In Uganda, a few days can take you from the steep, wet forest of Bwindi to a boat on the Kazinga Channel. Add Kasese and you can look up towards mountains with snow near the equator. It’s tempting to put all of that on a first itinerary. The trick is deciding which experience gets the most time.
Start with the conversation
Listen to Uganda with Amos Wekesa. The founder of Great Lakes Safaris talks to Daniel Edward about mountain gorillas, chimpanzees at dawn and how a marathon brought runners to Kasese. Meet Amos Wekesa.
Where to go on a first visit
Bwindi and south-western Uganda. Book a gorilla permit for a specific sector and choose a nearby place to stay. Add Lake Bunyonyi if you want a slower stop on the wider circuit.
Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Kasese. Pair a game drive and a boat trip with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale. Use Kasese as a base if you’re coming for the marathon or the Rwenzori foothills.
Murchison Falls and the north. Extend to Murchison Falls for time on the Nile. Give Kidepo Valley its own place in the plan if the open landscapes of north-eastern Uganda are what you most want to see.
Kampala. Spend time in the capital if you’re curious about Buganda history, city life and what Ugandans eat for lunch. Entebbe, where international flights arrive, is a separate stop. Build transfer time into the plan.
Choose your next guide
- Gorilla Trekking in Uganda: How to Plan Bwindi
- A First Uganda Safari in 7, 10 or 12 Days
- Rwenzori Marathon: Running from the Equator
- What to Eat in Uganda, from Luwombo to Malewa
How long should you spend in Uganda?
A week can work for a focused western circuit. Ten to twelve days gives you more time in the parks and makes a northern extension to Murchison Falls easier. Start by checking primate permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, then fit the drives and accommodation around them.
Photo supplied by Amos Wekesa.
