Luxury Uganda Safaris 2026 and 2027: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi, Chimpanzees and Murchison Falls

Luxury Uganda Safaris, in Brief

What a luxury Uganda safari includes.

A luxury Uganda safari combines mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to about half the world's mountain gorillas, with chimpanzees in Kibale, the Kazinga Channel and tree climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Nile at Murchison Falls. A gorilla permit costs USD 800 in 2026 and 2027, or USD 600 in April, May and November, and our Uganda journeys start from USD 8,750 per person.

USD 800Gorilla permit, 2026 and 2027
USD 600In April, May and November
4 hoursThe habituation experience
4.9From 170+ guest reviews

By Abner Ongeri, founder, Karen, Nairobi

Where to Go in Uganda

Luxury Uganda safari destinations, on the map.

Choose an area to see when to go, how long it takes from Entebbe, and the luxury lodges we use there.

Luxury Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Half the world's mountain gorillas, in ancient, steep rainforest

Best months: June to September and December to February
From Entebbe: About 1.5 to 2 hours by light aircraft

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

BwindiSanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
BwindiErebero Hills

Explore Bwindi Impenetrable Forest →

Luxury Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Uganda's share of the Virunga volcanoes, with gorillas and golden monkeys

Best months: June to September and December to February
From Entebbe: About 1.5 to 2 hours by light aircraft to Kisoro

Trekked from the southern Bwindi lodges, or from a lodge at Kisoro. Tell us and we will arrange it.

Explore Mgahinga Gorilla National Park →

Luxury Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Kazinga Channel and the tree climbing lions of Ishasha

Best months: June to September and December to February
From Entebbe: About 1.5 hours by light aircraft

Two nights between Bwindi and Kibale, with a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel and the Ishasha lions. We choose the lodge for your dates.

Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park →

Luxury Kibale Forest

Kibale Forest

The primate capital of Africa, with the finest chimpanzee trekking on the continent

Best months: June to September and December to February
From Entebbe: About 1.5 hours by light aircraft, or 5 hours by road

Two nights for chimpanzee trekking, or the full day chimpanzee habituation experience. We choose the lodge for your dates.

Explore Kibale Forest →

Luxury Murchison Falls

Murchison Falls

The Nile forced through a narrow gorge, with elephants, giraffe and boat safaris

Best months: December to February and June to September
From Entebbe: About 1.5 hours by light aircraft

Two or three nights for the falls, the Nile boat safari and the northern savannah. We choose the lodge for your dates.

Explore Murchison Falls →

Luxury Kidepo Valley

Kidepo Valley

Remote, dramatic savannah in the far north east, with almost no other visitors

Best months: September to March
From Entebbe: About 2 hours by light aircraft

Two or three nights in one of Africa's wildest parks, reached by light aircraft. We choose the lodge for your dates.

Explore Kidepo Valley →

Luxury Entebbe

Entebbe

Arrival on the shores of Lake Victoria, and the first night

Best months: All year
From Entebbe: Minutes from the airport

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Entebbe

EntebbeEntebbe Forest Lodge

Explore Entebbe →

Luxury Jinja

Jinja and the Source of the Nile

Where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria, for boat trips and white water

Best months: All year
From Entebbe: About 2 hours by road

A day or a night on the Nile, with a boat trip to the source and white water rafting for the adventurous.

Explore Jinja and the Source of the Nile →

Private Luxury Safaris

Private Uganda safaris, done properly.

Four hours with the gorillas

The habituation experience in Bwindi's Rushaga sector, four guests a day, with a family still being habituated.

Fly, not drive

Light aircraft from Entebbe to Kihihi, Kisoro, Kasese and Pakuba turn days on the road into an hour in the air.

Primates and savannah

Gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys, then lions, elephants and the Nile in a single journey.

Read our full guide to luxury gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, and what a gorilla trek costs.

Gorilla Permits in Uganda

Uganda gorilla permit prices for 2026 and 2027.

