These eight operators are local Ugandan safari companies that give a founding year on their own sites, read on 29 October 2026. They are ranked by that year, the earliest first, as each operator states it; the years were not checked against a company register.
Which safari companies in Uganda have been operating the longest?
Great Lakes Safaris is first on this page with 2001, then Nkuringo Safaris with 2007 and a three way tie at 2012 between Bamboo Ecotours, Gorilla Safaris Uganda Travel and Prime Safaris & Tours. The newest on the page is Paramount Gorilla Expeditions with 2022.
Who is on this page and why. Uncompromised Travel read on 29 October 2026 the websites of 8 safari operators with trips in Uganda that run their own trips, with their reviews on SafariBookings, Google and Trustpilot and their listing on the national register where there is one. The local safari operators table holds the operators named in ChatGPT answers on two or more days in October 2026 and the most-reviewed East African operators on SafariBookings. This page carries every one of them filed under Uganda whose own website gives the year it was founded. Cards are ranked by the year each operator's own website gives for its founding, the earliest first. Each year is as the operator states it and was not checked against a company register. Operators with the same year are listed alphabetically. Prices are shown as each company published them, in its own currency, never converted.
Founded in 2001, started by a young Ugandan; the founder is named as Amos Wekesa.
Why choose them
It owns the Great Lakes Collection of lodges, among them Elephant Plains Lodge in Queen Elizabeth and Primate Lodge Kibale, which its trips use. SafariBookings: 3.4 out of 5 from 5 reviews; Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 198 reviews, read 29 October 2026.
Based in
Kampala (Mutungo Hill) and Kigali; Uganda trips start at Entebbe or Kampala
Ask for
Ask for the gorilla permit to be priced as its own line, as its trip pages exclude it.
Not the fit if
Travellers paying by Visa card who want no surcharge, as card payments carry a 5% service charge.
Published price
7 Day Uganda Discovery Safari group departures from US$ 2,500 per person (7 November 2026) and from US$ 2,670 per person (10 April and 13 November 2027).
Founded in 2007, its about page says, in a tiny hillside camp on the southern edge of Bwindi; Lydia Eva Mpanga is named as co-founder and CEO.
Why choose them
It owns three lodges used on its trips: Papyrus Guesthouse in Entebbe, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge in Bwindi and Mirima Kibale Lodge. SafariBookings: 5.0 out of 5 from 17 reviews, read 29 October 2026.
Based in
Entebbe (Kitala); trips start in Entebbe, Kigali, Nairobi or Arusha
Ask for
Ask for a full trip price per person, as its site gives only a guide of USD 500-800 per person per day.
Not the fit if
Budget travellers, as it names only luxury and all-inclusive styles and no budget tier.
Published price
Its site says most of its private eco-luxury safaris in Uganda and Rwanda start from around USD 500-800 per person per day, excluding international flights.
Started trading in 2012, when its site says Edison, Director and Founder, launched it; it says the Registrar of Companies has registered it since 2012.
Why choose them
It says it invests up to 15% of its income directly in community projects such as schools, water catchment systems and health centres. SafariBookings: 5.0 out of 5 from 153 reviews; Google: 5 out of 5 from 51 reviews, read 29 October 2026.
Based in
Kisoro, near the Rwanda border; pick-ups in Kigali, Entebbe, Kampala, Kisoro, Kabale and Musanze
Ask for
Ask for the deposit and the date the balance is due in writing, as its terms say only that payment follows the invoice; gorilla permits are paid in full when booked three months or more ahead.
Not the fit if
Travellers under 15 or over 80, as its tours list an age restriction of 15 to 80.
Published price
Published per person in US dollars on its home page and each tour page; all tours are quoted in US dollars.
Says it has been operating since 2012; founders are not named.
Why choose them
Its own fleet of over 8 vehicles includes 2 Land Cruisers, 4 safari vans and 2 saloon cars. SafariBookings: 4.8 out of 5 from 14 reviews, read 29 October 2026.
