How to Book Uganda Gorilla Trekking

How to Book Uganda Gorilla Trekking?

March 17, 2026
Activities in Lake Mburo National Park

Activities in Lake Mburo National Park

March 17, 2026

Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park: During the many activities you choose to engage in, you can observe a variety of animal, primate, and bird species that call Queen Elizabeth National Park home. For travelers seeking the most thrilling adventure in Uganda, it offers a wide range of attractions and activities to participate in for a fantastic experience. Additionally, with several safety measures in place, it guarantees that you have a safe experience to prevent contracting COVID-19 or the corona virus while engaging in the various activities.

Birding

One of the best ways to make sure you have a fantastic safari experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park is to go bird watching. Because the park is home to over 350 bird species that can be seen in the various sectors, such as the Kasenyi Area, Mweya Peninsula, and Ishasha Sector, among other areas in the park, you will have the opportunity to see over 100 bird species during your birding adventure there. Griffon Vulture, shoe bill stork, yellow wagtail, sacred ibis, Lappet-faced Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bateleur, black crake, squirrel-tailed night jar, Long-created Eagle, Nubian wood pecker, pygymy kingfisher, African jacana, Martial Eagle, blue-naped mouse bird, Grey Kestrel, African Crake, and Black-bellied Bustard are among the various bird species that can be discovered in the park.Raptors, Temminck’s Courser, Wattled Plover in Africa The Crowned Plover Among the many bird species that will make your birdwatching experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park very unforgettable are the Senegal Plove Hooded Vulture and the African White-backed Vulture.

The experience of tracking lions

The lion tracking experience is one of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s most popular attractions. In order to learn more about the animals, tourists accompany a team of researchers to a specific pride of lions for the lion tracking experience, which takes place in the early morning and late afternoon. The lions are equipped with radio collars that make it easy to detect them.

When you arrive at the lion pride, you will be able to tell a male from a female by looking at their distinct facial features and behaviors. For example, the females typically hunt and do not have a mane. You will also be able to observe how they coexist and their territorial hierarchy, among other things, which makes lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park an amazing experience.

Chimpanzee trekking

Among the activities available in Queen Elizabeth National Park is chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Gorge, which is well-known for its primate species and has earned the nickname “Valley of Apes” due to the numerous primate species that can be seen there. These include olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, red Colobus monkeys, white Colobus monkeys, and chimpanzees, which are the most prevalent species in the gorge.

Chimpanzee trekking is the reason many tourists come to the Kyambura Gorge to participate in this unique activity, which entails tracking the habituated chimpanzees in the area to learn more about their behavior in the park, including their feeding and grooming habits, by observing their behavior during the one hour allotted for spending time with the primates. One of the interesting things about the activity is that you will have the opportunity to see a variety of bird species.

African skimmer, ovampo sparrow hawk, white-winged warbler, grey-breated pitta, yellow-spotted nicator, papyrus gonolek, white collared olive back, grey-winged robin chat, black bishop, white-spotted flufftail, hairy-breasted barbet, and black-crowned wax bill are just a few of the noteworthy bird species that can be seen during the activity.

Game drives

One of the most fulfilling experiences at Queen Elizabeth National Park is going on a game drive, which will provide you with a variety of sights to observe. It should be mentioned that the park is home to many animal species, including four of Uganda’s five large animals-elephants, lions, leopards, and buffaloes-as well as a variety of herbivores, carnivores, and many bird species, all of which you will be able to observe when you participate in the activity.

Among other animal species, you can choose to participate in one of the morning game drives, which offer the opportunity to witness early risers in the park grazing in the savannah plains, such as elephants, Uganda kobs, buffalos, topis, impalas, and several antelope species. You may witness nocturnal creatures like lions and leopards hunting their prey during the nighttime game drives. You can also witness a variety of herbivores in the park, which will provide you with incredible experiences.

