Uganda Tours & Gorilla Trekking Safaris

You sure can. Seeing an endangered mountain gorilla (or more likely, a whole family together!) in its natural habitat is the highlight of any Uganda tour. We have a detailed guide about what to expect from our gorilla trekking walking safaris, including the cost of a gorilla trekking permit, what to expect from the experience, and the best time to go.

A mandatory gorilla & chimpanzee trekking permit costing USD $700 or equivalent per person is payable upon booking your trip. This is a charge levied by the Ugandan authorities and applies to all travelers trekking to see gorillas. This money is paid directly and in full to the Ugandan Wildlife Service, whose hard work and dedication to the gorillas has seen their global population rise from dangerous lows in the 1980s. Without this funding, anti-poaching patrols, ranger salaries and other conservation initiatives could not be funded, which would further threaten mountain gorillas. So you are very much doing your bit to protect this species when you book a Uganda safari with us!

The Big Five are the five African species most sought after by travelers on an African safari. They are lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.

Although you won't see the Big Five in Uganda, most of our tours take in neighboring countries such as Kenya and Tanzania. There are included wildlife safaris in national parks such as the Serengeti and the Masai Mara, which are both home to the Big Five.

In terms of wildlife viewing on our Uganda trips, you'll get to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Magahinga National Park. And mountain gorillas are rarer than all of the Big Five! We also visit Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, where you will have the chance to trek to see chimpanzees. Lake Bunyonyi is also home to a variety of rare birds, making it a great spot for some peaceful bird watching.

Of course, no wildlife encounters can be guaranteed on our Uganda safaris or our trips to neighboring countries, as wild animals are unpredictable. But you are sure to see some incredible wildlife. And success rates for seeing mountain gorillas are high, as the rangers track them day and night, and normally have a good idea where they are!

Uganda has two dry seasons from December - February, and June - August. These are generally considered the best months to visit for sightseeing and gorilla trekking. This is because the dry weather means trekking is easier and the vegetation less dense in the national parks, so gorillas are easier to spot. There is more information in our guide on the best time to visit.

If travelling on one of our Uganda safari tours, we recommend you read our guide to overland camping safaris. You can also see a detailed packing list in the Trip Notes for each tour.

Some of the important items to remember to bring on your Uganda safari are: sleeping bag, travel pillow, towel, Mosquito spray (with active DEET ingredient), your own personal first aid kit, torch, antibacterial wipes, a photocopy of your passport data, and your Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate.

The local payment is a cost per person that needs to be paid in US Dollars cash only. It is this payment that in part covers the park fees and other inclusions such as meals as detailed on each tour page. The local payment also covers your arrival transfer and first night’s accommodation.

Please note that due to exchange rate fluctuations in the US dollar, the local payment amount may be subject to changes. This payment will be collected by your tour leader at the Welcome Meeting on day 1 of your escorted tour. Our Reservations team can give you more information about the local payment, the cost of which can be found on each tour page.

Please note that the local payment is separate from the gorilla trekking permit, which also needs to be paid for on your Uganda safari.

On our overland Uganda safari tours, the maximum group size is 16, and these tours depart with a minimum of 4 passengers.

If you join one of our Uganda safari tours, you will be escorted by a qualified tour leader who will act as your guide, as well as another crew member.

For the gorilla trek, you will be escorted by fully qualified rangers working for the Ugandan wildlife authorities.

According to the 2022 LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index, Uganda scores an F rating for LGBTQ+ traveler safety, ranking 173rd out of 203 countries.

Same sex marriage is illegal and there are no constitutional or worker protections in place for the LGBTQ+ community. 0 - 25% of consulted citizens consider Uganda a good place to live for gay and lesbian people. Laws prevent the discussion of pro-LGBTQ+ issues and homosexuality became illegal in 2021, punishable with life in prison.

This does not mean members of the LGBTQ+ community shouldn’t visit Uganda, but precautions should be taken when travelling. As long as you use common sense, travelling in Uganda shouldn’t be a problem.

The LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index is designed to provide a good overall picture of attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community in each country and may not reflect the experience of foreign travelers to the country.

The tap water in Uganda is not safe for consumption and should be avoided at all costs throughout your Uganda safari, to avoid the risk of illness. Stick to filtered or sealed bottled water, which is cheap and readily available in Uganda.

Travelling solo doesn't have to cost more in Uganda. This is why, on our overland camping tours, solo travelers will be matched up with another solo traveler of the same sex, with whom they will share a tent. If there is no other solo traveler of the same sex on the tour, you will have a tent to yourself at no extra cost.

As a UK-based company, we follow the latest up to date advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO). You can see the latest travel advice and local laws here.