Speak to our expert today
Aleem Raheem, Co-Founder and Sustainable Travel Expert | Earth Trip
Local expertise, first-hand knowledge, and a holiday designed around you.
+442089355685
Enquire Today
Country Facts
Capital
Kampala
Size
93,263 sq mi
Time Zone
Kampala, Uganda (UTC+3)
Population
Approximately 47 million
Currency
Ugandan Shilling
Uganda: The Pearl of Africa Awaits
Uganda is a country of extraordinary natural wealth, celebrated for its dramatic landscapes and remarkable wildlife. Few countries pack in such diversity of culture, scenery, flora and fauna in so compact a space.
Hike to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, raft or kayak the Nile past cascading waterfalls and powerful rapids, go on safari across Uganda’s savannah parks, or trek the Rwenzori Mountains, among the highest peaks in Africa. Stand at the edge of Murchison Falls as the Nile roars beneath you, or fish the waters of Lake Victoria, the largest lake on the continent.
A Uganda safari with Earth Trip is far from an ordinary holiday, it’s a journey into the real Africa, from small towns rich in culture and history to cosmopolitan centres like Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe. See our full Uganda Holidays collection to start planning.
Key Facts About Uganda’s Tourism
Uganda first opened to European adventurers in the 1800s, drawn by the search for the source of the Nile. In the early 1900s, Sir Winston Churchill visited during his East African safari and is widely credited with calling Uganda “the Pearl of Africa.” By the late 1960s, Uganda had a thriving tourism industry attracting over 100,000 visitors a year, at the time the country’s fourth-largest source of foreign exchange.
Much of this early tourism centred on the wildlife of Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. Uganda’s tropical forests are also home to remarkable primate populations, in the 1990s, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Kibale Forest National Park became the cornerstones of a new wave of tourism. Bwindi alone is home to more than 400 mountain gorillas, roughly half the entire world population.
Why Visit Uganda?
Uganda is one of only three countries in the world where you can trek mountain gorillas in the wild, alongside Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A few of the experiences we build into Uganda itineraries:
- A guided gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga National Park
- Wildlife safaris across Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley, Semuliki and Lake Mburo National Parks
- Hiking the Rwenzori Mountains, Mount Elgon or Mgahinga
- Visiting the source of the Nile in Jinja, Uganda’s adventure capital, home to bungee jumping, white-water rafting and river cruises
Plan Your Uganda Holiday With Earth Trip
At Earth Trip, our team has considerable first-hand knowledge of Uganda, and we’d be delighted to help design a personal itinerary around your own interests. On the ground, we work with experienced, English-speaking guides and a trusted local ground agent, who represent us and look after our clients throughout their stay.
Earth Trip: a personal service and genuine value from real specialists. Read more about our approach to responsible travel, or contact our team to start planning.
Key Facts About Uganda’s Tourism
Uganda was open to early adventurers in the 1800s! These included European travelers who were looking for the Source of the Nile. In the early 1900s, Sir Winston Churchill also visited Uganda during his safari in East Africa. In the late 1960s, Uganda had a prosperous tourism industry attracting over 100,000 visitors each year. Tourism was the country’s fourth largest earner of foreign exchange.
The country’s tourism largely depended in the impressive wildlife in popular safari parks such as Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Uganda also has awe-inspiring tropical forests protecting unique wildlife including gorillas, chimpanzees & more. In the 1990s, the keystone of the new industry became Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Kibale Forest National Park. With more than 400 mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has approximately half of the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas.
Welcome To Uganda
Here are just few of many reasons why to visit Uganda:
Uganda is one of only three countries where it is possible to visit mountain gorillas. Elsewhere mountain gorilla treks can be taken in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are a multitude of things to do in Uganda;
- Visit the gorillas and meet them in the wild on a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga National Park.
- Take a trip in a wildlife safari along the savanna national parks of Queen Elizabeth NP, Murchison Falls NP, Kidepo Valley NP, Semuliki National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
- Hike various unique mountains including Mount Rwenzori, Mount Elgon, Mgahinga etc.
