Uganda
In Uganda’s southwestern corner, the lush mountainous forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, conserves the country’s most alluring natural asset: around 400 mountain gorillas, or half of the world’s remaining wild population.
Most people come to Bwindi – Uganda most popular tourist safari destination – to track these magnificent apes (more than a hundred of which have been habituated), which involves an adventurous hike on hilly tracks through the misty tropical rainforest.
Along the way, there are 120 other mammals to spot, including forest duikers, rare l’Hoest monkeys, olive baboons, bushbuck, black-and-white Colobus monkeys, seldom seen forest elephants, and an incredible number of avian creatures: 220 species of butterfly and 350 bird species.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
In Uganda’s southwestern corner, the lush, mountainous forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park conserves the country’s most alluring natural asset: around 400 mountain gorillas, or half of the world’s remaining wild population. Most people come to Bwindi – Uganda’s most popular tourist destination – to track these magnificent apes (more than a hundred of which have been habituated), which involves an adventurous hike on hilly tracks through the misty tropical rainforest. Along the way there are 120 other mammals to spot, including forest duikers, rare l’Hoest monkeys, olive baboons, bushbuck and black-and-white colobus monkeys, as well as seldom seen forest elephants – an extremely lucky sighting – and an incredible number of avian creatures: 220 species of butterfly and 350 bird species.
Highlights
Getting to see a group of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is the main reason that people come to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and it’s one of the top experiences that Uganda has to offer. There are two options for coming-face-to-face with our great ape cousins: most travellers do the standard gorilla trekking experience, which costs US$600 per person and involves hiking to your assigned habituated group. You can then spend an hour observing the gorillas as they play, groom and eat, before you hike back out of the park. The second option, which costs US$1500 per person, is the gorilla habituation experience, where you get to spend a total of four hours with a gorilla group that is in the process of being trained to become used to spending time with people.
There’s more to Bwindi than just gorillas though – the beautiful rainforest is home to incredible biodiversity, with 120 mammal and 350 bird species. To explore the forest and its creatures, you can do guided walks which take anything from half an hour to most of the day. Birdwatchers can book park guide with birding knowledge to lead them on walks through the forest to spot species such as Elliot’s woodpecker, blue turaco, red-tailed bulbul and the black bee-eater.
Practical Information
- To go gorilla tracking in Bwindi, you need to book a permit, which we will secure for you upon booking. The permit should be arranged five or six months in advance of your visit as there are only a few permits issued each day and they all get booked up during the busiest months of the year (June to August, as well as December to February). Discounted permits are offered during the rainy season months of March to May and September to November for US$450 a person.
- You can go gorilla tracking year-round in Bwindi, but most travellers choose to do it in the driest months of the year – June to August and December to February. During the rainier months, the trekking is harder because of the slippery muddy trails.
- Gorilla tracking can be physically demanding – the hike to reach your allocated group can take anything from just an hour to an entire day (the average hiking time is between three and seven hours). The paths in the park are steep and hilly and can be very muddy, and it’s likely that you’ll need to veer off track and walk through the dense undergrowth of the forest. It’s essential that you have a good level of fitness, and that you wear the right gear: a comfortable pair of hiking boots with ankle support, a thick pair of socks (for biting ants), long trousers to protect from stinging nettles and a durable waterproof jacket. Some people also wear garden gloves to protect them from the nettles. If you don’t have your own hiking poles, you can rent a stick from the porters – it will really help with keeping you upright on steep, slippery sections.
- You need to be over the age of 15 to go gorilla tracking if you’re travelling as a family. If you’re feeling sick on the day of your trekking experience, you should volunteer to stay behind. Human illnesses can be transmitted to gorillas and have the potential to kill an entire group. There are lots of rules that you need to follow when you come into contact with the gorillas – it’s important to stick to all of these to respect these wild animals. Your guide will explain all the rules before you go trekking, but remember that it’s important to keep at least seven metres away from the gorillas, and that you should never touch them. Don’t use flash photography, don’t eat or drink in front of them, keep your voice down, and cover your mouth and nose and turn away from the gorillas if you need to sneeze.
