Uganda Safaris at a Glance

In short, Uganda rewards travellers who care about encounters more than ticking off the Big Five, and who are willing to spend time on the road between very different places.

Should You Go on a Uganda Safari?

If your picture of safari is the vast open plains of Kenya’s Masai Mara or Tanzania’s Serengeti, Uganda will surprise you. The parks are smaller, greener and less crowded, and the experience is more varied. A single week can include a forest walk to sit with gorillas, a boat trip beneath hippos and elephants and a game drive across grassland dotted with kob. The rewards are intimate rather than panoramic, and the roads between parks are part of the journey.

Uganda suits primate lovers, birders, hikers, photographers and anyone who wants a safari that feels less packaged. It is a strong choice if gorillas are on your list, since a Uganda permit costs far less than the equivalent in Rwanda. It is a weaker fit for travellers who want the sweep of open savannah every day, who dislike long drives or who need the migration, which Uganda does not have. Be honest about those trade-offs before you commit.

Why Travellers Choose Uganda

None of these needs a long list of other attractions to justify the trip. A good gorilla trek and a good guide are enough.

• Gorillas: trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, at about US$800 a permit.
• Chimpanzees: tracking at Kibale, which holds the largest number of chimpanzees in the country, plus Kyambura Gorge and Budongo.
• Variety: tropical forest, savannah, crater lakes, wetlands, volcanoes and glaciated mountains within one country.
• Birdlife: more than 1,000 species recorded, with Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo among the strongest areas.
• Value at the primate end: gorilla and chimpanzee permits cost less than in Rwanda.
• Fewer crowds: most parks see far fewer vehicles than the busiest parks in Kenya or Tanzania.

Where to Go:

Most trips combine four or five of these. The most useful question is not which parks to see but which combination fits your time, budget and tolerance for driving.

What to Do: The Main Safari Activities

Do not try to do everything. Pick two or three headline activities, and let the rest of the trip fill in around them.

What It Costs: Permits and Park Fees

Permits for Bwindi, Mgahinga and Kibale include the park entry fee for the day, according to one guide, but not porters, tips or transport. Since February 2026, permits are secured only for clients who have paid at the time of booking, and the Authority also announced rhino tracking and golden cat tracking, though without prices in the guides reviewed. Always confirm the current figure with your operator and the Authority before you pay. Our separate guides to Uganda’s national parks and to Bugoma Forest explain the details.

When to Go

Parks can be visited all year, but forest trails are slippery in the rains and some roads become difficult. The rainy seasons also bring lush scenery and lower prices. Gorilla trekking is possible in every month, and the dry months simply make the walking easier.

Where to Stay and How to Get Around

Budget, mid-range and luxury lodges all exist around the main parks. Our separate guides to lodges near each park explain how to compare them.

• Choose lodging by region and by the gate or sector of your activity. Bwindi has several sectors, and long drives separate them.
• Around Queen Elizabeth, decide between the Kazinga Channel, the crater lakes and the Ishasha sector for the tree-climbing lions.
• Near Murchison Falls, pick the north or south bank of the Nile according to how you will enter the park and whether you plan a boat trip.
• In Kibale, stay close to the forest edge for early chimpanzee tracking.
• Roads between regions are long, so a full day for each major transfer is realistic, and light aircraft are worth considering for the far north.
• Hire a licensed operator with a driver-guide, and ask for the vehicle type and passenger numbers in writing.

Sample Itineraries

Combining the west with the north in a single short trip is usually a mistake, since the driving eats the days. Choose a region, and save the other for a second visit.