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About Us
Founded in Kampala in 2023 by tourism professional James Mutabazi, we plan private, tailor-made safaris across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, with trusted guides and vehicles and our own permit desk.
Our story
It Started in the
Villages of Rakai
Bespoke Safaris began long before it had a name. Growing up in Rakai, in southern Uganda, our founder James Mutabazi loved geography and spent his free time touring the villages around his home. That curiosity about places and people became a profession.
James earned a Bachelor of Travel and Tourism Management with First Class Honours from Makerere University Business School, then a Master of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Alongside his studies he gained hands-on experience in wildlife interpretation and conservation tourism, resort operations, tour management, travel consultancy, guiding and tourism training.
Those years showed him what travellers really want: journeys that are personal, authentic, professionally run and connected to the communities they pass through. In 2023 he founded Bespoke Safaris to deliver exactly that.
Our philosophy
“
Every safari should be designed around the traveller, not every traveller around the same safari package.
- A honeymoon safari should not look like a family safari.
- A wildlife photographer should not follow the same itinerary as a first-time visitor to Africa.
- A corporate group should not have the same experience as a couple seeking a private safari.
Our Mission
To design and deliver authentic, personalised and professionally managed African safaris that connect visitors with wildlife, nature, culture and communities, while creating value for our clients, partners and destinations.
Our Vision
To become a leading African safari and tourism company known for exceptional tailor-made safari experiences, responsible tourism and meaningful contributions to destination development across East Africa.
Our values
What We Stand For
Personalised Service
Every traveller is unique. We tailor each journey to your interests, budget, travel style and expectations.
Authenticity
Meaningful journeys that connect you with Uganda’s wildlife, landscapes, cultures and local communities.
Excellence & Professionalism
Professional, reliable, high-quality safaris from the first enquiry to the final farewell.
Integrity
Honesty, transparency and respect: clear information, fair pricing and dependable service.
Responsible Tourism
Travel that protects wildlife, preserves the environment and benefits the communities around the parks.
Safety & Care
Your safety, comfort and wellbeing stay central to every journey we plan and operate.
Local Expertise
Deep knowledge of Uganda and East Africa, so your trip is full of genuine insight and hidden treasures.
Lasting Partnerships
We value long-term relationships with travellers, communities, guides, lodges, travel agents and industry partners.
People behind the safari
Meet Your Safari Team
Travel consultants, reservations staff and safari guides, backed by a trusted network of lodges, rangers and community partners across East Africa.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
James Mutabazi
BA Travel & Tourism Management, First Class Honours (MUBS) · Master of Hospitality & Tourism Management
“Every traveller deserves a safari designed around their own interests, expectations and aspirations. Tourism can do much more than move visitors from one attraction to another: it can connect people, create livelihoods and support conservation.”
As Founder & CEO, James leads business development, international partnerships and safari strategy, together with our tourism projects, research and training.
Meet the team
Travel consultant · Rwanda
Alice Karungi
Helps you choose the right route, lodges and travel dates, with a focus on Rwanda.
Reservations officer
Mitchelle Florence N.
Books lodges and secures gorilla and chimpanzee permits for every safari.
Senior French-speaking guide
Delight Bwambale
Guides our French-speaking guests across Uganda and Rwanda.
Senior safari guide
Solomon Ejemu
Leads game drives and long transfers across the national parks.
Safari guide
Wilson Kayitale
Guides guests on game drives, nature walks and boat trips in the parks.
Travel consultant · UK
Megan Simons
Your first point of contact in the UK, for travellers and partners abroad.
Senior safari guide
Fidel Cheptoek
Drives and guides private safaris across Uganda’s national parks.
Digital developer & designer
Renzo Fabri
Designs and builds our website and the brand materials you see from us.
Travel with confidence
Licensed, Registered and Accountable
Bespoke Safaris Ltd operates inside Uganda’s official tourism framework. Our licence is listed on the Uganda Tourism Board’s public register, and our credentials are shown below.
