Uganda Holidays

Mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and monkeys are some of the main reasons to visit Uganda, but there’s a lot more to do once you arrive. Stay in Kampala to browse markets and rub shoulders with locals, relax in Uganda’s National Botanical Gardens in Entebbe, or stretch out on the beaches of Lake Victoria and the Ssese Islands. Find the source of the Nile and ride white water rapids in Jinja town. See the world’s most powerful waterfall at Murchison Falls.

Spot hippos and crocodiles alongside leopards, elephants, giraffes, buffalo and tree-climbing lions in the many landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Stand on the equator with one foot in each hemisphere. Visit a rhino sanctuary, discover flamingo-filled salt lakes, or take a cultural tour of a traditional village. Whether you travel the whole country or settle in just one location, there’s something new to enjoy every day in Uganda.

Uganda’s southwestern corner is one of the best primate-spotting destinations on Earth and home to half the planet’s mountain gorilla population. Begin your experience in the wetland forests of Kibale National Park to watch troops of wild chimpanzees among Uganda mangabeys, red colobus, and rare L'Hoest's monkeys. Drive south to grassland savannas and crater lakes of Queen Elizabeth National Park where chimps compete for branch space with not just monkeys, but tree-climbing lions.

Finally, make your way into the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and track mountain gorillas in one of their only remaining habitats. Let our Travel Specialists guide you to the right tour. Only eight daily permits are issued for each gorilla family, so planning and booking in advance is essential for this incredible wildlife adventure.

Uganda might be landlocked, but you can still go to the beach. Both the capital of Kampala and the airport city of Entebbe sit on the banks of Africa’s largest lake. Between hundreds of miles of coastline and the Ssese Islands archipelago near its western shore, Lake Victoria is a playground filled with beautiful beaches, watersports, and some of the country’s most incredible sunrise and sunset spots.

Take a break from primate tracking and game drives to stay beside the sand in a luxury lake resort or island lodge. Lake Victoria is also the source of the world’s longest river, the Nile, and you can see the underground spring bubbling through the water at the shoreline town of Jinja. While you’re there, try whitewater rafting and kayaking on the famous river, or go for a quad bike tour through the countryside beside it.

Consistent temperature of 24°C to 30°C and wildlife that does not migrate makes Uganda an excellent all-year destination. Gorilla trekking can also be enjoyed at any time but the experience is different in the dry months than in those with higher rainfall. December to February and June to August are the driest periods with the most comfortable trekking and excellent safari conditions.

Jungle tracks can be trickier to navigate during the wet seasons of March to May and October to November and costs are often reduced during these times. Whatever time of year you travel, packing clothes for rain and sun along with layers for the cooler evenings is recommended.