Uganda Travel Information
Everything you need to know before your safari — entry requirements, gorilla permits, health essentials, and on-the-ground logistics for one of East Africa's most extraordinary destinations.
Quick Snapshot
Best Time to Visit
- June–September — long dry season
- December–February — short dry season
Currency
- Ugandan Shilling (UGX) for day-to-day
- USD for gorilla permits, lodges, and park fees
Main Airport
- Entebbe International Airport (EBB)
- ~40km south of Kampala on Lake Victoria
Visa
- eVisa — apply before travel at immigration.go.ug
- EATV — USD 100 covers Kenya, Uganda & Rwanda for 90 days
Safari Highlight
- Mountain gorilla trekking — Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- ~half the world's remaining mountain gorilla population
Entry Requirements
Yellow Fever — Mandatory: Uganda requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for all entrants. Carry your International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow booklet) to immigration. No certificate, no entry.
Uganda eVisa
- immigration.go.ug
- Apply before departure — required for most nationalities
- Passport validity: minimum 6 months from arrival
East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV)
- USD 100 — covers Kenya, Uganda & Rwanda for 90 days
- Apply through the first country you enter
- Tanzania is not part of this scheme
Via Kenya
evisa.go.keVia Uganda
immigration.go.ugEAC Citizens
- Visa-free between Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda
- Travel on national ID — passport not required
Gorilla Trekking Health Rule
- Free of all communicable illness — colds, flu, active cough, diarrhoea
- Visibly ill trekkers are turned away — permit fee is non-refundable
Health & Safety
Vaccinations
- Yellow fever: Mandatory — carry your yellow booklet
- Malaria: Present across Uganda. Antimalarials and DEET essential
- Hepatitis A & B, typhoid: Strongly recommended
- Rabies: Discuss with your travel clinic for extended wildlife contact
Gorilla Trekking Protocol
- 48-hour illness rule — any communicable symptoms means no trek
- Protects endangered animals from human-transmitted disease
- Plan your health in the days before your trek date
Water
- Bottled water only throughout Uganda
- All lodges provide safe drinking water
Travel Insurance
- Essential — remote areas are far from major hospitals
- Emergency evacuation cover is mandatory, not optional
- Ensure your policy explicitly covers gorilla trekking
Best Time to Visit
December – February
- Short dry season — clear skies, firm trails
- Excellent gorilla and chimp trekking conditions
- Murchison Falls boat cruise optimal
March – May
- Long rains — Bwindi trails slippery and steep
- Gorilla trekking still fully operational
- Superb birdwatching, fewer tourists, lower rates
June – September ★ Peak Season
- Long dry season — best overall conditions
- Optimal for gorilla trekking, game drives, and chimp tracking
- Queen Elizabeth and Murchison wildlife at peak
October – November
- Short rains — variable conditions
- Good birdwatching; transition period
- Manageable for experienced travellers
Gorilla trekking operates year-round. Dry seasons make Bwindi's terrain significantly more manageable — the forest is steep and dense at the best of times. Wet season trails demand more effort and better boots.
Getting There & Around
International Gateway
Entebbe International Airport (EBB) — 40km south of Kampala on the shores of Lake Victoria. Uganda's sole major international gateway.
Airlines
- Uganda Airlines — London Gatwick direct, Dubai, Guangzhou, Mumbai, and regional routes
- Emirates — Dubai–Entebbe direct
- Qatar Airways — Doha–Entebbe
- Ethiopian Airlines — Addis hub, connections from Europe, Asia, and the Americas
- Kenya Airways — Nairobi–Entebbe (45 minutes)
Getting Around
- Kampala to Bwindi: 8–9 hours by road. Charter flights cut this to 45–90 minutes
- Kampala to Queen Elizabeth: ~5–6 hours by road
- Kampala to Murchison Falls: ~4–5 hours north
- Cross-border coaches: Kampala–Nairobi (8–12 hrs), Kampala–Kigali (8–10 hrs)
- Charter flights: 15kg soft bag only
Safari Experience
Mountain Gorilla Trekking — Bwindi
- Four sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo
- Treks depart 08:00 — one guaranteed hour with the gorilla family
- Maximum 8 trekkers per family per day — non-negotiable UWA policy
- Book permits — ugandawildlife.org
- USD 700–800 per person. Book months in advance — they sell out
Chimpanzee Trekking — Kibale Forest
- World's best destination for chimpanzee trekking
- More reliable sightings, shorter treks than Bwindi
- Natural complement to a gorilla itinerary
- Permit: USD 150–200 per person
Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Tree-climbing lions — Ishasha sector
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise — one of Uganda's best two-hour experiences
- Elephants, buffalo, and Uganda kob on the savanna
Murchison Falls National Park
- The Nile squeezes through a 7-metre gap and drops 43 metres — most powerful waterfall on earth by sheer force
- Boat cruise to the base, then hike to the top
- Strong elephant and buffalo populations; Rothschild's giraffe