Central Uganda
Uganda’s central region is where most travellers will begin and end their journeys, flying in and out of the country’s only international airport in the town of Entebbe. The region has less to offer in the way of national parks and blockbuster wildlife than Western Uganda, but it is home to the buzzing capital of Kampala, a large expanse of beautiful Lake Victoria and its forested islands and the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild.
Highlights
Lying on the shores of shimmering Lake Victoria, the wonderfully green, laid-back Entebbe is a good place to spend a day or two at the start or end of your journey. There’s a wide range of lodging options and excellent restaurants, as well as a few sights to fill your days: the lush and beautiful Entebbe Botanical Garden is a highlight for its indigenous trees and superb birdlife, while the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is a sanctuary for rescued animals – rhinos, chimps, lions and shoebill storks are the main attractions – and if you want a more memorable encounter with the wildlife, pay extra to be “keeper for a day”, or for the behind the scenes tour or chimp close up.
Eighty-four thickly forested islands make up the Ssese Archipelago in the northwest of Lake Victoria, 50 kilometres from Entebbe. Buggala Island is the most popular and most developed – and is easily reached by ferry from Entebbe – and has the widest range of lodging options, while Banda and Bukasa Island also have places to stay, and other uninhabited islands can be visited by boat. Activities on the islands include hiking, bird watching (highlights include water species such as pygmy kingfisher, African fish eagles and great cormorants), quad biking, canoeing and sport fishing.
There are only two African island chimpanzee sanctuaries, and Ngamba Island is one of them. Just over 20 kilometres away from Entebbe in Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island protects more than 40 rescued and orphaned chimps, which you can see from a platform during the twice-daily feeding times. You can either do a half-day trip to the island or stay overnight at the eco lodge in a cottage or safari tent. Other activities on the island include sunset cruises, fishing and birdwatching.
Some 160 kilometres north of Kampala, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place to see rhinos in the wild in Uganda. Rhinos were wiped out in the country more than 30 years ago, and so the sanctuary was established to breed southern white rhinos and reintroduce them into Uganda’s national parks. There are now more than 20 rhinos in the sanctuary, and you can track them on foot in a thrilling wildlife encounter. There’s more to the sanctuary though – it’s a good place to see the elusive shoebill stork on foot or in a canoe, and you can also hike the birdwatching trails to spot some of the 300 species found in the sanctuary.
Kampala usually doesn’t make it to the top of travellers’ itineraries, but the busy, vibrant city is worth a visit if you have time (just be prepared for heavy traffic wherever you go). For a slice of history, visit Mengo Palace – the former home of the Bugandan king – to see Idi Amin’s infamous underground prison and the Uganda Museum, browse art galleries, shop for crafts, curios and clothing at boutiques and markets and feast on local and international fare in the country’s best variety of restaurants.
Practical Information
A taxi is the best way of getting from Entebbe International Airport to Kampala, and while the distance is short, the traffic is always thick – it can take a few hours to do the journey. If you’re staying in Kampala and are catching a flight home from Entebbe, then leave plenty of time to travel to the airport in the traffic. Best yet is to stay over in Entebbe ahead of your flight. The town also makes a great base from which to explore the lake’s islands.
Eastern Uganda
While Western Uganda has the wildlife, Eastern Uganda has the adrenaline adventures. The source of the Nile River lies in the region, and this mighty body of water is where you can experience some of the best white-water rafting on the planet. Lying on the shores of Lake Victoria, charming Jinja is known as East Africa’s adrenaline capital, and rafting is not the only activity that gets hearts pumping: bungee jumping and paragliding are also in the mix. There are more sedate activities on offer in Jinja too, from stand-up paddle boarding on gentler stretches of the river to boat cruises. Straddling Uganda’s eastern border with Kenya, Mount Elgon National Park is a fantastic trekking destination and offers the chance to climb Africa’s eighth tallest mountain.