Health, safety & risk management
Guest safety is central to every safari we design. Our operational approach includes:
- Appropriate, well-maintained safari vehicles
- Experienced driver-guides
- Pre-safari briefings
- Wildlife safety guidance
- Emergency procedures & contacts
- Appropriate accommodation
- Destination risk awareness
- Clear communication procedures
- Relevant insurance arrangements
- Coordination with destination authorities
Company credentials
Certificate of Incorporation
80020003951796
Uganda Tourism Board licence
UTB/RTT/TT/2023/100921
Memberships, regulators and partners
Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities
Uganda Tourism Board
Uganda Wildlife Authority
Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre
Association of Uganda Tour Operators
Tripadvisor
Travel that gives back
Responsible Tourism
Tourism should generate value for travellers while contributing positively to destinations. Bespoke Safaris promotes responsible tourism through six commitments.
Conservation
Encouraging experiences that deepen appreciation and protection of wildlife and natural ecosystems.
Community Participation
Creating opportunities for communities to take part in (and benefit from) tourism.
Local Procurement
Wherever practical, working with local guides, lodges, transport providers, craftspeople and enterprises.
Cultural Respect
Encouraging visitors to engage respectfully with local cultures and communities.
Environmental Responsibility
Promoting responsible behaviour in protected areas and natural environments.
Visitor Education
Helping travellers understand appropriate conduct around wildlife, communities and conservation areas.
Our corporate responsibility priorities
Conservation · Communities · Young tourism professionals · Education · Sustainable tourism
We support the responsible use of Uganda’s natural heritage, tourism skills development and tourism approaches that consider environmental, economic and social dimensions.
Bespoke
Foundation
Tourism that transforms communities
and protects nature
and protects nature
Our social-impact initiative helps tourism support conservation, community development and better livelihoods where our travellers go.
20%
of national park entry fees go to neighbouring communities, a Uganda Wildlife Authority policy.
For travel agencies and tour operators
Your Ground Partner in East Africa
As a locally owned Ugandan tour operator, we give international travel agencies direct access to authentic East African experiences, with professional service at every step. We seek long-term relationships rather than one-off transactions.
- Itinerary design
- Gorilla & chimpanzee permits
- Accommodation reservations
- Ground handling
- Professional safari guides
- Emergency support on every trip
Real trips, real guests
Life on Safari With Us
Moments from recent Bespoke Safaris trips: the guests, the guides and the places in between.
White-water rafting on the Nile
Gorilla trekking
Murchison Falls
Boat safari
Ranger briefing before the trek
Guided nature walk
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Welcome to Uganda
★★★★★
“Our driver James was such an amicable man and well familiar with vast options of where and when I should tour. He chose the best hotels for us with the best menu, and our safety was always his first priority.”
Brian T
Tripadvisor review, July 23, 2025
From first message to final farewell
How We Design Your Safari
No fixed packages. Every itinerary on our site is a starting point that we reshape around you.
01
Step 1 of 5
We Listen
Tell us your dates, budget, interests, fitness level, who is travelling and any special occasion. We start with you, not a package.
02
Step 2 of 5
We Design
We plan the route, the pace, the lodges and the activities, then send you a day-by-day itinerary with a full price.
03
Step 3 of 5
We Refine
We rewrite the plan until it reads like your trip. No deposit until the plan is right.
04
Step 4 of 5
We Prepare
Once you confirm, we secure gorilla permits, lodges and vehicles and brief you on everything you need before you fly.
05
Step 5 of 5
We Travel With You
Your driver-guide looks after the days on the ground while our Kampala team stays on hand until you fly home.
- Free, no-obligation planning
- No deposit until the plan is right
- Trusted guides and vehicles, our own permit desk
Get your free itinerary & price
Let’s Plan Your Safari Together
Tell us how you like to travel. We will send a day-by-day itinerary with a full cost, written for your group.
- A day-by-day itinerary with tours & lodges
- Free, with no deposit until the plan is right
- Usually replied to within one business day
Prefer to talk it through?
Bespoke Safaris is a Uganda-based tour operator creating tailor-made journeys across Uganda and East Africa. We specialise in gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris, cultural experiences and personalised travel services.
Let’s Design Your Custom Safari
A day-by-day plan and a full price within 48 hours. No deposit, no obligation.
Contact
P.O. Box 156813
Kampala, Uganda
Uganda Tourism Board licence
UTB/RTT/TT/2023/100921
© 2026 Bespoke Safaris Ltd. All rights reserved.