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Things to Do in Uganda

From gorilla trekking in Bwindi to the source of the Nile - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Uganda holds roughly half of the world's remaining mountain gorilla population, trackable on foot through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, alongside the point where the White Nile begins its journey to the Mediterranean. Winston Churchill once called it the 'Pearl of Africa,' and the range of landscapes packed into a relatively small country supports the claim. Here are 6 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

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Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Home to roughly half the world's remaining mountain gorillas, trackable on foot with a licensed guide - permits are limited daily and should be booked well in advance.

📍 Bwindi, southwestern Uganda

🚉 There is no public transport to the trailheads: buses from Kampala reach Kabale or Butogota in eight to nine hours, and lodges then run 4x4 transfers - most visitors fly to Kihihi airstrip instead.

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Source of the Nile, Jinja

The point where the White Nile begins its flow from Lake Victoria, now also a hub for white-water rafting on some of the river's biggest commercially run rapids.

📍 Jinja

🚉 Buses and shared taxis run from Kampala to Jinja in two hours on the new expressway; the source, the rafting put-ins and the bungee site are boda-boda rides from the town centre.

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Queen Elizabeth National Park

Uganda's most visited savanna park, known for tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector and boat safaris along the Kazinga Channel between two lakes.

📍 Western Uganda

🚉 Buses on the Kampala-Kasese road pass the park, six to seven hours, and Mweya lodge is a further transfer; Kasese airstrip has flights from Entebbe for those short of time.

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Kibale National Park

Home to the highest density and diversity of primates in East Africa, with chimpanzee tracking as reliable and well-organized here as gorilla tracking is in Bwindi.

📍 Western Uganda

🚉 Fort Portal is the base, five hours from Kampala by bus, then a matatu or transfer 35km south to Kanyanchu, where the chimpanzee treks start at 8am.

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Murchison Falls National Park

Named for the point where the Nile forces itself through a narrow 7-meter gorge before dropping 43 meters - Uganda's largest national park, with strong Big Game viewing alongside the falls themselves.

📍 Northwestern Uganda

🚉 Buses from Kampala reach Masindi in four hours, and the park gate is 85km further with no scheduled service - lodge transfers or a hired 4x4 cover the rest, and the ferry crosses the Nile inside the park.

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Kampala

Uganda's capital, spread across several hills, with the Kasubi Tombs (a UNESCO World Heritage royal burial site) and a lively, fast-growing food and nightlife scene.

📍 Kampala

🚉 Kampala has no rail or formal bus network: shared matatus run set routes from the old and new taxi parks, and boda-boda motorbikes are how most people move through the traffic.

Mark Uganda, get the stamp

🇺🇬UGANDAVISITED

🇺🇬UGANDALIVED

🇺🇬UGANDAWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

Open MyPassportStory

Planning questions

How many days do you need in Uganda?

10 days lets you combine gorilla trekking in Bwindi with a savanna safari in Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls National Park.

What's the best time to visit Uganda?

June-August and December-February (the two dry seasons) are the most popular for both gorilla trekking and savanna safaris. The wetter months can make forest trails muddier but the scenery notably greener.

Is Uganda good for a first-time visit?

Yes, through an organized safari operator, which is how most gorilla trekking and park visits are arranged given the permit system and remote park logistics.

Do I need a visa to visit Uganda?

Most nationalities need an e-visa, applied for online in advance; a joint East Africa Visa is also available covering Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda together for multi-country trips. Check the official visa information for your nationality: visas.immigration.go.ug.

What are some things to do in Uganda on a tight budget?

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is generally cheaper than gorilla permits in Bwindi while still offering excellent primate viewing, joining a shared-vehicle safari costs considerably less than a private one, and Jinja's rafting operators offer a range of prices depending on rapid intensity chosen.

Can I rent a car in Uganda, and what licence do I need?

Yes, and self-drive is more common here than in neighbouring safari countries - several Kampala firms rent 4x4s with rooftop tents. A foreign licence is valid for up to three months when carried with an International Driving Permit, after which a Ugandan licence is needed. Minimum age is generally 23. Traffic drives on the left, park roads need high clearance, and driving after dark outside towns is best avoided. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits must be bought in advance from the Uganda Wildlife Authority at ugandawildlife.org, and official visitor information is at utb.go.ug.