Great Lakes Safaris

Name

Great Lakes Safaris

Legal name

Great Lakes Safaris

Website

https://safari-uganda.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Safari Tourism Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Safari & Wildlife Adventure Tour Operators (Land-Based) (THAAADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives (THAJAIAB), Safari & Overland Wildlife Adventures (4x4/Jeep) (THAJABAD), Safari Lodges & Tented Camps (THAAAHAC), Safari Camps & Tented Lodges (THAGAOAF), Rainforest & Jungle Ecotourism Tours (THAAAEAF)

Keywords

• East African safaris
• Gorilla trekking tours
• Safari lodge accommodations
• Wildlife safari packages
• Adventure travel Uganda

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Safari Tours: The company generates revenue through packaged safari itineraries ranging from 4 to 15 days, covering Uganda and Rwanda destinations including gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris, and cultural tours. Revenue is collected as one-time transaction fees per booking.
2. Lodge Accommodations: The company operates a boutique collection of safari lodges including Elephant Plains Lodge (Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda), Primate Lodge Kibale (Kibale National Park), and Mwamba Lodge Tarangire (Tarangire National Park, Tanzania). Revenue from lodging is included in package bookings or standalone stays.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Great Lakes Safaris designs and delivers guided safari packages (4 to 15 days) across Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania, focused on gorilla trekking, wildlife viewing, and cultural encounters. The company also operates its own collection of branded boutique safari lodges in Uganda and Tanzania, providing accommodation as part of or alongside the safari itineraries. Tailor-made journeys and pre-packaged itineraries are sold direct-to-consumer via website enquiry, phone, and email.

Product overview

Great Lakes Safaris offers a curated portfolio of safari experiences and branded lodge accommodations across East Africa. The core offering consists of guided safari packages ranging from 4 to 15 days, covering Uganda and Rwanda with itineraries focused on gorilla trekking, wildlife viewing, and cultural encounters. The company also operates the Boutique Collection, a selection of branded safari lodges in Uganda and Tanzania including Elephant Plains Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale, Mwamba Lodge Tarangire, and Pabidi Lodge. Additionally, the Adventure Collection features Simba Safari Camp and Budongo Forest Activities for experiential travelers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Great Lakes Collection: A selection of authentic African-style safari lodges located in East Africa's most iconic national parks.

Products and services

• 7 Day Uganda Discovery Safari A 7-day guided safari experience exploring Uganda's national parks and wildlife, including game drives and cultural encounters, designed for travelers seeking a mid-length Uganda-focused itinerary.
• 15 Day Uganda Classic Safari An extended 15-day comprehensive safari covering Uganda's major wildlife destinations and attractions, intended as the flagship in-depth Uganda itinerary.
• 4 Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari A 4-day gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, targeted at travelers whose primary goal is a short, focused mountain gorilla encounter.
• 5 Day Volcanoes & Lakes of Rwanda A 5-day itinerary combining gorilla trekking with visits to Rwanda's scenic lakes and volcanic landscapes.
• 11 Day Rwanda Discovery Safari An 11-day exploration of Rwanda's wildlife, including national parks and cultural sites, designed as the comprehensive Rwanda-focused itinerary.
• Rwenzori Marathon 2026 Packages

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Singita: Ultra-luxury safari group operating branded lodges and conservation programs across Africa, with presence in Tanzania. Comparable on the high-end lodge-and-safari bundled model and strong sustainability narrative, though positioned firmly in the ultra-luxury segment.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Global luxury tour operator with strong East Africa safari programs including gorilla trekking. Comparable on luxury safari itineraries, tailor-made journeys, and travel agent referral model, though as a broad multi-destination incumbent rather than an East Africa specialist.
• Wilderness Safaris: Large African safari operator with extensive owned and partner camps across southern and East Africa. Comparable on the safari-plus-lodge bundled offering and conservation positioning, though skewed to southern Africa with deeper brand recognition and capital base.
• andBeyond: Luxury safari and travel operator with a large owned lodge portfolio across Africa (including Tanzania and Rwanda). Comparable on luxury safari product, owned-lodge vertical integration, and tailor-made itineraries, but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.

Emerging players

• Wild Frontiers: Adventure and experiential travel operator with East African safari and gorilla trekking offerings. Comparable on tailor-made, adventure-leaning itineraries and conservation positioning, but more diverse geographically (also covers Asia, Middle East).
• Africa Adventure Company: Boutique US-based East Africa safari specialist offering luxury custom safaris and gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda. Comparable on tailor-made gorilla trekking product and East Africa specialization, though without owned-lodge vertical integration.

Direct peers

• Asilia Africa: East African safari operator running branded camps and lodges across Tanzania and Kenya with conservation focus. Comparable on owned-camp/lodge model, conservation-driven positioning, and safari-package bundling within East Africa.
• Volcanoes Safaris: Boutique Uganda and Rwanda safari operator with owned lodge properties (including gorilla-tracking lodges near Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park). Most direct comparable given overlapping gorilla trekking focus, owned-lodge model, and similar size and East African footprint.
• Micato Safaris: US-headquartered luxury East African safari specialist offering bespoke gorilla trekking and wildlife itineraries in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. Comparable on tailor-made high-end safari product and gorilla trekking focus, though without owned-lodge vertical integration.

Regional players

• Sopa Lodges: East African lodge chain with properties across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda national parks. Comparable on owned East African lodge inventory and safari-package bundling, though it operates as a regional lodge chain rather than a tour operator with branded itineraries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SafarisUganda
• Facebookfacebook.com/GreatLakesSafaris
• Instagraminstagram.com/greatlakessafarisltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-lakes-safaris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Lakes Safaris