The Pearl of Africa
Uganda safaris
Rainforest, savanna, crater lakes and the source of the Nile, packed into a country the size of the UK. Uganda is where Godwin grew up and has guided for twenty years.
Why visit Uganda?
Uganda is home to around half of the world’s mountain gorillas, and its gorilla permit costs a little over half the price of Rwanda’s. Few countries let you track gorillas and chimpanzees, cruise past hippos and elephants on the Kazinga Channel and watch lions resting in fig trees, all in a single trip.
Distances are longer than in Rwanda and some roads are rough, but that is part of the adventure. Every day on the road passes through tea estates, banana plantations, busy market towns and some of the greenest landscapes in Africa.
Uganda at a glance
- Main airport
- Entebbe International (EBB)
- Gorilla permit
- $800 ($600 in April, May and November)
- Visa
- eVisa before travel ($50), or the East Africa Tourist Visa
- Best time
- June to September and December to February
- Currency
- Ugandan shilling; US dollars widely accepted
- Languages
- English and Swahili, plus many local languages
National parks in Uganda
Select a park to see its wildlife, best season and what a visit involves.
Uganda safari itineraries
See all safaris
Where you’ll stay
All partner lodges
Should I choose Uganda or Rwanda for my safari?
Both countries offer mountain gorilla trekking, but they suit different trips. Rwanda is compact and polished: Volcanoes National Park is about two and a half hours from Kigali airport, so a gorilla trek fits into two or three days. Uganda is bigger and more varied, with chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions, the Nile at Murchison Falls and a gorilla permit that costs $800 against Rwanda's $1,500. Many guests combine the two.
Read our Uganda vs Rwanda guideHow much is a gorilla permit?
As of October 2026, a gorilla trekking permit costs $800 in Uganda ($600 in April, May and November) and $1,500 in Rwanda. Each permit covers one person for one trek, including the hour with the gorillas, park entry and the ranger guides. We book permits for you directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority or the Rwanda Development Board.
Do I need a visa for Uganda and Rwanda?
Most visitors need a visa for Uganda, applied for online before travel, as Uganda no longer issues visas on arrival. Rwanda issues visas on arrival to all nationalities, and citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie countries can visit Rwanda without a visa for up to 30 days. If you are visiting both, the East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya on one visa.
Read our visa and entry guideWhere is the best place to see chimpanzees?
Kibale National Park in Uganda has the highest density of primates in Africa and the most reliable chimpanzee tracking in the region. Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda offers chimpanzee trekking on steeper terrain, plus the canopy walkway and large troops of colobus monkeys. A Kibale permit is $300 and a Nyungwe permit is $150.
Plan your Uganda safari
Tell us your dates and what you would love to see, and Godwin will put together a route, lodges and a quote for you.