Robert Aliganyira

Robert Aliganyira is a Ugandan safari guide who grew up inside Queen Elizabeth National Park, where his earliest companions were the wildlife around him. Among them was an orphaned elephant named John, with whom he shared his childhood. Today John roams free with the herds, but their paths still occasionally cross during Robert’s safaris - a reminder of the bond that first shaped his love for nature.

But growing up in the wild also carried harsh lessons. Robert witnessed childhood friends lose their lives to the challenges of living alongside wildlife. From these tragedies, he learned invaluable instincts for survival and respect for nature - insights that continue to guide his work today.

His passion for nature led him to pursue a Diploma in Tourism and Hotel Management and to train with the Uganda Safari Guides Association, where he has risen from Bronze to Silver level. During his training with USAGA, geology was part of the practical course units and he later expanded this knowledge through further research across Uganda. Today, Robert enriches his wildlife safaris by incorporating explanations of the region’s striking geological features - volcanic crater lakes, the Albertine Rift Valley, rift valley lakes, mountains, the Virunga volcanoes, and more.

Robert has also contributed to research projects such as the Banded Mongoose Research Project and is a certified Tourist Guides’ Assessor with Uganda’s Directorate of Industrial Training, mentoring and examining guides before they are licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board.

With 13 years of guiding experience, Robert is equally skilled in East Africa’s birdlife and guides comfortably across Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. Guests traveling with him gain not only expert knowledge but also a rare and deeply personal perspective on what it means to grow up at one with the wild.

Home location: Uganda

Guides in: Uganda, Rwanda & Kenya, specialising in geology and ornithology

Languages: English

Daily rate: $