How much Spending Money do I need for my Safari in Uganda?
A Frequent Question: How much Money should I bring for my Safari in Uganda?
How much Money should I bring for my Safari? Deciding how much money to bring for your safari is essential for making the most of your adventure. This question is often on the minds of travelers, and for good reason. While most of your expenses, like lodging and guided tours, are generally prepaid, having cash on hand opens up opportunities for personal enjoyment.
You’ll want to set aside cash for items like souvenirs that truly capture your unique experience—anything from beautiful local crafts to breathtaking wildlife photography. Additionally, think about the drinks at lodges or hotels. Often, you’ll find delightful wine or cocktails that aren’t included in your package, and having cash makes it easy to indulge.
Also, consider that some meals may not be paid for, especially at the beginning or end of your trip. If spontaneous activities arise, having extra cash allows you to embrace these moments without hesitation.
Tipping contributes significantly to your safari experience. It is essential to recognize your driver-guide, lodge staff, and the skilled rangers who assist you during thrilling activities like gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. A meaningful tip shows appreciation and enhances your relationships with those who make your adventure exceptional.
Lastly, don’t overlook personal expenses for items like books, snacks, or essential hygiene products, including insect repellent. Depending on your itinerary, these small costs can add up quickly.
In summary, the amount of money you should bring on your safari depends on your anticipated spending on drinks, souvenirs, and tips. By carefully considering your plans and spending habits, you will ensure you have more than enough cash to enjoy your unforgettable safari experience.
How much Money should I bring for your upcoming Safari in Uganda?
We recommend getting an estimated $100 per day for expenses such as food, transportation, and any additional activities you wish to
partake in to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable trip. However, this amount may vary depending on your preferences and safari package. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions or require additional assistance. We are thrilled to hear all about your amazing adventure!
The amount of spending money you should bring for your Safari in Uganda depends on your preferences and the activities you plan to do. Here are some suggestions to help you estimate your spending budget:
Souvenirs and gifts: Uganda has a vibrant arts and crafts scene, and you may want to purchase souvenirs and skills to take Home. The cost of souvenirs can vary widely depending on the item and the location, but it’s a good idea to budget around $50 to $100 for souvenirs and gifts.
Tips and gratuities: It’s customary to tip your safari guide, driver, and camp staff in Uganda. The amount of information can vary depending on the level of service, but a general guideline is around $5 to $10 per person per day for guides and drivers and $3 to $5 per person per day for camp staff.
Additional activities: If you plan to do other activities beyond your safari itinerary, such as visiting national parks, museums, or cultural sites, you must budget for the entrance fees. The entrance fees can vary depending on the location, but budgeting around $20 to $50 per activity is a good idea.
Snacks and drinks: While meals are usually included in the cost of your safari, you may want to budget for additional snacks, drinks, and meals outside of your lodge or camp. Budgeting around $10 to $20 daily for food and beverages is a good idea.
A reasonable amount for a safari in Uganda could be around $200 to $300 per person, depending on your preferences and itinerary. However, this can vary widely depending on your circumstances, so it’s always a good idea to research and plan your trip in advance to better understand the costs involved.
How much Money should I bring for my Safari? Our Tips and Advice 
When planning your Safari, you must consider how much cash you need. Money security is also a key factor; carrying too much cash can increase the risk of theft in your lodge or hotel room, even though such incidents are infrequent.
So, how much money should you bring for your Safari? This largely depends on your spending habits and preferences. For example, if you prefer an expensive bottle of wine at a lodge, you’ll need to budget more than someone who opts for beer or soda.
Additionally, the cost of drinks varies depending on the type of lodge you choose. Luxury lodges typically have higher prices than mid-range options.
Here are some helpful tips and advice based on our years of experience: Be prepared for expenses not covered by the Safari package, and you’ll find practical solutions as you explore the wonders of Africa. Earl. Read more about advice about Money in Uganda while on a Safari:
Things that you will need cash for on a Safari in Uganda
Tipping While on Safari:
Tipping during your safari in Uganda typically requires cash, as Uganda is not traditionally a tipping culture. However, tourism has influenced this norm, mainly due to the American tradition of tipping.
For guidance on tipping while on safari, please visit our Tipping Page. We recommend tipping in the local currency rather than US dollars, as this is more convenient for the recipients who may not want to go to a bank to exchange tips.
