Why Do I need to use a Safari Tour Operator in Uganda? – why not do It for me?
Here are 10-reasons why you need a local Safari Tour Operator for your Safari in Uganda
Why do I need to use a Safari Tour Operator in Uganda? Can’t I do it myself? After all, I have planned all my past trips to faraway places such as Australia, Europe, and even Asia. Why can’t I arrange my own Safari in Uganda??
In Western Countries planning and booking a trip is straightforward. In Uganda, booking a safari in Africa is much more of a challenge for most.
Someone recently asked me, “Do I need to use a Safari Tour Operator in Uganda?”
My answer reflected the country we live and work in – “As long as Uganda is chaotic, confusing, ever-changing, bureaucratic. A country where online requests are often ignored. And gorilla and chimpanzee permits are hard to obtain “Travelers – Tourists, Safari Goers will need and use a Tour Operator such as Kabiza Wilderness Safaris.”
A self-planned safari without a local Tour Operator or a local driver-guide is a disaster in the making. Add to that self-drive, and you have the script for another Vacation Disaster comedy movie, except this time, you are not watching but starring in it.
Still not convinced. To avoid a self-planned Safari Disaster, read our 10-Reasons why you need a Safari Tour Operator, and then contact us. You will be glad that you did.
Do I need to use a Safari Tour Operator in Uganda?
10-Reasons why you need a Safari Tour Operator for your Safari in Uganda
1. A Tour Operator will save you time & frustrations that come with Self-Planning a Safari:
A Tour Operator will save you time & frustrations that come with Self-Planning a Safari: Your Safari Planning will begin with Research.
That is where things become confusing since much of the information on the Internet is often outdated or simply wrong. It starts with erroneous Visa Information, outdated advice, and insufficient COVID-19 Pandemic information.
Research for your Safari takes time, and lots of it, and many become frustrated by that alone. Yes, you can buy the helpful Bradt Guide for Uganda. However, even that publication is outdated by the time it is published, especially regarding prices, permits, and park rates.
Suppose you want to spend seven days in Uganda and visit different parks. In that case, you need to know the logical way to connect the various points of interest. The reality is this. Suppose you do not use a Tour Operator such as us. You will not have the organizational and logistical support that you need.
We save you time, money, and the frustrations of self-planning a safari in Uganda.
2. A Tour Operator, unlike you, will know Uganda warts and all:
Most Visitors and Tourists know little about Uganda, and what they think they know about Uganda turns wrong. Now you want to plan and implement your Safari without knowing the lay of the land.
Do you not know which airport to fly into? Where do you stay? How do Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife Game Drives, and Chimpanzee Trekking connect? How many days do I need?
Distances, Drive Times, Road Conditions, vehicles, lodges, hotels, and a driver, are all things you need to plan for. By now, you might be ready for a one-stop planning experience and book your Safari with us instead.
We are not confused. We know the country quite well. We live and work here, and Safaris are our business. While on Safari with us, you are going with a local, and your Ugandan driver-guide knows things you will never find researching on the Internet.
3. A Tour Operator Will Save you Money and Stretch your Dollar:
It would be best if you had a Safari Tour Operator like us. We know Uganda and would love to introduce you to the Pearl of Africa.
Many Safari Goers make the mistake of thinking that using a Safari Tour Operator is more expensive. You are putting together one Safari, and at the same time, we are organizing ten. That extra volume brings lower prices.
We negotiate Lodge prices and pass on the savings to our clients. Our Safari costs are inclusive (some tour operators sell stripped-down versions), and we do our best to book quality lodges. We include all park and activity fees at a minimal profit.
If you book the same Safari through a Travel Agent in your country, your cost will be 25 to 30% higher. A travel agency has to use a ground tour operator such as ourselves. You get the lowest price when you plan and book a safari directly with a Ugandan Tour Operator since there is no go-between, such as a travel agency that adds fees and profit.
Forget the used-car kinds of advertising slogans such as “Doing Africa on the Cheap or Cheap Gorilla Trekking Safaris.” Those are come-ons. We like to say, “remember the Yugo.” It was the cheapest car on the market at its time but useless with more downtime than time on the road. During the pandemic, we take out some of the risk factors with our Flexible Booking Policy and Price Guarantee.
4. A Tour Operator will give you Free Expert Local Advice:
Advice – when you spend thousands of Dollars on a safari, you want to make the right choices, unlike Forums, where you receive iffy answers to your questions. You will get the latest information from us if you wish to make your Safari a success. In most instances, we know the latest changes with permit fee entry requirements and do not wait a day.
We also know and abide by the current COVID-19 Tourism Protocols. in 2022, many of them have been lifted due to the lower impact of the pandemic in Uganda.
You can only get so much information on the Internet, especially about strange things to you and that you know little about.
A travel agent in the US will charge you for that advice. However, we live here and are in the Safari Tour Business. We have done something for over a decade, and our knowledge goes back 0ver 30 years.
Our advice saves our clients time and money—the right Lodge for them and activities off-of-the-beaten path.
5 – A Tour Operator will help you avoid the mistakes you would make:
How much do you know about Uganda? I was reading the latest edition of the Bradt Guide.
I noticed wrong with the number of participants in Gorilla Habituation Experts, like the Travel Bible of Uganda Tourism. I read articles daily that give the wrong figures about this or that, including the number of permits being issued.
