This past spring, something extraordinary happened on the streets of Ottawa. Open-top double-decker buses rolled through the capital carrying the flags of Uganda and Canada side by side. The Uganda Embassy of Canada had organized a special showcase event — and standing at the heart of it, named the official safari and tour provider for Canadians wanting to experience East Africa, was the Bashem Safaris team.
The Uganda Embassy Event That Brought Africa to Ottawa
The Uganda Embassy of Canada organized this community event to bring Uganda’s story to life right here in the capital. It was a bold, beautiful statement: Uganda is open, Uganda is extraordinary, and Uganda is ready to welcome Canadians. Bashem Safaris was right there — because when the Embassy wanted a trusted East African safari company to represent Uganda to Canadians, they came to us.
Ottawa-Based. East Africa-Rooted. That’s Bashem.
What makes Bashem Safaris different isn’t just that we know Uganda — it’s that we’re from Uganda. Our founder, Emmanuel Bashitsi, grew up beside the mountain gorillas in Kisoro, in the lush highlands of southwestern Uganda. He has been guiding Canadian travellers since 2015, and today Bashem Safaris operates from both Ottawa and East Africa — meaning your trip is planned by people who know both worlds.
We are registered with the Uganda Tourism Board and we carry our own experienced guides and drivers on the ground. When the Uganda Embassy of Canada wanted to put a trusted face on Ugandan safaris for Canadians, they turned to us. We take that honour seriously — and we carry it into every single safari we run.
Why Uganda? Here’s What Canadians Are Missing.
🦍 Mountain Gorillas in the Wild
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to nearly half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. On foot, through dense jungle, you can sit an arm’s length from a 200kg silverback and his family for a full, unhurried hour. No glass. No fence. No zoo. This is one of the rarest wildlife encounters on Earth — and Uganda is where it happens. The population has grown from 242 in 1981 to over 1,063 today, a conservation miracle that Ugandans are rightly proud of.
🌊 The Nile Begins Here
At Jinja, the Nile quietly leaves Lake Victoria and begins its 6,650km journey to the Mediterranean. You can raft its first roaring rapids, cruise its banks at sunset while hippos surface nearby, or simply stand at the source of a river that has sustained civilisations for five thousand years. At Murchison Falls, the Nile thunders 43 metres through a narrow gorge — one of Africa’s most powerful natural spectacles.
🐦 1,093 Species of Birds
Uganda has more bird species than all of Canada combined — 1,093 identified species in a country the size of the UK. The Shoebill. The African Fish Eagle. The Great Blue Turaco. Whether you’re a lifelong birder or simply love extraordinary beauty, Uganda’s birdlife will stop you mid-breath.
🦁 Tree-Climbing Lions and Big Wildlife
In Ishasha, lions sleep in ancient fig trees. Five-tonne elephants roam Murchison Falls National Park in great herds. Nubian giraffes, Cape buffalo, Nile crocodiles, and Uganda Kob fill the golden savannah. At Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you can walk on foot to white rhinos — extinct in the wild in Uganda just decades ago, now thriving again thanks to conservation work Bashem Safaris is proud to support.
🐒 Chimpanzees and the Primate Capital of Africa
Kibale National Park has the highest density of primates in Africa. Chimpanzees swinging through the canopy at Budongo Forest. Golden monkeys in the Mgahinga highlands. Uganda is the only country where you can track gorillas, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys on a single trip.
Our Uganda Safari Packages
Every Bashem safari is privately guided, fully customizable, and built around you. Here’s what we offer for Uganda:
- 2 Days Magical Uganda Safari — A perfect introduction to Ugandan wildlife · From $400 per person
- 3 Days Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi — The signature gorilla experience · From $1,500 per person
- 4 Days Gorillas & Wildlife Safari — Gorillas, big game, and the best of the southwest · From $2,300 per person
- 5 Days Uganda Gorilla & Chimp Safari — Primates, wildlife, and pure Uganda · From $2,500 per person
- 8 Days Uganda Grand Safari — The complete Uganda circuit · From $3,500 per person
- 10 Days Uganda Circuit Safari — Every corner of the Pearl, nothing missed · From $4,500 per person
All packages include private 4WD safari vehicle, accommodation, all meals, professional guide/driver, and park entrance fees. We handle gorilla trekking permits so you don’t have to.
→ View all Uganda tours with full itineraries and pricing
What Our Guests Say
“The guides were friendly, the kids loved every moment of the trip.”
— Adam K., Ottawa
“We saw the gorillas up close, and got great photos. An incredible experience.”
— Jennifer W., TripAdvisor
“I couldn’t have had a better driver and a better time. Highly, highly recommend.”
— Amanda, SafariBookings
Download Our Explore Uganda Brochure
We’ve put together a beautiful full guide to Uganda — the gorillas, the Nile, the wildlife, the culture, and everything that makes it the Pearl of Africa. Download it free and start dreaming:
Ready to Explore Uganda?
For complete tour details, itineraries, pricing, and everything Uganda — visit our dedicated Explore Uganda page. And when you’re ready to talk, our team in Ottawa is a call or email away.
📧 info@bashemsafaris.ca | 📞 +1 (613) 513-9233 | 📍 Ottawa, Canada & East Africa
