How many days in Uganda? 8 days: chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions and mountain gorillas
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Uganda packs savannah, rainforest, crater lakes and the source of the Nile into a country the size of the UK. The classic route runs down the Albertine Rift in the west: chimpanzees in Kibale, a savannah safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the mountain gorillas of Bwindi. Eight days fits it with one rest day, thanks to a flight back to Entebbe at the end. A gorilla permit costs US$800, about half the price of Rwanda's, but roads are slower, so plan on long drives.
Short answer
Six days covers Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi if you drive both ways. Eight adds the crater lakes, Ishasha's lions and Lake Bunyonyi, and lets you fly back.
The 8-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Entebbe and Kampala
Morning. Most flights land at Entebbe on Lake Victoria. Visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, founded in 1898, where colobus monkeys and hornbills live, or the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (about US$30).
Afternoon. Drive 1 hour to Kampala via the Entebbe Expressway. Climb the minaret of the Uganda National Mosque for a view over the city's hills, and visit the Kasubi Tombs, the UNESCO-listed burial place of the Buganda kings, rebuilt in thatch after a fire in 2010.
Evening. Eat a rolex (a chapati rolled with an omelette) for USh 3,000-5,000 from a street stall, or dinner in Kololo or Bugolobi.
Kampala traffic is heavy; leave plenty of time, and use SafeBoda or Uber for short trips.
Day 2: To Fort Portal and the crater lakes
Morning. Drive about 5-6 hours west to Fort Portal, the tea-growing town at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Afternoon. Visit the Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes around Fort Portal, with walks and viewpoints over a string of crater lakes.
Evening. Stay near Kibale, at a lodge on a crater rim.
Leave Kampala early to arrive before dark; drives often take longer than planned.
Day 3: Chimpanzees in Kibale
Morning. Track chimpanzees in Kibale National Park (permit about US$250), home to some 1,500 chimps and 13 primate species. Treks start at Kanyanchu around 8:00 and give you an hour with the chimps.
Afternoon. Walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary (about US$20-25), a community-run swamp walk with red colobus monkeys, mangabeys and over 200 bird species, including the great blue turaco.
Evening. Dinner at your lodge near the forest.
Wear long trousers tucked into socks; the forest has ants.
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth and the Kazinga Channel
Morning. Drive about 3 hours south to Queen Elizabeth National Park (entry about US$40 a day), with a game drive in the Kasenyi plains for lions, elephants and Uganda kob.
Afternoon. Take the Kazinga Channel boat (about US$30-40), a 2-hour cruise between Lake George and Lake Edward with hippos, buffalo, elephants and many waterbirds.
Evening. Stay near Mweya peninsula, with views over the channel.
Afternoon boats see the most animals at the water's edge.
Day 5: Ishasha's tree-climbing lions, then Bwindi
Morning. Drive south to the Ishasha sector of the park, famous for lions that rest in fig trees.
Afternoon. Continue about 2-3 hours to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, staying near your gorilla trekking sector (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo).
Evening. Dinner at your lodge at the forest edge.
Check which sector your permit is for; they are hours apart by road.
Day 6: Mountain gorillas in Bwindi
Morning. Report to the ranger station at 7:30 for briefing. The trek to your gorilla family can take 1-6 hours through steep, dense forest; you then spend one hour with the gorillas.
Afternoon. Rest, or join a Batwa community walk to learn about the forest people who once lived inside Bwindi.
Evening. Dinner at your lodge.
Hire a porter (about US$15-20) at the trailhead; it supports local families and helps on muddy slopes.
Day 7: Lake Bunyonyi
Morning. Drive about 2-3 hours to Lake Bunyonyi, a lake with 29 islands among terraced hills near Kabale.
Afternoon. Paddle a dugout canoe or take a boat to the islands (about USh 50,000-100,000 per boat), including Akampene, Punishment Island.
Evening. Swim in the lake, which is free of bilharzia and crocodiles, and watch sunset from your lodge.
Bunyonyi is a good place to rest after the gorillas.
Day 8: Fly back to Entebbe
Morning. Drive to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip and fly to Entebbe (about 1.5 hours; about US$300-400 one way), or drive 8-9 hours.
Afternoon. Shop for crafts at the Uganda Crafts Village or the Buganda Road craft market in Kampala.
Evening. A last dinner by Lake Victoria in Entebbe.
Book the domestic flight early; seats are limited.
Only have 6 days?
With 6 days, drive from Kampala to Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, then drive back to Entebbe. Skip Ishasha and Bunyonyi.
Got extra days?
Add Murchison Falls National Park in the north (about 5-6 hours from Kampala), where the Nile forces through a 7 m gap, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on the way. Or raft the Nile at Jinja.
Where to stay in Uganda
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Kampala guesthouses / Fort Portal | Simple rooms in towns near the parks. | USh 120,000-220,000 |
| Mid-range | Kibale crater lodges | Lodges on crater rims, close to chimp treks. | USh 350,000-700,000 |
| Mid-range | Mweya / Bwindi community lodges | Lodges inside or next to the parks. | USh 400,000-900,000 |
| Comfort | Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth luxury lodges | Full-board forest and savannah lodges. | USh 2,000,000-5,000,000 |
Getting around
Most visitors hire a 4x4 with driver-guide (about US$150-220 a day including fuel), because park roads are rough. Public buses link Kampala with Fort Portal and Kabale but not the parks. AeroLink and other domestic flights link Entebbe with Kihihi, Kisoro and other airstrips.
What to eat in Uganda
Ugandan food is hearty: matoke (steamed green bananas), posho (maize porridge), beans, groundnut sauce and grilled tilapia. Street food includes the rolex and samosas. Lodges serve international meals. Local restaurants cost USh 10,000-30,000; try Nile Special beer.
Best time to visit
June to September and December to February are the dry seasons, best for gorilla and chimpanzee treks. March to May and October to November are wetter, with muddy trails but greener scenery and some lodge discounts.
Month-by-month weather for Uganda →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | USh 80,000 | USh 300,000 | USh 1,500,000 |
| Food & drink | USh 40,000 | USh 80,000 | USh 150,000 |
| Sights & tickets | USh 80,000 | USh 180,000 | USh 300,000 |
| Local transport | USh 60,000 | USh 300,000 | USh 500,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about USh 260,000 | about USh 860,000 | about USh 2,450,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Ugandan shillings (about USh 3,700 to US$1), with transport based on a shared 4x4. The US$800 gorilla permit and US$250 chimpanzee permit are extra and paid in US dollars.
Before you go
Common questions
How do I book a gorilla permit?
Through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a licensed tour operator. Permits cost US$800 for foreign visitors and sell out months ahead for June to September and December. Each gorilla family receives a small group of visitors once a day, and you must be at least 15 years old.
Is Uganda safe for tourists?
Most visits pass without problems, and park areas are well guarded. Check your government's travel advice before booking, as some border areas have warnings. In Kampala, watch for pickpockets, use registered taxis or ride apps at night, and avoid walking alone after dark.
Do I need a visa for Uganda?
Most nationalities apply online for an e-visa before travel (about US$50 for a single entry). The East Africa Tourist Visa (about US$100) covers Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya for 90 days. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required on arrival, so carry the original card with your passport.
Uganda or Rwanda for gorillas?
Both offer the same mountain gorillas. Rwanda is closer to its airport and more expensive (US$1,500 permit). Uganda's permit is US$800, and the country adds chimpanzees, savannah safaris and the Nile, but the drives are longer. Many travellers combine both.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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