Gorilla Trekking in Uganda & Wildlife Safaris — Two Adventures, One Unforgettable Journey
Uganda is the rare destination where you can look a wild mountain gorilla in the eye one morning and watch lions stalk the plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park the next. At Traford Safaris, we build journeys around this — gorilla trekking in Uganda paired with the wildlife safaris that make the “Pearl of Africa” nickname earned rather than just marketing. We handle the permits, the parks, the vehicles, and the pacing, so your trip moves seamlessly from rainforest to savannah without you lifting a finger.
Wildlife Tours in Uganda: Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Big Game Safaris.
Uganda packs more wildlife variety into one trip than almost any other country in Africa. In a single week you can also sit a few metres from a mountain gorilla family, follow chimpanzees through the rainforest, watch lions and elephants on open savannah, and cruise past hippos and crocodiles on the Nile.
Additionally, Traford Safaris plans wildlife tours in Uganda around the animals you most want to see and the budget you want to keep. We are based in Kampala; we know the parks and the roads, and every itinerary is built for you rather than taken off a shelf.
Top Featured Christmas Safari Packages
Experience Uganda - Book your next tour Now.
Our expertly guided tours ensure a seamless and enriching travel experience, combining adventure with comfort and safety.
Therefore Book your journey today and discover the true essence of Uganda’s natural beauty and wildlife.
What we do - Defining Journeys Into The Wild.
We craft unforgettable safari experiences tailored to meet the diverse needs and preferences of our clients.
However, our offerings range from budget-friendly, mid-range, and luxurious safari packages, ensuring that every traveler finds a perfect fit for their East African exploration.
Top Wildlife Experiences in Uganda
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga
Gorilla trekking is the highlight of most Uganda safaris. You hike into the forest with ranger guides and trackers until you find your assigned gorilla family, then spend one hour watching them feed, groom and play.
Only eight visitors may see each gorilla family per day, and trekkers must be at least 15 years old. The hike can take anything from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on where the gorillas slept the night before.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. We match your sector to your lodge and fitness level. For a longer encounter, the gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga gives you up to four hours with a family that is still getting used to people.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest
Kibale Forest National Park is the best place in Uganda to see chimpanzees in the wild. Tracking starts in the morning or early afternoon, and once you find the group you spend an hour with them as they call, climb and feed overhead.
Along the way you may also see red colobus, black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabeys and L’Hoest’s monkeys. If Kibale does not fit your route, we can arrange chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest near Murchison Falls, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, or Kalinzu Forest.
Game Drives on the Savannah
Early morning and late afternoon game drives are when the savannah is most active. In Murchison Falls you can expect giraffes, elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob and hartebeest, with lions and leopards for the patient.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for the tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector and the open Kasenyi plains. Kidepo Valley, in the far north-east, offers huge buffalo herds, cheetahs and ostriches in true wilderness. Lake Mburo adds zebras, impalas and elands, plus walking safaris and night drives.
Boat Safaris on the Nile and the Kazinga Channel
Some of Uganda’s best wildlife viewing happens from the water. The boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls passes hippos, Nile crocodiles and elephants drinking at the bank, and ends with a view of the Nile forcing itself through a narrow gorge.
The Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park links Lake Edward and Lake George. Its banks hold one of the densest hippo populations in Africa, along with buffalo, elephants and hundreds of water birds.
Rhino Tracking on Foot
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary sits on the road between Kampala and Murchison Falls, which makes it an easy stop. Rangers lead you on foot to within a safe distance of southern white rhinos, a rare chance to see these animals without a vehicle between you.
Birdwatching Tours
Birders come to Uganda for species that are hard to find anywhere else. Mabamba Swamp near Entebbe is the classic place to look for the shoebill, Bwindi protects many Albertine Rift endemics, and Queen Elizabeth National Park alone has recorded more than 600 species.
We can add birding stops to any wildlife tour or design a dedicated birding safari with a specialist guide.
Featured Destinations
Top East Africa Safari Destinations
Top Travel Safaris in Uganda & East Africa.
We believe a safari should be more than just a checklist of sightings; it should be a profound connection to the wild.
Our current Experiences and Activities reflect a shift toward deeper & immersive encounters in Uganda’s most iconic landscapes.
