Planning a trip to Uganda can be tricky. The country is full of attractions spread across different landscapes, and travel times can be unpredictable, especially on rough, unpaved roads. This guide covers everything you need to know to plan your Uganda itinerary, plus sample itineraries to help you hit the ground running.
Planning a Uganda itinerary means taking into account distances, activities, and what interests you most. Start by figuring out what’s essential for you—gorilla trekking in Bwindi or chimpanzee tracking in Kibale are popular choices—and use those as your main points to build the rest of your trip. It’s also important to think about the pace of your travel. This guide gives you three sample itineraries to get you started:
Golden Monkey in Uganda © Shutterstock
If you’re looking to experience Uganda's landscapes without rushing, this two-week itinerary is a great choice. The route is designed to take you around Uganda in a clockwise loop, so you won’t need to backtrack. This makes for a smoother, more efficient journey.
You’ll land in Entebbe, which is where most people start their trip to Uganda. It’s a small, low-key town right on Lake Victoria—not somewhere you need to spend a ton of time, but perfect for a first night. Once you’ve made it through the airport and into town, you’ll probably just want to settle in and rest. If you’ve got some energy, you could check out the botanical gardens (expect monkeys and lots of birds) or grab a fresh fish dinner by the water. It’s a mellow place, and that’s the point—this day’s really about catching your breath before the trip gets moving.
It’s about a two-hour drive to Jinja, a laid-back riverside town that sits near the official Source of the Nile. Start your day with breakfast at The Keep or Ambiance Coffee & Cocktails—both are popular for strong coffee and something hearty.
From there, you’ve got options. White-water rafting with Nalubale Rafting is a highlight, especially if you’re up for grade 5 rapids, but you can also go kayaking or opt for a gentler boat cruise.
If you have time, stop by Sezibwa Falls—about an hour away—for a short hike and a look at a site that’s culturally significant to many Ugandans. It's one of the best places to visit in Uganda. For dinner, try local dishes at Moti Mahal or The Deli. If you're staying an extra day, see if you can arrange a boat trip to Samuka Island— it’s less visited but great for birdwatching and peaceful lake views.
Dusk over Sipi Falls, Kapchowra © Clare Wise de Wet
From Jinja, it’s a 3–4 hour drive east to Sipi Falls, a small highland village overlooking the Karamoja plains on the edge of Mount Elgon National Park.The main draw is hiking to the three Sipi waterfalls—each one different, and all reachable on a guided loop walk that takes about 3–4 hours. Expect some steep sections and narrow footpaths, but the views are worth it, especially from the top falls.
It’s cooler up here, and the air feels fresher, especially after the heat of the lowlands. This area is also known for its Arabica coffee—grown on the mountain slopes and roasted in tiny backyard operations. You can join a hands-on coffee tour, grinding beans with a mortar and pestle and drinking your brew with views of the valley. The pace is slower here, and the two nights give you time to enjoy it.
This is one of the longer drives of the trip—expect 7 to 8 hours on the road from Sipi to Murchison—but it’s worth the time. Uganda’s largest and oldest national park, Murchison, is home to four of the Big Five (no rhinos) and some of the best wildlife viewing in the country.
Early morning and late afternoon game drives give you a good shot at spotting elephants, giraffes, lions, and buffalo, plus plenty of hippos and antelope. One of the highlights is the boat safari up the Nile to the base of the falls—huge crocs sunbathe on the banks, and the thunder of the water grows louder as you approach. If you’re up for it, you can hike to the top of the falls afterward, where the river squeezes through a 20-foot (6m) gap with unbelievable force.
Add Murchison Falls to your Uganda itinerary © Shutterstock
The journey from Murchison to the Kibale area takes most of the day—about 6 to 7 hours—but the change in landscape is striking. You’ll arrive in a greener, lusher region known for its crater lakes, tea plantations, and one of the best places in East Africa to see primates.
On your first afternoon, you can explore the crater lakes—there are several scenic spots around Fort Portal where short hikes lead to panoramic viewpoints. The next day, head to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided walk.
It’s a community-run reserve that’s great for spotting monkeys, hornbills, and other birdlife, and your visit helps support local conservation efforts. If there’s time, consider dropping by a nearby village to meet local craftspeople—many run small-scale projects making baskets, paper beads, or handmade fabrics. You might witness here traditional fishing methods using handmade papyrus canoes.
