About Kikooko
Experience Uganda Through Ugandan Eyes
Kikooko Africa Safaris is a locally owned Ugandan safari company creating tailor-made wildlife, gorilla, cultural and incentive journeys across Uganda and East Africa. Founded in 2013, we combine deep local knowledge, experienced guides and carefully selected experiences to take travellers beyond the standard safari itinerary.
2013
Founded in Uganda
100%
Locally owned & operated
65+
Students supported through the Kikooko Foundation
5★
TripAdvisor rating
Who we are
Who we are
Founded in Uganda in 2013 by Warren Ankwasa, Kikooko Africa Safaris is a locally owned, family-run operator connecting travelers to the real heart of East Africa.
For over a decade, Kikooko Africa Safaris has been crafting private safari experiences across East Africa. As a Ugandan-owned boutique company, we create carefully tailored safari experiences designed from within — shaped by local knowledge, firsthand experience and a deep understanding of the landscapes, seasons, wildlife and communities of the destinations we operate in.
From the stillness of a silverback encounter deep in Bwindi, to the seasonal movement of wildlife across the Serengeti, our private itineraries combine carefully selected experiences, authentic cultural encounters and thoughtful attention to detail.
Born in Uganda. Built Around Connection.
Warren Ankwasa grew up in southwestern Uganda, where the Albertine Rift meets the Impenetrable Forest — mountain gorilla country, red soil, rain that comes without warning. He trained as a tourism professional, worked for other operators, and taught at university level.
He watched tour groups arrive from Europe, move through Uganda through a lens someone else had ground for them, and leave carrying stories that weren't quite complete. The communities people passed through remained backdrop, not character.
In 2013, he did something about it. Kikooko Africa Safaris was built on a single conviction: that travel should carry people closer — to the wildlife, yes, but to the real texture of life here. That the stories guests take home should be ones that changed them. And that the change should ripple both ways.
"Kikooko" means animal in Rukiga. It also means the thing that surprises you — vivid, immediate, alive. We thought it fit.
“What started as only a dream — visiting the mountain gorillas — became the most beautiful holiday of our lives, thanks to Warren's dedication and the entire Kikooko team.”
Verified TripAdvisor Guest
What we do
What We Do
Classic Wildlife Safaris
Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Madagascar's national parks and wildlife experiences.
Learn more →Private, Tailor-Made Journeys
Private journeys designed around individual interests and preferences.
Learn more →MICE & Incentive Travel
Corporate retreats, incentive programmes, conferences, team building and executive travel.
Explore MICE & Incentive Travel →The Kikooko Difference
Why Choose Kikooko?
Local Knowledge
Deep knowledge of Uganda and its people.
Personal Service
A real team supporting the guest throughout the journey.
Tailor-Made Travel
Trips designed around the traveller rather than a fixed template.
Beyond the Checklist
Experiences that go beyond simply visiting attractions.
Responsible Travel
Tourism connected to communities and education.
Our People
Meet the People Behind Your Journey
Warren Ankwasa
Founder
Alex Biryomumesho
Head Guide
Aminah Tushemereirwe
Deputy CEO
Peace Musiime
Head of Sales
Where we operate
From Uganda to East Africa
Our roots are in Uganda, where we design and operate journeys across the country's wildlife and cultural destinations. We also create selected journeys across Rwanda, Tanzania, Madagascar and Zanzibar through our wider East African network.
Uganda
Home base and core expertise
The Kikooko Foundation
Tourism that leaves something behind
Every safari we run feeds back into the communities we travel through. Through the Kikooko Foundation, we support over 65 students across Uganda — from primary school through university — connecting them with sponsors, building schools, and creating the kind of opportunity that outlasts any single trip.
Warren established the Basket of Kikooko Education Fund because he believes the most powerful thing tourism can leave behind is possibility. When you travel with us, you're part of that thread.
Learn about the Foundation →What our guests say
What Our Guests Say
“It felt less like meeting with a company and more like spending an evening with friends. The perfect start to our journey.”
Alice S. · Austria · Nov 2025★★★★★ TripAdvisor
“What Kikooko showed us through our guide Alex is how people live, what moves them — by coming into contact with the people there again and again.”
Daniel A. · Winterthur, Switzerland · May 2025★★★★★ TripAdvisor
“We came as travelers and left as friends. No doubt: one day we will return to Uganda and see this wonderful country and team again.”
Stefan G. · Jun 2025★★★★★ TripAdvisor
Come as a Traveller. Leave with a Connection.
For us, the question at the heart of every trip is: what does it feel like to truly meet a place? Not to check its landmarks, but to leave with the sense that you now understand something real — something you couldn't have found alone, and wouldn't have been ready to receive without someone who knew it showing it to you.
Let's Build Your Journey
Tell us where you want to go, what you want to experience and how you like to travel. Our Uganda-based team will design a journey around you.
Plan Your Safari