Holiday Guide to Uganda

The Holiday Guide team travels across Uganda to discover the tourist attractions in the “Pearl of Africa”

Situated next to Lake Victoria on one side and Lake Albert on the other, the landlocked country of Uganda is not only one of the most tourist-friendly country in East Africa but also one of Africa’s most picturesque destinations. Uganda boasts some of Africa’s most stunning landscapes, crystal clear lakes, high mountains, tropical rainforests, open savannas, primates, birds and much more. Winston Churchill described Uganda as the “Pearl of Africa” comparing his visit to Uganda as a fairy tale. Indeed, you really need to see the country for yourself to fully understand why Winston Churchill described it such.

This mystical fertile land is also home to almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, who live in the high-altitude cloud forests of the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Mgahinga Gorilla Park. A densely-populated country with most of it population living in rural areas, Uganda has shown great resilience in recovering from the unfortunate events of the Idi Amin days. Today, Uganda is a stable, well-run and peaceful country that ranks among Africa’s safest destinations.

Uganda is home to the highest concentration of birds in Africa boasting over 1,040 species of birds. In Uganda you will find migratory birds from north Africa and Europe. The Queen Elizabeth National Park is the country’s leading bird-watching destination and home to over 600 species of birds. All national parks offer birding opportunities while you also see the world’s biggest bird in Kidepo Valley National Park.

Uganda is very rich in wildlife ranging from the tree-climbing lions to crocidiles in the River Nile. Other animals in Uganda are; lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, bush bucks, water bucks, reed bucks, hyenas, hippos, bush bucks and many more. In Uganda, you can be sure of seeing the Big five of Africa. The abundant wildlife can be found in the 12 game reserves and 10 national parks with over 1500 mammal species.

Get the most out of your trip to Uganda with our holiday guide. Find out more about:

How to get there
Best time to visit
Travel requirements
Getting around
Suggestions, highlights, & travel tips
Suggested itineraries
Recommended luxury hotels (+ reviews)

HOW TO GET THERE

Most travelers arrive in Uganda via Entebbe International Airport, the main gateway for all destinations in the country. More and more airlines now offer direct flights to Kigali, including KLM, Brussels Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, flydubai and Emirates.

It’s also possible to arrive in Uganda overland as part of a multi-country itinerary. Uganda is bordered by South Sudan to the north, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda to the south, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. Visiting Congo and Burundi is off limits these days (due to unpredictable security situation and the potential for violent civil unrest), but the land border crossings with Rwanda and Tanzania are open and many tourists combine these countries with Uganda in one single holiday.

BEST TIME TO VISIT UGANDA

In the heart of Africa, just south of the equator, Uganda’s relatively high altitude provides it with a remarkably pleasant tropical highland climate, albeit also with plenty of rain. Although it’s regarded as a year-round holiday destination, there are quite some some differences in the weather patterns throughout the year.

The best time to visit Uganda is during the short dry season from mid-December to February or over the long dry season months of June to September. These periods offer perfect hiking conditions (for gorilla trekking) and the lowest malaria risk. The dry season does not necessarily means sunny season as there is often a light cloud cover, which helps to moderate the temperatures.

Uganda’s long rainy season lasts from about March to May, when the rain is heavy and persistent. This is the worst period of the year to visit the country as walking trails are extremely muddy. October to mid-December is defined as Uganda’s short rainy season, and during this time you may encounter occasional light showers, mainly in the afternoon. Uganda’s rainy season has one advantage: it’s the best season for spotting chimpanzees as they are easier to locate (in the dry season, when food is harder to find, the chimpanzees often withdraw far into the jungle’s interior).

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS FOR UGANDA

Requirements for entry into Uganda differ from country to country, and are subject to change. Prior to departure, always check with your government and your nearest Ugandan embassy or consulate what documents you need for travel to Uganda.

You need a valid passport. The passport must be valid for six months after entry into the country. You need one blank page on your passport for entry stamps.

You need a visa to enter Uganda. 30-day tourist visas are available on arrival for US$30. You can pay in cash (sterling, US dollars or Ugandan shillings) or by Visa/Mastercard. Payment by credit card may not be available at all land border crossings.

Uganda wildlife safari — Wildlife safari in Uganda: A thrilling expereince

GETTING AROUND UGANDA

It’s pretty easy and straightforward to get around in the small country of Uganda, with most places of interest located within a few hours drive from the capital Kampala. Uganda has one of the best road systems in East Africa, with a well maintained network of paved two-lane roads. However you will find gravel roads in the more remote areas or within the national parks.

When you book a trip to Uganda, you’re most likely to do so via a tour operator that will arrange a driver who doubles as an informal guide. Most tourists in Uganda explore the country’s 10 National Parks with a driver in a four-wheel drive vehicle.

If you have money to burn, private flight and helicopter transfers are also available from Entebbe Airport (and can be arranged via your tour operator or lodge).

SUGGESTIONS, HIGHLIGHTS & TRAVEL TIPS

There are many reasons why Uganda should be on your bucket list:

Track mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park
Observe chimpanzees in the wild at Ngamba Island
Visit the Murchisson Falls
Visit the Source of the River Nile
Unwind at Lake Bunyonyi
Take a tour of a tea or coffee plantations
Go on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Visit the tree-climbing lion is Ishasha
Stay at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES FOR A VISIT TO UGANDA

Uganda is a small country and it’s easy to explore all of its highlight within a short time frame. I suggest the following one week itinerary in Uganda:

Day 1 & 2: Arrival & exploration of Kampala (including tour of the Entebbe Botanic Gardens).
Recommended Hotels: Kampala Serena Hotel, Sheraton Kampala Hotel or Protea Hotel by Marriott.

Day 3 & 4: 3 hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, and exploration of the park (home to the Big Five) by game drives and boat.
Recommended Lodge: Mweya Safari Lodge by Marasa Africa

Day 5 & 6: Take the six-hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with gorilla tracking the next day
Recommended hotels: Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Trackers Safari Lodge, or Silverback Lodge

Day 7 & 8: 4 hour drive to Lake Bunyonyi, with a boat ride on the lake the next day.

Recommended hotel: Arcadia Lodge or Bunyonyi Safaris Resort
If you have more time, I highly recommend to spend some additional nights to unwind in Lake Bunyonyi and trek around the lake.

Arcadia Lodge, Lake Bunyonyi
Enjojo Lodge, Bwindi
Accommodation options at Enjojo Lodge
Serena Lake Victoria Resort

RECOMMENDED LUXURY HOTELS (+ REVIEWS)

We recommend to visit our list of the most fabulous hotels in Uganda if you are eager to know how we rank Uganda’s top hotels, based on our own experience.

Below, you will find our reviews of hotels in Uganda (with pros, cons, & tips to save money on hotel accommodation).

Join us for an unforgettable road trip across Uganda. Buckle up…

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