- Visit the Source of the Nile River in Jinja, the adventure capital of Uganda. Other things to do in Jinja include bungee jumping, white water rafting, jet rides, cruises etc.
Get inspired!
At The Earth Trip we have a team of professionals with considerable knowledge and first-hand expertise in putting together tailor-made arrangements for the places you are planning to visit on your Uganda holiday.
We would be delighted to discuss your plans and design a personal Uganda holiday itinerary according to your own particular needs. On the ground in Uganda we have a team of experienced, English-speaking guides with a wealth of detailed knowledge and we have appointed a local ground agent in each country to represent us and to look after our passengers locally.
Earth Trip: a personal service and value for money from the experts.
Preparing For A Trip To Uganda?
Visa Information / Entry requirements – Uganda
This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Uganda set and enforce entry rules. If you’re unsure how Uganda’s entry requirements apply to you, contact its UK embassy, high commission or consulate.
All travellers
You’ll need a visa to enter Uganda. Following an announcement by the Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs on October 14 2021, you are required to have a visa before your trip. Visas will not be issued on arrival.
See the Visas section for more information.
Visas
You can apply for a visa at the Ugandan High Commission in London or apply online for an ‘e-visa’. You can find full details of how to apply on the website of the Ugandan High Commission in London. You should give yourself sufficient time to apply for a visa and make sure when applying that the start date and validity covers the period you wish to travel.
You can also apply for an East African Tourist Visa. This is valid for 90 days and allows multiple entry into Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. You can apply for this visa on the ‘e-visa’ website.
Yellow fever certificate requirements
Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website.
UK Emergency Travel Documents
UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Uganda. ETDs must be valid for 6 months for entry into Uganda. A police report for lost/stolen passports is required for departure on an ETD.
Read More On Visas
Tourism Health Information – Uganda
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website.
General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines. For further information on the legal status of a specific medicine, you’ll need to contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to.
While travel can be enjoyable, it can sometimes be challenging. There are clear links between mental and physical health, so looking after yourself during travel and when abroad is important. Information on travelling with mental health conditions is available in our guidance page. Further information is also available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC).
Medical help at the scene of an accident is likely to be limited, particularly outside of Kampala, and many popular tourist attractions are far from adequate medical facilities. In the case of serious accident or illness, evacuation by air ambulance may be required. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
Read More On Health
Weather & When To Go To Uganda
Uganda has a lovely fine sunny and rainy weather which most times do not require wearing warm clothing; however, except on some chilly nights in the mountainous areas in western and eastern Uganda. Uganda is mostly sunny all year round, especially in the central region. Rainfall comes in torrents when delayed, especially when the expected patterns are delayed for some months. Uganda’s wet and dry seasons are typical of most regions. In the southern, half of Uganda there is rainfall from March to May and again in September – November. The rest of the periods are dry. If you do love the rain, there is a well-distributed rainfall pattern around the Lake Victoria Crescent, with storms and unpredictable rainfalls during seasons when there is no rain elsewhere in the country. And if you love the heat, the temperature in Kampala ranges between 15°C-29°C all year round.
Read More On Weather
Frequently Asked Questions About Travelling to Uganda
Do UK citizens need a visa for Uganda?
Yes. You must apply for your visa before travelling, either online as an e-visa or through the Ugandan High Commission in London. Visas are no longer issued on arrival.
What is the East African Tourist Visa?
A single visa valid for 90 days, allowing multiple entries into Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, useful if your itinerary crosses these borders.
Where can I see mountain gorillas in Uganda?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to more than 400 mountain gorillas, roughly half the world’s population. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also an option for trekking.
When is the best time to visit Uganda?
Uganda is a year-round destination. The driest periods generally fall outside March to May and September to November, when rainfall is heaviest in the south of the country.
How many days should I spend in Uganda?
7 to 10 days allows time for gorilla trekking in Bwindi alongside a savannah safari in Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls National Park.
Tailor-Made Luxury Tours with a Private Driver
Earth Trip designs exclusive, bespoke tours featuring private drivers and hand-picked luxury accommodations, built entirely around your personal preferences and travel style.
Bespoke Holidays
Uganda Travel Guide