Travel to Uganda and you will find mountain gorillas, wild chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions and the source of the River Nile in a country smaller than the UK. Uganda is green, friendly and English-speaking, and it packs more variety into one trip than almost anywhere in Africa.
We are a Ugandan safari company based in Kampala, and we have welcomed first-time visitors since 2014. This guide answers the practical questions people ask before they travel to Uganda: how to get here, which visa you need, how to stay healthy and safe, what things cost, and what is new in Uganda right now.
Travel to Uganda at a Glance
Here are the key facts to know before you travel to Uganda. Each one is explained in more detail further down this guide.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Main airport | Entebbe International Airport (EBB), about 40 km from Kampala |
| Visa | Apply online before you fly. Single entry tourist eVisa US$50; East Africa Tourist Visa US$100 |
| Health | Yellow fever certificate required. Malaria precautions advised |
| Currency | Uganda shilling (UGX). US dollars widely used for safaris and park fees |
| Language | English is official and widely spoken; Luganda and Swahili are common |
| Time zone | East Africa Time, UTC+3, with no daylight saving |
| Electricity | 240 volts, UK-style three-pin plugs (type G) |
| Driving | On the left |
| Best time | June to September and December to February (drier months) |
Why Travel to Uganda?
Uganda is home to around half of the world's mountain gorillas, which live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Few places on earth let you trek gorillas in the morning and still see lions, elephants and hippos on the same trip.
The country also has some of the best chimpanzee trekking in Africa, more than 1,000 bird species including the shoebill, the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, and Murchison Falls, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge. Add Lake Victoria, the crater lakes around Fort Portal and the welcome you get in every village, and it is easy to see why people who travel to Uganda once often come back.
For ideas on where to go, read our guides to the top tourist attractions in Uganda and the best things to do in Uganda.
How to Get There When You Travel to Uganda
Almost every international visitor flies into Entebbe International Airport on the shores of Lake Victoria. There are no direct flights from the Americas or Australia yet, so most travellers connect through a hub in the Middle East, Europe or Africa.
- Via the Middle East: Emirates through Dubai, Qatar Airways through Doha, and flydubai.
- Via Europe: KLM through Amsterdam, Brussels Airlines through Brussels, Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, and Uganda Airlines direct from London Gatwick.
- Via Africa: Ethiopian Airlines through Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways through Nairobi, RwandAir through Kigali, and EgyptAir through Cairo.
- Uganda Airlines: the national carrier flies direct to Entebbe from cities including London, Dubai, Mumbai, Johannesburg and Lagos. It launched Accra in October 2026 and daily Kigali flights from 18 November 2026.
You can also travel to Uganda overland from Kenya, Rwanda or Tanzania. We regularly pick up guests at Uganda's border points, run the safari, then drop them back at the border or at Entebbe Airport for their flight home.
Visa Requirements to Travel to Uganda
Most visitors need a visa to travel to Uganda, and there is no reliable visa on arrival, so apply online before you fly. At the time of writing, these are the main options:
- Single entry tourist eVisa: US$50, valid for up to 90 days.
- East Africa Tourist Visa: US$100, covering Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda for 90 days with multiple entries between them. Ideal if you plan to see gorillas in Uganda and the Masai Mara in Kenya.
- East African citizens: do not need a visa.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months with blank pages, and you must carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Apply at least two weeks ahead, because approval can take several working days.
Always confirm current fees on the official Uganda immigration portal. Our guide to Uganda visa requirements walks you through the application step by step.
Health and Vaccinations Before You Travel to Uganda
Speak to a travel clinic about six to eight weeks before you travel to Uganda. The essentials are:
- Yellow fever: vaccination is required for entry, and you must show the certificate.
- Malaria: present in most of the country. Ask your doctor about antimalarial tablets, use insect repellent and sleep under a net where one is provided.
- Routine vaccines: your clinic may also recommend hepatitis A, typhoid and others.
- Water: drink bottled or filtered water. Lodges and our safari vehicles carry drinking water.
- Insurance: take travel insurance that includes medical evacuation, especially for gorilla trekking in remote forest.
Ebola update: Uganda's Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization declared the 2026 Ebola outbreak over on 28 July 2026, after 42 days with no new cases. Neighbouring DR Congo is still dealing with cases, so health screening remains in place at Uganda's borders.
Is It Safe to Travel to Uganda?
Most people who travel to Uganda on an organised safari have a trouble-free trip. The national parks are well protected by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, gorilla and chimpanzee treks are led by armed rangers, and Ugandans are known for their warmth towards visitors.
Like anywhere, sensible precautions apply. Keep valuables out of sight in Kampala, avoid walking alone after dark, use a trusted driver rather than hailing motorbike taxis, and stay away from political gatherings or protests.
Government travel advice varies by country and changes often. Some governments currently advise against travel or urge a high degree of caution, while others have recently eased their advice. The UK, for example, lifted its warning against travel to Queen Elizabeth and Semuliki National Parks in December 2025. Read your own government's latest advice before you book, including its notes on local laws, and make sure your travel insurance covers your trip.
Our guide to whether Uganda is safe for a safari covers each park and region in more detail.
Planning to travel to Uganda?
Ask us anything about visas, health, safety or routes. A member of our Kampala team will reply personally, usually within a few hours.
What Is New When You Travel to Uganda
Uganda has added several new attractions and upgrades over the past year. If you travel to Uganda now, these are worth adding to your plans.
Rhinos Return to the Wild
Rhinos disappeared from Uganda's wild areas in the early 1980s. They are now coming back. In January 2026, four southern white rhinos from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary were unveiled in Ajai Wildlife Reserve in the West Nile region, the first in the area for more than 45 years. In March 2026, rhinos were also moved into Kidepo Valley National Park.
