Chimps & forest birds
Budongo Forest Reserve
Uganda’s largest natural forest, on the road to Murchison Falls, with habituated chimpanzees, towering mahogany trees and one of Africa’s most famous birding trails.
Destination guide
Uganda, the Pearl of Africa
Mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, the Shoebill in its papyrus swamps, tree-climbing lions and the Nile at full force. Uganda is East Africa at its most varied, and it’s where our team lives.
Best timeJun–Sep & Dec–Feb
Ideal length8–14 days
Headline experienceGorilla trekking, Bwindi
ArriveEntebbe International (EBB)
Overview
Why Uganda?
Quick answer
Uganda is East Africa’s most varied safari country: mountain gorillas in Bwindi (permit US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November 2026), chimpanzees in Kibale, tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth, the Nile at Murchison Falls and the Shoebill at Mabamba. Eight to fourteen days is ideal; fly into Entebbe.
Uganda packs rainforest, savannah, the Rift Valley lakes and the source of the White Nile into a country roughly the size of the United Kingdom. In a single trip you can trek to a gorilla family, follow a chimpanzee community through Kibale, cruise the Kazinga Channel among hippos and buffalo, and stand at the top of Murchison Falls.
It is also one of the best-value gorilla destinations: Uganda’s permit is a fraction of Rwanda’s, and the forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga are home to roughly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
Before you travel to Uganda
Practical guides to plan your trip with confidence:
Talk to a Uganda specialistWhatsApp +256 709 780 625
Where to go
Highlights of Uganda
Mountain gorillas
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Ancient montane rainforest on Uganda’s border with Congo, home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas and the country’s most important trekking park.
Lake Victoria & shoebills
Entebbe
A green, relaxed lakeside town where most Uganda safaris begin and end, with botanical gardens, a chimpanzee island and the shoebills of Mabamba close by.
Crater lakes & tea hills
Fort Portal and the Crater Lakes
Emerald crater lakes in old volcanic hollows, tea estates on rolling hills and the Rwenzori on the horizon. Fort Portal is the gateway to Kibale’s chimps and one of Uganda’s loveliest places to stay.
Adventure capital
Jinja & the Source of the Nile
The town on Lake Victoria where the world’s longest river begins its journey to the Mediterranean, and East Africa’s capital of rafting and river adventure.
Culture, markets & history
Kampala
Uganda’s lively capital spreads over green hills above Lake Victoria, with royal tombs, cathedrals and mosques, bustling markets and a food and music scene worth a day of anyone’s safari.
Chimpanzees
Kibale Forest National Park
A moist evergreen forest near Fort Portal with the highest density of primates in East Africa and the most reliable chimpanzee tracking on the continent.
Remote wilderness
Kidepo Valley National Park
A remote semi-arid valley on the borders of South Sudan and Kenya, with huge buffalo herds, lions, cheetah and ostrich, and some of Africa’s most beautiful untouched scenery.
Lakes & rest
Lake Bunyonyi
An island-scattered lake among terraced hills in Kabale, at almost 2,000 metres, and the most peaceful place to rest after trekking gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga.
Zebra & walking safaris
Lake Mburo National Park
Uganda’s smallest savannah park, an easy 4 hours from Kampala, where you can walk, cycle and ride among zebra and eland, and search for leopards at night.
Canoeing & volcano views
Lake Mutanda
A quiet, island-studded lake near Kisoro with the Virunga volcanoes reflected in its water, ideal for a rest day between gorilla treks.
Shoebill
Mabamba Swamp
A papyrus and water-lily wetland on the shore of Lake Victoria, under an hour from Entebbe, and the most reliable place in Africa to see the shoebill.
Gorillas & golden monkeys
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Uganda’s smallest national park, on the slopes of three Virunga volcanoes, with one habituated gorilla family, golden monkeys and some of the best volcano hikes in East Africa.
Waterfalls & hiking
Mount Elgon and Sipi Falls
Three waterfalls tumbling off the slopes of an ancient volcano, coffee farms on the hillsides and trails to one of Africa’s largest volcanic calderas, all in cool, green eastern Uganda.
The Nile & big game
Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda’s largest national park, where the Victoria Nile forces itself through a seven-metre gap and drops 43 metres before flowing on to Lake Albert.
Roan antelope & cheetahs
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Vast, empty savannah between Mount Elgon and the mountains of Karamoja, with Uganda’s only roan antelope, wandering cheetahs and big skies, for travellers who want true wilderness.
Big game & boats
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda’s most visited savannah park, set between two lakes under the Rwenzori Mountains, with boat safaris, tree-climbing lions and over 600 bird species.
Glaciers & trekking
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Africa’s highest mountain range after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, with equatorial glaciers, giant lobelias and some of the continent’s most challenging and beautiful trekking.
Hot springs & forest birds
Semuliki National Park
A lowland forest on the floor of the Albertine Rift, more Congo than East Africa, with bubbling hot springs, rare forest birds and primates you won’t see elsewhere in Uganda.