Highlights
Jinja is the top destination in Eastern Uganda, and the regional capital makes a perfect place to base yourself for a few days. There’s lots to do here at the source of the Nile River, whether you’re looking for high-paced adrenaline thrills or more laidback fun. White-water rafting on the Nile’s powerful rapids over a day or on two-day trips is the biggest draw, while other water-based activities will keep you entertained: choose from kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing trips and relaxing boat cruises to islands. On land you can go bungee jumping off a riverside cliff, quad biking, mountain biking or go on horseback safaris along the banks of the Nile.
Running along the Kenyan border, Mount Elgon National Park is centered around Mount Elgon, a huge extinct volcano which is Uganda’s second highest peak and the eighth tallest in Africa. The appeal of climbing Mount Elgon lies in the ease (you don’t have to have any special experience or equipment to climb the mountain – just a good level of fitness), low numbers of other climbers and budget-friendly cost compared with other peaks in East Africa. The climb is a four- to six-day round trip, and you’ll pass through beautiful scenery of tropical montane forest and bamboo glades and spot blue monkey and black-and-white colobus while trekking.
Lying on the edge of Mount Elgon National Park, Sipi Falls is made up of a series of three beautiful waterfalls and is the starting point for hiking routes that take you up Mount Elgon. It’s a great place to base yourself for a few days if you want to do some gentle day hikes in the scenic foothills of the volcano.
Practical Information
- If you’re going to climb Mount Elgon, pack appropriate warm clothing with you as it can get very cold at night. While you can hike year-round, the best months to go trekking are the dry ones – from June to August and December to February.
- The Isimba Dam, a controversial hydroelectric power project on the White Nile, is under construction some 60 kilometres downstream from Jinja. It’s unclear when it will be completed, but once finished, the dam will flood some of the rapids on the one-day rafting trips offered by the activity companies in Jinja. If you’re planning to go rafting on the Nile, it’s a good idea to check the status of the dam and what rafting trips are being offered with the adventure companies in Jinja before you travel.
Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda’s largest park, the wild and beautiful Murchison Falls National Park offers breath taking scenery of palm-dotted hills, swamps, riverine woodland and forest, East Africa’s most dramatic waterfall, and a remarkable diversity of wildlife on land and in the Victoria Nile, which teems with hippos and crocodiles. The park is home to large herds of buffalo and elephant and a good concentration of lion as well as leopard and several antelope species from grey duiker and Ugandan kob to oribi and Jackson’s hartebeest. It’s one of the few places in Uganda where you can find giraffe, and on the plains, you may be able to spot the rare ground-dwelling patas monkey. Birding is excellent, and the top highlight is a sighting of the endangered shoebill stork, a rare creature that sits at the top of many birders’ wish list. You’re most likely to see them between January and March on the Delta cruise boat ride.
Murchison Falls National Park is part of the greater Murchison Falls Conservation Area, which incorporates the Bugungu and Karuma reserves, as well as Kaniyo Pabidi forest, where you can go chimp trekking.
Highlights
The park’s main feature is the Victoria Nile, which cuts through the wilderness and cascades 45 metres down through a narrow gorge at Murchison Falls, the world’s most powerful waterfall. Boat cruises along the river take you to see the thunderous waterfall, but they’re also a chance to spot pods of grunting hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and bathing elephants. Not to be missed is the short hike up to the top of the falls where you’ll have several viewpoints to see the take in the majestic waterfalls (and spot some monkeys and baboons along the way).
In addition to the boat cruise to the falls, another highlight is the boat ride down the river to the delta where the Victoria Nile merges into Lake Albert for beautiful scenery and wildlife and excellent bird watching.
The park’s 450 species of birds will have twitchers excited: there are water birds to be seen from the river, as well as savanna birds and endemic species from the Albertine Rift Valley.
Practical Information
- You can visit Murchison Falls National Park throughout the year, but the best months for spotting wildlife are the dry ones – from December to February and June to September, when you can find animals congregating around water sources.
- Birdwatching is also good year-round, but it’s best between January and March. Migratory species are in the park from November to April. March to May and October to November are the rainiest months when some roads become impassable, but during these months there are few visitors to the park which means discounts on lodging. The falls are also at their most dramatic during the rainy months, when the river is at its fullest.
