Pearl ofAfrica

Plan my safari See itineraries

01 / 03The Nile at JinjaThe Nile leaves Lake Victoria at Jinja and runs north through the whole country.

02 / 03Bwindi Impenetrable ForestSteep ridges under morning mist, home to about half of the world’s mountain gorillas.

03 / 03Rwenzori MountainsMargherita Peak rises to 5,109 m and keeps its snow almost on the equator.

In Kampala right now

1,000+bird species recorded

~50%of the world's mountain gorillas

10national parks

5,109 mMargherita Peak, Rwenzori

Choose your journey

Follow the Nile, then go where it doesn't.

Pick a place on the map. Every trip starts in Kampala or Entebbe.

Far south-west

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Home to about half the world’s mountain gorillas. Trek steep forest trails for one hour with a habituated family.

From Kampala8–9 h · 1.5 h flightBest forGorilla trekking

Explore this place

Your routeAdd places to build a route. We’ll draw it on the map.

Featured tripsSample content

Three ways to see the country

When to go

Every month is good for something

Tap a month on the wheel.

January

Dry and warm. Prime time for gorillas and chimps, and migrant birds are still here.

Dry seasonBest for the RwenzoriBest for birdingRainy season

Who you'll travel withSample content

Guides who grew up here

Every trip has one guide from start to finish. They drive, they translate, and they know which trail the gorillas used yesterday.

Portrait

Guide name

Lead safari guide · 12 years

Grew up near Queen Elizabeth. Can name any bird call before you’ve found the bird.

Speaks English, Luganda, Swahili

Portrait

Guide name

Gorilla trekking · 9 years

Former ranger in Bwindi. Knows every habituated family by name.

Speaks English, Rukiga, French

Portrait

Guide name

Mountain guide · 15 years

Has summited Margherita Peak more than 80 times.

Speaks English, Lukonzo

Your day in Bwindi

One hour with the gorillas. The whole day around it.

Treks take 1 to 6 hours, depending on where the family slept last night.

05:30

05:30
Coffee by the fire
The forest is loud before sunrise. Breakfast, boots, packed lunch.
07:30
Ranger briefing
At the park office you are assigned a gorilla family and a group of eight.
08:30
Into the forest
Trackers went ahead at dawn. You follow on steep, narrow trails; porters can carry your bag.
11:00
One hour with the family
Masks on, phones ready, 7 metres away. Most people forget to take photos.
12:00
Lunch on the trail
Eat where you stop, then walk back out the way you came.
15:00
Back at the lodge
Hot shower, tea, and your trekking certificate.
16:30
Village walk
Optional: a community walk with local Batwa and Bakiga guides.
19:30
Dinner and stories
Your guide joins you to talk through the day.