Murchison Falls
Uganda's largest park, where the Victoria Nile drops through a seven-metre gorge. Giraffe, elephant and lion on the north bank.
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Destination
Luxury Safaris in Uganda
Gorillas in the forest, chimpanzees in the canopy and lions on the savannah, often in a single trip.
Discover Uganda
A luxury safari in Uganda covers more kinds of wildlife in one trip than almost anywhere in Africa. About half of the world's mountain gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Kibale has some of the most reliable chimpanzee tracking in Africa, and the north bank of Murchison Falls National Park has giraffe, elephant and lion within sight of the Nile.
Distances are real: Bwindi is a full day's drive from Entebbe. We plan around that with scheduled flights to Kihihi and Kisoro, unhurried driving days that stop where they should, and lodges that make the long days worth it. Every trip is private, with your own vehicle and guide.
- Capital
- Kampala
- Arrive
- Entebbe International (EBB)
- Currency
- Ugandan shilling; USD widely used for tourism
- Visa
- e-Visa, or the East Africa Tourist Visa with Rwanda and Kenya
- Gorilla permit
- US$800 per person
- Best months
- Dec–Feb and Jun–Sep
What to do in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Treks leave each morning from four sectors of Bwindi, with eight visitors per gorilla family and one hour in their company once you find them. The walk takes anything from one to six hours depending on where the family has moved overnight. Mgahinga, on the Virunga slopes, has one habituated family.
Uganda gorilla safaris
Chimpanzees in Kibale
Kibale's chimpanzees are tracked from Kanyanchu in small ranger-led groups. The standard permit gives an hour with the community; the habituation experience spends most of the day with them, from the morning nests onward.
Primate safaris
Big game on the Nile
Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth hold Uganda's big game. Game drives run on the open plains, and the boat trips are as good as the drives: the launch to the foot of the falls, and the Kazinga Channel, lined with hippos and buffalo.
Big game safarisThe national parks of Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable
Steep montane forest in the southwest, home to about half of the world's mountain gorillas. Treks start from Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
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Kibale Forest
Evergreen forest near Fort Portal with 13 primate species and Uganda's most reliable chimpanzee tracking.
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Queen Elizabeth
Savannah, crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel between lakes George and Edward. Tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector.
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Kidepo Valley
A remote valley on the South Sudan and Kenya borders, and the only park in Uganda with cheetah.
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Lake Mburo
A small park on the road to Bwindi with zebra, eland and impala, and safaris on foot and on horseback.
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When to go
Uganda straddles the equator, so temperatures barely change through the year. What changes is the rain. December to February and June to September are the driest months: trails in Bwindi are firmer and the grass is shorter in Murchison and Queen Elizabeth. March to May and October to November bring heavier rain, greener landscapes and lower lodge rates. Gorilla treks run every day of the year.
- JanDrier
- FebWetter
- MarWetter
- AprWetter
- MayWetter
- JunDrier
- JulDrier
- AugDrier
- SepDrier
- OctWetter
- NovWetter
- DecDrier
Drier, peak seasonWetter, green season
Where we travel in Uganda
Featured Uganda safaris
3-Day Murchison Falls Luxury Safari
Kampala › Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary › Murchison Falls › Kampala
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Luxury lodges in Uganda
Baker's Lodge
Riverside lodge on the south bank of the Victoria Nile, a short drive from the Paraa ferry.
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Nile Safari Lodge
Raised chalets and a pool above the Nile, where hippos come ashore below in the evening.
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Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Stone cottages on the ridge above the Nkuringo sector, looking out to the Virunga volcanoes.
Ask about this lodgeBwindi Lodge
A Volcanoes Safaris lodge at Buhoma, its bandas facing the forest edge.
Ask about this lodgePlanning your visit
Visas and entry
Most visitors need a visa: apply online for a Uganda e-Visa before you travel, or for the US$100 East Africa Tourist Visa, which also covers Rwanda and Kenya. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is checked on arrival at Entebbe.
Health
Uganda is a malaria area, so speak to a travel clinic about antimalarials and routine vaccinations well before you leave. Lodges serve safe drinking water, and bottled water is in the vehicle throughout.
Money
The currency is the Ugandan shilling, but lodges and parks price in US dollars. Bring recent, clean US dollar notes, because older or damaged notes are often refused. Cards work in Kampala, Entebbe and the larger lodges.
Getting around
You travel in a private 4x4 with your guide. Distances are long and roads vary, so scheduled flights from Entebbe to Kihihi, Kisoro, Murchison Falls and Kidepo can replace the longest drives.
How long to stay
Three days covers one park. Five days adds a second, such as gorillas with Queen Elizabeth. Eight to ten days covers the full western circuit of chimpanzees, savannah, gorillas and the Nile.
Staying connected
Local SIM cards are cheap and give good mobile coverage on main routes. Lodge Wi-Fi ranges from fast to occasional, especially in Bwindi and Kidepo.
Questions travellers ask
How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda?
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs US$800 per person for foreign non-residents. Each habituated family can be visited by eight people a day, so permits for the dry months sell out early. Our prices include the permit, bought in your names when the deposit clears.
Do I need a visa for Uganda?
Most visitors need a visa. Apply online for a Uganda e-Visa before you travel, or apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa, which covers Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya for 90 days and suits trips that cross into Rwanda. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required on arrival.
When is the best time for a Uganda safari?
December to February and June to September are the driest months and the most popular. Gorilla trekking runs all year, and the wetter months bring fewer visitors and lower lodge rates.
Can we combine Uganda and Rwanda?
Yes. The southern sectors of Bwindi are about two to three hours from Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda through the Cyanika or Katuna border posts, and many travellers fly into Kigali for a shorter road to Bwindi.
How many days do you need for a Uganda safari?
Three days covers one park, such as Murchison Falls or a Bwindi gorilla trek by air. Eight to ten days covers chimpanzees, gorillas and the savannah parks of the west at a comfortable pace.
Is Uganda safe for a safari?
Most visits are trouble-free. We follow official travel advice, plan routes around it, and your guide is with you throughout the trip.
What is the best way to travel around Uganda?
A private 4x4 with a driver-guide, with scheduled flights for the longest legs, such as Entebbe to Bwindi or Kidepo.
Combine with Rwanda
Volcanoes
Bamboo and forest on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes, under three hours from Kigali. Gorillas, golden monkeys and Dian Fossey's grave.
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Akagera
Rwanda's savannah park on the Tanzanian border, run by African Parks. Lions returned in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017.
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Nyungwe Forest
Ancient montane rainforest with chimpanzees, 13 primate species and a canopy walkway high above a ravine.
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Any trip can be lengthened, upgraded or combined across both countries. Send your dates and the number of travellers, and you'll get a costed plan within a day.