It’s a short 2–3 hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most visited reserves and known for its mix of savannah, wetlands, and lakes. Game drives here often mean sightings of elephants, buffalo, warthogs, and Uganda kob, with occasional views of leopards or lions if you’re lucky. The park is also popular for birdwatching, with hundreds of species recorded.
One of the top things to do here is to take the boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where hippos crowd the water and elephants come to drink at the shoreline. It’s easy to fit in both a game drive and a cruise over two days, with downtime at your lodge to recharge between outings. Accommodation ranges from basic bush camps to more comfortable options with views across the plains.
An explosion crater, Queen Elizabeth National Park © Shutterstock
The drive to Bwindi takes most of the day, but there’s a stop worth making along the way: the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where, if you’re lucky, you might spot tree-climbing lions lounging in fig branches. Once in Bwindi, the landscape shifts—thick forest, steep ridges, and cooler air.
This is one of the few places on Earth where you can trek to see wild mountain gorillas. Permits are required, and treks can be strenuous, but the chance to spend an hour with a gorilla family in their natural habitat is unforgettable. On your second day, you can take a guided nature walk through the forest or join a cultural visit with the Batwa, an Indigenous community with deep ties to the land. Bwindi feels remote in the best way—quiet, misty, and full of life.
It’s an early start for the long drive back to Entebbe—expect 6 to 7 hours on the road, depending on where you stayed in Bwindi. It’s mostly a travel day, but there are spots to break up the journey, including roadside markets where you can pick up woven baskets, coffee beans, or handmade souvenirs.
Depending on your flight time, you might have a chance to stop for lunch or a quick walk along Lake Victoria before heading to the airport. It’s a long haul, but after nearly two weeks of forests, waterfalls, and wildlife, there’s plenty to reflect on during the ride back.
Gorilla in Congo © nomads.team/Shutterstock
This cross-border trip combines Uganda’s primate experiences with Tanzania’s classic safari landscapes. By using flights between the two countries, you can spend more time at key destinations and less time on the road. It’s a great option for first-time visitors to East Africa who want to see as many highlights as possible in one trip.
You’ll arrive at Entebbe International Airport and head straight to Kampala, Uganda’s capital—usually about a 1.5-hour drive, depending on traffic. It’s a busy, sprawling city, but the first day is more about settling in.
Most stay in one of the quieter neighborhoods like Kololo or Nakasero, where you’ll find leafy streets and good places to eat. If you’re up for it, grab a local dish like rolex (chapati with eggs and veggies) or grilled chicken from a roadside stand—but after a long flight, don’t feel bad about turning in early.
In the morning, you’ll take a domestic flight from Entebbe to Kihihi, the closest airstrip to the northern sector of Bwindi (easily booked through Aerolink). From there, it’s a bumpy 1.5–2 hour drive through rolling hills and farmland to reach your lodge.
On Day 3, it’s an early start for mountain gorilla trekking, for many a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After a short briefing, you’ll hike with rangers deep into the forest to track one of the habituated gorilla families. The hike can be strenuous and steep, depending on where the gorillas are that day, but you’ll get to spend an hour with a gorilla family once they’re found.
On Day 4, slow it down with a visit to a small coffee farm nearby. You’ll pick beans, roast them over a fire, and drink the strongest, smokiest cup you’ve ever had—with views over the valley.
Add Mount Stanley in the Rwenzori Mountains to your Uganda itinerary © Shutterstock
This is a full travel day, so it’s best to take it slow and let the logistics do their thing. You’ll leave Bwindi early in the morning and drive back to the Kihihi airstrip for your domestic flight to Entebbe. Once you land in Entebbe, there’s usually a bit of a layover before your international flight to Tanzania—so this is a good time to grab a coffee or a snack at the airport.
The flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport takes about an hour and a half. After landing, you’ll go through immigration and meet your driver for the 1-hour transfer to Arusha. It’s not a long distance, but there can be traffic near the city. Most people stay in Arusha overnight to rest before heading into the parks the next day.
After breakfast in Arusha, you’ll set off for Serengeti National Park, one of the best places to visit in Tanzania. It’s a long drive—around seven hours—but there’s a break at the Ngorongoro Crater rim where you can stretch your legs and take in the view. From there, the landscape opens up into the wide, flat plains the Serengeti is known for.
