Luxury Uganda Safari Tours

Most travelers from the U.S. fly into Entebbe International Airport (EBB), Uganda’s main international gateway. There are no direct flights from the United States, but several convenient one-stop connections make the journey relatively straightforward.

Recommended Routes:

• From the East Coast: Travelers can connect through hubs such as Amsterdam, Istanbul, Doha or Addis Ababa, with airlines including KLM, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.
• From the West Coast: Most travelers connect through a major U.S. or international hub before continuing to Entebbe. Routes via Amsterdam, Istanbul and Doha are particularly useful from cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Once in Entebbe, the journey continues either by private road transfer or light-aircraft flight, depending on the itinerary. Domestic flights can significantly reduce travel time when combining regions such as Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale or Murchison Falls.

Ubuntu Travel handles the regional logistics from arrival, including airport assistance, private transfers and domestic flights, so the journey between Uganda’s different safari regions feels as seamless as possible.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga can be both physically and technically challenging. Trails often lead through steep, forested terrain, with uneven ground, altitude and high humidity adding to the experience.

Like Rwanda, treks are loosely categorized into short, medium and longer options based on guest fitness, mobility and preference. Rangers use this information when allocating trekking groups, although gorillas move freely through the forest, so the exact duration and difficulty can never be guaranteed. It is best to be prepared for anything from around two to six hours on the trail, and occasionally longer.

At Ubuntu Travel, we have team members who have completed multiple gorilla treks in both Bwindi and Mgahinga. We use that first-hand experience to help match guests with the most suitable trekking sector based on fitness, mobility and personal preferences.

Local porters are also available and highly recommended. They can carry your backpack, assist on steeper sections and provide valuable support along the trail.

Uganda’s established safari regions are visited regularly by international travelers, but current travel advisories mean that safety needs to be considered carefully and on an itinerary-by-itinerary basis.

Ubuntu Travel works only with trusted lodges, experienced guides and vetted transportation partners, with all movements between regions carefully planned. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga is professionally managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, with ranger-led activities and security protocols in place.

Some areas of western Uganda, particularly those closer to the Democratic Republic of the Congo border, have experienced security incidents in recent years. We monitor official travel advisories closely and will adjust or avoid regions where we are not comfortable with the current situation.

For our guests, the focus is on well-established safari routes, private transfers and experienced local teams supporting the journey from arrival to departure.

Uganda offers an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, particularly for travelers interested in primates. In Bwindi and Mgahinga, you can trek with endangered mountain gorillas, while Kibale Forest is home to the highest density of wild chimpanzees in Africa, making it one of the continent’s premier chimpanzee-tracking destinations.

In Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Ishasha sector is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which can often be seen resting in the branches of large fig trees. The park also supports elephant, buffalo, hippo, leopard, Uganda kob and a remarkable diversity of birdlife.

Other highlights include:

• Elephants, hippos, crocodiles and abundant wildlife along the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park
• More than 1,000 bird species, including the sought-after shoebill
• Golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
• Nubian (Rothschild’s) giraffe, Uganda kob and large herds of buffalo
• White rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Uganda has traditionally not been considered a classic Big Five safari destination because rhinos disappeared from its national parks. However, conservation efforts are changing that story, with southern white rhinos beginning to be reintroduced into protected wilderness areas.

What makes Uganda particularly special is the ability to combine mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions and classic African safari wildlife within one journey.

Yes. We strongly recommend visiting a travel health clinic before your safari.

• Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into Uganda for travelers aged one year and older. Carry your official vaccination certificate with you.
• Malaria prevention is recommended throughout Uganda. Speak with your doctor about the most suitable anti-malarial medication for your itinerary.
• Routine vaccinations should be up to date, while vaccines such as Hepatitis A and Typhoid are commonly recommended for travelers to Uganda.

We also recommend using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves in the evenings and following the mosquito precautions provided by your lodges.

Please Note: Ubuntu Travel can provide general travel preparation guidance, but your final medical plan should always come from a licensed healthcare provider familiar with your personal health history and itinerary.

Gorilla trekking permits are required for anyone wishing to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda. Permit costs vary by country and residency status.

Rwanda:

• Foreign visitors: US$1,500 per person for a standard gorilla trek and one-hour encounter.

Uganda:

• Foreign non-residents: US$800 per person for a standard gorilla trek and one-hour encounter.

In Uganda, permits provide access to gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Permit prices can change, so our Travel Specialists will confirm the current rate and secure permits as part of your safari planning.

Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda vary depending on the location and experience.

Kibale National Park:

• Chimpanzee tracking: US$250 per person
• Chimpanzee Habituation Experience: US$300 per person

Kibale is Uganda’s premier chimpanzee destination, with tracking offered year-round and a sighting success rate of over 90%.

Kyambura Gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park:

• Chimpanzee tracking: US$100 per person

Permit prices can change, so our Travel Specialists will confirm the latest Uganda Wildlife Authority rates when planning your journey.

We recommend booking your Uganda gorilla trekking safari around eight months in advance, especially if you are traveling during the peak months from June to September or December to February.

This gives us the best chance of securing both a gorilla permit and the lodge accommodation of your choice in the correct trekking sector. Permits are limited, and the most sought-after lodges can fill quickly, so planning early gives you far more flexibility with dates, sectors and overall itinerary design.

For peak travel periods, booking even earlier can be worthwhile.

Yes. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years old.

This applies to gorilla trekking in both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The age restriction is designed to protect both guests and the gorillas, particularly because children may find the physical demands of trekking more challenging and are more likely to carry common illnesses that could potentially be passed to the gorillas.

For families traveling with younger children, we can build the itinerary around alternative activities while older family members take part in the trek.