Uganda · Kenya · Rwanda

Bucketlist Adventures
into the Heart of Africa

Handcrafted safaris across Uganda, Kenya & Rwanda — led by locals who know every trail, every lodge, and every animal by heart.

Browse Our Trips Build a Custom Safari
Own fleet of Land Cruisers Uganda Tourism Board certified Real prices, no hidden fees Destination Management Company (DMC)

NEW: Roots & Gorillas — our 14-day voluntourism programme. Trek gorillas in Bwindi, give back on the Ssese Islands, close out in Kampala. Learn more →

500+ Safaris Completed
18 Signature Itineraries
3 Countries Covered
4.7★ Avg. Client Rating
Explore East Africa

Where Do You
Want to Go?

All 15 Trips →

Uganda

Bwindi

4 trips

Uganda

Murchison Falls

3 trips

Uganda

Queen Elizabeth

3 trips

Uganda

Kidepo Valley

2 trips

Kenya

Masai Mara

3 trips

Rwanda

Volcanoes NP

2 trips
Hand-Picked for 2026

Our Most Popular Uganda Safari Packages

See All 15 →
Murchison Falls — rhino tracking and game drives, Uganda
4 Days Uganda ★ 4.8

The Pearl Highlights

  • Rhino tracking, Ziwa Sanctuary
  • Game drives + Nile Boat Cruise, Murchison Falls
  • Pakuba Safari Lodge (Full Board)
  • Toyota Land Cruiser, all meals & transfers
per person · couple sharing
from$1,100pp
Enquire
Mountain gorilla trekking, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda 🦍 Best Seller
5 Days Uganda ★ 4.9

Gorilla Trek Classic

  • 2 × Gorilla Trekking Permits, Bwindi ($800/person)
  • Lake Mburo Boat Cruise & game drive
  • 4 Nights Full Board accommodation
  • Toyota Land Cruiser, all meals & transfers
per person · couple sharing
from$2,300pp
Enquire
Gorilla trekking and tree-climbing lions, Uganda 🔥 Most Popular
7 Days Uganda ★ 5.0

Primate Triangle

  • Gorilla permit (Bwindi) + chimp permit (Kibale)
  • Tree-climbing lions, Ishasha sector
  • Private Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
  • 6 Nights Full Board across 3 parks
per person · couple sharing
from$3,900pp
Enquire
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda — romantic gorilla safari 💑 Romantic Escape
6 Days Uganda ★ 5.0

Honeymoon in the Wild

  • Private gorilla trekking permit, Bwindi ($800/person)
  • Private bush breakfast in Bwindi Forest
  • Canoe & island picnic, Lake Bunyonyi
  • 5 Nights luxury Full Board accommodation
per person · couple sharing
from$3,250pp
Enquire
Rhino tracking at Ziwa Sanctuary, Uganda 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Pick
5 Days Uganda ★ 4.8

Family Safari Adventure

  • Rhino tracking at Ziwa (children welcome)
  • Murchison Falls game drives & Nile Boat Cruise
  • Junior Ranger Programme (on request)
  • 4 Nights Pakuba Safari Lodge (Full Board)
per family · 2 adults + 2 children
from$4,200
Enquire
Chimpanzee portrait — Big Seven Quest Uganda 🏆 Flagship Safari
10 Days Uganda ★ 5.0

Big Seven Quest

  • Gorilla + chimp permits + rhino tracking
  • 4 parks: Murchison, Kibale, QENP, Bwindi
  • Nile & Kazinga Channel boat cruises
  • 9 Nights Full Board, all fees included
per person · couple sharing
from$5,750pp
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Shoebill stork, Mabamba Swamp, Uganda 🐦 Specialist
5 Days Uganda ★ 4.9

Shoebill & Birding Safari

  • Mabamba Swamp shoebill canoe at dawn
  • Specialist birding guide throughout (5 days)
  • Murchison Falls — 450+ bird species documented
  • Kibale Forest Albertine Rift endemics
per person · couple sharing
from$2,100pp
Enquire
Karamojong warriors, Kidepo Valley, Uganda ✈️ Fly-in Exclusive
4 Days Uganda ★ 4.9

