Uganda Holidays

Nothing matches the breathtaking atmosphere of sharing the dense jungle with mountain gorillas. Resting on the edge of Rift Valley sits Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – a dense, mist-covered rainforest amongst the volcanic hills sheltering gorillas, chimpanzees, the golden monkeys of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, black-and-white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys.

Although gorilla tracking can be hard work, nothing compares to the golden hour you spend watching these magnificent creatures, peering at each other through the leaves of the rich, verdant forest. After the adrenaline rush of your gorilla encounter, you’ll be looking for a comfortable place to rest your feet close to the park. Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge provides the perfect answer. Beautifully located, the en-suite rooms provide stunning views of the rainforest and the Virunga volcano chain from your private veranda.

An alternative (yet no less fascinating or exhilarating) primate experience is a visit to the Kibale Forest. Journeying through the gorgeous tropical forest, your guide will lead you to a barrel of chimpanzees, where you’ll observe these energetic wild animals swinging from the trees up above, playing together and setting up their nests for their night’s sleep. Kibale is also famed for its other primates, including several species of monkeys.

If you're after some savannah wildlife and riverine scenery, journey over to the northwest of the country to Murchison Falls National Park. The park's savannah is an important sanctuary for plains game, like Rothschild’s giraffe, Uganda kob, Cape buffalo, African savannah elephant and carnivores including African lion, African leopard and spotted hyena. Nearby is Ziwa Rhino & Wildlife Ranch, the only place in Uganda wherein you can see and even track white rhinos on foot. Ziwa also offers birding tours, nature walks, night walks and canoe rides.

The swamps of Lake Edwards Flats – just like those in Mabamba and the Nile Delta near Murchison Falls – are a rewarding site in which you’ll seek the intriguing shoebill. Standing at an impressive five feet with a wingspan of over eight feet, a sighting of this bird menacingly snapping and clicking its huge bill at lungfish is another fantastic wildlife experience to tick off in the Ugandan wildlife to-spot list.

From luxury holidays in Uganda’s iconic national parks to off-the-beaten-track adventure holidays, Uganda offers an unforgettable experience. This country in East Africa is home to an impressive array of species, including some 345 varieties of mammal and 1,020 different types of birds.

Whether you want to track chimpanzees or see the Big Five, discover where our Uganda safari holidays can go - from the rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to the savannahs of Murchison Falls.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

In southwest Uganda on the eastern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, best known for its gorilla tracking opportunities. Slightly less than half of the world’s remaining 1,063 mountain gorillas inhabit this dense evergreen Afromontane forest. The golden hour observing a habituated group of these gentle giants is one of the most impressive wildlife experiences to be had anywhere.

For useful gorilla tracking tips, see our travel guide: 9 Tips for Seeing Mountain Gorillas in Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Diverse ecosystems make up Queen Elizabeth National Park, including acacia grassland, papyrus swamp, tropical forest (seasonally) and volcanic crater lakes. A great variety of wildlife reside here, too, from herds of Uganda kob antelopes to animated groups of banded mongoose. One in particular to note is the tree climbing lions, found in the south at Ishasha. It's thought that these creatures find higher ground to protect themselves from the numerous biting tsetse flies, which populate the ground level.

Murchison Falls National Park

If you're planning to visit Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park makes for an excellent combination with the gorilla tracking destinations of Bwindi and/or Mgahinga. You can experience everything from a boat trip up the Nile to the base of the falls (a wonderful way of seeing large numbers of hippo and crocs) to bird watching. Over 450 confirmed bird species include specials such as Abyssinian ground hornbill, red-throated bee-eater and even the sought-after shoebill.

Other major national parks include Kibale Forest National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park. Kibale National Park is perhaps the best place in which to go chimpanzee tracking whereas Mgahinga National Park offers an alternative to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for tracking gorillas.

For more insights, see our travel guide: A Comprehensive Roundup of Our Top Primate Experiences

At Rainbow, we specialise in creating tailor-made Uganda tours, ensuring a bespoke experience that fits your travel style - whether you seek the thrill of adventure or fascinating foray into the country's culture.

While spending time observing habituated mountain gorillas is the main drawcard when it comes to wildlife, a wide array of other experiences await visitors during tailor-made holidays to Uganda. Chimpanzee tracking in the tropical Kibale Forest presents a superb opportunity to follow our closest relatives. Birding is also incredible: aside from the majority of the sought-after Albertine Rift endemic species, you can also seek the scarce and iconic shoebill in Mabamba, Semliki Wildlife Reserve and Murchison Falls National Park.

Give our resident Uganda expert, Craig, a call and he can help tailor your bespoke holiday to Uganda.

In addition to gorilla and chimpanzee tracking, Uganda adventure holidays offer an array of experiences, including thrilling safaris to search for the Big Five.

On the cultural side, a Batwa Settlement Walk at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park gives you the chance to have dialogue with the resident Batwa community through an interpreter. It's a moving experience, during which you get to ask the locals any questions you may have and learn about their way of life in the village.