You’ll enter through Naabi Hill Gate and usually spot animals within the first hour: zebras, gazelles, maybe even a lion if you’re lucky. Over the next two days, you’ll head out on game drives, most likely around the central Seronera region, where wildlife is concentrated year-round.
Africa, Tanzania, Serengeti National Park, view of savannah landscape © Shutterstock
On Day 9, you’ll leave the Serengeti and drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area—a highland region just southeast of the park. It takes around five hours, but the drive is broken up with views and stops, including a scenic lookout over the crater itself.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, and the wildlife here is incredibly dense—animals tend to stay because the steep walls act like a natural enclosure. You’ll spend the night at a lodge near the crater rim. The next morning, you’ll descend 2,000 feet to the crater floor for a half-day game drive.
It’s one of the few places in Tanzania where you might see black rhinos, along with elephants, lions, hippos, hyenas, and flocks of flamingos around the soda lake. After a packed lunch, you’ll head back toward Kilimanjaro Airport for your evening flight home. If you'd rather extend your trip and spend more time, see our guide to how to plan a trip to Tanzania.
Ngorongoro crater wildlife, Tanzania © Travel Stock/Shutterstock
This safari is perfect for wildlife lovers who want to see as many animals as possible while keeping things at a comfortable pace. Flying into Kibale instead of driving gives you more time for chimp tracking and helps you arrive ready to go. The itinerary flows smoothly through Uganda’s western safari circuit, taking you to three top wildlife spots.
You’ll land at Entebbe International Airport, which sits right on the edge of Lake Victoria. Depending on your arrival time, there’s a great low-key way to start your trip: a visit to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. It’s not a traditional zoo—more of a rescue and rehabilitation center for animals native to the region, and it’s surprisingly informative if you want to get a first look at what you might see later in the wild.
Afterward, you’ll settle into your guesthouse or hotel nearby. It’s best to keep this day relaxed: short walks by the lake, a good meal, and an early night to shake off the flight.
You may see giraffes on your wildlife Uganda itinerary © Shutterstock
You’ll take a short flight from Entebbe to Kasese, which saves a long day on the road. From there, it’s a scenic drive—about 1–2 hours—past tea plantations and crater lakes until you reach the edge of Kibale Forest. The area is known for chimpanzee tracking, and you’ll spend your first full day hiking through the forest with a ranger, listening for distant calls until your group finds one of the chimp families.
Once you do, you’ll have an hour to watch them—feeding, climbing, sometimes charging through the trees.
The next day, you’ll visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a quiet, community-run reserve. The walking paths wind through swamp and forest, and you’ll likely see a few different monkey species along with hornbills, turacos, and other forest birds.
The drive from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth takes around two hours, with plenty to look at along the way—banana farms, crater lakes, and open stretches of countryside.
On the first afternoon, there’s time for a game drive in the northern part of the park. It’s a good place to see elephants and buffalo, plus antelope like Uganda kob and waterbuck.
The next morning is dedicated to taking a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a narrow stretch of water between Lake George and Lake Edward. It’s one of the best places in the park to see hippos up close, along with waterbirds and the occasional elephant along the shore. In the afternoon, you continue to the Ishasha sector, a quieter part of the park known for its tree-climbing lions.
A friend says hello in the Kidepo Valley, Uganda © Shutterstock
It’s a three- to four-hour drive from Ishasha to Bwindi, following winding roads through hills, farmland, and dense forest. The landscape feels more remote here, with small villages tucked into the hills and mist hanging in the trees. Most people visit Bwindi for mountain gorilla trekking—a physically demanding but unforgettable experience.
You start early, hiking with a small group and a ranger until you find one of the gorilla families, then spend an hour with them in the forest. The next day is slower. You’ll walk with a local guide to a small community coffee farm just outside the park. You learn how the beans are grown and roasted by hand, then finish with a cup brewed over an open fire, with views across the valley.
The drive from Bwindi to Lake Mburo takes four to five hours, with a stop for lunch along the way.
The park is smaller than the others on the circuit, but it’s a good place to break up the journey and spend one last night in the bush. In the afternoon, you head out for a game drive or a boat trip on Lake Mburo, where hippos and waterbirds are easy to spot.