We receive the latest updates. We know which Lodge is closest to the Activity you want to take. We know the minimum age for Trekking Primates at different venues.
We know how to get you from point A to B, either on the fastest or more scenic routes, and someone planning their Ugandan Safari in Seattle, Washington, does not.
We help you avoid the costly mistakes self-planner can make.
6. A Tour Operator is part of a network while you are alone:
Planning a safari on your own, you might feel like you are all alone taking a walk in the dark.
When we prepare a safari, we use the relationships and the network we have created over the years. Connections that one planning from abroad does not have.
We belong to the best professional Organizations, such as the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. We network with better lodges, local game wardens, and rangers to create the safari right for you.
Uganda is an African society based on relationships, and connections are everything. We have rightly connected, which a person planning their own Safari would not be.
Our network covers every aspect of your Safari, from permits to lodges and hotels. Networking gives us better prices since our arrangements with our partners are based on long-term relationships and the volume of business.
We have developed a network that makes our Safaris work as planned.
7. A Tour Operator does not leave out the minute details:
You can create a safari in your living room anywhere, and we make it happen. A safari is broken down into connecting points.
An enjoyable holiday is often all about the details – dates, times, distances, flights, transfers, dietary needs, medical issues…the list goes on.
Your Africa Travel Specialist not only helps you plan the best safari itinerary for you, and they also make arrangements that join all the dots that make up your Safari.
Without that attention to detail, things could go and do go wrong! Add additional items such as visa requirements and vaccinations needed. We even deal with how to tip and what to wear.
We can tell you about Wi-Fi or phone signal receptivity in parks. What electrical plugs do you need, and how much cash to travel with…the list is endless!
We do the detailed work that you might miss.
8. A Tour Operator has a Plan B in case the unexpected happens:
Do-it-yourself Safari planner is like a Trapeze Artist without a net, and we give you that added layer of protection.
We are here in Uganda, and the Driver-Guide is contacting our Office and Staff. If something goes wrong and things sometimes go awry, we know how to rescue the Safari. Last week, a Hot Air Balloon operator closed, which was an unexpected move. We refunded 380 USD to our clients and another satisfying activity.
Uganda can be seemingly chaotic. Our roads are not for novice 1st-time Drivers in Africa, and we know what to do when the unexpected arises. The good news is that we always have dropped our Clients safely at the airport on time.
At times, we have had to be creative and devise an on-the-spot backup or alternate plan that preserved the Safari’s spirit.
We always have a plan B and C, and D if needed.
9. You’re Going with a Local Driver-Guide on a Hakuna Matata-No-Worries Safari
Your well-meaning do-it-yourself safari plans and implementation by driving yourself often lead to a lesser safari experience. A Safari in Uganda is unlike a Holiday in Europe with its modern road system. Though things have greatly improved, the only four-lane highway in Uganda is the Entebbe Expressway from Entebbe to Kampala.
The only way to focus on the Safari is by going with a local, seasoned, English-speaking driver-guide. He is the one that takes the itinerary and translates it into a fabulous, one-of-a-kind experience.
You are with a local who grew up in Uganda. He lives and works in Uganda and is a professional tour guide. Their insight into Ugandan culture, wildlife, and primates is priceless and enriching.
Your Focus can be on what you came for, the Wildlife, the Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and other primates, the incredible Scenery, and some of the Friendliest People in Africa – Hakuna – Matata Style.
Go with a local driver-guide on a Hakuna Matata Style – No Worries Safaris.
10. Stay Safe and Secure on a Safari in Uganda:
Uganda is safe, secure, and stable. President Museveni has been in power since 1986, bringing stability to the country.
The police, the army, rangers in parks, and the Tourism Police. There have been no security problems in the country, and there are no Security Advisories for Uganda by the US or the UK.
Travelers, including those who attempt to do a self-drive safari, are targets of con men and thieves. As Safari Tour Operators, we know tourways and keep you safe from petty thievery and con artists.
Lodges usually are safe, have on-premises security, and have honest staff. Your Tour Operator knows how to create a worry-free, safe, and secure Safari.
For more safety and security information, go to our security page.
For Health Advice, read our Staying healthy on a Safari.
Your Safety and Security on a Safari are our Concerns as a Tour Operator.
Why you need a Safari Tour Operator in Uganda-Here is our Take:
First, let’s define what we, as tour operators do: We combine the various components, such as hotels. Lodges, transport, local driver-guide, permits, park and Activity fees, and a personalized, private Safari are created for you.
We are an inbound Ugandan Niche Tour Operator who creates, sells, and implements private, mid-range, and luxury Safaris. However, we do not travel agents; we sell them safari packages and act as their ground tour operator in Uganda.
We know Uganda. We live here and work in the Pearl of Africa. Ugandan Safaris are our Business and our Passion. We do not offer Safaris all over the African continent; we make our Focus its Pearl, Uganda.
We are a duly licensed, registered, and tax-paying Safari Tour Operator. We are a member of good standing with the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. We are approved and registered with the Uganda Ministry of Tourism and the Ugandan Tourism Board.
Being a Tour Operator creates a deep sense of responsibility for our clients. As a Responsible Tour Operator, our Focus is not the income from a Safari but the outcome. We combine American-Style Customer Service with all-encompassing, welcoming African Hospitality
10-Reasons why you need a Safari Tour Operator – Kabiza Wilderness Safaris might be the right choice. Contact us today.
