Preparing for Uganda

• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga, usually as the anchor of the trip
• Chimpanzee tracking and forest walks in Kibale, paired with the Ndali–Kasenda crater lakes
• Classic wildlife days in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, including boat cruises
• Combination journeys that pair Uganda's forests with plains safari in Kenya or Tanzania

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Gorilla trekking across several sectors; the sector you are allocated affects driving time and terrain.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

A smaller, higher volcanic park in the far south-west.

Kibale Forest

Chimpanzee tracking and habituation experiences in tall, humid forest.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kazinga Channel boat cruises, the Ishasha sector and open savanna wildlife viewing.

Murchison Falls National Park

The Nile compressed through a narrow gorge, with river cruises and game drives.

Entebbe and Kampala

Arrival, lake-shore stays and a gentle first or last night before internal travel.

• The drier stretches — broadly December to February and June to September — often make forest trails less slippery, but Uganda is equatorial and rain is possible in any month.
• Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are limited in number and released on a rolling basis; the calendar, not the weather, is usually the tighter constraint.
• Wetter months can mean lush landscapes, fewer visitors and more demanding trekking conditions.
• Trek duration and difficulty vary day to day with where the family has moved; no outcome or duration can be promised.

Most visitors apply for a visa or an East Africa Tourist Visa in advance through the official government portal, and gorilla or chimpanzee permits are arranged separately. Requirements, including any proof-of-vaccination conditions, depend on your nationality and routing — confirm them directly with the issuing authority.

Requirements change. Always verify current entry, health and fee information with official government and travel-health sources before you book or travel.

• Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control — eVisa and permits
• U.S. Department of State — Uganda

Ask a travel-health professional about routine and travel vaccinations, yellow fever documentation, malaria prevention and forest-trekking fitness for your dates. Trekking parks also apply their own health rules on the day. Personal medical advice should come only from a qualified clinician.

• CDC Travelers' Health — destination pages
• World Health Organization travel advice

Berngo Safaris provides general planning context only and does not give medical advice.

Each link is owned by the authority named beside it and opens in a new tab.

• Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration ControlVisa and entry information ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCDC Traveler View — Uganda ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• U.S. Department of StateCountry information — Uganda ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Last link review: August 7, 2026. Requirements depend on nationality, routing and current policy. Verify directly with the issuing authority before booking or travel. Berngo Safaris provides planning links, not legal, immigration or medical advice.

Avoid unofficial visa agents. Beware of unofficial visa agents and copycat visa websites. Several look almost identical to government portals and charge inflated fees. Apply only through the official government domains linked here, and never share passport or payment details with a site you reached through an advertisement.

• Warm days and cool evenings at altitude; Bwindi and Mgahinga sit high and can be genuinely cold at dawn.
• Forest humidity is high, and rain showers are short but heavy.
• Trails are steep and muddy in places — gaiters and grip matter more than fashion.

What to pack for

• Broken-in waterproof boots with ankle support, plus gaiters and a light rain shell
• Long sleeves and long trousers for forest trekking, with gardening-weight gloves for grabbing vegetation
• A daypack, refillable water bottle and energy snacks for a long trek day
• Neutral, quick-drying layers and a warm mid-layer for high-altitude mornings

• Entebbe International (EBB) is the main gateway; Kajjansi and Entebbe also serve scheduled light-aircraft flights.
• Road journeys between parks are long and can be slow in the wet — flying one leg often buys back a full day.
• Light-aircraft luggage is usually restricted to a soft bag within a stated weight; your planner will confirm the current allowance for your booking.

• Follow ranger briefings exactly: distance rules, group size and time limits protect both people and primates.
• Ask before photographing people, and agree arrangements in advance at community sites.
• Support community tourism initiatives around the parks; they are part of why habitat remains protected.

Bring these to your planning conversation — they change the itinerary more than most travellers expect.

• How strenuous a trek can each traveller manage, and would a porter or sedan-chair arrangement help?
• Are there knee, back, altitude or respiratory considerations to plan around?
• Would fewer, longer stays reduce road time for your group?
• What dietary or medical details should lodges receive in advance?

These pairings share flight routings or complement each other in pace. Each links to its own preparation guide.

• Uganda & Kenya

  Forest primates followed by open-plains game viewing in the Mara.

• Uganda & Tanzania

  Pair Uganda's forests with the northern circuit or a Zanzibar finish.

How fit do I need to be for gorilla trekking?

Treks can range from about an hour to a full day over steep, muddy ground at altitude. Most reasonably active travellers manage with a slow pace and a porter, but you should discuss your fitness honestly during planning and with a clinician.

Are permits included automatically?

No. Permits are limited, purchased separately and subject to availability at the time of request. Nothing on this page reserves one.

Is one trek enough?

Many travellers book two treks so that a difficult weather day or a long search does not define the experience. It is a planning choice, not a requirement.