Uganda

The Pearl of Africa

Why Visit Uganda

Uganda is an East African gem. The Pearl of Africa, as it is commonly known, is a perfectly fitting name for a country offering so many diverse and unique experiences.

Uganda offers unparalleled experiences; from Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Big 5 Safaris, Forests, Volcanoes, Snow Capped Mountains, Waterfalls and more.

The most notable of all destinations is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The towering forest is home to more than half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. Embark on an unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure, coming face-to-face with majestic mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

The country is also home to the source of the Nile River and the powerful Murchison Falls, a breathtaking spectacle of water cascading through the heart of the country.

There are excellent safari opportunities in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park, home to diverse wildlife, including lions, leopard, elephants, and more. Both parks have boat and vehicle safaris.

For a unique experience, venture into the ‘primate capital of the world’, Kibale Forest National Park. The park is an excellent destination for chimpanzee tracking and birdwatching.

Uganda’s picturesque landscapes extend to the stunning Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda, where you can unwind amidst serene surroundings and engage in all types of water activities.

Throughout Uganda you can engage with local communities to experience the warmth of Ugandan locals and learn about traditional customs and rituals.

Whether you’re captivated by wildlife, landscapes, or cultural diversity, Uganda promises an extraordinary adventure that will leave you with life-long memories.

mountain-gorillas
Gorilla Tracking
Big 5 Uganda
Big 5 Safaris
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee Tracking
Hiking uganda
Volcano Hiking
Waterfall Uganda
Diverse Experiences
Scenic Uganda
Scenic Landscapes
Waterfall Uganda
Lakes and Waterfalls

Discover Uganda

Top Destinations

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

A bucket list destination! Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to more than half of the worlds endangered Mountain Gorillas. The towering forest and dense green vegetation creates the perfect habitat for these gentle giants to thrive. A day of trekking with these giants will leaving you feeling awe inspired and touched by nature. For those wanting to have a unique experience, one can enjoy a longer habituation experience with the gorilla’s, this gives you even more time to spend with the gorillas at a more relaxed pace. Bwindi is also home to forest buffalo, elephant and numerous special birds.

Attraction List:

  • Guided treks to encounter habituated gorilla families in their natural habitat.
  • Participate in the gorilla habituation experience, which allows visitors to spend an extended period. of time with a gorilla family undergoing habituation.
  • Take guided nature walks and hiking trails through Bwindi's ancient rainforest.
  • Go birdwatching with local guides.
  • Visit Batwa communities and participate in one of Africa's age old cultures.
  • Engage with local communities by participating in community visits and homestays.
  • Beautiful lodges set in amongst the towering forest, perfect for relaxation and adventure.

 

Top Experiences

Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Uganda
Gorilla Tracking
Chimpanzee in Kibale National Park
Chimpanzee Tracking
Big 5 Uganda
Big 5 Safaris
Boat Safaris with Elephant in Chobe National Park
Boat Safaris
Cycling Safari
Cycling Safaris
Visit Rwanda Birding
Birding Safaris
Hiking Bisate Lodge Rwanda
Hiking
White Water Rafting Victoria Falls
White Water Rafting
Horse Riding
Horse Riding
Fishing
Fishing

Best Time to Visit Uganda

The best time to visit Uganda for Gorilla’s, Chimpanzees and Safari is in the dry season (June to September and December to February).

Uganda has two wet seasons and two dry seasons each year. The longer dry season between June and September is usually best for safaris.

Kidepo Valley National Park (Northern Uganda) has a slightly different season to the rest of Uganda and is best visited between November and March (dry season).

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Long Dry Season (June to September) offer perfect conditions for trekking and safari. The trails are usually less slippery and also the vegetation is thinner for finding wildlife on safaris.

Short Dry Season (December to February) is good for gorilla and chimp trekking. Safari is also good but vegetation can be lush, which means slightly more challenging to find wildlife. Great for the Northern Safari Parks including Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley.

Wet Months (March to May and October to November) have the highest rainfall. The rain is usually short heavy showers which still allows for outdoor activities in this period. Given the slippery conditions, we recommend strong, younger and fit travellers to trek at this time. Safari is still good but the vegetation is dense. As Uganda is very tropical, the weather can be unpredictable and you can have some perfect weather days in the wet months.

Perfect Uganda Add-Ons:

Fequently Asked Questions

Uganda is a reasonably priced destination compared to other East African destinations.

Of course, this depends on the level of comfort one chooses, and the activities chosen.

The gorilla permits are fairly expensive but still much cheaper than neighboring Rwanda.

The country offers all types of accommodation, activities and levels of luxury.

Cost of Travelling Uganda in order of most affordable to most expensive:

  1. Self-Driving (Camping)
  2. Overland Group Tours
  3. Private Tours with Private Guide (Most Popular Option)
  4. Fly-In Luxury Safaris

Can you travel Uganda on a budget?

Uganda can definitely be travelled on a budget. Uganda offers a lot more ‘bang for your buck’ than the neighboring Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania (Except for the price of Gorilla Tracking). There are many National Parks in Uganda for exploring, the food is cheap and fresh as well as many budget offerings in terms of accommodation, tours and day trips.

