3 days
Canine Safaris, your Uganda safari company in Mbarara
Wildlife, gorillas, culture and adventure for visitors from East Africa, Europe, North America and Asia, planned by a Ugandan team that knows the road to every park.
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Featured safaris
Uganda safari packages to start from
Every package is a starting point. Tell us your dates and interests and we will adjust the days, the pace and the accommodation.
View all safaris5 days
Murchison Falls National Park
5-Day Eastern Adventure: Nile Rafting, Sipi Falls & Pian Upe
An action-focused itinerary through eastern Uganda, combining high-adrenaline river adventures, scenic highland waterfall hikes, and wildlife tracking in one of Uganda's largest, least-visited game reserves. Route: Kampala → Jinja (Source of the Nile) → Sipi Falls (Mount Elgon Foothills) → Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve → Kampala / Entebbe
From$1,950.65
4 days
3 days
2 days
Ways to travel
Choose your Uganda safari: gorillas, game drives and more
Gorilla and Primate Safaris
Come face to face with mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys on guided treks in Uganda's forests.
Wildlife and Game Drive Safaris
Game drives and boat trips through savanna parks where elephants, giraffes, lions and hippos are part of the landscape.
Birding Safaris
Wetlands, forests and savanna in one country: Uganda is one of Africa's richest birdwatching destinations.
Cultural and Community Tours
Meet the cattle keepers, craftspeople and storytellers of Ankole, and see the region through local eyes.
Adventure Safaris
Walk among zebras, paddle a canoe, raft the Nile or hike a volcano. Safaris for people who like to move.
Family Safaris
Shorter drives, flexible pacing and wildlife that keeps young travellers watching, planned around your family.
Corporate and Group Safaris
Team-building days, retreats and group trips with the logistics handled, so your people can simply enjoy it.
Day Tours
One day, one place, home by evening. Short guided trips from Mbarara for visitors and residents alike.
East Africa Combos
Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya in one journey, planned around your route.
Why Canine Safaris
Why book your Uganda safari with Canine Safaris
Based in Uganda and Kampala
We live at the gateway to western Uganda, so your trip starts closer to Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and the southern forests.
Rooted in the community
We run named community and training programmes, including the Oweitu Ni'Nkore Project and industrial training placements. These focus on providing demand driven skills and competences to young people
Trips for teams too
Beyond leisure safaris, we organise team-building days and group trips, with the logistics handled for you.
Where we go
Uganda safari destinations in Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and beyond
Parks, forests and lakes within reach of Mbarara, and beyond.
Lake Mburo National Park
Uganda's compact savanna park, under an hour from Mbarara, where you can walk, ride, cruise and drive among zebras, impalas and hippos.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
A big-game and birding park on the equator, famous for the Kazinga Channel, tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and a landscape of lakes, craters and forest.
Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda's largest national park, where the Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge and thunders over Murchison Falls before slowing into hippo and shoebill country.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
An ancient mountain forest in south-western Uganda, home to about half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas and the country's best-known trek.
Mbarara and the Ankole Region
The cattle country and cultural heart of south-western Uganda, and the easiest base for Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Uganda's smallest national park, three Virunga volcanoes on the Rwanda and Congo border with gorillas, golden monkeys and Batwa heritage.
Lake Bunyonyi and Kabale
A calm, terraced-hill lake of islands and canoes near Kabale, the perfect rest stop before or after gorilla trekking.
Kibale National Park
The primate capital of Uganda, with chimpanzee tracking, red colobus, black-and-white colobus and a forest edge wetland that birders love.
Jinja and the Source of the Nile
Uganda's adventure town on Lake Victoria, where the White Nile begins and rafting, kayaking and boat trips make easy team days.
Kampala and Entebbe
Uganda's capital and its lakeside airport town: where most trips start and end, with museums, markets, gardens and birding on Lake Victoria.
Our trusted
Partners & Affiliations
We proudly collaborate with leading travel and tourism organisations to ensure safe, sustainable and unforgettable safari experiences.
For Ugandans and East Africans
Uganda safari rates for East African residents
Many park fees are lower for East African residents, and we plan trips around them. Ask us about resident rates and weekend-friendly packages.
See local tourist offers
Corporate and group trips
Team building and retreats
From a day on the Nile at Jinja to a multi-day retreat at Lake Mburo, we handle transport, activities and logistics so your team can focus on each other.
Plan a group trip5.0 from 3 reviews
TripAdvisor
Mbarara
Based in
UTB/RTT/TO/2022/100268
UTB licence
YUTO, UTB, UWA, Hive Colab, Founders Lounge, Zaantu Captial
Memberships
Travel notes
Uganda safari travel guides and tips
7 Days in Western Uganda: A Sample Itinerary From Mbarara
A paced one-week route from Mbarara through Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi, with drive times and ways to adapt it.