Permits are limited to eight guests per family each day. We request yours the day you confirm and show every fee in your proposal.

Permit	Price per person	What it includes
Mountain gorilla permit	USD 800	One hour with a habituated family in Bwindi or Mgahinga. USD 600 in April, May and November.
Gorilla habituation experience	USD 1,500	Up to four hours with a family being habituated, four guests a day, in the Rushaga sector. USD 1,800 from 1 January 2027.
East African residents	Reduced	Citizens and residents of East Africa pay considerably less, in local currency.

Luxury Uganda Safari Packages

Uganda gorilla safaris, priced and ready.

Our journeys that include Uganda, with their prices. Every one can be reshaped around your dates, or we can design one from a blank page.

UgandaGorillas included

5 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari

DestinationsEntebbe · Bwindi
Duration5 Days · 4 Nights
HighlightsFour nights between Entebbe and Bwindi, with a gorilla trek and time in the forest. The simplest way to see gorillas well.

Starting fromUSD 8,750 per person

View Itinerary Enquire

UgandaGorillas included

Uganda Gorillas and the Maasai Mara

DestinationsEntebbe · Bwindi · Maasai Mara
Duration10 Days · 9 Nights
HighlightsBwindi for the gorillas, then a short flight to the Maasai Mara for the big cats. Two of Africa's great experiences in ten days.

Starting fromUSD 11,600 per person

View Itinerary Enquire

Best Time to Visit Uganda

The best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Gorillas can be trekked every month of the year. The seasons change the trails, the crowds and the price. Choose a month to see the weather, the wildlife, the prices and where we would send you.

The short dry season

January in Uganda

Weather: Short dry season
Trekking: Good trekking, chimpanzees active
Prices: High
Best for: Gorillas and chimpanzees
Where we would send you: Bwindi and Kibale

The short dry season

February in Uganda

Weather: Short dry season
Trekking: Excellent trekking, lions at Ishasha
Prices: High
Best for: The classic primate circuit
Where we would send you: Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale

The long rains

March in Uganda

Weather: The rains begin
Trekking: Lush forest, muddier trails
Prices: Shoulder
Best for: Value before the long rains
Where we would send you: Bwindi

The long rains

April in Uganda

Weather: Long rains
Trekking: Wet trails, permit USD 600
Prices: Low season
Best for: Value for the fit and flexible
Where we would send you: Bwindi, at the low season permit rate

The long rains

May in Uganda

Weather: Long rains ease
Trekking: Green and quiet, permit USD 600
Prices: Low season
Best for: Quiet trekking and value
Where we would send you: Bwindi and Kibale

The long dry season

June in Uganda

Weather: Long dry season begins
Trekking: Firmer trails, excellent trekking
Prices: High
Best for: The start of the best months
Where we would send you: Bwindi, then the Maasai Mara

The long dry season

July in Uganda

Weather: Dry
Trekking: Superb trekking and chimpanzees
Prices: Peak
Best for: Gorillas with the Great Migration
Where we would send you: Bwindi, then the Mara

The long dry season

August in Uganda

Weather: Dry
Trekking: The busiest trekking month
Prices: Peak
Best for: Families and a Mara combination
Where we would send you: Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth

The long dry season

September in Uganda

Weather: Dry
Trekking: Excellent trekking, Kidepo at its best from now
Prices: High
Best for: Gorillas and Kidepo
Where we would send you: Bwindi, then Kidepo

The short rains

October in Uganda

Weather: Short rains begin
Trekking: Green, fewer visitors
Prices: Shoulder
Best for: Quieter trekking
Where we would send you: Bwindi and Kibale

The short rains

November in Uganda

Weather: Short rains
Trekking: Showers, permit USD 600
Prices: Low season
Best for: Value and solitude
Where we would send you: Bwindi, at the low season permit rate

The short dry season

December in Uganda

Weather: Short dry season
Trekking: Good trekking returns
Prices: High late
Best for: Festive gorilla safaris
Where we would send you: Bwindi, booked early

The First Decision

Rwanda or Uganda?