Kidepo Frontier Expedition

  • Return Aerolink flights Entebbe ↔ Kidepo
  • Lions, cheetah & zebra — unique to Kidepo
  • Apoka Safari Lodge (Full Board)
  • Karamoja cultural village visit
per person · couple sharing
from$2,600pp
Enquire
White-water rafting on the River Nile, Jinja, Uganda 🌊 Adventure
3 Days Uganda ★ 4.7

Rafting & Adventure Circuit

  • Grade 5 white-water rafting, River Nile (21km)
  • Source of the Nile boat trip
  • Kayaking or quad biking, Nile banks
  • Optional bungee jump / zip-line over the Nile
per person · couple sharing
from$675pp
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Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kazinga Channel, Uganda
4 Days Uganda ★ 4.8

Queen Elizabeth Signature

  • Private Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
  • Tree-climbing lions, Ishasha sector
  • Mweya & Ishasha game drives
  • 3 Nights Full Board — Mweya & Ishasha lodges
per person · couple sharing
from$1,300pp
Enquire
Find Your Adventure

What Kind of Explorer Are You?

From heart-pounding gorilla encounters to lazy Nile sunsets, find trips built around what moves you.

🦍 Gorilla Tracking 🐒 Chimp Trekking 🦁 Game Drives 🚤 Boat Cruises 🐦 Birding 🌍 Cultural Tours 🤝 Purposeful Travel
Travel With Purpose

One Family. One Island. One School.

The Rift Valley Explorer is a Ugandan family-owned company with roots on the Ssese Islands. Our flagship purposeful-travel programme, Roots & Gorillas, is built around the school and community that raised us — Ddagye Community Primary School, Daje Health Centre, and Rotaract Kampala Ssese Islands — not a generic add-on.

01

5% of every Roots & Gorillas booking funds the Ddagye Community Primary School classroom fund directly — built into the price, not a separate donation ask.

02

3 structured half-day school sessions plus a dignified community market day, with no cash handouts and a fixed per-guest budget.

03

Private groups of 2–12. Book the full 14 days, or the standalone 7-day Week 1 — both trek gorillas in Bwindi first.

See the Roots & Gorillas Programme Or build a custom safari instead
Why Travel With Us

Built Different.
Safari Certified.

As one of East Africa's leading Destination Management Companies (DMC), we design journeys that are as unique as the people on them.

🚙

Own Fleet, No Middlemen

We maintain full ownership of our fleet, including Land Cruisers, minivans, and a coaster. No hired vehicles, no commission brokers, just a direct relationship between you and the road. Vehicles are equipped with charging ports and onboard refrigerators (in Land Cruisers) for added convenience.

📋

Built From Scratch for You

Every itinerary is written fresh for your group: your dates, your budget, your goals. No copy-paste packages. Real quotes with real line-item costs.

🎖️

Professional, Certified Guides

Our guides are professionally trained and certified by the Uganda Tourism Board, ensuring high standards of knowledge, safety, and guest experience across all journeys.

🌿

Local, Certified, Sustainable

Uganda Tourism Board certified. AUTO member. We pay fair wages, use community lodges where possible, and leave the bush better than we found it.

📱

24/7 Support, Wherever You Are

We pride ourselves on being accessible and responsive 24/7, regardless of your location. We communicate across WhatsApp, email, and phone, accommodating different regional preferences. No call centres, no hold music, no timezone complications. Just direct access to our team whenever you need us.

Responsible Travel

Rooted in the Ssese Islands

Our family's roots are on the Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria. That's why our sustainability work isn't a generic offset — it's a direct, ongoing relationship with one community, anchored by our Roots & Gorillas programme.

🏫

Ddagye Community Primary School

5% of every Roots & Gorillas booking funds the Ddagye Community Primary School classroom fund — covering classroom construction, sanitation, and library supplies. We manage the fund directly and report on it every year.

🤝

Built With the Community

Our community days are school-based, run on a fixed market-day budget with no cash handouts, and require the school's consent before any photography — partnered with Daje Health Centre and Rotaract Kampala Ssese Islands.

♻️

Reducing Plastic Waste

All our trips promote the use of reusable water bottles on board, significantly reducing single-use plastic consumption across every journey.

See the Roots & Gorillas Programme

Also On Our Record

Certificate of Environmental Stewardship — Kasese Riverbank Restoration

Awarded by the Kenneth Kakuru Earth Reboot Initiative for our contribution to restoring riverbanks along River Rwembya and River Nyamugasani in Kasese District, including planting over 100 trees.