By December 2025, Uganda's rhino population had grown to 59. Read more in our guide to rhinos in Uganda, and check with us on visitor access, since the new herds are still settling in.
An Upgraded Source of the Nile in Jinja
The Source of the Nile in Jinja is being redeveloped into a full visitor complex. The first phase, nearly complete in early 2026, adds a new pier, a restaurant, a viewing deck and a glass bridge. Jinja is also Uganda's adventure capital, with rafting, kayaking and quad biking. See our guide to things to do in Jinja.
UWEC Mbale Zoo in Eastern Uganda
On 12 June 2026, the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre opened its first regional zoo in Mbale, near the Mbale to Tororo highway. Lions, zebras, waterbuck and ostriches were moved from the Entebbe centre. It makes an easy stop on the way to Sipi Falls and Mount Elgon.
Mugaba Palace in Ankole
The former palace of the Omugabe, king of Ankole, reopened in March 2026 after a renovation of more than Shs7 billion. Visitors can see heritage displays, photographs and the palace architecture, and learn about the famous long-horned Ankole cattle. It sits on the route to Lake Mburo, Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Kampala Hop On, Hop Off Buses
In April 2026, the Uganda Tourism Board launched sightseeing buses in Kampala, linked to its list of the city's wonders: the Gaddafi Mosque, the Uganda Museum, the Kasubi Tombs, Makerere University, the Bahá'í Temple, the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, the Kabaka's Lake and the Lubiri Palace. Prefer a private guide? Our Kampala city tour covers the highlights at your own pace.
New Lodges, Hotels and Flights
Kulu Ora, a new luxury lodge with plunge pools and a spa above the Nile, opened in Murchison Falls National Park in early 2026, and the Kampala Marriott Hotel is now open. Construction has begun on an international airport for Kidepo, which will one day make Uganda's most remote park far easier to reach.
Getting Around Uganda
Once you travel to Uganda, the easiest way to get around is in a private safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide. Roads have improved a lot, but distances are long and some park roads are rough, so a 4x4 with a pop-up roof for game viewing makes a real difference.
- Kampala to Murchison Falls: about 5 to 6 hours.
- Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park: about 6 to 7 hours.
- Kampala to Bwindi: about 8 to 10 hours.
- Kampala to Lake Mburo: about 3 to 4 hours.
If time is short, scheduled domestic flights connect Entebbe with airstrips near Bwindi, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo. A fly-in gorilla safari turns a two-day drive into a one-hour flight. We do not recommend motorbike taxis (boda bodas) for visitors, and self-driving is best left to experienced Africa travellers.
Money, Costs and Tipping in Uganda
The local currency is the Uganda shilling (UGX), but US dollars are widely used for park fees, permits and lodges. Before you travel to Uganda, get clean, newer US dollar notes, because older or torn notes are often refused. ATMs are easy to find in Kampala, Entebbe and larger towns, cards work in bigger hotels (often with a surcharge), and mobile money is everywhere.
How much you spend depends on your style. Some typical costs to plan for:
- Gorilla trekking permit: US$800 per person (US$600 in April, May and November).
- Chimpanzee permit in Kibale: US$250 per person.
- Guided budget safaris: from about US$150 per person per day with Tulambule, including vehicle, guide and simple lodges.
- Tipping: appreciated but not compulsory. Many travellers tip their driver-guide, ranger guides, porters and lodge staff at the end of the trip.
See our budget Uganda safaris and Uganda luxury safaris, and our guide to gorilla trekking permits in Uganda for the full permit rules.
Best Time to Travel to Uganda
Uganda sits on the equator, so it is warm all year and you can travel to Uganda in any month. The drier seasons from June to September and December to February are the most popular, with easier roads and gorilla trails and the best game viewing.
The rainy months of March to May and October to November bring lush green scenery, fewer visitors, lower gorilla permit prices in April, May and November, and great birding. Rain usually comes in short, heavy showers rather than all day. Our guide to the best time to visit Uganda breaks it down month by month.
Local Culture and Travel Etiquette
When you travel to Uganda, you will find people warm and polite, and greetings matter. Take a moment to say hello and ask how someone is before getting to business. "Oli otya?" (how are you?) in Luganda always earns a smile around Kampala.
- Photography: always ask before photographing people, and never photograph soldiers, police or government buildings.
- Dress: casual clothes are fine, but cover shoulders and knees in villages and places of worship.
- Phone and internet: local SIM cards from MTN and Airtel are cheap and need your passport to register. Most lodges have Wi-Fi in the main area.
- Plastic bags: carry a reusable bag, as many shops limit thin plastic bags.
What to Pack for Your Trip
Pack light, layered clothing in neutral colours, a warm fleece for cool mornings in the highlands, and a rain jacket in any season. For gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, add sturdy waterproof hiking boots, long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and gardening gloves for gripping vines.
Do not forget binoculars, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent, a power bank and a UK-style plug adapter. Most airstrips limit soft-sided luggage to around 15 kg on domestic flights, so check before you travel to Uganda with a large suitcase.
Book Your Uganda Safari
Ready to travel to Uganda? Every one of these safaris starts and ends at Entebbe or Kampala and can be adjusted to your dates, budget and pace.
Continue Planning Your Trip
You now know what to expect when you travel to Uganda. The next step is choosing a route and securing your gorilla permit before your dates sell out.
Let us plan your trip to Uganda
Tell us your travel dates, interests and budget. We will design your route, book your permits and send you a free, tailor-made quote.
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