Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, UgandaVideo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Uganda
Uganda, made simple: gorillas, the Nile and the Pearl of Africa
Uganda packs mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions, the source of the Nile and one of the most powerful waterfalls on earth into a green, friendly country the size of the United Kingdom. Kampala hums with music, markets and rolex stalls, and Ugandans are famously welcoming. This guide takes the guesswork out of permits, entry, money and getting around so you can travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyVisas, yellow fever, permits and seasons, answered
- LandingEntebbe airport and the road to Kampala, explained
- Your days in UgandaCity, Nile, savannah and forest, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain where the big costs sit, from gorilla permits to park entry, before you book.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Uganda should feel like the adventure of a lifetime, not a logistics puzzle. We answer the worries before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming home to family in Kampala, Mbarara or Gulu after years away, or planning your first gorilla trek? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your UgandaGorillas, chimps, safari, the Nile, city life or a family visit: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsVisa, yellow fever, permits and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for food, culture, nature and stays in each area.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape your days and the long drives between them.
Everything your Uganda trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Kampala, Jinja, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, cafés, markets, viewpoints and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Entebbe and stays in Kampala, on the Nile and near the parks.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Uganda trip
City, Nile, savannah, gorillas
Most first trips land at Entebbe, spend a day or two around Kampala and Jinja, then loop west: Murchison Falls for the waterfall and the Nile delta, Kibale for chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth for the Kazinga Channel, and Bwindi for the mountain gorillas. Two weeks covers it at a comfortable pace.
- Kampala's tombs, markets and nightlife
- Rafting and the source of the Nile at Jinja
- Boat trips beneath Murchison Falls
- Mountain gorillas in Bwindi's rainforest
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the Nile and the parks fit together.
Uganda destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Distances in Uganda are long, gorilla permits sell out and the rains shape the roads. Our free planner helps you choose a realistic route and pace.
- Realistic road times
- The right season for trekking
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Uganda
From Lake Victoria and the Nile to the savannah of the west and the misty forests of the southwest.
Central Uganda
Kampala
Uganda's loud, warm, hilly capital, with royal tombs, giant markets, great street food and famous nightlife.
Read the guidePhoto: Todd Huffman from Phoenix, AZ, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Uganda
Jinja
Uganda's adventure capital, where the White Nile leaves Lake Victoria in a rush of rapids.
Read the guidePhoto: StijnServaas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Northwestern Uganda
Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda's largest park, where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge and giraffes roam the northern plains.
Read the guidePhoto: Kateregga1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Western Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda's most visited savannah park, with the Kazinga Channel, crater lakes and tree-climbing lions.
Read the guidePhoto: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Southwestern Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
An ancient misty rainforest and home to around half of the world's mountain gorillas.
Read the guidePhoto: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Uganda safe to visit?
Most visits to Kampala, Jinja and the main national parks pass without trouble, and Ugandans are warm hosts. Petty theft happens in cities, and some governments advise against travel to areas near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of the northeast. Read your government's current advice before booking.
Do I need a visa for Uganda?
Most visitors need a visa, applied for online through the official Uganda eVisa portal before travel, while citizens of some countries, including East African Community members, are exempt. Rules depend on your passport, so check the official immigration site for your nationality.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
Yes, Uganda asks arriving travellers for proof of yellow fever vaccination, and you should carry the certificate in your hand luggage. Malaria is present across the country, so speak to a travel health clinic about tablets several weeks before you go.
How do I see the mountain gorillas?
You need a gorilla trekking permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority for Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Permits are limited and sell out in busy months, so book well ahead and check the current fee on the official site.
What currency does Uganda use?
The Ugandan shilling. US dollars are widely used for permits and lodges, but only newer, clean notes are accepted. ATMs work in towns, and mobile money is how most Ugandans pay day to day.
How many days do I need in Uganda?
Ten to fourteen days covers Kampala or Entebbe, Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi at a comfortable pace. With a week, pick the gorillas and one savannah park, or fly between parks to save road time.
Ready to find your Bliss in Uganda?
Use the free trip planner to turn ideas into a route that fits your dates and budget.