Uganda Wildlife Safari: Travel Guide and Trip Notes
- Jeff Stivers
- Dec 29, 2025
- 7 min read
I recently returned from a scouting trip to Uganda in order to gain firsthand perspective on the best combination of wildlife, culture and safari and camps available in the country. This boots-on-the-ground research is essential to design trips with accuracy and intention, matching our point of view with your trip objectives and expectations. By exploring destinations directly, we ensure that our travelers stay one step ahead and experience emerging wild places like Uganda at their very best.
Sample Itinerary: Uganda Wildlife Adventure
Land of Primates and So Much More
Known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is a lush, fertile safari destination filled with towering forests, crater lakes, vibrant flowers and some of the best birding in the world. It is also one of the very best places to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the wild. Experiencing gorilla trekking in Uganda had been on my bucket list since I first visited East Africa nearly twenty years ago, and the experience exceeded my long-held expectations.
What surprised me most was how diverse and captivating a Uganda safari experience can be, beyond just the gorillas. Uganda’s national parks and developing wildlife reserves are as beautiful as anything you will find in Africa’s more famous safari regions. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, classic wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, dramatic waterfalls and exceptional birding along the Nile River and across the crater lake systems all come with remarkably low visitor pressure. Compared to neighboring safari destinations like Kenya and Tanzania, where vehicle congestion can sometimes overshadow the wildlife spectacle, Uganda feels refreshingly uncrowded and offers incredible value for travelers seeking something deeper, rawer and distinctly East African.
Following in the footsteps of Botswana and, more recently, Rwanda, Uganda is beginning to shift from a traditionally mid-market safari destination toward a more refined and exclusive travel experience. Lodge refurbishments in Bwindi, including the newly reimagined Gorilla Forest Lodge and Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, are excellent examples, with pricing and service levels now competing with some of the best lodges in Africa.
Of even greater interest to me, however, is the conservation work being led by Wildplaces. Their efforts focus on rehabilitating under-protected areas within national parks while also pioneering tourism in truly remote regions such as Semliki, home to terrestrial chimpanzees, and Kidepo Valley, which feels like an undisturbed Serengeti-style ecosystem. After everything I learned on this trip, both destinations have firmly earned a place at the top of my list for my next Uganda scouting journey.
What Hooked Me
For me, Uganda is a beautiful collision of nostalgia and discovery. I kept thinking back to my undergraduate days in the Usambara Mountains of northern Tanzania, where furry green slopes invite you to explore and quiet villages hum softly through the mist. Due to it's location on the equator, Uganda has that same eternal spring feeling, except here the forests are home to two species I’ve admired for years and, if I’m honest, always felt a little intimidated to encounter: mountain gorillas and wild chimpanzees.
Standing just a few meters away from the gorillas in their natural habitat was electrifying. With just a wingspan of separation, looking into the eyes of a dominate silverback was intimate and more emotional than anything I expected. Two "kids" were bumbling about, laughing and rolling down the slopes reminding me of my own two young sons at home. Their behavior was so familiar, "human" and utterly enthralling.
Additionally, the Rift Valley lake system was an unexpected highlight as well. Beyond its dramatic geology, these lakes support some of the most colorful birdlife I’ve seen anywhere in Africa. I liked birding before. Now, I love it.
Wildlife Expectations in Uganda
As one of the top birding destinations on the planet, Uganda has over 1,070 species, including the rare shoebill - named for it's massive beak that extends like a giant shoe from it's face. Big game such as lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, hippo and buffalo are present, though in smaller numbers than destinations like Tanzania. Conservation programs are expanding and reintroducing species, so sightings continue to improve every year.
Travelers should view Uganda as:
The best country for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee safaris
A world-class birding destination
A wildlife experience where classic safari species can still be seen without crowds
The Path Less Traveled: What You Should Know
To put it bluntly, Uganda’s safari roads are rugged. Much of the network is unpaved and extremely bumpy, so a reinforced 4x4 and an expert safari operator are essential for getting around Uganda. Thankfully, air access between regions is improving and we can now arrange internal flights - both charters and regular commercial routes - to maximize comfort and minimize driving time over longer distances. With the right planning and vehicles, the roads, when inevitable, become a small trade-off for a wilderness experience that still feels raw and untouched.
Key Safari Regions That I Visited in Uganda
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest national park and one of its most dramatic safari locations, where the Nile River thunders through a narrow gorge before widening into a wildlife-filled basin. Travelers can enjoy boat safaris along the Nile, classic game drives and the chance to see giraffe, elephant, buffalo, hippo and a growing population of lion.