Accommodation
Bwindi
- Budget bandas to high-end forest lodges
- Top properties: Buhoma Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs
- High-end lodges often manage gorilla permit procurement directly — a significant advantage
Queen Elizabeth & Murchison
- Standard safari lodge accommodation — full board, game drive and boat cruise access
- Fewer ultra-luxury properties than Kenya or Tanzania, but solid quality throughout
Power & Wi-Fi
- Solar and generator power standard — reliable for charging
- Wi-Fi rare in Bwindi and Kibale — plan for a digital detox
Meals
- Full board standard at all remote lodges
- No outside dining options in the bush — everything is included
Packing Guide
Gorilla Trekking — Specific Gear
- Long-sleeved shirt and long trousers — mandatory
- Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support — non-negotiable
- Garden gloves — for grabbing vegetation on steep ascents
- Gaiters — especially useful in wet season or after rain
- Walking pole or stick — provided at the park gate or bring your own
- Small daypack — water, camera, rain jacket, snacks
General Safari
- Neutral tones — khaki, olive, green. Forest areas are cooler than expected at altitude
- Layers — altitude makes evenings cold
- Waterproof rain jacket — Uganda receives significant rainfall even in dry season
- Waterproof bags for camera and electronics
- Soft bag, 15kg max — for charter flights. Hard suitcase stays in Kampala
Money & Tipping
Currency & Cards
- UGX for day-to-day; USD for gorilla permits, lodges, and park fees
- Bring clean USD bills — old or damaged notes may be refused
- Cards accepted in Kampala. Limited to unavailable in safari areas
- Draw cash at Kampala ATMs before leaving the city
Tipping Guide (Per Day)
- Safari guide: USD 15–20 per day
- UWA ranger (gorilla trek): USD 20–30 per trek
- Gorilla porter: USD 15–20 per trek — strongly recommended
- Chimpanzee guide: USD 10–15
- Lodge staff: USD 5–10 per guest per day
Tipping your gorilla porter is not just generous — it's part of how Uganda's community conservation model works. These jobs exist because tourism exists.
Connectivity
SIM Card
- MTN Uganda or Airtel Uganda — buy at Entebbe airport on arrival
- MTN has better rural coverage outside Kampala
- Good 4G in Kampala and along main highway routes
In the Bush
- Bwindi and Kibale: very limited to zero data in forest areas
- Some lodges have satellite Wi-Fi — assume you'll be offline
- Download Google Maps for Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison before leaving Kampala
- Save all lodge and emergency contacts offline before departure
Cultural Etiquette
General Etiquette
- Dress: Conservative — shoulders and knees covered in towns and villages
- Greeting: "Oli otya" (Luganda) or "Habari" (Swahili) — handshake is standard
- Photography: Ask permission before photographing people or their homes
Gorilla Etiquette — Strictly Enforced
- Minimum 7-metre distance from gorillas at all times
- No flash photography
- No eating or drinking in view of the gorillas
- Whispered voices only
- If a gorilla charges — crouch low, look away, do not run
- If you feel ill on trek morning, tell your ranger immediately
Park Rules & Sustainability
- 75% of gorilla permit revenue goes to park management and Bwindi communities
- 8 trekkers per gorilla family per day — protects gorillas from disease and stress
- Stay on designated trails — Bwindi is genuinely impenetrable off-trail
- Do not approach, feed, or touch any wildlife outside the gorilla visit
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gorilla trekking guaranteed?
Finding the gorillas is guaranteed — UWA rangers track each habituated family daily, and groups are always found. The one-hour visit is guaranteed once located. What isn't guaranteed is how long or hard the trek is to reach them. That depends on where they've moved, and they move a lot.
Do I need to be physically fit?
Yes. Bwindi involves steep, wet, dense terrain — genuine mountain forest hiking. You don't need to be an athlete, but people who struggle on long uphill walks will find parts of Bwindi difficult. If fitness is a concern, choose the Buhoma sector and hire a porter. The effort is worth it.
Is Uganda safe for tourists?
Uganda's main safari and tourist areas — Bwindi, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Entebbe, and Kampala — are safe for tourists. Check current government advisories for areas near the DRC border (western parks) and the South Sudan border (north). Standard urban precautions apply in Kampala.
Can I combine Uganda with Rwanda for gorillas?
Absolutely. Bwindi (Uganda) and Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) are a natural pair — both mountain gorilla destinations, separated by the Virunga range. A combined itinerary gives you two different gorilla experiences and two countries. The Katuna/Gatuna border crossing is well-established for tourist travel.
What's the minimum stay for Uganda?
Four to five days for Bwindi gorillas alone. Add two to three days for Queen Elizabeth or Kibale chimps for a properly rounded trip. Seven days gives you Uganda at its best without rushing.