The Uganda Safari Company has gone through a number of transformations before becoming what it is now.

Originally it all began in Canada in 1991, when newlyweds Jonathan and Pamela Wright started up a business to develop an eco-lodge in Newfoundland, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The company was called Green Wilderness Group, but in an interesting turn of events the business took them further afield to Africa, Jonathan's birthplace.

On an invitation from the Ugandan government, Jonathan explored the various tourism opportunities in this country. His first activity was to build a low-impact environmentally sensitive safari lodge in the middle of the Semliki Valley Wildlife Reserve (formerly the Toro Game Reserve) in Western Uganda.

As this area had been terribly poached during Uganda's troubled years, this project needed concerted conservation efforts and Green Wilderness Group went to work raising donations to help save the wildlife reserve.

Donations came in the form of hiking boots, camping equipment, uniforms, communications equipment and budget support. Facilitating proper patrols made a huge difference to the protection of the animals and now the reserve is healing at a tremendous rate.

Semliki Safari Lodge opened in 1997 and guests at the lodge are participating in the continued preservation of a very special corner of Africa.

Following the opening of the lodge, we launched Semliki Safaris, a full-service safari company taking visitors on guided trips throughout Uganda. To avoid confusion between the safaris, the lodge and the next plans, we have formed the Uganda Safari Company and everything we do now comes under this name!

Staff Bio's

Jonathan Wright was born and raised in Uganda and returned in the mid-90's with his young family to establish the Uganda Safari Company. His dedication to wildlife and conservation has not gone unnoticed and this year he was appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the government body charged with conservation and management of the wildlife and protected areas in Uganda, in participation with neighbouring communities.

Pamela Wright, Jonathan's wife and partner, is an anthropology graduate and was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees for Ecotrust, an institution which supports conservation of biological diversity and poverty alleviation through sustainable development.

Oketch Obua is the son of a game warden, Oketch grew up in Uganda's National Parks and Game Reserves. He started working for The Uganda Safari Company a decade ago on the construction of Semliki Safari Lodge but rapidly worked his way up. Oketch is now the assistant manager of the lodge and one of the main guides. He has a special talent for spotting elusive species.

Company Awards

We were awarded the special mention award at the Uganda Investment Authority 'Investor of the Year' award for "Outstanding Contribution to Uganda's Conservation".