2024 Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permit Costs Per Person Per Day:

Gorilla Trekking Permit Gorilla Trekking Permit Chimp Trekking Permit Chimp Trekking Permit
Rwanda Uganda Rwanda Uganda
Volcanoes NP Bwindi Impenatrable and Mgahinga NP Nyungwe Forest NP Kibale Forest NP
USD 1,500 USD 800 USD 250 USD 250

To note, Uganda offers gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experiences. These are higher priced permits, but you get to spend a lot longer with both animals in their natural habitats.

Gorilla Habituation Experience: USD 1,500

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience: USD 300

Uganda is an easy country to travel to.

The main international airport for tourists is:

  • Entebbe International Airport

There are various direct flights into Uganda but often visitors would transit through either:

  • Nairobi, Kenya
  • Kigali, Rwanda
  • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Uganda is small country but there are some challenging driving conditions, especially in the rainy season.

Driving through Uganda is scenic, passing through mountains, tea plantations, forests, savannahs and rolling green hills. The distances between the National Parks are very manageable and one can do these transit drives within a single day. Fuel, rest stops, food and accommodation are readily available on route.

Options for travelling in Uganda:

Private Safari Tour with Guide: The most common way of travelling in East Africa where you would have a professional guide taking you in a safari vehicle from one location to another, he/she would also be your point of contact, general information and help with keeping your itinerary in line.

Self-Drive: One can rent a vehicle in Entebbe and travel throughout the country. A 4×4 required in most parks, especially in wet season.

Fly In: For travellers short on time or wanting to fly straight into the prime locations, there are flights into larger towns. For example, it is possible to fly to Bwindi for gorilla.

Day Trips: There are many day trips in all towns. Best towns for day trips are Entebbe, Kisoro and Jinja.

Taxis and Public Transport: There is public transport throughout the country, this is by means of a Matatu (Local Taxi) and/or Boda Boda (Taxi Motorbike). Travelling like this an authentic experience and is extremely cheap. There is an element of risk in this form of travel.

Uganda is a very safe destination for travellers. It has a low crime rate compared to other African countries.

However, like any destination, it’s wise to take precautions and be aware of your surroundings, especially in urban areas where petty theft and opportunistic crimes can occur.

In remote areas or when driving long distances, it’s essential to be prepared with enough supplies, including water. Also, to have an offline map especially if driving in remote regions.

Overall, Uganda is a beautiful country with welcoming people, but as with travel anywhere, staying vigilant and informed is key to having a safe and enjoyable experience.

At AfriVenture we will never design an itinerary that would put you into a risky situation or area.

Yes, Malaria is present in all parts of Uganda. The risk of malaria is considered high especially during the wet seasons (see ‘best time to travel’).

It’s important to take precautionary measures if you’re traveling to malaria-prone areas, especially during the rainy season when mosquito populations are higher.

Preventive measures against malaria includes:

  • Taking anti-malarial medication prescribed by a healthcare professional (if necessary).
  • Using insect repellent.
  • Wearing protective clothing in the evenings. (eg, Long Sleeves and Long Pants)
  • Sleeping in accommodations with mosquito nets, screened windows, fans and air conditioning.

Always consult with a healthcare provider or travel doctor before your trip to get the most up-to-date and personalized advice on malaria prevention based on the specific areas you plan to visit and your individual health considerations.

Visa requirements for Uganda vary depending on your nationality.

Some countries have visa-free arrangements with Uganda, allowing their citizens to visit for a specified period without needing a visa. Other nationalities might need to apply for a visa in advance.

To determine whether you need a visa to visit Uganda, you should check with the nearest Ugandan embassy or consulate in your country or visit the official website of the Ugandan Department of Home Affairs. They will have the most updated information about visa requirements.

Visa requirements can change, so it’s essential to confirm the most current information well before your planned travel dates.

Always consult with a healthcare provider or travel medicine specialist several weeks before your trip to get personalized advice based on your health history, itinerary, and current health recommendations.

At the time of writing the only compulsory vaccination for travellers entering Uganda is a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate.

Vaccine requirements can change, so it’s essential to confirm the most current information well before your planned travel dates.

Malaria Prevention: Please see other frequently asked question on Malaria.

The currency used in Uganda is Ugandan Shillings (UGX), however a lot of the tourist establishments accept United States Dollar (USD).

There are a variety of methods to pay for goods and services:

  1. Credit and Debit Cards: The most popular means of paying for goods and services. Visa and MasterCard are commonly accepted in most establishments. American Express and Diners Club cards are less widely accepted. Inform your bank about your travel plans to prevent any issues with card usage abroad.
  2. Cash: Carrying some cash in UGX and/or USD can be useful for small purchases, markets, tipping, and places where card payments might not be accepted. ATMs are widely available in cities and towns and accept most international cards.

Tipping:

It is customary to tip for services in Uganda.

  • Restaurants: Tipping around 10% of the total bill is common if the service charge is not already included. Check the bill; sometimes a service charge is included, in which case additional tipping might not be expected.
  • Hotels: Tipping hotel staff, such as porters and housekeeping, is customary.
  • Taxis: Tipping taxi drivers isn’t mandatory, but rounding up the fare is appreciated.
  • Lodges: This depends on the lodge standard and services, please enquire with us or directly with lodge management.

Even though tipping is customary, it is still discretionary, and the amount can vary based on the quality of service you received.

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