Mountain gorillas at about half Rwanda's permit price, one of East Africa's finest chimpanzee forests, tree-climbing lions and the most powerful waterfall on the Nile, all in one compact country.
Uganda packs rainforest, savannah, volcanoes and the source of the Nile into a single country. Most first trips combine a gorilla trek in the southwest with chimpanzees in Kibale and a game drive in Queen Elizabeth, while Murchison Falls and Kidepo reward travellers with more time.
Permit prices from the Uganda Wildlife Authority tariff, checked 8 October 2026. UWA reviews its tariff periodically, so confirm before you pay.
Uganda recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases after an outbreak was declared in May 2026. The World Health Organization declared it over at the end of August, after 42 days without a new case, and advises against travel restrictions. An outbreak continues across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and some governments raised their travel advice for Uganda during the outbreak, so check your own government's current advice and your travel insurance before booking.
Uganda's highlights sit mostly in the west, along the Albertine Rift, with a few worth the detour elsewhere.
Home to almost half the world's mountain gorillas, in steep, dense rainforest. Treks start from four sectors, Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo, so book your lodge near the sector on your permit.
Gorilla permit $800 · UNESCO World Heritage Site
Uganda's corner of the Virunga volcanoes, bordering Rwanda and Congo. Fewer visitors than Bwindi, with gorilla treks, golden monkey tracking and volcano hikes.
Golden monkey permit about $60
East Africa's best-known chimpanzee forest, with a high density of primates. A standard trek gives an hour with a habituated community; a longer habituation experience is also offered.
Chimp permit $250 (2024–26 tariff)
One of Uganda's most visited parks. The Kazinga Channel boat trip passes hippos, buffalo and elephants at the water's edge, and the southern Ishasha sector is known for lions that rest in fig trees.
Pairs naturally with Kibale and Bwindi
Uganda's largest park, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow rock gorge before plunging into the falls. Boat trips to the base of the falls and game drives north of the river make it a classic.
Northwest of Kampala, often a 3–4 day add-on
In Uganda's far northeast, wild and seldom crowded, with wide savannah valleys and species found nowhere else in the country. Many visitors fly in because of the distance.
Best for travellers with more time
Both countries offer the same experience at heart: one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family. The differences are price, terrain and travel time.
| Uganda (Bwindi, Mgahinga) | Rwanda (Volcanoes) | |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | $800 ($600 in Apr, May and Nov) | $1,500 |
| Time with gorillas | One hour | One hour |
| Terrain | Often steep, dense rainforest; treks can be long | Bamboo and volcano slopes; generally shorter access |
| Getting there | Long drive or domestic flight from Entebbe; the southern sectors are also reached by road from Kigali | About 2.5 to 3 hours by road from Kigali |
More in our gorilla trekking guide and Volcanoes National Park guide. Combining both countries? The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda and Rwanda on one visa.
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Compare Uganda with Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, or add chimpanzees in Rwanda's Nyungwe Forest to your route.
Gorilla trekking guide