Both offer one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family. The difference is everything around that hour, and many guests do both.

	Rwanda	Uganda
Permit, 2026 and 2027	USD 1,500	USD 800, or USD 600 in April, May and November
Where you trek	Volcanoes National Park	Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga
From the airport	About 2.5 to 3 hours by road from Kigali, or 30 minutes by helicopter	About 1.5 to 2 hours by light aircraft from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro, or 8 to 10 hours by road. The southern sectors are about 4 to 5 hours by road from Kigali
The terrain	Bamboo and open volcano slopes, often steep but clear	Dense, steep rainforest, often muddier and longer
Four hour habituation	Not offered	Offered in the Rushaga sector, USD 1,500, rising to USD 1,800 from 1 January 2027
Lodges	Singita Kwitonda, Bisate, One&Only Gorilla's Nest	Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Erebero Hills
Pairs well with	Golden monkeys, Nyungwe, Akagera, a flight to the Maasai Mara	Chimpanzees in Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, the Maasai Mara
Best for	Shorter trips, easier access and the finest lodges	Value, the habituation experience and a longer journey

See luxury Rwanda safaris and luxury gorilla trekking.

Beyond the Gorillas

Things to do in Uganda.

Chimpanzees in Kibale

The finest chimpanzee trekking in Africa, or a full day with the habituation team.

The Kazinga Channel

A boat safari between Lakes Edward and George, among hippos, buffalo and elephants.

The lions of Ishasha

Lions resting in the fig trees of southern Queen Elizabeth, a sight found in very few places.

Murchison Falls

The Nile forced through a gap seven metres wide, seen from the top and by boat from below.

Kidepo Valley

Remote savannah with cheetah, ostrich and the Karamojong people, almost to yourself.

The Source of the Nile

Where the river leaves Lake Victoria at Jinja, for boat trips and white water.

The safaris were intimate, never rushed, and our guide made each sighting significant.

Guest review · Rated 4.9 from more than 170 reviews

Good to Know

Luxury Uganda safari questions, answered.

How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda?

A gorilla permit in Bwindi or Mgahinga costs USD 800 per person in 2026 and 2027, or USD 600 in April, May and November. The four hour habituation experience costs USD 1,500, rising to USD 1,800 from 1 January 2027.

When is the best time to visit Uganda?

June to September and December to February, the dry seasons, when trails are firmer. Gorillas can be trekked all year, and April, May and November bring the lower permit price.

How do you get to Bwindi?

By light aircraft from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro in about one and a half to two hours, or about 8 to 10 hours by road. The southern sectors are about 4 to 5 hours by road from Kigali in Rwanda.

What are the best luxury lodges in Uganda?

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, the only luxury lodge inside Bwindi, and Erebero Hills above the forest. We choose lodges in Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Murchison Falls and Kidepo around your dates.

How many days do I need in Uganda?

Four to five nights for the gorillas, or ten to twelve for the full primate and savannah circuit through Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Murchison Falls.

Can I see chimpanzees in Uganda?

Yes. Kibale Forest has the finest chimpanzee trekking in Africa, and the full day habituation experience lets you spend a day with the research team.

Rwanda or Uganda for gorilla trekking?

Uganda costs less, offers the four hour habituation experience and suits a longer journey with chimpanzees and savannah. Rwanda is quicker to reach, with open terrain and the finest lodges. See our gorilla trekking guide.

Can I combine Uganda with a Kenya safari?

Yes. Entebbe is about an hour from Nairobi by air, and our Uganda Gorillas and the Maasai Mara journey combines Bwindi with the big cats of the Mara in ten days.

Begin

Secure your gorilla permits.

Permits are limited and June to September sells out months ahead. Tell us your dates, and a designer in Nairobi will check availability today and send your route, your lodge and an exact price within 24 hours.

Plan Your Uganda Safari Speak to an Expert

Also see luxury Rwanda safaris, Kenya and Tanzania.