- While you can do self-driving safaris in Murchison Falls National Park, it’s a good idea to hire a UWA guide to help you navigate the roads and find animals that would be hard to spot on your own.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park, the second largest and most biodiverse park in Uganda, is the country’s most popular safari destination. Located in western Uganda close to the Rwenzori Mountains, the park encompasses a huge array of different landscapes, including wetlands, swamps and crater lakes, tropical forests, woodland and open savannah, which support a diverse range of wildlife, from 95 mammal species (including 20 carnivores and 10 primates) to more than 600 species of birds. The list of highlights includes easily spotted elephant and buffalo, Ugandan kob, sitatunga, giant forest hog and topi – while at the top of the list are the tree-climbing lions found in the south of the park. In addition to game drives on the open savannah, you can also do boat cruises to see hippos and crocodiles and hike through rainforest to find chimpanzees.
Highlights
Lions are only found climbing trees in two places in Africa, so it’s a rare and remarkable sight to see them lying in the branches of giant fig and acacia trees in the remote Ishasha Sector at the southern end of the park.
Boat safaris on the 34-kilometre-long Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George, are a highlight of any visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you cruise past beautiful scenery, your sightings of hundreds of hippos and crocodiles are guaranteed, while there are plenty of chances to spot elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard as well as birds such as kingfishers and fish eagles.
In the far east of the reserve, the Kyambura Gorge, which is also known as the Valley of the Apes, has steep slopes covered in rainforest, which is home to black and white Colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, giant forest hogs and a host of forest bird species, but the star attraction here are the habituated chimpanzees, which you can track down on a guided hike.
With more than 600 species of birds, Queen Elizabeth is recognized as one of East Africa’s best birding destinations, and for sheer numbers it wins out much larger safari parks in other countries. Standouts include more than 50 different raptors, a huge variety of water birds and diverse forest species, while the elusive, sought-after shoebill stork can be searched for in the swamps of the Ishasha Sector.
Practical Information
- Queen Elizabeth National Park is split into two regions: the north, which has a wide range of lodges and camps, and the southern section (which includes the Ishasha Sector), where there is only a handful of lodging options.
- If seeing the famous tree-climbing lions is high up on your wish list, then it’s important to note that they’re confined to one area of the park: the remote Ishasha Sector, in the south of the park. Visitors who come to the park expecting to see lions climbing trees wherever they will be disappointed. While game drives are usually done in the early morning or late afternoon for the best chances of seeing animals, the lions are usually up in the trees during the heat of the day.
- The best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park is during the dry months of June to September and January to February, when wildlife spotting is easiest. November to April is the best time to see migratory birds, although these are some of the wettest months, and the rains can mean that some roads become impassable.
- Be sure to book in advance for chimp trekking with Uganda Wildlife Authority. If you’re travelling during the peak months of June to September, then book ahead for the boat cruise with UWA. Other activities can be booked through the UWA or at the Katunguru Park Headquarters.
- Take note that it’s not a guarantee that you will see chimps in the Kyambura Gorge, as there’s only one group to track down. For a more reliable chimp trekking option, you can head to the nearby Kalinzu Forest, where you have a better chance of encountering our closest ape cousins.
Regions of Uganda
If you only visit one region in Uganda, it should definitely be Western Uganda, which is home to the country’s biggest concentration of national parks and wildlife highlights, from the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and big game safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park to chimpanzee rain forests and the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains.
While it’s low on tourist attractions, Central Uganda is where most travellers will begin their journey, flying into the international airport in the town of Entebbe, which lies on the shores of Lake Victoria, a short distance away from the busy capital city of Kampala. The lake is the main focus for tourism in the region, and the beautiful, forested islands of the Ssese Archipelago make for a relaxing beachside holiday.
With an array of exciting adventure activities on the Nile River and in the surrounding area, Jinja is the major destination in Eastern Uganda. The region also boasts Mt Elgon National Park and Sipi Falls, which offer great hiking routes in scenic surroundings in the foothills of an extinct volcano and the chance to trek up to the top of Africa’s eighth highest peak.
