Should I join a group or go on a Private Safari in Uganda?
The question of whether to have a private or group safari in Uganda is a pivotal decision that lies ahead of you when planning a safari Vacation to Uganda. Whether you are interested in walking with the Primates, viewing the Big 5 animals or embarking on an adventure activity like white water rafting on the River Nile, you must decide whether to go for a private safari or join a group.
What is the major difference between a Private safari and a group safari in Uganda?
A group safari is where you join a group of participants who are booked for the same safari itinerary normally with different preferences to yours. You do not have control of the safari while in a group tour meaning you can’t decide on key things like where to stay, which activities to do and what time to do them. However, you have to acknowledge that group safaris are a good opportunity to meet some new people and make new friends.
A private safari on the other hand is where the safari tour is tailored to your needs as an individual or a family or a group of colleagues you are traveling with. You usually get to decide, where to go, what time, which activities and where to stay enabling you to be flexible with recommendations from your travel planner. We highly recommend private Uganda safaris.
Pros and Cons of a Private Safari Vs Group Safari
Private Safari
A private Safari in Uganda is certainly more expensive but it gives you an ultimate safari experience and the extra expenses are compensated by the freedom and flexibility that comes with it. A safari tour in Uganda is an experience of a lifetime so you want to make sure that nothing distorts the smooth flow of activities and facilities all tailored to your style and preference. Here are the Pros and Cons of a private safari tour in Uganda:
Itinerary Flexibility
A private Safari in Uganda offers freedom and flexibility of your trip Itinerary as you get to choose which National parks to visit, what animals to see, how much time to spend at each location and when to go on your safari vacation. This guarantees the quality of your safari experience and lets you enjoy those moments at your own leisure. The flexibility of a private safari also makes it a better choice for families. You all get to decide on what you want to do and even cater to your kids’ unique concerns.
Accommodation Choice
Private safari trip allows you to create your safari experience the best way it suits you. You get to choose what accommodation is best for you at every National park without compromising on comfort or privacy.
Extra Safari Experience
With private safari, you have the added advantage of engaging in more activities to enhance your experience. For example, you can go on a night game drive to view some of Africa’s nocturnal animals an event that is usually exclusive to only private safaris. You can also get access to equipment like ponchos for the rain, hot water bottles for the cold or even a spare pair of binoculars.
Personal Driver and Vehicle
With private safari, you’ll usually have a personal vehicle and driver so you can make stops whenever you need to and spend as much time at a particular location. You also get to take amazing photos from great angles and delve deeper into the bush to catch sights of the more reclusive inhabitants of the park or game reserve. Your driver will be able to provide you with additional local information that will enrich the experience.
The biggest downside of a private safari is its high cost.
Group Safari
A group Safari is when you as a solo traveler or group of travelers embark on a safari trip together with other safari visitors you have never met. Most travelers opt for group joining safari trips because of numerous reasons that include but are not limited to the ones below:
Travel Companionship
To some people, traveling alone can be somewhat boring whereas group joining can afford them great companions during the trip. They get the opportunity to socialize with travelers from different cultural backgrounds and enjoy a unified safari experience. On campfire nights, after a long day in the African bush you might be grateful for the company as you clink bottles and toast to adventures and share stories.
Budget-friendly
Budget travelers usually opt for group joining Safaris because it’s affordable. An African Safari tour can be really expensive and while some can easily afford it others have to go on a strict budget to make it come true. For this reason, those on a strict budget prefer to join a group since it would allow them to split the cost on necessities like fuel, feeding and accommodation during the trip.
Less Planning
Planning a safari trip can be quite tedious. You’ve got to make a detailed of everything you intend to do, places to see, game drives, accommodation, etc. Group joining on the other hand involves less planning and even lets you enjoy the benefits of shared rates.
Feel more secure
Traveling with a group can make you feel more secure, especially in the wild. Knowing that someone is looking out for you does put your mind more at ease.
While group safaris do have their fair share of amazing benefits, they are not without downsides which include the following:
Less Flexibility
A group safari trip is generally less flexible since itineraries have to cater to multiple people and interests. For instance, you may want to spend more time viewing the rhinos and another person in your group is rather interested in checking out some rare fauna. To avoid confusion and potential discord, itineraries need to be rigid so everyone knows what to expect at all times. This can cast a slight pall on your experience.
Compromise
On a group safari, you’ll find that you may have to compromise on everything. You may be faced with the challenge of who gets window seats during game drives or which of the beds to take in the tent, or even toilet stops. A safari trip should be spent relaxing and enjoying all that nature offers in the wild, and having to make compromises all the time could hamper the experience.
Cancellation
Many group tours have a required minimum of participants and If that does not happen, chances are the trip may be cancelled or rescheduled. This can be somewhat frustrating, especially if you were already looking forward to the activity.
