A holiday in Uganda is a unique safari experience. Nowhere else can visitors shadow a troupe of chimpanzees, seek the Big-Five and track mountain gorillas all in the space of a few days. Add over 1000 bird species, the majestic Nile, Lake Victoria and the stunning ‘Mountains of the Moon’, and it is easy to see why Uganda is known as ‘the Pearl of Africa’. Slightly smaller than the UK, Uganda is a land of astonishing diversity. The country is one of the last refuges of the endangered Mountain gorilla and can claim both the highest number of primate species and some of the richest birding in Africa, as well as the Big-Five and plains game more commonly associated with its neighbours.
See examples of our Uganda holidays and tours. We offer both tailor-made and small group travel.
Uganda's history
In the 1960s, Uganda was widely regarded as Africa’s foremost safari holiday destination and the country has now been politically stable since the late 1980s. Over twenty national parks and reserves safeguard its wonderful natural heritage. The road network is generally good and many of the highlights are within a day’s drive of the airport. People who are short on time, or who want to travel to the more remote corners of the country, can take advantage of Uganda’s charter flight network.
Safari holidays in Uganda
We tailor-make all our private safaris in Uganda. We design trips of varying length - from short gorilla trips to comprehensive birding itineraries - for families, individuals and honeymooners. Whether you want to concentrate on Uganda’s primates, land a giant Nile Perch, tick off Albertine Rift endemics, experience the vibrancy of Uganda’s people or seek adventure, talk to us about your plans.
Uganda group tours
Small group tours in Uganda can offer extremely good value and departures are guaranteed on a minimum of four participants. Solo travellers will appreciate the modest single supplements. There are several departures each month, all based on lodge accommodation. Most can be combined with various extensions, including Murchison Falls, gorilla tracking in Rwanda or white-water rafting near Jinja.
Gorilla tracking
While gorilla tracking is the highlight of many Uganda holidays, it can be challenging and may require a long walk in wet conditions in order to locate the gorillas. Minimum age for this activity is 15 years. A ranger-guide briefs you on conduct during gorilla tracking before the excursion, during which you are accompanied by scouts and porters. Gorilla permits – which now cost US$500 - are in very short supply, so you should arrange your holiday as early as possible to avoid disappointment, especially if you wish to do two gorilla tracking excursions.
Our private itineraries include a private 4WD vehicle and the services of a private driver/guide. If you wish to travel during peak season (July - September), you should plan your trip as far in advance as possible because demand far exceeds the daily allocation of gorilla permits.
The Shoebill
The rare, monotypic Shoebill is like no other bird. Enormous and prehistoriclooking, it inhabits the African swamps of Sudan to Zambia, but the most reliable and safe place in which to seek this remarkable bird remains on a Uganda holiday. Ask us about specialist birding tours in Uganda.
Rafting at Jinja
The White Nile near Jinja has several grade five rapids offering exhilarating whitewater rafting, possibly superior to the Zambezi Gorge. Day trips usually begin and end in Entebbe.
Rwanda & Uganda combination safaris
Parc National des Volcans (PNV), the Rwandan sector of the Virunga volcano chain, offers an alternative to gorilla tracking in Bwindi and is easily combined with our Uganda holidays. There are regular flights between Entebbe and Kigali.
The drive from Kigali to Parc National des Volcans is only two hours. More gorilla permits are issued daily in PNV than is the case at Bwindi, and some of the habituated groups of mountain gorilla are often reached in under an hour.
Email us or ring 020 7666 1250 to speak with a member of our specialist Uganda team.