How fit do I need to be for gorilla trekking?

A moderate level of fitness is enough. Treks last from one to six hours on steep, often muddy slopes at 1,500–2,600 m. You can hire a local porter to carry your bag and help on the trail, which also supports the community.

How do I get a gorilla permit?

Permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and are limited each day, so book several months ahead, especially for June to September. We reserve your permits as soon as you confirm your trip.

Is there a minimum age?

Gorilla trekking is open to visitors aged 15 and over. For chimpanzee tracking in Kibale the minimum age is 12.

When is the best time to visit Uganda?

Trekking runs all year. The drier months, June to September and December to February, have easier trails. The wetter months are quieter and greener, with good availability.

What should I wear for trekking?

Long sleeves and trousers, a waterproof jacket, sturdy broken-in walking boots, gaiters and a pair of gardening gloves for grabbing vegetation. Avoid bright colours and pack a small daypack with water and snacks.

Do I need a visa for Uganda?

Most visitors apply online for a Uganda eVisa before travelling. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda on a single visa. Check the official immigration website for current rules.

Which vaccinations do I need?

A yellow fever certificate is required for entry to Uganda. Malaria prevention is recommended. Visit a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you go.

Can I combine Uganda with Tanzania or Kenya?

Yes. Short flights connect Entebbe with Nairobi and Kilimanjaro, so it is easy to add gorilla trekking before or after a savanna safari in Tanzania or Kenya.

How fit do I need to be for gorilla trekking?

A moderate level of fitness is enough. Treks last from one to six hours on steep, often muddy slopes at 1,500–2,600 m. You can hire a local porter to carry your bag and help on the trail, which also supports the community.

How do I get a gorilla permit?

Permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and are limited each day, so book several months ahead, especially for June to September. We reserve your permits as soon as you confirm your trip.

Is there a minimum age?

Gorilla trekking is open to visitors aged 15 and over. For chimpanzee tracking in Kibale the minimum age is 12.

When is the best time to visit Uganda?

Trekking runs all year. The drier months, June to September and December to February, have easier trails. The wetter months are quieter and greener, with good availability.

What should I wear for trekking?

Long sleeves and trousers, a waterproof jacket, sturdy broken-in walking boots, gaiters and a pair of gardening gloves for grabbing vegetation. Avoid bright colours and pack a small daypack with water and snacks.

Do I need a visa for Uganda?

Most visitors apply online for a Uganda eVisa before travelling. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda on a single visa. Check the official immigration website for current rules.

Which vaccinations do I need?

A yellow fever certificate is required for entry to Uganda. Malaria prevention is recommended. Visit a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you go.

Can I combine Uganda with Tanzania or Kenya?

Yes. Short flights connect Entebbe with Nairobi and Kilimanjaro, so it is easy to add gorilla trekking before or after a savanna safari in Tanzania or Kenya.

Uganda Safari Guide: Gorillas & Chimps

Uganda safari guide

Winston Churchill called Uganda the Pearl of Africa, and it is easy to see why. Straddling the equator between the savannas of East Africa and the rainforests of the Congo basin, it is astonishingly green, with crater lakes, misty volcanoes and the source of the Nile. Uganda is best known for its primates. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, and an hour in the company of a habituated gorilla family is one of the most powerful wildlife experiences anywhere. Kibale Forest offers some of Africa’s best chimpanzee tracking, alongside a dozen other primate species. Classic savanna safaris are here too: Queen Elizabeth National Park has elephant, buffalo and its famous tree-climbing lions, while Murchison Falls sees the entire Nile squeeze through a gorge just a few metres wide. Gorilla permits are limited, so we recommend booking several months ahead.

Gorillas

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Home to roughly half of the world's mountain gorillas. Each habituated family receives one small group a day, for one hour. Treks last anything from two hours to most of a day, depending on where the family has moved.

Best for: Mountain gorillas
Permits: Limited; book 6 – 9 months ahead
Season: June – August, December – February

Bwindi guide

Primates

Kibale & Queen Elizabeth

Kibale has the highest density of primates in East Africa and is the best place in Uganda to track chimpanzees. Next door, Queen Elizabeth offers the Kazinga Channel boat cruise, chimps in Kyambura Gorge and the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha.

Best for: Chimpanzees, boat safaris
Season: June – September, December – February
Also: Kazinga Channel, Ishasha

Kibale guide

Big game

Murchison Falls & the Nile

Uganda's largest park, where the Nile forces its way through a gorge just seven metres wide. Take the boat to the foot of the falls, then game drive the northern bank for elephant, giraffe, buffalo and lion, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on the way.

Best for: Classic game drives, the Nile
Season: December – February, June – September
Getting there: Drive or fly from Entebbe

Murchison Falls guide

Remote

Kidepo Valley

In the far north-east, Kidepo is one of Africa's great untouched wildernesses, with huge buffalo herds, cheetah and almost no other visitors. It needs a flight and extra days, which is exactly its appeal.

Best for: Wilderness, solitude
Season: September – March
Getting there: Charter flight

Ask us about Kidepo

Uganda