A private safari is the version of Africa that bends around you. Your own vehicle, your own guide and your own pace, from the first morning drive to the last evening on the lodge deck. There is no group timetable, no shared seat and no compromise on when to leave camp, how long to stay with a leopard or whether to skip the afternoon drive for a long lunch. It is how most of our guests travel, and it is the foundation of everything we plan.
What private means in practice
Every private safari includes a dedicated driver-guide who stays with you for the whole journey, a 4×4 with a raised roof and a window seat for each guest, and an itinerary built from scratch rather than lifted from a brochure. Because the vehicle is yours, we can start before dawn for the best light, linger at a sighting that matters to you, or stay in camp when the weather turns. Our guides are chosen for their field knowledge and for how well they read people, not only animals.
Private also means privacy where you sleep. We favour small lodges and camps with a handful of rooms, so that dinner is a conversation rather than a queue and the only sound at night is the forest.
Who it suits
- Couples and honeymooners who want unhurried days and quiet, well-placed accommodation.
- Families who need flexible pacing, early nights and activities that work for children.
- Photographers and birders who value time at a sighting more than the number of sightings.
- First-time visitors who want an expert to handle every detail so that the trip simply flows.
- Small groups of friends who want to travel together without strangers in the vehicle.
How we shape a private safari
We start with what you want to feel and see, then build the route around it. Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, a game-drive circuit in Kenya or Tanzania, chimpanzee tracking, a beach finish in Zanzibar: each is combined by road or short flight in a sequence that avoids long, tiring transfers. Our team in Kampala knows the lodges, the guides and the road conditions first hand, which is how a plan on paper becomes a trip that runs smoothly. Every itinerary is confirmed in writing before you commit, and we remain on call by WhatsApp throughout the journey.
Permits and planning ahead
Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are limited and sell out well before the busiest months, and they are non-refundable once issued. We advise booking early, and we confirm permit availability against your dates before we ask for any commitment. Prices are quoted in US dollars after we plan your route, with no hidden extras, so you can see exactly what each part of the journey includes.
Where private safaris work best
Uganda and Rwanda reward private travel with forest trekking at your own pace. Kenya and Tanzania are made for private game drives, where the freedom to move on your own schedule changes the quality of every sighting. Browse Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, or compare the other ways to travel: small group safaris, family safaris and luxury safaris.
Start planning
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what you hope to experience. We will reply with a sample route and a clear price. Visit Plan My African Safari, message us on WhatsApp at +256 701 243 304, or email [email protected].
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