Who we are

Locally owned in Uganda. Based in Bwindi. Planning private safaris across East Africa.

About Orugano Safaris – Uganda Gorilla Trekking & East Africa Safari Experts

Orugano Safaris is a locally owned and operated safari company based in Uganda. We plan tailor-made gorilla trekking, wildlife and cultural journeys across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Because we also own and operate Orugano Bwindi Lodge in Nkuringo, our advice is grounded in the daily realities of hosting travellers near Bwindi.

Less time in transit. More time in Bwindi. One local team from permit planning to lodge.

Our Story, Local Knowledge and East Africa Expertise

Our Story: From a Bwindi Lodge to a Safari Company

Orugano Bwindi Lodge came first. We built the lodge in Nkuringo and welcomed our first guests in 2024. Its location near southern Bwindi gives our team first-hand knowledge of gorilla trekking logistics, road conditions and what guests need before and after a trek.

As lodge guests increasingly asked for help with permits, transfers, border crossings and longer itineraries, Orugano Safaris grew naturally from the accommodation business. The safari company formally launched in 2025 to coordinate complete journeys from Kigali or Entebbe and beyond Bwindi.

Today, owning both the safari company and the lodge gives us closer control over the guest experience. We personally assess the routes, activities and accommodation we recommend instead of selling itineraries from a distance.

What Makes Us Different

We build private and tailor-made safaris around your dates, interests, fitness and budget. A short gorilla journey from Kigali needs different timing from a two-week Uganda wildlife circuit, so we do not force both travellers into the same template.

Our planning focuses on:

Private journeys rather than fixed departures
Realistic routes and driving times
Meaningful wildlife and cultural experiences
Accommodation matched to your budget and priorities

You communicate directly with the Uganda-based team arranging your trip. We give practical advice on permits, lodge locations and the trade-offs between different routes.

Our goal is not to sell the longest or most expensive safari. It is to recommend a journey that works on the ground and makes good use of your time in East Africa.

Where We Operate

Our core expertise is in Uganda and Rwanda, including gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking and classic wildlife safaris. We also arrange connected journeys through Kenya and Tanzania for travellers who want a wider East African itinerary.

Depending on your route, we can coordinate:

Airport and border transfers
Gorilla and chimpanzee permit arrangements
Private ground transport
Accommodation and activity planning

Kigali is often the most practical gateway for a short journey to southern Bwindi, while Entebbe works better for longer Uganda circuits. We explain those differences before you commit to a route.

From airport collection and ground transport to permit coordination and carefully selected accommodation, each stage is planned as part of one realistic itinerary.

Why We Built Orugano Bwindi Lodge

We built Orugano Bwindi Lodge in Nkuringo for a practical reason: proximity matters on gorilla trekking morning. Staying near the southern Bwindi briefing areas reduces unnecessary early driving and gives guests more time to prepare for the trek.

The lodge gives guests:

Comfortable accommodation in a quiet setting
Convenient access to the Nkuringo and Rushaga sectors
Views towards Bwindi Forest and the Virunga ranges
A local team familiar with trekking-day requirements

Running the lodge also gives our safari team direct insight into room standards, meals, wake-up timing and transfers. That practical knowledge helps us design smoother gorilla safaris from Kigali and longer Uganda journeys.

Why Guests Book With Confidence

Locally owned Ugandan company
Direct communication with the team planning your safari
Private, custom-designed itineraries
Owner-operated lodge in Nkuringo
Clear quotations and practical route advice

Travellers book with us for local accountability and advice based on operating in Uganda rather than selling it remotely.

Whether you are planning a gorilla safari, a primate-focused journey or a multi-country East Africa itinerary, we remain involved before, during and after the trip.

Founder, Company Journey and Credentials

Meet the Founder: Bob Kabaziguruka

Bob Kabaziguruka is the founder and managing director of Orugano Safaris. He built the company around a straightforward idea: travellers should receive honest advice from people who understand the routes, lodges and practical realities on the ground.

Bob remains directly involved in itinerary planning and guest hosting in Nkuringo. His experience operating Orugano Bwindi Lodge shapes the company’s approach to timing, comfort and realistic safari logistics.

Company Journey

2024: Orugano Bwindi Lodge welcomes its first guests in Nkuringo.
2025: Orugano Safaris formally launches to coordinate permits, transfers and tailor-made itineraries.
2026: The company expands its multi-country East Africa safari offering.

The business has grown from hosting travellers beside Bwindi to planning complete journeys across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania—while keeping its operational base and local accountability in Uganda.

Featured by Bradt Guides

In 2026, Bradt Guides featured Orugano Safaris in its coverage of planning a gorilla trekking safari from Kigali. The recognition supports our position as a locally based specialist for southern Bwindi and cross-border routing.

We value the feature because it directs travellers to the same local team that can coordinate transport, permits, accommodation and on-the-ground support.

Practical Community Support

Our approach is deliberately practical. Orugano Bwindi Lodge employs people from Nkuringo and nearby communities, buys local produce and supplies where possible, and connects interested guests with community and Batwa cultural experiences.

Around the lodge, we also grow coffee, passion fruit and other plants suited to the area. We avoid vague claims about changing entire communities; our responsibility is to make the local impact of each stay tangible and honest.

Licensing and Professional Standards

Orugano Safaris is licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board under licence number UTB/RTT/TT/2025/101604 and operates safari arrangements in accordance with the relevant Uganda Wildlife Authority requirements.

We provide clear quotations, explain permit and payment conditions before booking, and coordinate with appropriately qualified guides and service providers for each itinerary.

Plan Your East African Safari

Tell us your travel dates, arrival point, interests and approximate budget. We will advise whether Kigali or Entebbe is the better gateway and build a route that matches the time you actually have.

Explore our destinations, review our gorilla safaris, or contact Bob and the team to begin planning.