CERTIFIED WEB DESIGNER BASED IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
Gorilla Uganda Safaris Tours & Holidays
Gorilla Uganda Safaris: The Adventure Your Soul Didn’t Know It Needed
Uganda gorilla trekking is not the kind of breath you hear in a city — this is deeper, touching and a heavier feeling you won’t forget so soon. Like something ancient is stirring beneath the vines. You take a step, the forest floor soft underfoot, the air thick with silence… and then you see them.
A family of mountain gorillas — close enough to hear them exhale. One silverback turns his head and locks eyes with you. It lasts a heartbeat, maybe two. But your body forgets how to move.
This isn’t a dream. This is gorilla safari Uganda. Real. Raw. Reverent. It’s not a show. It’s you, standing still in their world — humbled, quiet, and suddenly aware that you’re not the center of it. You’re just another guest in a forest that’s been home long before us.
Why a Gorilla Safari in Uganda Feels Like Nothing Else on Earth
You can circle the globe chasing moments that promise to take your breath away. But nothing — absolutely nothing — touches your soul like seeing gorillas in the wild.
Uganda offers something few places still can:
A direct line to the raw pulse of nature, uninterrupted by noise, crowds, or chaos.
Where Rwanda offers high-end polish (and high-priced permits), and Congo promises adventure wrapped in uncertainty, Uganda gives you both peace and proximity — safely, affordably, and intimately.
Here’s what makes a gorilla safari Uganda different:
- You trek through real wilderness, not wooden boardwalks
- You’re guided by rangers who speak of the forest like it’s family
- You earn every step, every encounter — and when you reach the gorillas, you feel it in your chest
This isn’t a box to tick off your bucket list. It’s the kind of moment that blows the lid off your heart and quietly changes you forever.
Why visit Uganda beyond Gorilla Trekking
Come Face to Face with Mountain Gorillas
There’s a moment in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest that hits harder than any photo could prepare you for. The forest hushes.
A silverback steps through the mist, his chest rising with slow, deliberate power. You lock eyes—for three, maybe four seconds—and your breath forgets how to work.
This isn’t an experience you can create by yourself. There are no fences. Just you, the forest, and a creature that could crush a coconut yet chooses stillness.
Uganda is one of the only three countries in the world where you can trek to see wild mountain gorillas. It’s also where nearly half of the world’s population of these gentle giants still survive.
The trek itself is not like the usual one you always have—you’ll sweat, slip, and climb—but that only deepens the reward. Every aching muscle fades the moment you find them.
A mother cradling her infant. A juvenile tumbling through vines. It’s raw, unscripted life just meters away.
It’s not just about the thrill—it’s about humility. In those quiet jungle moments, you’re reminded that we’re not above nature—we’re part of it. And few things bring that home like the deep, ancient gaze of a gorilla who seems to see right through you.
The Warmth of the People Will Stay With You
The first thing you’ll notice in Uganda isn’t the landscape—it’s the smiles. Not the forced hospitality kind, but something gentler. A kind of welcome that feels like you’ve just come home, even if it’s your first time stepping on African soil.
You’ll hear “You are most welcome” so often, it stops sounding like a phrase and starts feeling like truth.
From Kampala’s bustling streets to remote villages in the Rwenzori foothills, people here don’t just make space for visitors—they share. Stories. Meals. Directions (even when you didn’t ask).
You’ll meet boda boda riders who become your informal guides. Kids who wave like you’re royalty. And elders who pass down traditions over shared cups of spiced tea, making you part of the narrative, not just a spectator.
More than the landscapes or wildlife, it’s this human connection that lingers long after your trip. Uganda doesn’t just offer scenery—it gives you community. And it’s almost impossible to leave without pieces of it tucked into your heart.
The Wild Is Still Wild Here
If you’re the kind of traveler who prefers safaris with lesser crowd in a more authentic and remote way, then Uganda is for you. The country offers some of Africa’s most authentic wildlife experiences, bumpy roads, passionate guides giving you a real untamed experience.
In Queen Elizabeth National Park, you might catch lions lounging in fig trees—a rare behavior that feels like a secret the savannah kept just for Uganda.
In Murchison Falls, you’ll hear the Nile rage through a six-meter gorge before spilling wide again, hippos bobbing like buoys. And in Kidepo Valley, Uganda’s remotest park, the horizon stretches into South Sudan and you feel small—in the best way possible.
This isn’t a safari with fences or crowds. It’s raw, untamed, and full of surprise. That buffalo that suddenly emerges from the thicket? The elephant crossing in front of your car? Here, nature decides the rules—and you’ll be grateful it does.
It’s Africa’s Best Kept Secret (But Not for Long)
There’s something intoxicating about discovering a place before the rest of the world catches on. Uganda still feels like that. It’s not overrun. It’s not over-filtered. And that makes every experience feel personal—like you found something rare and real.
