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? Is it one of the most frequent questions our clients ask? Usually, that would only be Money that you might use for things of a personal nature, and you will need cash for souvenirs that you might buy—drinks at Lodges or Hotels and meals that might not be covered on arrival or departure.
There are Tips for your Driver-Guide, Lodge Staff, and Rangers who guide you Gorilla, Chimpanzee Trekking, Hiking, or Climbing. Add the plus items you might pick up, such as a book or personal hygiene items—insect Spray for your room. There is an additional fee for an activity that you decide on last minute at rare times.
How much Money should I bring on a Safari? It depends if you want to order drinks such as wine or buy souvenirs, and it also depends on the tips you leave behind.
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 
Having the amount of cash you will need for your Safari. Money Security is also something that we think about. Having too much cash on you can lead to one of the infrequent thefts of Money in your lodge or hotel room.
How much Money should I bring for my Safari? It depends on your spending habits and your preferences. If you have an expensive bottle of wine at a lodge, you will need more than if you drink Beer or Sodas.
You will also need Money depending on the lodges you are staying in. Drinks cost more at luxury Lodges than they do at a midrange Lodge.
Here are some helpful Tips and Advice based on our years of experience. Advice for things not covered by the Safari Cost – hopefully, you will find the practical ul as you discover Africa’s Pearl.
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 on your Safari in Uganda takes cash. Uganda is a non-tipping culture. Tourism, however, has changed that. One can thank the American Ford since they come from a Tipping Culture.
Go to our Tipping Page, and you will find some guidelines on tipping on Safari.
We suggest that you do so in local currency and not US Dollars. It is more convenient for the recipients of your tips since they do not have to go to a bank to change their tip money.
We suggest using your Driver Guide to determine how much to tip. He will advise you on whepitchingng. Tipping for services you receive at Lodges or from Gorilla Tracking Rangers and other helpful people you come across while on Safari with us in Uganda.
Tipping is not mandatory but an acknowledgment of appreciation for good service. Tipping – a reason you will need to bring some Cash on Safari. Read more about Tipping Practices on Safari in Uganda.
Drinks at Lodges and Hotels:
Drinks at lodges, such as sodas, beer, wine, and spirits, cost extra and are not included in the safari cost. There are some luxury lodges where non-premium drinks are included in the daily rate.
Non-Premium means non-imported drinks such as local beer, Waragi, locally-made Whiskey, or Vodka. Often the luxury lodge will include a house wine.
Drinks at lodges vary with the kind of lodge you are visiting. Sodas are typically below one dollar, beer is around 1 USD or above, and wine will be 3 USD a glass or more. We suggest you bring your own or buy it in Kampala, Entebbe, or another large town you pass through in Uganda.
Lodges have become well-stocked for drinks, and no one goes thirsty. Some Lodges allow you to pay your bar bill by Credit card, and we suggest you pay cash, which will cost you less. Read more about Drinks in Uganda.
Souvenirs-Things that you want to take Home:
Most Visitors on Safari with us want to buy some things to take home with them, and we suggest some Rwandan or Ugandan Gourmet Coffee. Maybe a bottle of Waragi, some Tea, pure honey, vanilla that is a lot less here, Shea Buttercream, dried banana chips, and more.
Souvenir crafts are available near most parks; the quality of the craftsman hand and the cost varies. Real Art is public in cities such as Kigali and Kampala.
All these items take cash o; once again, we strongly suggest using local currency.
We also suggest you purchase an ornamental Gorilla Walking Stick – again, the quality of the carving matters.
Do not buy wildlife bones, fur, hippo teeth, ivory, or so-called Elephant Bracelets or items made from Giraffe tails. Read more about Souvenirs here.
Gorilla Trekking Porter Services:
We think that the services of a porter are a must, and so are walking sticks for your Gorilla Trek. The cost is minimal and well worth it. They can assist you on your trek, carry your daypack, and allow you to concentrate on your time with the Gorillas.
The cost is 20 USD for a porter, and a Gorilla Trekking stick is a few dollars and most often can be obtained for free at lodges.
We now include Porter Services in our luxury and midrange safaris to make them even more hassle-free. We care for the porter and walking stick; if you like a carved walking stick, that would be extra. We do not cover Souvenirs.
It is done to reduce the cash you need coming on Safari with us. Porter is a wise investment in your Gorilla Encounter. Most will need some money for porter services since most tour operators do not include porter fees in their services to you. Read more about Porter Services here.
What if I run short of Money?
Should you run short on cash, we suggest using an ATM Machine. You will need a Visa Card, and MC and AEX are rarely accepted. You can take out Local currency, such as Rwandan Francs or Ugandan Shillings, at the current exchange rate.
There are both local bank fees and fees from your bank unless they do not have international use fees. Notify your bank that you will be using your ATM card in Uganda. Otherwise, you might find your bank blocking the transaction.
ATMs that work internationally are at banks in major towns in Uganda and Rwanda. The driver guide will assist you in locating the right one for you.
We do not suggest using Credit Cards on Safari since, in East Africa, you incur hefty surcharges of 5% or more in most instances.
The downside is the fees. You will pay a fee to your bank at Home and a payment to the Ugandan bank. Such withdrawal fees can cost around nine dollars, which can be costly depending on the amount you withdraw.
Bring Cash or Get it while on Safari?
How much Money should I bring for my Safari? Getting the US Dollar’s Currency of Choice with you would be best. We have found that our clients should deliver a minimal amount of cash, and it lessens the chance of Money security problems and to use their ATM Card and withdraw money as needed.
There are no ATMs within parks at this time. You can find them in Bars in Kampala but not within Murchison Falls Park.
Stop using your card to withdraw local currency as you drive through towns with a bank and ATM card on Safari.
We have written a page about Bringing Money; there is rarely a problem. Most Clients plan well ahead.