Northern Uganda sees few tourists, but adventurous travellers who make it to this remote part of the country are rewarded with the spectacular wildlife and beautiful scenery of Kidepo Valley National Park, as well as cultural visits to the villages of the Karamojong people, a tribe of semi-nomadic warrior pastoralists.
Western Uganda
Encompassing the vast majority of the country’s parks and reserves, Western Uganda dazzles with its blockbuster wildlife, excellent birding and astonishing landscapes and natural attractions, making it the most popular region with travellers.
In the southwest corner of the region, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the majority of Uganda’s mountain gorillas, so it’s usually at the top of any safari itinerary. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, at Uganda’s most south westerly corner on the border with Rwanda and the DRC, is home to just one habituated gorilla group, which sometimes moves outside of Uganda’s borders, which means that finding the group here isn’t 100% reliable.
Further to the north of the region, Queen Elizabeth National Park, with its open savanna and huge variety of animal and bird species, is the most popular safari destination, and while Murchison Falls National Park is less visited, it offers East Africa’s most impressive waterfall and spectacular wildlife in beautiful landscapes. Chimpanzee trekking is another top activity in Western Uganda: Kibale Forest National Park and Budongo Forest Reserve are two of the best places to go in search of our closest living relatives. Close the capital of Kampala, Lake Mburo National Park is the easiest wilderness area to access in Western Uganda, and while it can’t compete with other parks for scenery and wildlife diversity, it’s worth a visit for its special species not seen elsewhere.
Western Uganda isn’t just about wildlife: it’s also home to some of the country’s most astonishing landscapes, from the dramatic snow-dusted Rwenzori Mountains to the shimmering blue crater lakes.
Highlights
Going gorilla trekking in the mountainous tropical rain forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is, without a doubt, one of Africa’s best wildlife experiences. It’s a thrilling adventure to hike through the lush, hilly forest to find your assigned gorilla group, but coming face-to-face with these majestic apes is a moment you’ll never forget. There are two options for gorilla trekking: you can either spend an hour with a habituated group or pay more to spend four hours with a group that is in the process of being habituated. Aside from gorillas, Bwindi’s other animal life (l’Hoest monkeys, forest duikers, olive baboons, bushbuck and black-and-white colobus monkeys) and 350 bird species can be spotted on guided walks through the forest.
Close by to Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi is a popular spot for people to base themselves in for a few days to go gorilla trekking in the park and then relax at the beautiful lake, which is surrounded by green terraced hills and small villages. There’s plenty to fill a few days here, from birdwatching and hiking to canoeing, swimming and mountain biking.
For primates, Kibale Forest National Park is hard to beat, boasting the largest number of primate species of any reserve in East Africa, from the rare red colobus monkeys and olive baboons to l’Hoest and blue monkeys, which you may be able to spot while going on the search for one of five habituated groups of chimpanzees.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most biodiverse wilderness area, playing host to a magnificent array of wildlife – 95 mammals and 20 predators – as well as habituated chimpanzees. The park’s standout highlight is the tree-climbing lions (there’s only one other place in Africa where they do this) so catching this sighting is particularly special, while the birdwatching is spectacular, with more than 600 species. Wildlife viewing on boat cruises along the Kazinga Channel for magnificent scenery and fantastic wildlife spotting (including Africa’s greatest concentration of hippos) are not to be missed. While you can go chimpanzee trekking in the park’s Kyambura Gorge, you have a better chance of seeing chimps at the nearby Kalinzu Forest.
The largest park in Uganda, the remarkably beautiful Murchison Falls National Park, has a lot to offer: East Africa’s most dramatic waterfall, wildlife and birdwatching from boat cruises along the Victoria Nile, large herds of elephant, giraffe and buffalo, as well as sightings of lion and leopard, and the chance to see one of Africa’s most sought-after birds, the elusive shoebill stork.
The snow-dusted, jagged Rwenzori Mountains – the “Mountains of the Moon” – Africa’s highest mountain range, soar up to 5109 metres high along Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountains are protected by Rwenzori National Park, and provide thrilling landscapes for adventurous hikes and mountaineering trips.