Based in
Kampala (Plot 125 Bombo Rd, Kawempe Plaza); trips start in Entebbe, Kampala or Kigali
Ask for
Ask how a permit refund would work for your dates, as Uganda gorilla permits are refunded only as UWA credit (46% at 91 days or more, 21% at 61 to 90 days).
Not the fit if
Children under 15 on gorilla treks or under 12 on chimpanzee treks.
Published price
3 Days Queen Elizabeth $660 per person, up to 21 days at $7,810 per person; no per-day price given.
Says it has been operating since 2012 and claims 12+ years of experience; founders are not named and its about page says it was founded to support the Ambassadors of Zion Children Mission.
Why choose them
It promises a reply within 30 minutes to 12 hours and offers callbacks and video appointments. SafariBookings: 5.0 out of 5 from 77 reviews; Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 53 reviews, read 29 October 2026.
Based in
Kampala (no street address published); clients are driven from Kampala, with Entebbe airport transfers
Ask for
Ask if gorilla permits are in the package price, as its terms say permits are paid in full at booking but do not say.
Not the fit if
Travellers who may cancel within 30 days of arrival, as its scale gives no refund then.
Published price
Package prices not shown; its cost guide puts a 1-day safari at US$200 to US$300 per person.
Established in 2018, its about page says, by a group of native youth in Uganda; no individual founders are named.
Why choose them
Founded in 2018 by a group of young Ugandans, it sells Uganda trips alongside Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Rwanda and countries as far as Morocco. SafariBookings: 4.9 out of 5 from 274 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.7 out of 5 from 1 review, read 29 October 2026.
Based in
Kampala (Freedom City Shopping Mall, Entebbe Road); tours elsewhere start in cities such as Nairobi or Kigali
Ask for
Ask for a fully priced quote with the deposit amount, as its tour pages show no trip prices and its terms do not state the down payment.
Not the fit if
Travellers booking within a month of departure who cannot pay in full at booking, as its terms require it.
Published price
No prices published on its website; quotes on request.
Established in 2021, its about page says; founders are Nick, a British adventurer and retired architect, with his wife Patrah, a Ugandan entrepreneur.
Why choose them
Its own Toyota 70 Series Land Cruisers have 4 customer captain's seats in the 6-seater (an 8-seater for larger groups), all of them window seats. SafariBookings: 5.0 out of 5 from 31 reviews, read 29 October 2026.
Based in
Entebbe (5 Kamuli Close, per its contact page)
Ask for
Ask for its Uganda Tourism Board licence number, as the site says it is registered with the board but gives no number.
Not the fit if
Travellers who want Rwanda or another country on the same trip, as it sells Uganda only.
Published price
Family Special, 10 days, from $9,995 for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children under 15); its Wilderness Uganda trip has a family price of $6,995.
Founded in 2022 by Tumwine Kenneth, who says he started in 2022 with one Land Cruiser.
Why choose them
Its 40 percent deposit is fully refundable for 14 days after payment. SafariBookings: 4.9 out of 5 from 11 reviews; Google: 5 out of 5 from 5 reviews, read 29 October 2026.
Based in
Kakindu, Entebbe; trips start at Entebbe, Nairobi, Kigali or Arusha/Kilimanjaro
Ask for
Ask if the vehicle is private, as the 12-day East Africa Explorer lists a shared 4x4 while the site says trips are private by default.
Not the fit if
Travellers without travel and medical evacuation insurance, which its terms make mandatory.
Published price
Classic Gorilla Trekking Safari, 6 days, from $3,800 per person; Uganda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari, 8 days, from $5,200 per person (US dollars, no season given).
Which operators have run safaris for more than 20 years?
Only Great Lakes Safaris gives a founding year of 2001, which puts it past 20 years by 2026; the next earliest, Nkuringo Safaris, gives 2007.
Great Lakes Safaris: Gives 2001 and names Amos Wekesa as founder, still CEO.
Nkuringo Safaris: Gives 2007 and names Lydia Eva Mpanga as co-founder and CEO.
