Essential Uganda: gorillas and safari
Duration : 10 days
Route : Entebbe (1 night) → Murchison Falls (2 nights) → Kibale chimpanzees (1 night) → Queen Elizabeth (2 nights) → Bwindi gorillas (3 nights, 1-2 treks) → return flight Entebbe
Custom travel to Uganda
Uganda, nicknamed 'the pearl of Africa' by Winston Churchill in 1908, is one of East Africa's flagship destinations — landlocked country of 47 million inhabitants, 9-12 h of flight with stopover from Paris. Independence 1962. Rare landscape diversity: savannas, jungles, equatorial lakes and the snowy summits of Rwenzori (5,109 m, Africa's 3rd highest). Above all it is THE world destination for mountain gorillas — 460 of the 1,063 individuals remaining worldwide live in Bwindi (UNESCO 1994), a 25,000-year-old primary tropical forest. Approaching a family of 15-20 gorillas at 7 m and meeting the gaze of a 200-kg silverback is the most moving experience in African safari. Add Queen Elizabeth (Africa's only park with tree-climbing lions), Murchison Falls (the country's largest park, where the Nile rushes through a 7-m-wide gorge), Kibale with its 1,500 chimpanzees, the Nile source at Jinja and the Virunga volcanoes. A pure-nature destination, medium-high prices, unforgettable.
Highlights
- Gorilla trekking at UNESCO Bwindi (460 individuals)
- Queen Elizabeth: tree-climbing lions
- Murchison Falls: spectacular Nile gorge
- Nile source at Jinja (Lake Victoria)
- Chimpanzees at Kibale Forest
- Virunga volcanoes (Rwanda border)
Sample itineraries
Uganda + Rwanda gorilla intensive
Duration : 12 days
Route : Entebbe (1) → Bwindi Uganda (3 nights, 2 gorilla treks) → Rwanda Volcanoes National Park (3 nights, 2 gorilla treks) → Kigali (1) → return
Complete Uganda: 14 days
Duration : 14 days
Route : Entebbe (1) → Murchison (3) → Kibale (2) → Queen Elizabeth (3) → Bwindi (3) → Lake Bunyonyi (1, crater lake) → Jinja Nile source (1)
When to go
June-September and December-February are the best periods (dry seasons, more practicable gorilla trails, better wildlife observation). Avoid April-May and October-November (rainy seasons, very muddy jungle, more arduous gorilla treks, some lodges closed in 'emerging' season). Uganda is on equator — temperate climate year-round (15-30 °C average).
- Main dry season (June – September) — All parks open, easy gorilla trekking
- Secondary dry season (December – February) — Gorilla trekking, safari, popular period
- Short rains (not recommended) (October – November) — Migratory birds, animal births
- Long rains (not recommended) (April – May) — Very difficult gorilla trekking
Practical information
Safe in tourist areas (Kampala center, Entebbe, parks, lodges). Vigilance Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan borders (instability — Bwindi is at DRC border, but Ugandan side is totally secured). Avoid Karamoja (northeastern region, inter-ethnic conflicts). MANDATORY e-visa online before departure ($50 single, $100 East Africa Tourist Visa Uganda+Kenya+Rwanda — practical for combined). MANDATORY yellow fever vaccine (yellow card checked on arrival). ESSENTIAL antimalarial. Avoid tap water. Cards accepted in premium lodges and Kampala, cash (USD or UGX) elsewhere. English omnipresent (official language). Tipping: $15-$20/day for gorilla porters, $10/day for safari rangers, $5-$10/day for lodge staff (essential to their income).
Frequently asked questions
When?
June-September and December-February (dry seasons). Avoid April-May and October-November (rainy seasons, very muddy jungle).
How long?
10 days for gorillas + Queen Elizabeth + Murchison + Kibale. 12 days combined with Rwanda. 14 days for complete version.
Budget?
€5,800-€7,500 per person for 10 days in comfort, excluding flights. Premium: €9,500-€12,000. Flights: €1,100-€1,500. Gorilla permits $800/person included.
Visa?
MANDATORY e-visa online before departure ($50 single, $100 East Africa Tourist Visa Uganda+Kenya+Rwanda).
Gorilla trekking: level required?
Good walker (2-8-h walk in dense jungle, mountainous terrain 1,800-2,600 m, muddy ground). From age 15 (strict UWA limit). $800 permit to book 6-12 months in advance.
Family?
Gorilla trekking from age 15 (strict UWA). Before: 4×4 safari, Murchison boat safari, tree-climbing lions. Family lodges available.
How to get around?
Aerolink Cessna domestic flights RECOMMENDED for long distances (Bwindi, Murchison). Safari 4×4 with English-speaking ranger in parks.
Safety in Uganda?
Safe in tourist areas (Kampala center, Entebbe, parks, lodges). Vigilance DRC and South Sudan borders. Avoid Karamoja (northeastern region).
Combine?
Yes: Uganda + Rwanda (gorillas 2 countries, practical East Africa Tourist Visa), Uganda + Kenya (Masai Mara), Uganda + Tanzania (Serengeti, Kilimanjaro).
Tips?
Essential for gorilla porters ($15-$20/day, former poachers reconverted, major income source), rangers ($10/day), lodge staff ($5-$10/day).