Consulting your driver-guide can help you determine appropriate tip amounts. They can advise you on suitable tipping practices for services provided at lodges, during gorilla tracking, and to other helpful individuals you encounter during your safari.
While tipping is not mandatory, it is a way to express appreciation for good service. Therefore, bringing some cash with you on your safari is essential for this purpose.
Read more about Tipping Practices on Safari in Uganda.
Drinks at Lodges and Hotels:
Drinks at lodges, including sodas, beer, wine, and spirits, are not included in the safari cost and will incur additional charges. Some luxury lodges may consist of non-premium drinks at a daily rate.
“Non-premium” refers to locally produced beverages, such as local beer, Waragi, and locally-made whiskey or vodka. Additionally, luxury lodges may offer house wine as part of the package.
The prices for drinks at lodges can vary depending on the type of lodges you visit. Sodas typically cost less than one dollar, beer prices start at around 1 USD, and wine by the glass will generally cost 3 USD or more. We recommend bringing your drinks or purchasing them in Kampala, Entebbe, or any other central town you pass through in Uganda.
Lodges are typically well-stocked with beverages, ensuring guests have plenty to choose from. While some lodges allow you to settle your bar bill with a credit card, we suggest paying in cash to avoid additional charges. Read more about Drinks in Uganda.
Souvenirs-Things that you want to take Home:
Most visitors on safari with us want to bring home some memorable items. We recommend trying Rwandan or Ugandan gourmet coffee, a bottle of Waragi (local gin), tea, pure honey, vanilla (often cheaper here), shea butter cream, dried banana chips, and more.
Souvenir crafts are available near most parks, but the quality of the craftsmanship and the prices can vary. You can find authentic art in cities like Kigali and Kampala.
Please note that most of these items require cash, and we strongly suggest using the local currency.
Additionally, consider purchasing an ornamental gorilla walking stick; just be mindful that the quality of the carving can differ.
Avoid buying wildlife bones, fur, hippo teeth, ivory, so-called elephant bracelets, or items made from giraffe tails.
Read more about Souvenirs here.
Gorilla Trekking Porter Services:
Hiring a porter and using walking sticks are essential for your Gorilla Trek. The cost is minimal and well worth it. Porters can assist you during your trek, carry your daypack, and allow you to focus on enjoying your time with the gorillas.
A porter costs 20 USD, and a Gorilla Trekking stick typically costs a few dollars. However, you can often obtain one for free at lodges.
To enhance your experience, we now include porter services in our luxury and mid-range safaris, making them even more hassle-free. We also provide walking sticks; if you prefer a carved walking stick, there will be an additional cost. Please note that we do not cover souvenirs.
This approach helps minimize the cash you need to bring on safari with us. Hiring a porter is a wise investment for your Gorilla Encounter, as most visitors will find it necessary. Many tour operators do not include porter fees in their services, so having some money aside for this service is advisable. Read more about Porter Services here.
What if I run short of Money?
If you are short on cash, we recommend using an ATM machine. You’ll need a Visa card to access funds, as MasterCard and American Express are rarely accepted. You can withdraw local currency, such as Rwandan Francs or Ugandan Shillings, at the current exchange rate.
Be aware that both local and your home bank may charge fees unless your bank does not have international transaction fees. It is also advisable to notify your bank that you will use your ATM card in Uganda; otherwise, they may block the transaction.
Internationally compatible ATMs are available at banks in major towns throughout Uganda and Rwanda. Your driver-guide will assist you in locating an appropriate ATM.
Please note that we do not recommend using credit cards while on safari. You may incur significant surcharges in East Africa, typically around 5% or more.
Additionally, be prepared for withdrawal fees. You will likely pay a fee to your home bank and a fee to the Ugandan bank. These combined fees can amount to around nine dollars, which can be quite costly depending on the amount you withdraw. Read more
Bring Cash or Get it while on Safari?
How much money should I bring for my safari? It’s best to bring US dollars as your currency of choice. We recommend that our clients carry only a minimal amount of cash to reduce the risk of money security issues and to use their ATM cards to withdraw money as needed.
Please note that there are no ATMs within the parks. You can find ATMs in bars around Kampala but not in Murchison Falls Park.
Avoid using your card to withdraw local currency while driving through towns with banks and ATMs during your safari.
We have provided a detailed page about bringing money, and most clients find that with proper planning, there are rarely any issues.