In general, a founding year says how long a company has existed, not how many trips it has run or how good they were.
What newer operators publish instead
Newer operators have a shorter record, so ask for what they publish instead, for example Paramount Gorilla Expeditions with 2022 and Meanda Uganda Safaris with 2021.
Paramount Gorilla Expeditions: Gives 2022 and names founder Tumwine Kenneth, who says he started with one Land Cruiser.
Meanda Uganda Safaris: Gives 2021 and names its owners as Nick and his wife Patrah.
Dav Safaris: Gives 2018 and says a group of native youth in Uganda established it.
Ask a newer operator for its licence, its guides and recent guest contacts, since a short record gives less to judge by.
How to check how long a safari company has been operating
In general, ask for the company registration date and Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) registration, then compare them with the year on the website.
Bamboo Ecotours: Says the Registrar of Companies has registered it since 2012, a claim that can be checked against the register.
Prime Safaris & Tours: Says it has operated since 2012 and claims 12+ years of experience, so ask for its registration date.
Gorilla Safaris Uganda Travel: Says it has operated since 2012 and names no founders, so ask who started it and when it was registered.
The years on this page are as each operator states them. A licence year is not the same as a trading year, so ask which one is meant.
Who to contact first
This is a suggested order of asking, not the ranking: begin with the operators that give the clearest founder and year.
Great Lakes Safaris: Gives 2001 and a named founder who is still CEO.
Nkuringo Safaris: Gives 2007 and a named co-founder and CEO.
Bamboo Ecotours: Gives 2012 with a named founder and a registrar claim to check.
Gorilla Safaris Uganda Travel: Gives 2012 and a Kampala address, but names no founders.
Paramount Gorilla Expeditions: Gives 2022 with a named founder who still guides.
Enquiry brief: ask each when it was registered, who runs trips day to day, which Uganda Tourism Board licence it holds and for recent guests on your route.
Longest-running Uganda safari companies: the questions people ask
Which safari companies in Uganda have been operating the longest?
By the founding years operators state on their own sites, Great Lakes Safaris is first with 2001, then Nkuringo Safaris with 2007. Bamboo Ecotours, Gorilla Safaris Uganda Travel and Prime Safaris & Tours each give 2012.
Which operators have run safaris for more than 20 years?
Only Great Lakes Safaris, which gives 2001. The next earliest on this page is Nkuringo Safaris with 2007.
How was this ranking made?
Operators are ranked by the year each one's own website gives for its founding, the earliest first. Each year is as the operator states it and was not checked against a company register. Operators with the same year are listed alphabetically.
Who founded Great Lakes Safaris?
Its site names Amos Wekesa as founder and says the company was started by a young Ugandan in 2001.
Which Uganda safari operator is newest on this page?
Paramount Gorilla Expeditions gives 2022 and says founder Tumwine Kenneth started with one Land Cruiser.
How do I check that a Uganda safari operator is licensed?
Ask for the operator's Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) registration number and check it with UTB. A licence is separate from the year a company says it was founded.
Does a longer track record mean a better safari?
Not by itself. A founding year says how long a company has existed. Ask about guides, vehicles and recent guests on your route as well.
Are the founding years on this page verified?
No. They are as each operator's own site stated them when read on 29 October 2026.
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: facts each operator published on its own website, read on 29 October 2026, with reviews per platform (SafariBookings, Google and Trustpilot) and register listings read the same day, from the Uncompromised Travel local safari operators table. Every operator in that table filed under Uganda whose own website gives the year it was founded is on this page; operators whose websites would not open are not. Cards are ranked by the year each operator's own website gives for its founding, the earliest first. Each year is as the operator states it and was not checked against a company register. Operators with the same year are listed alphabetically; "Who to contact first" is in the order Uncompromised Travel suggests asking. No company paid to appear or for its place. Sources: the company pages linked in each card. Prices are in the currency each company showed and were not converted. How this site earns · How we work.
Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 31 October 2026 · updated 31 October 2026
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