Safari guides · Uganda
Solo Female Travel in Uganda: A Practical Safari Guide
Thinking of Uganda on your own? How a private safari works for women travelling solo, what gorilla trekking alone is like, practical tips, and a women-only journey if you would like company.
Solo female travel in Uganda works well when the trip is set up properly: a licensed operator, a private vehicle with your own guide, lodges the operator knows, and the same common-sense precautions you would take anywhere. That is how we run every solo trip. You are never pushed into a shared group of strangers, you can ask for a female guide, and if you would rather travel with other women, our women-only Women's Circle on Wheels runs from 10 to 24 February 2027.
How a solo safari works with us
- Your own vehicle and guide. A private 4x4 with an English-speaking, UTB-licensed guide, from airport pickup to the last drop-off. No shared minibuses.
- Lodges we know. We book lodges we use regularly and name every one in your written quote before you pay.
- A female guide on request. Tell us when you enquire, and we assign one when available for your dates.
- Your pace. Want a slow morning after the gorilla trek, or an extra night by a lake? It is your trip.
- One point of contact. You can reach us on WhatsApp throughout the trip.
Mwanzo Tours Uganda is licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board, licence UTB/RTT/TT/2023/100873.
Gorilla trekking as a solo woman
You do not need a partner or a group to go gorilla trekking. UWA puts every trekker into a small group of up to eight visitors per gorilla family, led by rangers and trackers. Your Mwanzo guide drives you to the briefing, helps you hire a porter if you want one (about $15 to $20, paid on the day), and is waiting when you come out of the forest.
Trek day is also a natural chance to meet other travellers, and a shared hour with a gorilla family is a good ice-breaker. For the paperwork, read how to book a gorilla permit in Uganda. The 2027 permit is $800 per person.
Practical safety tips
We will not pretend any country is risk-free. These are the habits we suggest to every guest, and they make a real difference:
- Read your government's travel advice before booking and again before flying: UK FCDO, Government of Canada, Australia's Smartraveller, or your own country's equivalent.
- Use the transport your guide arranges, especially after dark. Avoid hailing rides on the street in Kampala.
- Keep valuables low-key. Leave expensive jewellery at home and keep your phone and cash out of sight in towns.
- Share your itinerary with someone at home. We send you a written day-by-day plan you can forward.
- Get a local SIM or eSIM so you can use WhatsApp and maps easily.
- Dress modestly in towns and villages. Covering shoulders and knees is respectful and avoids unwanted attention.
- Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, tell your guide. That is what they are there for.
Women's Circle on Wheels: a women-only journey
If you would like Uganda in the company of other women, Women's Circle on Wheels is our women-only journey from Wednesday 10 February to Wednesday 24 February 2027: 15 days and 14 nights, starting and ending in Entebbe, for an intimate group in two Land Cruisers.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 10 to 24 February 2027 |
| Who | Women only, an intimate group |
| Price | €3,500 per person including gorilla trekking, or €3,000 per person with a guided nature hike in Bwindi instead |
| Included | Park permits, including the gorilla permit on the €3,500 option |
| Not included | Drinks, laundry, porter fees and water |
| Booking | A 40% deposit confirms your place, balance due no later than 30 days before departure. Flexible payment plans. |
The route moves from the shoebill boat at Mabamba and walking and biking safaris at Lake Mburo, to Lake Bunyonyi, where the group meets a woman survivor on a boat trip to Punishment Island. Then Bwindi for the gorilla trek and a Batwa community visit, Ishasha and the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth, Kibale's crater lakes and Bigodi wetland, and finally two days with the children, teachers and a women's group at the Serah project in Nakaseke. Full details and the day-by-day plan are on the Women's Circle on Wheels page.
A sample solo week
Here is how a relaxed seven-day solo trip often looks. We adjust it to your dates, fitness and interests:
- Arrive in Entebbe. Your guide meets you at the airport. A quiet first night to rest.
- Drive west to Kibale. Afternoon walk at the community-run Bigodi Wetland if you have energy.
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale in the morning, then on to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Game drive and the Kazinga Channel boat trip in Queen Elizabeth.
- To Bwindi, with a stop in Ishasha to look for the tree-climbing lions. Early night near the trailhead.
- Gorilla trek day. Afternoon to rest, or a Batwa community visit.
- Return to Entebbe by road, or fly from a nearby airstrip to save the long drive.
Would you rather travel with other women? See the Women's Circle on Wheels dates above.
What a solo trip costs
Travelling solo usually costs more per person, for two honest reasons. The vehicle and guide cost the same whether one or four people ride, and some lodges charge for single use of a double room. You can lower the cost by choosing mid-range lodges, travelling by road rather than flying, or joining a women's group departure. See Uganda safari cost 2027 for a full breakdown.
Good trips to start from
- 3-Day Bwindi Gorilla Trekking, Batwa and Lake Bunyonyi: a short, focused solo trip.
- 7-Day Gorillas, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Tour: gorillas, chimps and savannah.
- 14-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzees and Wildlife Safari: for slow travel at your own pace.
Where it fits your route, your trip can include a visit to the communities supported by the Serah Foundation, arranged with care and consent.
Planning from abroad? Our country guides cover flights, currency and timing for your trip: from the USA, from the UK, from Canada, from Australia, from the Netherlands, from Germany, from Belgium and from Scandinavia.
Questions before you book? Send us a message on WhatsApp at +256 789 487 378, email info@mwanzotoursuganda.com, or use the Plan your journey form. We reply within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
Is Uganda safe for solo female travellers?
Many women travel Uganda on their own. With a licensed operator, a private vehicle and guide, lodges we know, and normal travel precautions, a solo safari is very manageable. Read your own government's travel advice before you book, as it is updated regularly.
Can I go gorilla trekking alone?
Yes. You join a small UWA trekking group of up to eight visitors with rangers, and your Mwanzo guide handles the logistics before and after the trek.
Can I ask for a female guide?
Yes, you can ask. We assign a female guide when one is available for your dates.
Does a solo safari cost more?
Usually, yes. The vehicle and guide are not shared, and lodges may charge for single use. Joining a group such as Women's Circle on Wheels shares those costs.
Is there a women-only trip in Uganda?
Yes. Women's Circle on Wheels runs from 10 to 24 February 2027 for an intimate group of women. It costs €3,500 per person including gorilla trekking, or €3,000 with a guided nature hike instead.
What should women wear in Uganda?
On safari, practical clothes and long sleeves for the forest. For towns and community visits, modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees is respectful and comfortable.