Murchison Falls
Uganda's largest park, where the Victoria Nile drops through a seven-metre gorge. Giraffe, elephant and lion on the north bank.
Discover Murchison Falls
Discover private luxury safaris
Every Luxury Travel Mavens safari is private: your own Land Cruiser, your own guide and a luxury lodge each night, with park fees and permits already arranged. We plan and run every trip ourselves from Uganda, across Uganda's forests and savannahs and the volcanoes of Rwanda.
Safari, done
the Mavens way
Six promises that hold on every trip, from a morning at Mabamba to ten days across Uganda.
Private on every trip
Your own 4x4 and driver-guide, never shared with strangers.
All-inclusive quotes
Park fees, permits, lodges and activities are all in one quote.
Permits in your names
Gorilla and chimp permits are bought as soon as your deposit clears.
30% secures the dates
The balance is due 60 days before you travel.
Run from Uganda
We plan and operate every trip ourselves. No middlemen.
Built around you
Extend, upgrade or combine any trip across both countries.
Popular destinations
Bwindi Impenetrable
Steep montane forest in the southwest, home to about half of the world's mountain gorillas. Treks start from Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
Discover Bwindi Impenetrable
Kibale Forest
Evergreen forest near Fort Portal with 13 primate species and Uganda's most reliable chimpanzee tracking.
Discover Kibale Forest
Queen Elizabeth
Savannah, crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel between lakes George and Edward. Tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector.
Discover Queen Elizabeth
Kidepo Valley
A remote valley on the South Sudan and Kenya borders, and the only park in Uganda with cheetah.
Discover Kidepo Valley
Lake Mburo
A small park on the road to Bwindi with zebra, eland and impala, and safaris on foot and on horseback.
Discover Lake Mburo
Volcanoes
Bamboo and forest on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes, under three hours from Kigali. Gorillas, golden monkeys and Dian Fossey's grave.
Discover Volcanoes
Akagera
Rwanda's savannah park on the Tanzanian border, run by African Parks. Lions returned in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017.
Discover Akagera
Nyungwe Forest
Ancient montane rainforest with chimpanzees, 13 primate species and a canopy walkway high above a ravine.
Discover Nyungwe ForestDiscover gorilla trekking
Each habituated gorilla family can be visited by eight people a day, for one hour. Dry-season dates in Bwindi and Volcanoes fill months ahead. Uganda's permit is US$800 and Rwanda's US$1,500, and both are included in our gorilla safari prices.
Start planning your safari
Choose by what you most want to see. Every trip is private and can be combined with another.
Featured itineraries
3-Day Murchison Falls Luxury Safari
Kampala › Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary › Murchison Falls › Kampala
View itinerary3-Day Murchison Falls Luxury Safari
Kampala › Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary › Murchison Falls › Kampala
View itineraryLodges worth the journey
Riverside tents, forest villas and crater-rim cottages, chosen for where they sit as much as how they look.
Baker's Lodge
Riverside lodge on the south bank of the Victoria Nile, a short drive from the Paraa ferry.
View the lodgeClouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Stone cottages on the ridge above the Nkuringo sector, looking out to the Virunga volcanoes.
Ask about this lodgeBisate Lodge
Six forest villas on an eroded volcanic cone, facing Mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi.
Ask about this lodgeKyaninga Lodge
Thatched log cottages on the rim of a crater lake outside Fort Portal, within reach of Kibale Forest.
Ask about this lodgeReviews from our guests
Verified reviews (Google or Tripadvisor widget) appear here at launch. We don't publish testimonials we can't link to a real traveller.
From the journal
Planning guides from the people who run the trips.
How Many Days Do You Need at Murchison Falls?
Two nights covers the essentials, a third adds the Nile delta and a second game drive. Here is how to decide.
Read the guideUganda or Rwanda for Gorillas: Permits, Lodges and the Trek Itself
The permit price differs by $700. The forest, the drive and the lodges differ too.
Read the guideWhen to Go: Uganda's Dry and Green Seasons, Park by Park
Which months suit gorilla trekking, game drives and birding, and what the rain actually means.
Read the guideQuestions before you book
What makes a Luxury Travel Mavens safari private?
You have your own 4x4 Land Cruiser and English-speaking driver-guide for the whole trip, and timings follow your interests rather than a group schedule.
What is included in the price?
Luxury lodges on full board, park fees, gorilla and chimpanzee permits where listed, the activities in the itinerary, the vehicle and guide, and airport transfers. International flights, visas, tips and insurance are not included.
How much does a gorilla trekking safari cost?
It depends on the country, the season, your lodges and the size of your group. The permit is the fixed part: US$800 in Uganda and US$1,500 in Rwanda. Send us your dates and we will reply with a full quote within 24 hours.
When is the best time for a safari in Uganda and Rwanda?
June to September and December to February are the driest months. Gorilla trekking runs all year, and the wetter months bring lower lodge rates.
How do we book?
Choose a safari and a start date, or send us your ideas. A 30% deposit secures the dates and permits; the balance is due 60 days before travel.
Something made for you
Any trip can be lengthened, upgraded or combined across both countries. Send your dates and the number of travellers, and you'll get a costed plan within a day.