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Mountain gorilla
Uganda your way

Tailor-made Uganda holidays shaped around your passions

Uganda is a welcome splash of green in a predominantly arid continent. Its dense forests give shelter to some of the last remaining mountain gorillas on Earth. People travel from far and wide to spend an hour in their presence, watching them graze, groom, sleep and play. Our safari specialists, having experienced the country beyond its prized wildlife attraction, will arrange your gorilla encounter and recommend how to spend your holiday in Uganda before or after.

We can arrange a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, giving you a chance to see the Big Five, including tree-climbing lion. On boat trips along the Ishasha River, you can look for water-dwelling birdlife, hippo pods and elephant herds lining the banks. Or, trek with a guide through Kibale Forest National Park for a chance to see its 13 species of primate, including chimpanzees, red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

Creating tailor-made tours for over 25 years

Suggested tours for Uganda

These tours give you a starting point for what your holiday to Uganda could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.

Suggested activities for Uganda

Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Uganda.

  • Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
    Mountain gorilla in the rain, Bwindi National Park

    Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

    Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

    Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

    Tracking mountain gorilla is one of Africa's most superb wildlife experiences. It is difficult to describe the exhilaration attached to first setting eyes on a wild mountain gorilla.

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  • Exploring the Crater Lakes Region
    Crater Lakes Region, Uganda

    Exploring the Crater Lakes Region

    Kibale Forest National Park

    Exploring the Crater Lakes Region

    This area is characterised by rolling hills, vanilla plantations, pretty forests and of course the Crater Lakes. For some of the Crater Lakes, the views are actually best from the viewpoints, accessed by roads.

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  • Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest
    Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Uganda

    Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest

    Kibale Forest National Park

    Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest

    You enter the forest and following signs and chimp calls your guide leads you to the chimpanzees. Chimpanzee sightings are not guaranteed, however the odds of encountering them have greatly increased in recent years, now standing at 90% or over.

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More choice for your safari

  • Inspiration across all our African destinations
  • Trip suggestions based on your interests
  • Advice on where to safari, when
  • Meet our team of safari experts

Best time to visit

Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Uganda, including information about climate, events and festivals.

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Useful information for planning your holiday in Uganda

What languages are spoken in Uganda?

English is the official language of Uganda and taught in all schools. However, most Ugandans speak English as a second language. There are more than 33 local languages spoken across the country, but almost everybody you’ll meet will be able to speak some English.

What's the currency of Uganda?

The currency in Uganda is the Ugandan shilling (Ush or UGX). US dollars are also widely accepted. There are very few ATMs in Uganda and although credit cards are accepted at some of the major hotels, a 5-10% surcharge will usually be added. We recommend that you don’t rely on credit cards other than as a back-up.

Hotels will accept payment for food, drinks, and tips in dollars or shillings. You should only need shillings for occasional drinks in roadside stops, lunches in local restaurants, and souvenirs, although most do accept US dollars in low denominations.

What food and drink should I try in Uganda?

In Uganda you should try luwombo, a local stew of beef, chicken, or fish, mixed with vegetables and steamed in a plantain leaf. Stews are served with one of four staples: rice, chapati, ugali (a stiff maize porridge), or matoke (a mash of steamed green bananas). You’ll also find many dishes cooked with a groundnut sauce.

Camps, hotels, and lodges generally serve an international menu.

Where can I find the latest travel advice for Uganda?

For the latest travel advice for Uganda, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.

What can I experience in Uganda?

In Uganda you can hike through dense forest to track mountain gorillas, see elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard on safari, or watch the Nile force its way through a narrow gorge at Murchinson Falls. Most visitors come to Uganda to see the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas, and the challenging hike through the mountains on the trail of these great apes is a highlight of a trip. However, Uganda also offers rewarding safaris by 4x4, boat, and on foot in its national parks and wildlife reserves and you can expect to see rare tree-climbing lion, hippo, elephant, and a wide variety of primates.

Where can I stay in Uganda?

In Uganda you can stay in small lodges and tented safari camps, or urban guesthouses and hotels. The choice of places to stay here isn’t as varied as in some other destinations, and in some places can be quite limited, but our specialists have chosen a variety of comfortable options with good standards of food and service.

