East Africa
Uganda
A green, hilly country whose rainforests are home to mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.
Photo: Keith Kasaija / Unsplash
Uganda is a country of crater lakes, tea plantations and dense rainforest. Mountain gorillas live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and the hour spent near a gorilla family becomes, for many, one of the most profound experiences of their travels.
Yet Uganda is more than gorillas. In Kibale's forests you can follow the calls of chimpanzees, in Queen Elizabeth National Park take a boat along the Kazinga Channel past hippo and elephant, and at Murchison Falls watch the Nile force its way through a narrow gap in the rock.
Experiences to consider
- 01
Mountain gorillas in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking requires permits, which are limited in number, so they're worth planning well ahead. The walk over steep, damp forest slopes can take anything from a few hours to a full day, so good fitness matters. Gorillas are wild animals: experienced trackers do everything they can to find them, but an encounter is never guaranteed.
- 02
Chimpanzees in Kibale
A morning walk through the rainforest, following chimpanzee calls in the canopy. Permits are required here too, and chimpanzees move quickly — sometimes the walk is longer than expected.
- 03
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Savannah, crater lakes and a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel, whose banks are often crowded with hippo, buffalo and elephant.
- 04
Murchison Falls and the Nile
A boat trip up the Nile to the foot of the falls, giraffe and elephant on the plains, and the view from above as the river bursts through a narrow gorge.
Ways to travel
Ways to experience it
Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.
Wildlife & nature
Gorillas, chimpanzees, savannah wildlife and a wealth of birds — with guides who respect the animals' space and the park rules.
Adventure & active travel
Treks over steep forest slopes, crater-lake trails and the foothills of the Rwenzori for those who want more.
Tailor-made journeys
Permits, transfers and stays arranged well in advance, with time in the route to rest between treks.
Exceptional stays & escapes
Lodges on the forest edge, alive with rainforest sounds in the evening, and quiet places beside the crater lakes.
Sample journey
More journey inspiration
10–12 days
Uganda beyond the gorillas: Murchison Falls and the Kidepo Valley
Entebbe & Mabamba Swamp, the rhinos of Ziwa, the Nile at Murchison and the remote Kidepo Valley
Wildlife & nature · Adventure & active travel
10–12 days
Chimpanzees, savannah and the gorillas of Bwindi
Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Wildlife & nature · Adventure & active travel
The Journal
Visit the JournalDestination guides
Safari and sea: pairing a wildlife journey with a coastal escape
Early mornings on the savannah and slow days by the Indian Ocean balance each other well. How to sequence them, how long to give each, and which combinations tend to work.
5 min read
Destination guides
Where to go on a first safari: six African countries, honestly compared
Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia or Uganda? What makes each one different, who it suits best, and what you trade.
8 min read
Planning a journey
How to choose wildlife experiences responsibly
Distance, riding, feeding, guides and local communities: what to weigh up before choosing a safari, a gorilla trek or a day with elephants.
5 min read
Where & when
Where to travel in August, when all of Europe is on holiday
South of the equator and in parts of the tropics, August often means dry season – when animals gather at water and desert nights are clear. Five places, and what's worth knowing about each.
3 min read
Related discoveries
More in: AfricaTanzania
Safari · Adventure · Luxury
The Serengeti plains, the Ngorongoro Crater, the wild southern parks, the slopes of Kilimanjaro and slow days on Zanzibar.
Kenya
Safari · Culture · Coast
The Maasai Mara and its private conservancies, elephants beneath Kilimanjaro, the Laikipia plateau and the slow rhythm of Lamu.
Plan your journey