Uganda holds half the world's mountain gorillas, over 1,000 bird species, five Great Lakes, and a warmth you'll carry home long after the red-dust roads fade from memory.
"The Pearl of Africa — no other title could do justice to a country of such singular beauty."
— Winston Churchill, 1907
Straddling the equator at the heart of the African continent, Uganda is a country of extraordinary ecological and cultural diversity. Within a single journey you can stand in tropical rainforest, cross open savanna, sail the world's longest lake, and summit glaciated peaks.
Ten national parks protect landscapes that range from the acacia woodland of Kidepo Valley to the papyrus wetlands of Mabamba Bay — where the shoebill stork holds court in prehistoric silence.
Where to go
Wildlife & Conservation
Uganda is home to the largest concentration of primates on the continent. Over half the world's remaining mountain gorillas shelter in the mist-laden folds of Bwindi and Mgahinga — accessible through carefully managed trekking permits that directly fund conservation.
Kibale Forest shelters thirteen primate species including over 1,500 chimpanzees, while the wetlands of the Albertine Rift host species found nowhere else on Earth.
What to do
Come face to face with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat — one of the last places on earth where this extraordinary encounter is possible.
Full day — from USD 700
Spend an entire day with a family of wild chimpanzees as they wake, forage, and socialise in Kibale Forest — Africa's primate capital.
Full day — from USD 250
Tackle the legendary rapids of the Victoria Nile at Jinja — Grade 5 white water on one of the world's great river adventures.
Half or full day — from USD 125
Drive through the volcanic crater lakes of western Uganda, where the green caldera waters reflect a landscape unchanged for millennia.
2–3 days — from USD 380
Board a boat at the source of the Nile in Jinja and drift downstream as the sun sets fire to the water — hippos, kingfishers, and silence.
Evening — from USD 45
Sleep in a Batwa community homestead, learn traditional crafts, and share a meal cooked over an open fire with families who call the forest home.
Overnight — from USD 95
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, Bwindi's ancient montane forest is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet — and the only place outside Virunga where mountain gorillas can still be seen in the wild.
Book a Trekking PermitFrom travellers
Tracking gorillas in Bwindi was the single most profound experience of my life. Nothing prepares you for the moment a silverback meets your gaze through the mist.
Uganda surprised me completely. The landscapes shift from equatorial rainforest to savanna to snowcapped peaks within hours. It is an entire continent in one country.
The people made the journey. Every village, every lodge — warmth and hospitality I have not encountered anywhere else in twelve years of travel across Africa.
Start planning
Every journey to Uganda is unique. Whether you are chasing a life-altering gorilla encounter, seeking the thrill of the Nile, or immersing yourself in Ugandan culture and cuisine — our specialists craft itineraries that fit your pace, budget, and sense of adventure.