Favorite Lodging: Nile Safari Lodge, Papa’s Camp
Exciting Developments: Papa’s Camp, along with the soon-to-open Kulu Ora Lodge, has created a private conservation zone with a pride of more than twenty lions. The landscape resembles a mini Serengeti and offers a level of privacy rarely found in East Africa. This community and conservation-driven model has been a major success in countries like Kenya and Botswana, and it represents a promising step forward for wildlife preservation in Uganda.
Kibale National Park
Kibale is the best place in the world for chimpanzee trekking and home to one of Africa’s highest concentrations of primates. The forests are thick, humid and alive with birds, butterflies, playful monkeys and fast-moving chimpanzees. Trekking here is exhilarating and gives travelers an intimate look into complex primate behavior.
Favorite Lodging: Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge
Exciting Developments: Uganda Wildlife Authority is expanding the protected forest surrounding Kibale and increasing long-term chimpanzee habituation programs. Trekking groups are smaller than they once were, improving the experience and supporting conservation. Uganda is investing heavily in making Kibale a world leader for primate tourism.
Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kyambura Gorge
Queen Elizabeth National Park combines classic savannah safari with crater lakes, woodlands and the shores of Lake Edward. Travelers can explore the Kazinga Channel by boat, view grazing hippos and buffalo and search for rare tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. Nearby Kyambura Gorge is known for its dramatic forested chasm where chimpanzees live along the riverbanks.
Favorite Lodging: The River Lodge, Honey Bear
Exciting Developments: Conservation partnerships are helping rebuild wildlife corridors and reduce poaching. Over the past decade, sightings of elephant, lion and buffalo have steadily improved. Queen Elizabeth is regaining its reputation as one of East Africa’s most diverse safari parks. However, it’s important to know that if you want to maximize your viewing chances, securing a tracking permit in advance is a must.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest spread across steep emerald mountains and home to over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking here can involve steep slopes and thick vegetation, but the reward is unlike anything else in safari travel. Watching a gorilla family in their natural habitat is unforgettable and deeply emotional. With 98% shared DNA with humans, it’s impossible not to feel a connection. It’s also a massive areas with 4 different sectors in which treks are operated. Aligning the right permit with the right lodge is half the battle.
Favorite Lodging: Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Lodge, Chameleon Hill
Exciting Developments: Uganda offers a Gorilla Habituation Experience in the Rushaga sector that allows travelers two full hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family. Standard treks allow one hour, so this upgrade is ideal for photographers and travelers seeking more time with the gorillas. It is more expensive, but if you only trek once, doubling your time for that day is worth considering.
Basic FAQs About Travel to Uganda
Is gorilla trekking harder in Uganda? No. Trekking difficulty depends on where the gorillas are located that day. Expect steep sections, thick vegetation and off-trail hiking in both Uganda and Rwanda. The reward is equally incredible.
How much does it cost? Permits for Gorilla trekking in Uganda cost $800 per person per trek (as of this writing), and $1500 in Rwanda. Uganda is best for a longer safari, as it has so much to offer. You should plan on at least 10 days and $10,000 per person for a comprehensive safari. If you're interested in just Gorilla Trekking, then it's easier to fly in/out of Rwanda for a short trekking extension paired with a safari in Tanzania or Kenya.
When is the best time to visit Uganda for safari? Uganda’s traditional dry seasons run from June to early October and late December to February. These months generally offer easier trekking and game drives. Weather patterns in East Africa have become less predictable, so it is common to experience light rain in the dry season and clear weather in the wet season. Uganda is a year-round destination with the right gear.
Who is Uganda best for? Uganda is ideal for travelers who love wildlife and want a deeper, less crowded, more personal safari experience. It is especially rewarding for travelers who have been on safari before, though adventurous first-timers also love it.
Did I feel safe? Yes. You will spend most of your time with trained guides and communities who directly benefit from conservation and tourism. I felt completely safe throughout my trip.
What about bugs and disease? Travelers should take standard precautions such as antimalarial medication, proper hygiene and filtered water. Safari experiences focus on protected wilderness areas, and the risk of encountering diseases like Mpox or Ebola is extremely low.
Is a Safari in Uganda Worth It?
If you want to experience what Kenya and Tanzania felt like twenty years ago, visit Uganda. It is raw, intimate, authentic and filled with potential for travelers who love nature and adventure. As mentioned previously in this article, the game is not as abundant as in other locations. But the birding, primates and landscapes are definitely worth it.
I’ve created a sample trip for Uganda you can review however, since each trip we plan is custom built around your personal travel interests, I encourage you to Contact Us to plan your Uganda trip.
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