Treks can be anything from one day to a multi-day mountaineering expedition to the top of Mount Stanley, Africa’s third highest peak, and along the way you’ll be treated to scenery of cloud forests, tropical rainforest, bamboo glades, dramatic valleys and glacier lakes.
In a remote part of the region on the western side of the Rwenzori Mountains and lying alongside the border with the DRC, Semliki National Park sees few tourists due to its isolated location and undeveloped infrastructure, but those who do make it out to the park are rewarded with one of the best forest birding hotspots in Africa. The park protects one of Africa’s oldest forests, and with it, a remarkable number of bird species – more than 400 – as well as 300 butterfly species. Highlights include Central African birds such as black-wattled hornbill and Congo serpent eagle that aren’t found in any other place in East Africa.
Dozens of crater lakes formed by volcanic activity some 10 000 years ago stud the landscape between Fort Portal and Kibale National Park like blue jewels. These photogenic lakes, which are fringed with tropical forests home to monkeys and an incredible diversity of bird species, offer plenty of hiking and birdwatching opportunities, with trails leading you through small villages and tea plantations, as well as other activities such as canoeing and fishing.
Practical Information
- Western Uganda is best visited during the drier months of June to August and December to February, when it’s easiest to go gorilla trekking in hilly Bwindi and the wildlife viewing in the parks is at its prime. Travelling during the rainy low season months of March to May and September to November does have its budget-friendly benefits though – you’ll get cheaper room rates at hotels and lodges, and it is possible to get discounted gorilla trekking permits, but be prepared for muddy roads, torrential downpours, challenging hiking and low visibility for wildlife.
- If you want to go gorilla trekking, you need to book your permit several months in advance through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a tour operator, as there’s a limited number of permits that sold every day and during the most popular months for trekking (June to August) the permits can sell out five months in advance. For chimpanzee habituation experiences it’s best to book around three months in advance.
Gorilla Trekking
Imagine an adventure into remote African rainforests to see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. This unique wildlife encounter allows you to spend unforgettable time up close with gorillas as they eat, play and rest. Available in only a few exotic locations, gorilla trekking combines a jungle hike with an incredibly rare primate sighting.
From the Virunga Mountains to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Rwanda and Uganda offer the ultimate in gorilla trekking. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park provides breathtaking treks to observe mountain gorilla families like playful youngsters tumbling as the silverback keeps watch.
These one-of-a-kind trekking experience tour allow travelers to enjoy memorable wildlife encounters while directly supporting gorilla conservation efforts in Rwanda and Uganda. Income from these guided tours helps protect fragile rainforest habitats and sustain populations of critically endangered mountain gorillas in these countries, ensuring a brighter future for them.
After an extraordinary encounter with the gorillas, relax in style at one of our luxurious jungle lodges, intimate tented camps, or eco-friendly resorts. So, get ready for an epic adventure as you set out on a day of exploring and spending time with these endangered creatures. Reserve your spot today!
The Best Time to go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
The best time to go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is during its two dry seasons: between December and February, and between June and August when conditions are particularly good for trekking to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.
It is important to note that Silverback Mountain gorillas can be tracked at any time of the year because their movements are not affected by changing seasons of the year. Even though we will be discussing the pros and cons of visiting at a particular time of the year, tourists shouldn’t be too selective on which month to go gorilla trekking in Uganda.
From our previous Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, we realized the best time to track gorillas is just after the rainy season has ended. Uganda lies along the equator zone, which has two dry and wet seasons.
The dry season falls in the months between December to February and between June to September. Gorilla trekking during the dry season has its advantages. Visitors can easily combine gorilla trekking with another wildlife safari in East Africa such as to see the wildebeest migration in Kenya and Tanzania.
This season is the best time to spot wildlife especially the big five, wildebeest, bird life, and most importantly to track and spot the Mountain Gorillas. The hiking tracks are dry, easy to maneuver, as well as easy to see Gorillas since they come out of the forests.