- Rwanda
- 2 Days
2 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari
2 Days at Akagera & Lake Ihema Wildlife Safari takes us to Akagera National Park for a game drive and to Ihema Lake for a canoe ride to see the water animals and birds.
- Rwanda
- 3 Days
3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trek
Embark on an unforgettable 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Exclusive Trek Safari journey through Rwanda’s breathtaking landscapes, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
- Kenya
- 5 Days
5-Day Kenya Big5 Safari
5-Day Kenya Big5 Safari begins with game drives in Lake Nakuru, popular for birdlife, including flamingos, and an experience for both black and white rhinos.
- Uganda
- 6 Days
6-Day Uganda Adventure Tour
On the 6-Day Uganda Adventure Tour, you will visit three of Uganda’s amazing national parks. Track chimps in Kibale Forest National Park
- Rwanda-Uganda
- 6 Days
6 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari
6-days Rwanda Uganda Safari starts from Kigali Genocide Memorial and then heads to Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee trekking.
- Tanzania
- 7 Days
7-Day Tanzania Luxury Safari
Experience timeless romance across Tanzania’s most iconic landscapes, combining luxury, privacy, and exceptional wildlife
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Home to Mojority of Gorillas in the world.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife destinations.
Also, a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi offers an unforgettable opportunity to hike through ancient rainforest and encounter habituated gorilla families in their natural habitat.
Beyond gorilla trekking, visitors can enjoy gorilla habituation experiences, bird watching, guided forest walks, photography, and Batwa cultural experiences.
The park is also a biodiversity hotspot, supporting hundreds of species, making Bwindi Impenetrable National Park an ideal destination for adventure travelers seeking an authentic Uganda safari experience.
Best National Parks for Wildlife Tours in Uganda
Uganda has ten national parks, and each one suits a different kind of trip. This table shows where to go for what; drive times are approximate and depend on road and weather conditions.
Park | Best for | Wildlife highlights | Drive from Kampala |
Bwindi Impenetrable | Gorilla trekking | Mountain gorillas, forest birds, monkeys | About 8 to 10 hours |
Mgahinga Gorilla | Gorillas and golden monkeys | Mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, volcano hikes | About 9 to 10 hours |
Kibale Forest | Chimpanzee tracking | Chimpanzees, 13 primate species | About 5 to 6 hours |
Queen Elizabeth | Big game and boat safaris | Tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, 600+ bird species | About 6 to 7 hours |
Murchison Falls | Big game and the Nile | Giraffes, lions, elephants, crocodiles, the falls | About 5 to 6 hours |
Kidepo Valley | Remote wilderness | Cheetahs, ostriches, large buffalo herds | About 10 to 12 hours, or a short flight |
Lake Mburo | Short safaris and walking | Zebras, impalas, elands, giraffes | About 4 hours |
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the centre of gorilla tourism in Uganda. Its steep, misty forest is also one of the richest in East Africa for birds and butterflies.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most varied park in the country. Savannah, crater lakes, wetlands and forest sit side by side, so a two- or three-night stay can cover game drives, a Kazinga Channel cruise and chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge.
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest park. The Nile runs through the middle of it, and the combination of a morning game drive and an afternoon boat trip to the falls is hard to beat.
Kibale Forest National Park pairs well with Queen Elizabeth because the two are only a few hours apart. Most guests spend two nights here for chimpanzee tracking and a guided walk in Bigodi Wetland.
Kidepo Valley National Park rewards travellers who have the time to reach it. Visitor numbers are low, the landscapes are wide and dry, and several species found here do not occur in any other Ugandan park.
Lake Mburo National Park is the closest savannah park to Kampala and breaks up the long drive to Bwindi. It is one of the few places in Uganda where you can explore on foot, by bicycle or on horseback.
Why Travelers Choose Traford Safaris
Experience unforgettable gorilla trekking and wildlife tours, crafted to immerse you in Africa’s breathtaking landscapes and diverse ecosystems. Book your journey today! Traford Safaris Ltd stands as a trailblazer in the travel industry, seamlessly merging creativity and functionality to revolutionize African tourism.
Why Us?
Why Choose Us for Your Next Africa Safari?
We’re a Uganda-based operator with guides who grew up near these parks — people who know which ranger station has the shortest trek that morning, and which waterhole the elephants favour at sunset. Every itinerary we build, whether a focused gorilla trek or a full multi-park wildlife safari through Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, or Tanzania, is tailored to your dates, fitness, and budget rather than pulled from a fixed template. That’s what turns a checklist trip into a journey you actually remember.