The landscape here is more open, with rolling hills and scattered acacia trees. On Day 10, you join a walking safari with a ranger—a chance to track zebra and antelope on foot—before continuing the three- to four-hour drive back to Entebbe for your flight or final night.
For many, seeing gorillas is the most important item on a Uganda itinerary © Shutterstock
A good way to start planning a trip to Uganda is by figuring out the main things you want to do. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and chimp tracking in Kibale are usually at the top of the list—and once those are in place, you can build the rest of your trip around them.
Safaris in Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls National Park fit in naturally and are easy to add to most routes. It helps to map everything out on Google Maps early—distances can be misleading, and road travel can take longer than expected. It’s a good idea to leave some buffer time between stops, especially when activities depend on weather or early starts.
If you’d like to skip the nitty-gritty of planning a trip, our tailor-made trips make it easy to just focus on the trip itself. Our trips are created by locals who know the area and are completely customized to what you want to do and see.
To see the best of Uganda without feeling rushed, plan on 10 to 14 days. With less time, you’ll probably have to skip something big. Gorilla trekking alone takes about 2 to 3 days once you factor in the travel to Bwindi.
In two weeks, you can cover a nice loop: a few days each in Bwindi for gorillas, Kibale for chimps, Queen Elizabeth for classic safaris, and Murchison Falls for river wildlife. Travel days definitely add up—just getting from Entebbe to Bwindi can take most of the day.
Twelve days tends to work really well. It gives you enough time to hit the highlights, enjoy the scenery, and still have space to take it slow when you need to.
Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda © A.F.Smith/Shutterstock
If you’ve got extra days to spare and you’re not sure how to spend them, here are some great choices. The western circuit (Kibale-Queen Elizabeth-Bwindi) is the heart of most itineraries, but adding places like Lake Bunyonyi or Sipi Falls gives you a nice break between wildlife adventures.
In Uganda’s southwest, Bwindi is known for its dense forest and mountain gorillas. It’s one of the few places where you can hike with a guide to see gorillas in the wild. The trekking can be steep and muddy, but the experience is worth it. Along the way, you might also spot monkeys, birds, and other forest animals. Outside the park, local guides lead walks through nearby villages. It’s a good way to get a better sense of life in the region, and these walks also help support conservation efforts that protect the gorillas.
This park covers a big stretch of land between two lakes and has a mix of landscapes—grasslands, wetlands, forested areas. You’ll probably see hippos, elephants, buffalo, and, if you’re lucky, lions that sometimes rest in trees. A boat ride along the Kazinga Channel is a popular way to see animals up close, especially in the late afternoon when many of them come to the water. You can also visit salt lakes like Katwe to learn about traditional salt mining, or take a guided walk into Kyambura Gorge to look for chimpanzees. It’s a varied park that works well for people who want to explore at a slower pace.
The perfect sunrise over Mweya Peninsula, Queen Elizabeth National Park © Clare Wise de Wet
Murchison Falls is where the Nile squeezes through a narrow gap in the rocks and drops down into the river below. There’s a short hike to a viewpoint above the falls, or you can take a boat trip that brings you close to the base. T
he park itself is big, and game drives take you through open areas where you might see elephants, giraffes, and lions. Budongo Forest, just south of the park, is a good place to try chimpanzee tracking. Fishing trips are also possible in some parts of the Nile here. It’s a park with a bit of everything, and it’s been a stop for travelers for decades.
Kibale is a great place for seeing primates, with thirteen species, including its star attraction—habituated chimpanzee troops. Guided treks run daily, and chances are fairly good that you’ll see one of the habituated groups. The guides here are experienced and usually share a lot about chimp behavior as you go.
The forest is also home to forest elephants and 375 bird species. If you’re curious about wildlife that’s active at night, you can join a night walk to look for species like bush babies and pottos. Nearby, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is run by the local community and is a quiet place for walking and birdwatching. Kibale pairs easily with Queen Elizabeth National Park if you’re planning a longer route.
Jinja sits on the northern edge of Lake Victoria, where the Nile River begins its 4,000-mile route to the Mediterranean. It was once a major industrial hub, but now it’s better known for rafting, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.
If you’re looking for something active, you’ll find grade-five whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, quad biking, and stand-up paddleboarding. There are also slower-paced options, like boat rides to the Nile’s source or sunset cruises on the river. Around town, you’ll see a mix of old colonial buildings and Indian-inspired architecture from Uganda’s South Asian community. It’s a walkable place with some good cafes and markets.
