Tourvest acquires Wild Frontiers Uganda assets in major tourism sector consolidation

May 10, 2026 in Business, Companies, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Global hospitality group Tourvest has acquired the Ugandan tourism operations of Wild Frontiers in a multi-million-dollar transaction that signals growing investor confidence in Uganda’s safari and hospitality industry.

Global tourism and hospitality group Tourvest has acquired the Ugandan tourism operations of Wild Frontiers in what industry players are describing as one of the most significant consolidation deals in Uganda’s tourism sector in recent years.

The transaction, whose value was not disclosed, gives Tourvest ownership of most of Wild Frontiers’ safari and hospitality assets in Uganda, including lodges in Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth national parks as well as operations in the Murchison Falls conservation area.

The deal excludes Hotel No. 5, which remains under the original Wild Frontiers ownership.

Among the assets acquired are safari lodges in Buhoma and Ishasha in south-western Uganda, Murchison Camp in Murchison Falls National Park, as well as transport vehicles and marine assets operating on Lake Victoria and the Nile corridor.

Tourvest already has a strong footprint in Uganda’s tourism industry through luxury property Lemala Wildwaters Lodge and adventure tourism operator Adrift Uganda.

Industry insiders say negotiations for the acquisition had been ongoing for close to a year.

“This is indeed massive news for the East African tourism landscape,” said Breathtaking ceo  Isaiah Jobs Rwanyekiro, whose tourism platform first reported the deal. “Tourvest Accommodation has officially acquired the Uganda properties and activities business of Wild Frontiers, marking one of the most significant consolidations in the region’s travel history.”

As part of the acquisition, Tourvest is introducing a new mid-market safari brand known as Tulia, which will immediately absorb and rebrand the acquired properties.

The lodges will now operate as Tulia Buhoma in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Tulia Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Tulia Murchison Falls in Murchison Falls National Park.

The move forms part of what industry observers describe as Tourvest’s emerging three-tier tourism strategy in Uganda.

Under the structure, Lemala Camps and Lodges will target the premium luxury segment, Tulia will focus on the mid-market safari category, while Adrift Uganda will continue handling adventure and river-based tourism experiences.

Analysts say the acquisition significantly strengthens Tourvest’s position across Uganda’s tourism value chain, giving it an integrated presence spanning hospitality, safaris, transport logistics and adventure tourism.

“This is a landmark deal. Tourvest is a deep-pocketed destination marketing company with global reach and networks. Their presence in any market signals strong business confidence,” Rwanyekiro said.

He added that the acquisition demonstrates growing international confidence in Uganda’s tourism potential and could help raise service standards across the sector.

“Having one owner manage a chain of facilities across multiple tourism destinations ensures greater standardisation of service delivery, with both domestic and international travellers standing to benefit,” he said.

The transaction comes as Uganda’s tourism sector continues recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, with international arrivals and safari demand gradually rebounding alongside renewed investor interest in hospitality infrastructure.

Industry players say consolidation trends are becoming increasingly common as operators seek scale, stronger marketing reach and operational efficiencies in a competitive regional tourism market.

Tourvest’s growing presence also reflects rising interest in Uganda’s positioning as a multi-experience destination combining gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris, river adventures and luxury eco-tourism.