Beaches & island life
Ssese Islands
Sandy beaches, forest and fishing villages on Lake Victoria, a relaxed island escape a ferry ride from Entebbe, perfect at the end of a safari.
Kob, chimps & Lake Albert
Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
A wide rift valley savannah between the Rwenzori and Lake Albert, with Uganda kob on the plains, chimps in the river forests and shoebills on the lake shore, and almost no other visitors.
Rhinos on foot
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
The only place in Uganda to see rhinos, where you can track southern white rhinos on foot with rangers, conveniently on the road from Kampala to Murchison Falls.
Also worth adding: Lake Mburo for walking and horseback safaris, Lake Bunyonyi for a slow day on the water, Jinja at the source of the Nile, and the Rwenzori Mountains for serious trekkers.
Practical information
Full travel essentialsGetting to and around Uganda
ArriveEntebbe International Airport (EBB), about 40 km from Kampala.
Get aroundPrivate 4x4 with a driver-guide; scheduled light-aircraft flights to airstrips such as Kihihi (Bwindi) and Kasese save long drives.
VisasOnline e-visa (single entry US$50) or the East Africa Tourist Visa (US$100) with Rwanda and Kenya.
HealthYellow fever certificate no longer required for entry (Oct 2026), but vaccination recommended; malaria precautions advised.
MoneyUganda shilling; US dollars widely accepted for tourism.
DrivingOn the left; long distances, so we plan realistic daily drives.
When to go
The best time to visit Uganda
Gorilla trekking runs year-round. June to September and December to February are drier, so forest trails are easier. The wetter months bring lush scenery, fewer visitors and excellent birding.
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PeakGoodGreen / wet season
Journeys
All holidaysUganda itineraries
Use these as a starting point. Every trip is private and adjusted to your dates, budget and pace.
Wildlife 7 days Uganda · Murchison Falls & Kidepo
7-Day Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley Safari
Two of Uganda’s greatest wildernesses in one journey: the thundering Nile at Murchison Falls, then the wide, wild plains of Kidepo Valley in the far north-east.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan → Short break 4 days Uganda · Murchison Falls
4-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Budongo Chimps
Rhinos on foot, chimpanzees in a mahogany forest, the most powerful waterfall on the Nile and the big game of Uganda’s largest park, in four unhurried days from Kampala.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Honeymoon 12 days Uganda & Zanzibar · Honeymoon
12-Day Gorillas & Zanzibar Honeymoon
Adventure and romance: fly in to trek gorillas in Bwindi, see tree-climbing lions and the Kazinga Channel, then fly to Zanzibar for Stone Town and six nights on the beach.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 18 days Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania
18-Day East Africa Grand Safari: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania
The ultimate East African journey across four countries: chimps and gorillas in Uganda, golden monkeys in Rwanda, the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 12 days Uganda & Tanzania
12-Day Uganda Gorillas & Serengeti Safari
Primates and plains: chimpanzees and gorillas in Uganda, then a flight to Tanzania for the Serengeti’s great herds, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire’s elephants.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 14 days Uganda, Rwanda & Tanzania
14-Day Uganda, Rwanda & Tanzania Safari
Three countries, three great experiences: chimps and gorillas in Uganda, golden monkeys and Kigali in Rwanda, then the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →Where you’ll stay
All lodgesLodges in Uganda
Mid-range Lake Mutanda, near Kisoro, Uganda
Mutanda Lake Resort
A friendly resort on a peninsula of Lake Mutanda, with cottages facing the water and the Virunga volcanoes.
Lake Mutanda · Mid-range Budget Kaniyo Pabidi, Budongo Forest, Uganda
Budongo Eco Lodge
A simple eco-lodge inside Budongo Forest at Kaniyo Pabidi, right at the start of the chimp tracking trails.
Budongo Forest · Budget
Mid-range Gulu, northern Uganda
Bomah Hotel
Northern Uganda’s largest hotel, in a tropical garden about a kilometre from Gulu’s city centre, ideal for the overnight between Murchison and Kidepo.
Gulu · Mid-rangeGood to know
Uganda safari questions
How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda?
Uganda Wildlife Authority sets the price. For foreign non-residents a standard gorilla trekking permit is US$800 per person in 2026, or US$600 in April, May and November. Rates change, so we confirm the current price and secure permits before anything else is booked.
How fit do I need to be for gorilla trekking?
Treks take anywhere from one to six hours on steep, muddy forest trails at altitude. A reasonable level of fitness helps; porters can be hired at the trailhead to carry your bag and help on steep sections.
Is Uganda safe for travellers?
Uganda’s main safari circuit is visited by tens of thousands of travellers each year. We follow current travel advice, plan realistic daylight driving and stay in close contact with your guide throughout.
Can I combine Uganda with Kenya or Tanzania?
Yes. A popular plan is gorillas and chimps in Uganda, then a short flight from Entebbe to Nairobi or Kilimanjaro for the Masai Mara or Serengeti.
Tailor-made, from dusk to dawn
Plan your Uganda safari
Tell us your dates and interests and a specialist will send a tailor-made itinerary with a clear price within 24 hours.
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