Rainforest at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains © Clare Wise de Wet
Lake Bunyonyi is often used as a rest stop after gorilla trekking, and it’s easy to see why. The lake is calm and clear, surrounded by steep, terraced hills. It has 29 small islands, and many people explore them by canoe—either on their own or with a local guide.
Some islands have interesting histories, like Punishment Island, which was once used to isolate unmarried pregnant women. Others have schools or small guesthouses. The lake is safe for swimming (no hippos, crocodiles, or bilharzia), which is fairly rare in the region. You’ll see lots of birds here—hence the name Bunyonyi, which means “place of little birds”—and the cooler temperatures make it a nice place to relax.
The Rwenzori Mountains sit along Uganda’s western border and are often called the “Mountains of the Moon.” It’s the tallest mountain range in Africa, and if you’re up for a serious trek, this is where you’ll find it. The highest peak—Margherita—reaches over 16,000 feet, and getting to the top is a real mountaineering challenge. But you don’t have to summit to experience the place.
There are shorter hikes that still take you through a range of landscapes, from rainforest to high-altitude moorland with giant, cartoon-like plants you won’t see anywhere else. What makes it even more interesting is the cultural side—the local Bakonzo people see the mountains as sacred and have traditions and beliefs tied to the land.
Sipi Falls is in eastern Uganda, on the edge of Mount Elgon, and it’s one of the best areas for hiking in the country. There are three main waterfalls here, and the tallest drops more than 300 feet. You can hike to viewpoints, swim in natural pools, or even walk behind some of the falls.
The trails range from easy to more demanding, depending on how much you want to explore. Coffee farming is a big part of life here, and guided tours show you how the local Arabica beans go from plant to cup—usually with a tasting at the end
Uganda National Park © Shutterstock
Kidepo is way up in Uganda’s northeast, near the borders with South Sudan and Kenya. It takes more effort to get here, but if you do, it feels like you’ve found a part of the country that few people reach.
The landscape is wide open and dry, with mountain backdrops and big skies. Wildlife is active here—cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, and over 70 other mammal species live in the park, including some animals you won’t see anywhere else in Uganda, like bat-eared foxes.
Birdlife is also a big draw, with over 470 species recorded. The Narus Valley, where water sticks around even in the dry season, is one of the best places for spotting animals. Kidepo also gives you a chance to connect with the Karamojong people, who are known for their traditional, semi-nomadic lifestyle.
If you’re passing through Kampala and want to experience traditional music and dance from across Uganda, the Ndere Cultural Centre is a solid choice. It’s home to the Ndere Troupe, who perform weekly shows that mix live music, dancing, and storytelling from different ethnic groups.
It’s entertaining but also a way to learn about the meaning behind the dances and instruments—like how the drums are used or what different costumes represent. Before the show, there’s usually dinner available with classic Ugandan dishes, and someone often gives a short intro about what you’re about to see. The center also runs programs to train young performers and keep cultural traditions alive.
Shoebill Bird found in Uganda © Shutterstock
Uganda’s equatorial location means you can visit year-round, but some months are better than others—especially if you’re planning to trek gorillas or go on safari.
The dry seasons (December–February and June–August) are the most reliable. Trails are drier and easier to hike, and wildlife tends to gather around water sources, so sightings are more common.
That said, the wetter months (March–May and September–November) have their upsides too. There are fewer visitors, prices are lower, and the scenery turns lush and green after the rains. Afternoon showers are common but usually short. Birding is best from November to April, when migratory species are around.
Yes—most travelers need a visa to enter Uganda. The easiest way is to apply online through the official e-visa portal. It’s best to do this at least two weeks before your trip. If you’re also planning to visit Kenya or Rwanda, look into the East Africa Tourist Visa—it covers all three countries on a single entry.
Bring a printed copy of your visa approval, and make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your departure date.
If you end up wanting to stay longer, you can extend your tourist visa in Kampala. Head to the immigration office with your passport, a short letter explaining why you’re applying for an extension, and the application form. Processing usually takes about a week, so give yourself some buffer—apply at least seven days before your current visa runs out.
Overstaying your visa comes with a daily fine (around US$100), and they do check carefully when you leave. It’s worth sorting it out early to avoid any issues.