Our guides are experts in navigation and wildlife spotting, passionate storytellers who bring the region’s rich history and traditions to life.
From the moment you inquire about our services to the end of your safari, our team provides personalized service.
Our fleet of safari vehicles provides maximum comfort and reliability, ensuring you can traverse the rugged terrains of East Africa with ease.
Uganda Wildlife Tour Permits and Costs
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) sets permit and park fees. These are the main rates for international visitors (foreign non-residents) at the time of writing, per person.
Activity | Standard price (USD) | Low season: April, May, November 2026 (USD) |
Gorilla trekking permit, Bwindi or Mgahinga | 800 | 600 |
Chimpanzee tracking permit, Kibale | 250 | 200 |
Gorilla habituation experience | 1,500 | No discount announced |
Chimpanzee habituation experience, Kibale | 300 | No discount announced |
Park entry, most savannah parks (24 hours) | 40 | Same |
Park entry, Murchison Falls (24 hours) | 45 | Same |
UWA has announced a revised tariff from 1 January 2027. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale is due to rise to $300, chimpanzee habituation to $400 and gorilla habituation to $1,800, while the standard gorilla permit stays at $800.
Permits are confirmed only once they are paid for, and discounted low-season permits cannot be rescheduled. Traford Safaris books permits on your behalf as part of your tour, so you do not have to deal with the paperwork.
The total cost of a Uganda wildlife tour depends on four things: the number of days, the standard of lodge, the size of your group and how many permits you need. Tell us your budget and we will show you what it can cover.
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Why Uganda Delivers Gorillas and Game in Equal Measure
Most countries make you choose: gorillas or the Big Five. Uganda doesn’t. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park hold more than half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, while a short drive or flight away, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and Kidepo Valley National Parks hold lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and — in Queen Elizabeth’s Ishasha sector — the rare tree-climbing lions found almost nowhere else on Earth. Add chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, boat cruises below Murchison Falls, and game drives across open savannah, and a Uganda itinerary covers more ecosystems in ten days than most countries offer in a month.
A Day Trekking, a Day on Safari
A typical Traford Safaris journey starts in Bwindi or Mgahinga, where you join a small group and a team of rangers hiking into dense, misty forest to find a habituated gorilla family. You get a full hour with them — watching a silverback move through the undergrowth, infants tumbling over each other, the low rumble of contact calls between troop members. From there, we route you toward the open plains: a game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park’s crater lakes and grasslands, a Kazinga Channel boat cruise past hundreds of hippos and elephant herds, or a Murchison Falls safari where the Nile itself becomes part of the wildlife experience. The forest-to-savannah shift is deliberate — it’s what makes a Uganda safari feel layered rather than repetitive.
Gorilla Habituation and Deeper Wildlife Encounters
For travelers who want more time with the gorillas, we arrange habituation experiences — up to four hours with a family still being acclimatised to human presence, alongside the researchers who track them daily. On the wildlife safari side, we build in the experiences standard itineraries skip: guided nature walks, birding across Uganda’s 1,000-plus recorded species, night game drives for the nocturnal predators day safaris miss, and cultural encounters with communities living alongside these parks — including the Batwa, Bwindi’s original forest inhabitants.
Permits, Parks, and Planning — Handled for You
Gorilla permits are limited and allocated per family per day, so timing matters, especially in the dry seasons (June–September and December–February) when trekking trails are firmer and safari game drives hit their peak visibility. Traford Safaris secures your gorilla permits directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority, sequences your itinerary between parks efficiently, and matches you with lodges and camps that fit your style — budget bandas near the trailhead, mid-range safari lodges overlooking the savannah, or luxury tented camps on the Kazinga Channel.
Permits, Parks, and Planning — Handled for You
Gorilla permits are limited and allocated per family per day, so timing matters, especially in the dry seasons (June–September and December–February) when trekking trails are firmer and safari game drives hit their peak visibility. Traford Safaris secures your gorilla permits directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority, sequences your itinerary between parks efficiently, and matches you with lodges and camps that fit your style — budget bandas near the trailhead, mid-range safari lodges overlooking the savannah, or luxury tented camps on the Kazinga Channel.