Gorilla Trekking vs Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda
Both are unforgettable and both are done on foot. Here is how gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking differ, and how to choose or combine them.
What a Gorilla Trekking Day Is Really Like
A step-by-step look at a gorilla trekking day in Uganda, from the early briefing and the walk to your hour with the gorillas and the rules to follow.
Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorillas can be trekked all year. What changes with the seasons is the ground underfoot, the crowds and how soon you need to book.
Uganda Safari Packing List: What to Bring and Leave
A practical packing list for a Uganda safari, with extra items for gorilla and chimpanzee treks, so you carry what helps and leave the rest at home.
Uganda Visa and Entry Requirements for Safari Travellers
How to get a Uganda visa, what the East Africa Tourist Visa covers, what to carry at the airport and how to check the current yellow fever rule.
Uganda Weather and Safari Seasons by Month
A month-by-month guide to Uganda's rainy and dry seasons and what each means for gorilla treks, game drives, birding, rafting and your packing.
Is Uganda Safe for Tourists? Practical Advice
A straight look at safety for visitors to Uganda: roads, cities, wildlife, health, scams and the official advice to read before you travel.
Entebbe Airport to Mbarara and Western Uganda
How to get from Entebbe airport to Mbarara and the western parks: the road, the flight option, sensible stops and how to handle a late arrival.
Money, Tipping and Staying Connected in Uganda
What currency to carry, where to find cash, how to think about tipping, and how to get a SIM, power and a signal on safari in Uganda.
Uganda Safari With Children and Families
What works on a Uganda safari with children: age limits for gorilla and chimp treks, family-friendly parks, drive times, health and how to pace the days.
Birdwatching in Uganda: Where to Go and What to See
Uganda is one of Africa's best birding countries. Here is where to go, what you might see, and how to plan a birding route that starts in Mbarara.
Uganda Safari Cost: What You're Paying For
A Uganda safari price is made of several parts. Understanding them helps you compare quotes, avoid surprises and decide where to spend.
Things to Do in Mbarara: A Local's Guide
Mbarara is more than a stopover on the way to the parks. Here is what to do, eat and see in and around the city, from a team based here.
Lake Bunyonyi Guide: Islands, Canoes and Slow Days
How to spend one or two nights at Lake Bunyonyi: canoe trips, island visits, birds, walks and how to pair it with gorilla trekking.
Queen Elizabeth National Park in Three Days
How to spend three days in Queen Elizabeth National Park: the Kazinga Channel cruise, game drives, Ishasha's tree-climbing lions and Kyambura Gorge.
Uganda vs Rwanda for Gorilla Trekking
Both countries offer mountain gorilla treks. Here is how Uganda and Rwanda differ on parks, permits, access, terrain and the rest of the trip.
First Time Uganda Safari: FAQs and Tips
The questions first-time visitors ask most, from visas and health to money, packing and how to choose your first park, with straight answers.
Lake Mburo Nature Walk: What to Expect
A walk through Lake Mburo is different from a game drive. Here is how a ranger-led nature walk works, what you can see, what to wear and how to prepare.
Murchison Falls and Paraa Lodge: A Visitor's Guide
Planning a stay near the Nile crossing at Paraa? A practical guide to the boat trips, the northern game drives and how to pace your days.
Corporate Team Building Safaris in Jinja
Why Jinja works for team-building trips, and how to plan one that suits a mixed group of ages, fitness levels and goals, with the logistics handled.
How a Uganda Safari Quote Actually Gets Built
Behind every safari quote sits a lot of small decisions. Here is what goes into one, what we need from you and how to compare quotes fairly.
Common questions
Uganda safari questions answered
Where is Canine Safaris based?
We are a tour operator based in Mbarara, in south-western Uganda, on the road between Kampala and the western parks. Find our phone numbers and message form on the contact page.
Who do you organise trips for?
International visitors, Ugandans and other East African residents, and organisations planning team-building days, retreats and group trips. See our pages for local tourists and corporate and group tours.
How do I request a quote?
Use the plan your trip form, send a message on WhatsApp or call us. Tell us your dates, group size and interests and we will reply with a plan and a price. Read how a quote gets built to see what we need.
How far in advance should I book?
For gorilla trekking, as soon as your dates are fixed, because permits are limited each day. For other safaris, a few months ahead gives the best choice of lodges, especially from June to August and December to February.
Why start a safari in Mbarara instead of Kampala?
Mbarara is the gateway to the west. Lake Mburo is under an hour away, and the roads to Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi start here, which saves hours of driving. See our guide to things to do in Mbarara.
Can I change a package to suit my group?
Yes. Our packages are starting points, and we adjust days, pace and accommodation to your group. Browse the safari packages and tell us what you would like to change.
Stay in touch
Travel news from western Uganda
Occasional notes on trips, seasons and offers. No spam, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Ready to plan your Uganda safari?
Tell us when you want to travel and what you love. We will come back with a plan and a price.