Highlights
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
A steep, ancient rainforest in the south-west that is home to roughly half of the world's mountain gorillas. Treks with rangers to habituated gorilla families need a permit booked well in advance and can take from one hour to most of a day.
Murchison Falls National Park
Here the Nile forces its way through a gap only a few metres wide before tumbling into a pool below. Boat trips along the river pass hippos, crocodiles and elephants, and game drives north of the river show giraffes, lions and buffalo.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Savannah, crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel, where boat trips get close to large numbers of hippos, buffalo and birds. In the Ishasha sector, lions are often seen resting in the branches of fig trees.
Kibale National Park
A tropical forest with one of the highest densities of primates in Africa, including chimpanzees, which you can track with rangers, and red colobus and L'Hoest's monkeys.
Jinja and the source of the Nile
On the shores of Lake Victoria, Jinja is the traditional starting point of the White Nile. It is a base for white-water rafting, kayaking, sunset cruises and boat trips to the source.
Rwenzori Mountains
The 'Mountains of the Moon' on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo have glaciers near the Equator and strange giant lobelias and groundsels. Multi-day treks lead towards Margherita Peak, one of the highest points in Africa.
Lake Bunyonyi
A deep, island-dotted lake in the south-western highlands, surrounded by terraced hillsides. Canoe trips and quiet lodges make it a popular place to rest after gorilla trekking.
Kidepo Valley National Park
A remote park in the far north-east near the borders with South Sudan and Kenya, with wide valleys, mountains and wildlife including cheetahs, ostriches and large buffalo herds.
Interesting facts about Uganda
- Winston Churchill called Uganda the 'Pearl of Africa' in his 1908 book My African Journey, and the phrase is still widely used.
- Uganda shares Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, with Kenya and Tanzania.
- The Equator crosses Uganda, and roadside monuments mark the line, including one at Kayabwa on the road from Kampala to Masaka.
- Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori Mountains is the third-highest summit in Africa, after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.
- The Kasubi Tombs in Kampala, the burial place of kings of Buganda, are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Best time to visit
Uganda can be visited all year, but the drier seasons, from roughly December to February and June to August, are best for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, when forest trails are less muddy. Game viewing in the savannah parks is also easier in the dry months. The rainy seasons, around March to May and September to November, bring lush scenery and fewer visitors, but tracks can be slippery and some roads difficult. Temperatures are moderate because of the altitude, and nights in the south-western highlands can be cool.
Practical information
| Capital | Kampala |
|---|---|
| Currency | Ugandan shilling (UGX) |
| Languages | English, Swahili, Luganda (widely spoken) |
| Plugs | Type G |
| Voltage | 240 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 999 or 112 |
| Driving | On the left |
| Tipping | Appreciated for guides, rangers, porters and drivers, and in restaurants if service is not included. |
Getting around
Most visitors travel with a driver-guide in a 4x4 or safari vehicle, as distances between the national parks are long and roads range from good tarmac to rough tracks. Domestic charter flights link Entebbe with airstrips near Bwindi, Kidepo and Murchison and save long drives. In Kampala, traffic is heavy, and motorbike taxis (boda-bodas) are everywhere; ride-hailing apps let you book them with helmets and fixed prices. Long-distance buses link the main towns. Self-drive is possible but challenging.
Staying connected in Uganda
Mobile coverage is good in Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja and other towns, with 4G widely available. Coverage in national parks is mixed: lodges near park gates often have signal, but deep in the forests of Bwindi and Kibale and in remote Kidepo there may be none. Wi-Fi is offered by many lodges, though often slow. Download offline maps for long road journeys. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land at Entebbe.
See Uganda eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Uganda
- SafeBoda: Book motorbike taxis in Kampala with trained riders, helmets and upfront prices.
- Uber and Bolt: Ride-hailing for cars and boda-bodas in Kampala and Entebbe.
- Google Maps: Road navigation and journey times, with offline maps for the parks.
- WhatsApp: Widely used to contact tour operators, lodges and drivers.