So should you Join a group Safari or arrange a private safari? Truth is there’s always more to the safari experience beyond costs but if you have the funds for it by all means go for a private safari because the ability to enjoy your safari tour at your own pace and comfort makes it the clear winner. Ready to get started? Reach Us today by completing our contact form.
Uganda Safari Packages that might Inspire You
3 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour
The 3 Days Gorilla Safari in Uganda takes you to Bwindi National Park a park hosting half of the remaining population of Mountain gorillas. The 3 Days Gorilla Safari starts and ends in Entebbe/Kampala. This 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Adventure in Bwindi takes you on a Gorillas encounter to southwest of Uganda on an approximately 9-10 hours drive from Kampala/Entebbe. It is a once- in a life time opportunity to trek mountain gorillas and see beautiful landscapes and wildlife of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Alternatively you can avoid the long drive hours by taking a small flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip and back or by starting and ending your tour from Kigali-Rwanda
3 Days Murchison Falls Safari
The 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari tour is an adventurous Wildlife Safari package to Uganda’s largest National Park that involves visiting the Top of the falls, a game drive, a launch cruise to the bottom of the falls and Rhino Tracking. The 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari can be tailor-made for both Budget and Luxury travelers and it gives you a memorable time in the African wild coupled with great sights of the powerful Murchison falls that powers water from a 45m wall through an 8m wide gorge hence giving it a thunderous roar of the waters as it proceeds onto on the Victoria Nile.
4 Days Double Gorilla Trekking Tour
Enjoy this 4 Days Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking Safari package which comes with 2 gorilla trekking encounters in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This Uganda double gorilla trekking safari adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park allows tourists to trek two different habituated gorilla families in two different locations. The 4 Days Uganda double gorilla trekking Safari tour in Bwindi can be in done in Nkuringo and Rushaga Sector or in Buhoma and Ruhija sector based on the travelers preferences and availability of accommodation. The top highlight is gorilla trekking for two times and then spending a night at a lodge on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi.
5 Days Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Tour
The 5 Days Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Safari is a top Primates excursion to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale Forest National Park two of the World’s major primates parks. The 5 Days ultimate Gorillas and Chimpanzee trekking Safari combines Gorilla trekking experience and Kibale Forest National Park’s Chimpanzee Tracking Experience. The tour begins and ends in Entebbe.
6 Days Gorillas, Chimps and Wildlife Safari
Primates and Wildlife Safari tours give tourists an opportunity to see the best of Uganda Safari inclusive of Gorillas, Chimpanzees and the Big Five animals and this 6 Days Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari holiday is a fully guided gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee tracking and wildlife safari into western Uganda’s parks of Bwindi, Kibale and Queen Elizabeth national park. On this 6 days Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari Holiday, your will be together with your guide/driver sharing with you much about the wildlife and culture of the people of Uganda.
8 Days Uganda Safari
On this 8 days Uganda primates safari, you will have the best highlights Uganda has to offer which include gorilla tracking, Rhino tracking at Ziwa rhino sanctuary, chimpanzee tracking, game drive safari, River Nile, boat cruises. Included as well are village and nature walks an opportunity to learn the culture of Uganda. Start this 8 days Uganda primates safari trip in Kampala and end in Entebbe. Alternatively you might start this tour in Entebbe and end it in Kigali -Rwanda
12 Days Uganda Safari
On this 12 days Uganda Safari Holiday, you will explore Uganda’s major National parks including Bwindi impenetrable forest national park- home to half of world’s mountain gorillas, Mgahinga National Park, Queen Elizabeth national park, kibale forest national park, Murchison falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. These include amazing landscapes such as rainforests, Virunga volcanoes and kigezi highlands, rift valley, crater lakes, savannah, River Nile and some much more that you will enjoy nature photography.
12 Days Serengeti Migration and Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari
This memorable Great Wildebeest Migration Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking Safari Tour is recommended during the Months of late July, August and September as this is the time when the Migration head has reached the Kogatende Area in North Serengeti and has started or is already crossing the crocodile infested Mara river to Kenya’s Masai Mara. On this Safari tour, you will visit Lake Bunyonyi, Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater and by the 12th day the tour will have created a lifetime’s worth of memories for you.
13 Days Uganda Tanzania Safari
The 13 Days Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Tanzania Safari takes tourists Bwindi impenetrable National Park, Kibale forest National Park, Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater and Tarangire National parks. You may choose to do an optional Balloon Safari in between the trip.
13 Days Masai Mara Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking Safari
The Masai Mara, Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking Safari takes you to witness two of Africa’s top wildlife encounters the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda and the Big Five animals combined with Mara River Wildebeest Migration Crossing in the famous Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Park.
19 Days Uganda Rwanda and Tanzania Safari
On this Uganda, Rwanda & Tanzania safari tour, you will have an opportunity to view Gorillas twice in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Parks. You will also Spot lions, rhinos, chimps, antelopes, hippos, leopards and more in their natural habitats which will provide memories that will last for a lifetime
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