Unlike its neighbors Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda offers a quieter kind of magic. Fewer crowds at gorilla treks. Less traffic on game drives. More moments that feel yours alone. You can watch the sunrise over Lake Bunyonyi, often with no one else around. Or paddle a canoe in silence as the hills echo with birdsong and laughter from distant farms.
But here’s the thing—it won’t stay a secret forever. More travelers are catching on. More headlines are naming Uganda the “pearl of Africa” again, just as Winston Churchill did over a century ago. If there was ever a time to visit—to witness, not just scroll past—this is it.
Ruth A. Flora
You can showcase a client review here. Make it nice and short, then use this button to send them to your reviews or services page.
WELCOME!
What to Expect on a Uganda Gorilla Trek
What to Expect on a Uganda Gorilla Trek
The day begins early—very early. By 7:30 a.m when you are already be standing at the gorilla trekking park headquarters in the jungle forest, heart pounding, excitement in your chest, listening as a ranger softly briefs you on the day ahead.
After the briefing, you are placed into a small group of just eight travelers (including yourself) and assigned a specific gorilla family to track. Then, joined by armed rangers and expert guides, you step into the wild in search of the gentle giants – the gorillas.
The terrain can be steep, muddy, tangled, and at times hard for a few trekkers but, to make this easier, you can always ask the expert guide to help. You’ll sweat, you’ll pant, and yes, you’ll probably get dirty. But along the way, expect magic too: butterflies dancing in shafts of light, monkeys leaping overhead, and the sound of the forest whispering around you.
Then, without warning, the guides stop. They gesture forward. And there they are.
The gorillas you have been looking for. Massive, gentle and wild. A silverback may sit calmly, watching you with unreadable wisdom. The young ones tumble and play. The mothers keep a protective eye. And for 40 minutes to one full hour, you are allowed to stay—watching, photographing (no flash!), breathing the same air.
This moment changes people.
Once the hour is up, you’ll hike back—tired, muddy, but somehow lighter. Some travelers head straight back to their lodge for a well-earned rest. Others choose to extend the experience with a visit to the Batwa pygmies—Indigenous forest people with stories and traditions as deep as the trees.
Either way, by the end of the day, you won’t just have seen gorillas. You’ll have felt something ancient, something that stays with you long after your boots are clean.
Ready to go?
Whether you crave budget-friendly lodges or bush-luxury hideaways, we craft safaris that fit your style and pace. From one-day chimp walks to two-week cross-country odysseys, Uganda gives you room to breathe—and memories that outlast the mud on your boots. Start planning now. The gorillas are waiting.
Serengeti Safaris FAQ
When is the best time to go for a Uganda safari?
You can visit Uganda for a safari any time of the year, but nature has her rhythms. The mountain gorillas—the heartbeats of the forest—are waiting year-round, their permits always available.
In the rainy seasons of March to May, the forest breathes heavier and the roads become thick with mud, paths soften underfoot, and everything slows. Travel becomes more challenging—but for some, even more intimate because the lodges are cheaper and there are several discounts during this season.
Then comes the Dry Season—from June to August, and again from December to February—when the skies stretch wide and the sun lays golden trails across the savannah. These are the easiest months for gorilla trekking and game drives, when animals gather at shrinking waterholes and the land opens its secrets more freely. This is the best month to visit for a safari but, the costs may be somewhat high as many tourists want to visit during these months.
Why visit Uganda? What makes it unforgettable?
compared to other destinations such as Kenta or Tanzania, Uganda is not just where you see wildlife. It’s where you feel it. Most come for the mountain gorillas, and rightly so—it’s life-altering. But those who stay longer, they will always find something deeper.
Queen Elizabeth National Park whispers with the calls of chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge, offers you boat rides across the hippo-filled Kazinga Channel, and reveals tree-climbing lions lounging like kings on fig trees in Ishasha.
Murchison Falls is thunder and mist—a fierce Nile squeezing itself through a narrow gorge before crashing into beauty below. Birders? They lose themselves in the wetlands of the delta, watching the shoebill—prehistoric and unreal—rise from the reeds.
And then there’s Kidepo—remote, wild, untouched. It’s the silence you didn’t know you missed. The graceful cheetah. The wide skies. It’s a place that doesn’t just show you nature; it reminds you of your place in it.
How much is Uganda gorilla trekking?
The cost of a permit to see mountain gorillas in Uganda is $800—a price that may seem high, until you find yourself a few feet from a silverback, breath caught in your chest, unable to blink.
The average Uganda gorilla trekking cost for 3 days gorilla safari maybe; USD 1400-1500 based on 2 adults sharing a double safari lodge and USD 1600-2200 per person sharing a luxury safari accommodation.
It’s a fraction of Rwanda’s $1,500, yet the experience? Equally soul-stirring.
