country
UgandaUganda
First trip: land at Entebbe and sleep there, then give Bwindi (gorillas) 3 lodge nights and Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls 2–3 more; fly domestic hops if you have under 10 days, because the drives take most of a day.
Uganda's highlights sit at the far edges of the country and the drives between them are long, so plan on fewer parks with more nights each. Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking need permits booked well in advance, and permits are limited per day. The drier months (roughly June–August and December–February) make trekking easier; the rains make trails muddy but do not stop them. Park and permit fees are set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority: check current rates there or with your operator.
All regions, cities and parks in Uganda (Atlas) →
Regions
Arrival base on Lake Victoria; first and last nights
1–2 nights
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga; Lake Bunyonyi
2–4 nights
Savanna game drives, Kazinga Channel boat trips, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale
2–4 nights
The Nile falls, boat trips and game drives in the north-west
2–3 nights
Arrive
EBB
Entebbe International
The only international gateway; about 40 km from Kampala, domestic flights to the parks
Time math
- 5 days
- Entebbe 1 + fly to Bwindi for 3 (one gorilla trek) + Entebbe 1
- 8 days
- Entebbe 1 + Kibale 2 + Queen Elizabeth 2 + Bwindi 3
- 12 days
- Entebbe 1 + Murchison Falls 3 + Kibale 2 + Queen Elizabeth 2 + Bwindi 3 + Entebbe 1
Country rules
- Check visa and entry rules for your passport on Uganda's official immigration portal before booking.
- Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and check whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry and for your onward route.
- Book gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits before you fix dates; the lodge booking follows the permit, not the other way round.
- Domestic light aircraft to the parks have strict baggage limits, usually soft-sided bags only and a low total weight (often around 15 kg); confirm the limit with your operator.
Etiquette
- Greet people before asking for anything; handshakes are common and often long.
- Ask before photographing people, markets and anything official.
- Dress modestly outside lodges; beachwear is not worn in towns.
- Wet seasons (roughly Mar–May, Oct–Nov)
- Muddy trekking trails and slower roads; some lodges offer lower rates.
- Peak trekking months (roughly Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb)
- Gorilla permits and lodges near Bwindi book out months ahead.
Money & passes
Cash necessity: 4/5
- Currency is the Ugandan shilling (UGX). US dollars are widely used for tourism, but older or small-denomination notes may get a lower rate or be refused.
- Cards work at larger hotels and lodges; outside Kampala and Entebbe, plan for cash.
- Mobile money is widely used with a local SIM.
- Carry small notes for tips to trackers, porters and guides; hiring a porter on a gorilla trek is common and supports local communities.
Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry
Safety
- Road travel is the main everyday risk: avoid driving after dark and do not ride boda-boda motorbike taxis without a helmet.
- Some governments advise against travel to areas near the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, and have issued warnings for some western national parks: check your own government's advice before you go.
- Gorilla trekking: keep the minimum distance your guide sets, and do not trek if you are unwell; permits can be refunded or moved only under the park's rules.
- Same-sex relations are criminalised with severe penalties under Ugandan law; LGBT travellers should read their government's advice before travel.
Uganda pairs with Rwanda (a second gorilla option) and Kenya or Tanzania (savanna safari) by regional flights; check each country's entry rules and any regional visa for your passport.
Sources
- UK FCDO travel advice — Uganda (official)
- Wikivoyage — Uganda (secondary)