. Starting in Indianapolis, our travel plan looked something like this:

  • 3-hour bus ride to Chicago (ORD) airport

  • 15-hour flight on Ethiopia Airlines from Chicago to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • 90-minute flight from Addis Ababa to Entebbe, Uganda

  • Then several multi-hour bus rides to various destinations throughout our trip

Coordination and comfort are keys to managing a trip of this magnitude.

For flights, you have several airline options, but if you’re looking for a recommendation, I’m now a fan of Ethiopia Airlines. Like every other airplane I’ve been on, space in the economy seats is limited, but the attention and amenities provided to passengers made the long flight more bearable.

For ground transportation in Uganda, I recommend either booking a safari tour that includes transportation to and from the airport or hire a reputable private driver. (note: private drivers can add substantially to your overall cost).

Roads in Uganda are largely unpaved and in poor condition. Add to that, like in England, cars drive on the opposite side of the road as those in the U.S. And, driving through Murchison Falls National Park, it’s not uncommon to encounter wild animals in the road.

Having a driver knowledgeable of the roads and conditions is a big safety benefit, plus being able to converse with the guards at various checkpoints is invaluable.

Safari Adventures

The three days we spent on our Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park was filled with wonder and awe. We packed in wildlife viewing on a walking safari, chimpanzee trekking, a game drive through the savannah and a Nile cruise. With the exception of the chimp trek, all safari activities were arranged through the Chobe and Paraa Safari Lodges.

Looking out over the Nile River, toward the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Day 1: Walking Safari at Chobe Safari Lodge

After getting settled in our rooms and enjoying a cold Nile Special (an American-style light lager, aptly named for the region) on the patio overlooking the Nile River, we set out on a walking safari with a guide from Chobe Safari Lodge. With the unpredictability of nature, every safari offers something special. It’s impossible to predict exactly when, where and what animals you’ll encounter. Even the same safari on a different day will showcase something unique. Some treks will be filled with animal sightings, others will leave you wanting more. Either way, the environment alone is worth the effort.

Our walking safari was absolutely filled with giraffes and, to our delight, the tower of giraffes almost seemed as interested in us as we were in them. We also encountered baboons, warthogs, black-and-while colobus monkeys, and kobs.

Day 2: Nile Cruise at Paraa Safari Lodge

Launching just a short drive from Paraa Safari Lodge, our Nile Cruise took us upstream to the foot of Murchison Falls (or as close as was safe given the swirling current from the waterfall).

Being on the Nile River was special to begin with, but along the way our boat captain paused, giving us time to admire the local wildlife. As with any safari, it’s unpredictable what can be seen on the river, but we got very lucky.

We saw several pods, or bloats, of hippos; a small little family of elephants that came to the river’s edge for a snack; a bask of crocodiles; and several birds, including the majestic African fish eagle.

Day 3 (morning): ChiMpanzee Trekking at Budongo Eco Lodge

The chimp trek was an up-close-and-personal adventure in the rain forest of Murchison Falls National Park. We initially set out on a path from the café and gift shop at Budongo Eco Lodge, but shortly into our hike, the spotters radioed and said the chimps were spotted farther out.

So… Back to the lodge we went and onto the bus. We restarted a few miles up the road and found the chimps a short distance into our hike.

Watching the chimpanzees frolicking in the trees and listening to them call out to each other was like nothing I’d ever experienced. Although they live in the wild, the chimps have become somewhat accustomed to human visitors. For this reason, we were required to wear face masks when getting close to the troop in order to protect them (and us) from disease.

At the end of our hike, we enjoyed a snack in the café while recapping our experience and did some local souvenir shopping.

Day 3 (evening): Game Drive at Paraa Safari Lodge

What is more quintessentially “safari” than a game drive through the African savannah?

Throughout our time in Uganda, leading up to this experience, I’d heard stories from past years with close encounters of the amazing Big 5 kind… Lions strolling by the jeep, elephants peeking in to say hi… that kind of thing.

But, remember how I said wildlife is unpredictable and sometimes the beauty of the environment is the best part of the experience? Our game drive was filled with animal sightings – even a far-off lion and a leopard lounging in a tree – but it wasn’t filled with the kind of African safari grandeur I’d imagined.

Driving through the savannah of Uganda is spectacular all on its own. The expansive landscape and views across the Nile, looking toward the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were beautiful. Add to that the hundreds of animals we did see and the experience was magical.

Explore Other Safari Packages

There are so many safari options in Uganda and other African countries such as Kenya or Tanzania, but the ones shared above felt like a good representation of a beautiful country. Given a little extra time, there are two excursions I would have liked to experience in addition to those mentioned above:

If you’re staying at Chobe Safari Lodge, a day trip to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary can be booked through through the resort. If not, consider one of the options with transportation from Kampala or Entebbe. The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos, the last of the Big 5 safari game animals.

As I was researching Uganda before my trip, I realized the equator sits just south of Entebbe, in the middle of Lake Victoria. Taking an excursion to the equator line is something I would have liked to do just to say “I was there!”

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever thought about going on an African safari, you should do it! You won’t be sorry.

With a bit of research, you can find safari adventures as rustic or as glamorous as you want, and to fit most budgets. The ones I’ve shared in this blog post provided a broad spectrum of wildlife experiences within a relatively short period of time. The accommodations were reasonably priced and the views were remarkable.

But what stood out the most for me were the people of Uganda. Nowhere else in the world have I connected with people so welcoming. They are a proud people who are happy to share the beauty of their country.

 
Deanna Squires
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