Certificate of Environmental Stewardship — The Rift Valley Explorer
Explorer Reviews

What Our Travellers Say

4.7 ★★★★★
45+ Google Reviews
🏆
Licensed DMC
Uganda Tourism Board
🚙
Own Fleet
No third-party vehicles
"
★★★★★

"With Rift Valley Explorer we had a very nice safari with great impressions. We saw many animals at close quarters. We built up a friendly and very personal relationship with the drivers Michael and Safina in a very short time."

M

Matthias Hahn

Germany · Google Review

"
★★★★★

"Unforgettable experience with The Rift Valley Explorer! From booking my flights and accommodation to exploring hidden gems, they handled everything perfectly. Highly professional and attentive."

S

Shana Oweka

Uganda · Google Review

"
★★★★★

"The gorilla trek in Bwindi was the most powerful wildlife experience of my life. Our guide knew every trail and the whole team — from the driver to the cook at camp — went above and beyond. Worth every shilling."

J

James Calloway

United Kingdom · Google Review

"
★★★★★

"I have done safaris in Kenya and Tanzania but Uganda with TRVE was on another level. The chimp tracking in Kibale and then gorillas in Bwindi — two days I will never forget. Very fair pricing for what you get."

A

Amara Diallo

France · Google Review

"
★★★★★

"We travelled as a family with two teenagers. TRVE tailored everything — activities, lodges, pace — around what worked for us. The kids are still talking about the boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. Best holiday we've ever had."

R

Rachel Nkemdirim

United States · Google Review

Read All 45 Google Reviews  ★ 4.7
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The Rift Valley Explorer is a verified operator on the world's leading safari and travel platforms. Read our reviews and book with confidence wherever you find us.

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Licensed DMC
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Member Operator
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Booking direct with us through this site secures the best price — no platform commission, same trusted service.

Common Questions

Safari FAQs

Everything you need to know before you book. More questions? Just ask us on WhatsApp.

How much does gorilla tracking in Uganda cost?

Uganda Wildlife Authority gorilla tracking permits cost $800 per person (2026 rate). Our 5-day Mountain Gorilla Explorer package starts from $2,345 per person for groups of 6+, including the permit, private Land Cruiser, accommodation, and all meals.

Do I need a visa to visit Uganda?

Most nationalities require a visa, available online at visas.immigration.go.ug. EAC citizens (Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania) do not need a visa. A valid Yellow Fever certificate is mandatory for all visitors.

What is the best time of year for a Uganda safari?

Uganda is a year-round destination. The dry seasons (June–September and December–February) offer the best wildlife visibility and easier gorilla trails. Birdwatching peaks in the wet months (March–May, October–November). Gorilla tracking is rewarding all year.

Do you build custom itineraries?

Yes — every itinerary is built from scratch for your group. No copy-paste packages. You tell us your dates, group size, budget, and interests, and we design a bespoke safari with real line-item costs, no obligation.

What vehicles do you use?

We own our entire fleet — Toyota Land Cruiser GX 4×4s with pop-up roof hatches, onboard refrigerators, and USB charging ports. For larger groups we also operate minivans and a coaster. No hired vehicles, no commission agents.

Can you help with flights and accommodation?

Yes. As a licensed DMC we can assist with internal flights, airport transfers, hotel bookings, and full ground handling. International flights are typically arranged by clients directly, but we advise on the best routes and connection times from your country.

Have Another Question? Ask Us →
From the Field

Safari Stories &
Travel Guides

All Articles →
Gorilla Tracking

The Complete Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Everything you need to know before booking your permit — fitness levels, what to wear, how close you get, and why Bwindi is unlike anywhere else on earth.

By Michael Wamani 6 min read
Safari Planning

What to Pack for a Uganda Safari (The Honest List)

No fluff. From neutral-coloured layers to the one item most travellers forget until day three — our guides' definitive packing list for East Africa.

By Belinda Katumba 4 min read
Destinations

Kidepo Valley: Uganda's Last True Wilderness

Remote, raw, and receiving fewer than 3,000 visitors a year — Kidepo Valley National Park is East Africa's best-kept secret. Here's why that matters.

By Robert Ahenda 5 min read
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