You could stay in luxurious stone cottages while tracking gorillas, thatched cottages overlooking the grassy plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, or in safari lodges in Murchison Falls National Park. For more ideas, browse our collection of places to stay in Uganda to start planning your trip.

Where should I go in Uganda?

Most visitors to Uganda go to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchinson Falls National Park.

One of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to more than half the world's population of mountain gorillas, and tracking the troops through the dense forest is a tough but rewarding adventure. By contrast, the wide savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park are home to lion, hippo, buffalo, hyena, and crocodiles, while Murchinson Falls National Park offers sightings of a wide variety of wildlife where the Nile surges through a cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment.

What wildlife will I see on safari in Uganda?

Although mountain gorillas are the main draw in Uganda, you’ll also get the chance to see most of the Big Five, including lion, elephant, buffalo, and leopard. Rare tree-climbing lion can also be seen, and on boat trips along the Ishasha River, hippo wallow in the water and elephant line the banks. Kibale Forest National Park is home to 13 species of primate, including chimpanzees, red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys, while the birdlife at Murchinson Falls includes over 460 species.

How long does it take to fly to Uganda from the UK?

It takes around 12 hours to fly from the UK to Uganda.

What's the time zone in Uganda?

The time zone in Uganda is UTC+3 hours. Daylight Savings Time is not observed.

What's the best way of getting around in Uganda?

The best way of getting around southern Uganda is by road as the distances are relatively small and the scenery a highlight. For travel in northern Uganda and for visits to Murchison Falls, we recommend taking a light aircraft, particularly during the wet seasons.

Do I need a visa to visit Uganda, and what do I need to check with my passport?

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Uganda. Enter where you’re travelling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

Do I need vaccinations to visit Uganda?

Your doctor can provide you with vaccine advice for Uganda, but you should also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Travel Health Pro website.

If you’re arriving in Uganda from a country deemed to be at risk of yellow fever, you may be asked for proof of vaccination against the disease.

What’s the risk of malaria in Uganda?

Malaria is a risk throughout Uganda. Please see your doctor for advice about which antimalarial medication you should take.

You can reduce your risk of contracting malaria by avoiding being bitten by mosquitoes. Wear long, loose clothing, use insect repellent, and use mosquito nets where provided.

Is there an age limit for tracking gorillas in Uganda?

You must be 15 years or older to track gorillas in Uganda. Tracking the troops requires hiking through dense forest on steep mountainsides and is not suitable for children under 15.

What does gorilla tracking entail?

Gorilla tracking in Uganda begins early in the morning when trackers scout the forest for clues to the gorillas’ location. Your guide will then take you onto the mountain paths in the direction of where the troop was last seen. Depending on where the gorillas are located, the hike can take anywhere from half an hour to several hours with your guide pointing out evidence of gorilla activity as you go.

As you approach the gorillas’ location you may hear grunts or grumbles, or see movement in the trees ahead, but nothing quite prepares you for your first sight of the troop, sitting on the ground or climbing among the trees. Their facial gestures and human-like hands are so similar to our own that just being in their presence and knowing how threatened they are feels like an enormous privilege.

How long will I spend with the gorillas?

You’ll get to spend an hour observing the gorillas as they munch on leaves, strip bark, groom each other, or cuddle infants. Visits are kept short, and you’ll need to keep a certain distance away to avoid causing the apes distress and to prevent disease transmission.

Sitting in a hushed group observing the gorillas, you’ll be close enough to take photographs, witness the charismatic interactions between troop members, and discern the intelligence, delight, or concern on their faces. Infants cling to mother’s backs, silverbacks lord over the scene, and others chew on bamboo shoots as if unaware of the human presence. For most visitors, the hour with these gentle giants leaves them smitten and very aware of the extraordinary connection we have with these apes and the fragility of the ecosystems that support them.

What should I wear for the trek?

Wear long trousers, good walking boots, and gloves when tracking gorillas in Uganda. The forest is dense here and trousers will protect you from scratches and insect bites, while a pair of gloves are handy to help steady yourself on branches along the slippery mud trails. A pair of walking poles can also be helpful as you might encounter steep ascents and descents on the mountain slopes.

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