Your safari company in Mbarara, Uganda

Wildlife, gorillas, culture and adventure, planned by a Mbarara team that knows the road to every park.

Featured safaris

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.

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2 days
Adventure Safaris
2 Day Lake Mburo Nature Walk Safari
Two days in Lake Mburo, close to Mbarara, built around a guided walk among zebras and antelope plus a game drive and a boat trip.
Price on request
4 days
Wildlife and Game Drive Safaris
4 Day Murchison Falls Safari with Paraa Lodge
Four days around the Nile and the falls: a river cruise to the base of the falls, game drives north of the river and a stay at Paraa.
Price on request
3 days
Gorilla and Primate Safaris
3 Day Bwindi Gorilla Trek from Mbarara
A short gorilla trekking trip: drive south from Mbarara, trek to a gorilla family in Bwindi and return, with a permit arranged for you.
Price on request
3 days
Wildlife and Game Drive Safaris
3 Day Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari
Three days of game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, with an optional visit to Ishasha.
Price on request
4 days
Gorilla and Primate Safaris
4 Day Chimpanzee and Queen Elizabeth Safari
Track chimpanzees in Kibale's rainforest, then trade the forest for the savanna and the boat cruise of Queen Elizabeth.
Price on request
6 days
Birding Safaris
6 Day Uganda Birding Safari
Six days of savanna, wetland and forest birding across western Uganda, from Lake Mburo to Queen Elizabeth and Kibale.
Price on request
1 day
Cultural and Community Tours
Ankole Cultural Day Tour from Mbarara
A day with the cattle keepers and storytellers of Nkore: farm visits, local food and a look at the culture that shaped the region.
Price on request
1 day
Corporate and Group Safaris
Jinja Team Building Day Trip
A full day on the Nile for colleagues and groups: a boat ride to the source, shared challenges and a relaxed riverside meal.
Price on request
3 days
Corporate and Group Safaris
3 Day Corporate Retreat at Lake Mburo
A three-day retreat for teams: working sessions, guided walks and game drives in a park an hour from Mbarara.
Price on request

Ways to travel

Choose your kind of safari

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.

Why Canine Safaris

Why travel with us

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

Destinations across western Uganda

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.

Explore all destinations

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

Safari rates for 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 trip

5.0 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

Planning your trip

16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.
16 October 2026
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.

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Guest reviews

What our guests say

Rated 5 out of 5
“I did the natural walk with the Canine Safaris and it was amazing. Starting from organization (I came and arranged in the office one day prior) till the performance of their guide. I chose the budget version of the tour (guide was actually driving the boda boda), during all driving and walking I felt safe. Recommend for everyone!”
Artūrs Zeiza, solo traveller, Lake Mburo nature walk, January 2024Reviewed on Google
Rated 5 out of 5
“Had the best times and momories for the 2 trips( to murchsion falls and Jinja) i had with Canine safaris. Thank u Canine safaris team, keep up the good work”
Racheal Lillian Sabano, Couple, Murchison Falls and Jinja trips, review dated March 2023Reviewed on Google
Rated 5 out of 5
“Thank you so much to the team at Canine Safaris - I planned a last-minute trip from Mbarara to Lake Mburo, and they put together a really nice itinerary for me at a good fair price. I’d highly recommend them!”
James Robinson, friends, Murchison Falls safari, April 2022Reviewed on Google
Rated 5 out of 5
“We spent an amazing 2024 Christmas holiday (23rd - 26th) with the team from Canine Safaris LTD, and my family will always treasure the memories and the professionalism exhibited by the team from pick up to drop off. We are greatful and highly recommend Canine Safaris to all wishing to have a professional joyful experience touring. We will most definately reach out to the team to book more tours notably the 5 day Kenyan Safari. God bless you all. Greetings from my family”
Nelson M. Bagenda, Family SafariReviewed on Google
Rated 5 out of 5
“What an incredible warm welcome and hospitality among the guides, These guys when it comes to showing you what nature has for you, they know all the corners and I recommend them highly ❤️❤️.”
AKANKWASA STANSYLUS, Safari with friendsReviewed on Google
Rated 5 out of 5
“Smart Staff, Customer care is the welcome note🤜 With Canine Safaris, I have no doubt. The company's employees are enriched with Knowledge as far as Nature interpretation is concerned without forgetting well serviced tour Vans that will make you rock into adventure and discover more. Can't wait to travel with you again Thank you Canine Safaris”
AGABA JOSEPH, Tour guide safarisReviewed on Google
Rated 5 out of 5
“Had some great time with our host and gudie Moris and driver Roland on a one day safari in Queen Elizabeth Park! Excellent experience that we'll remeber for life!”
barunking, Croatia safari with family and friendsReviewed on Google
Rated 5 out of 5
“Good trip arrangements and value for money with friendly tour guides. We had a great day.”
Denis Turyahabwe, Family safari after marriageReviewed on Google
Rated 5 out of 5
“It was on such short notice, but they pulled it off for us. Very calm, knowledgeable and supportive.”
Halima Namatovu, December after christmas safariReviewed on Google
Rated 5 out of 5
“What a wonderful 2 days tour we had with Canine Safaris Ltd. I liked the way the staff handled us, friendly, caring and funny 🤣. It was fun travelling with you. Thanks for the excellent services. Look forward to booking more.”
Zafar, Family tripReviewed on Google

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