You’ll find these gentle giants in Bwindi and Mgahinga. Each trek is limited to eight visitors, keeping it quiet, respectful. In Bwindi, there’s also something rare—the gorilla habituation experience, where four lucky people can spend four hours with a group still learning to trust human presence. It’s less predictable. More raw. But deeply moving.
How’s the wildlife viewing in Uganda?
Uganda is wild in the most beautiful way. In its rainforests, primates rule—chimpanzees calling through the canopy, golden monkeys peeking from the vines, and a dozen monkey species playing in the trees of Kibale.
Beyond the forest, the savannah stretches out in golden waves. Game drives here feel quieter than the Serengeti or Mara, but they’re intimate, soulfully scenic. Lions roam. Elephants trumpet. Antelope leap through sunlit grass. And if you listen closely, the land itself hums with life.
Is Uganda safe for tourists?
Yes. Uganda is safe for travellers. The north once held shadows of unrest, but today it is still again—welcoming. Always check with your guide before heading into Karamoja or Kidepo, but most of Uganda is peaceful, warm, and deeply kind.
In cities, just like anywhere, take care—avoid night travel, keep your belongings close. But once you’re in the parks, you’ll find rangers and tourism police watching quietly over you, like the forest itself does.
How do I choose a good tour operator?
This journey is too precious to leave to chance. While many safari companies can tag a Uganda trek onto a Kenya or Tanzania tour, it’s the local specialists who know the rhythms of the forest, the right lodge when the mist is thick, the turn in the road where elephants cross.
Check reviews. Read stories from other travelers. Many reputable Ugandan operators list their tours on SafariBookings.com. Whether you book locally or through an international company, choose someone who treats your adventure not as a product—but as a privilege.
What kind of accommodations can I expect?
Uganda is still blooming as a tourism destination. In some places, the lodges feel like secrets: cozy cabins in the mist of Bwindi with log fires and warm soup after a long trek. In the savannah, luxury tented camps bring you close to the stars and the rustle of wildlife. And for the bold and budget-conscious, camping offers not just savings, but stories.
You’ll sleep to the sounds of hyenas whooping, frogs humming, and wind whispering through banana leaves. You’ll wake with the sun, and something inside you will shift.
What will a Uganda safari feel like?
No two parks feel the same. Uganda’s beauty is not loud, but it lingers. There’s drama in the thunder of Murchison Falls. Mystery in the shadowy trails of Bwindi. Joy in the lakes that catch the last gold of day.
Game drives. River safaris. Forest treks. Birding in silence. Every day changes you.
A safari in Uganda doesn’t just show you Africa. It shows you yourself.
How Much Does a 7-Day Safari in Uganda Cost?
A 7-day safari in Uganda isn’t just a trip—depending on the destination you choose to visit, and how the adventure is arranges, this can be a week that rewrites your sense of wonder. Whether you spend it watching gorillas in the mist of Bwindi, sightseeing chimpanzees in the misty Kibale National park or cruising along the Nile as elephants drink at the water’s edge, this journey will leave footprints on your memory.
But how much does it cost to live this dream?
The price of a 7-day Uganda safari depends on how you want to travel—do you prefer a little luxury, or do you crave simplicity with soul? For two travelers, the cost usually ranges from $2,766 to $4,150 per person (£2,489 to £3,890). That price covers almost everything:
- Airport transfers
- All travel between destinations
- Gorilla trekking permit per person.
- Chimpanzee tracking permit.
- Game drives and boat cruises.
- Cultural experiences.
- Full-board accommodation.
- A personal, experienced safari guide
Most travelers flying in are from the US or UK, which is why you’ll often see prices listed in dollars or pounds. But no matter your currency, the experience is priceless.
How Do I Plan a Safari to Uganda?
For a first timer, planning a safari to any country may be overwhelming and Uganda is no exception, but with assistance from an expert team, it’s simpler than you think. Whether you’re flying in from the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, or beyond, here’s how to bring your dream into focus:
- Browse the various safari packages – Start by reaching out to trusted Ugandan tour operators like Friendly Gorillas and we shall always be happy to help you compare options tailored to your travel style.
- Choose your dates – Once the package feels right, pick the time of year that works best for you. If you need to reduce the cost by joining a group, ask and we shall give you available dates with confirmed departures.
- Book your flights – Choose your gateway city—Entebbe is the heart of most arrivals. After everything is done, you are free to book your flights to Uganda safari.
- Confirm your booking – Pay for your safari package and secure your permits.
- Apply for a Uganda Visa – It’s a simple online process, and your tour company can guide you.
Soon enough, your inbox will hold a flight confirmation, your mind a million questions, and your heart—ready.
OUR SAFARI BLOG
Silverback Gorilla Strength, Height, Size, Bite Force & Facts
