10 Days Maasai Mara & Uganda Gorillas

Before you book · Uganda

Travelling in Uganda

Visas & entry

Apply online in advance at the Uganda e-visa portal (USD 50 single entry) — approval letters are checked on arrival. Yellow fever certificate is a legal entry requirement. The East Africa Tourist Visa (USD 100) covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.

Arrival gateway

Entebbe International Airport (EBB), 40 km from Kampala on Lake Victoria.

Permits

Gorilla permits cost USD 800 per person and chimpanzee permits USD 250 (Kibale). Permits are date- and sector-specific, limited to 8 trekkers per gorilla family per day, non-refundable once issued, and must be secured months ahead for peak season.

Best time to travel

June–September and December–February are the drier trekking months with firmer forest trails. March–May and October–November bring rain but greener forests, fewer people and lower lodge rates.

Health & vaccinations

Yellow fever vaccination mandatory. Malaria prophylaxis essential. Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking requires you to be free of flu or other transmissible illness on the day — a cold can mean you're turned back to protect the apes.

Money & payments

Ugandan Shilling (UGX). USD widely accepted for permits and lodges (notes 2009 or newer, unmarked). ATMs in Kampala, Entebbe, Fort Portal and Kabale; carry cash for the south-west.

Weather & climate

Equatorial and mild: 24–28°C by day, cool and often wet at Bwindi altitude (1,500–2,600 m) with nights around 12°C.

Connectivity

Good 4G along the Kampala–Fort Portal–Kabale corridor; forest lodges rely on satellite or solar Wi-Fi that can be slow.

Tipping guideline

Gorilla trekking: USD 15–20 per guest for the ranger team, USD 15–20 per porter (hiring one is strongly encouraged — it supports local families). Driver-guide USD 15–20 per day.

What to pack

Long sleeves and trousers for nettles, waterproof hiking boots with ankle support, gardening gloves, rain jacket, gaiters, insect repellent, 30–35 L daypack with a rain cover, and a dry bag for camera gear.

Local etiquette

Keep 7 m from gorillas, no flash photography, and a maximum of one hour with a family. Ask before photographing people or Batwa community members.

Requirements and fees change. We reconfirm current visa, permit and health rules in writing before you pay any balance.