Boat cruiseActivities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Another activity available in Queen Elizabeth National Park is the boat cruise, which offers visitors unparalleled experiences along the Kazinga channel that borders Lake George and Edward. Along the way, you will see a variety of animals, including buffalos, elephants, Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, hippopotamuses, various amphibian and reptilian species, including Nile lizards and Nile crocodiles, as well as a number of water birds, including great cormorants, little grebes, northern lapwings, red-necked grebes, wandering albatrosses, and pied king fishers.

Nature walks

In order to ensure your safety, a ranger and guide accompany you on the park’s guided nature walks, which take place in the Maramagambo forest. Numerous wildlife species, including primate species like L’hoest’s monkeys, Mona monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and many more, can be found in the forest.

These species will make your visit to the park unforgettable, and the stunning scenery of the two lakes that line the forest’s edges will provide lovely views and refreshing breezes.

Uganda Travel Guide – The Pearl of Africa

Uganda is one of Africa’s most rewarding and underrated destinations. Winston Churchill’s description of Uganda as the “Pearl of Africa” – inspired by its extraordinary combination of landscapes, wildlife, and people – remains as apt today as when he coined it in 1908. The country packs an astonishing range of experiences into a relatively compact area: snow-capped mountains, vast savannahs, dense tropical rainforests, the source of the Nile, and some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife.

Uganda shares borders with Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan, and sits astride the equator in East-Central Africa. The capital, Kampala, is a vibrant, growing city that serves as the gateway to Uganda’s national parks. Most wildlife safaris begin and end in Kampala or at Entebbe International Airport, 45 minutes south of the city.

Uganda’s Key National Parks and Wildlife Areas

  • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to over half the world’s mountain gorillas. Four trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo.
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park: Uganda’s most visited park, famous for tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel, and diverse savannah and forest habitats.
  • Murchison Falls National Park: Uganda’s largest park, home to the world’s most powerful waterfall. Excellent for elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, and shoebill storks on the Nile.
  • Kibale Forest National Park: The world’s best chimpanzee trekking destination, also home to 12 other primate species and superb birdwatching.
  • Kidepo Valley National Park: Uganda’s most remote and arguably most spectacular park, bordering South Sudan. Wild, untouched, and home to species found nowhere else in Uganda including cheetahs and caracals.
  • Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: In the Virunga Mountains, offering gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, and volcano hiking in a compact, accessible park.

Practical Uganda Travel Information

Visa and entry requirements

Uganda offers an e-visa for most nationalities, applied online at visas.immigration.go.ug. East African Community citizens are exempt. The East Africa Tourist Visa (covering Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda) is available at the point of entry. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry.

Currency and costs

The Ugandan Shilling (UGX) is the local currency. USD is widely accepted in tourist areas. Mid-range safari lodges cost USD 150-350 per person per night. Budget accommodation in Kampala starts from USD 20-40. Gorilla permits (USD 800) are the single largest expense for most visitors.

Getting around Uganda

Most visitors use private safari vehicles (included in tour packages) or hire a driver-guide. Public minibus taxis (matatus) connect major towns but are not suitable for wildlife areas. Charter flights from Entebbe to Kihihi, Kisoro, Kasese, or Pakuba significantly reduce overland travel times on longer itineraries.

Recommended Tours: 9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari | 7 Days Uganda Safari

Popular Trip Packages to Guide You

Murchison Falls waterfall on the Victoria Nile, Uganda

Murchison Falls' classic activities based from a premium riverside lodge, with private transfers throughout.

Murchison Falls and the Victoria Nile, Uganda

Search for the shoebill stork among 450+ recorded species, with classic game drives built around the trip too.

Murchison Falls and the Victoria Nile, Uganda

A dedicated sunset game drive for peak predator activity, alongside the park's classic Nile boat cruise.

Murchison Falls and the Victoria Nile, Uganda

Cast for Nile perch below the falls, then spend an afternoon on a classic savannah game drive.

Murchison Falls waterfall gorge on the Nile, Uganda

Uganda's only wild rhinos at Ziwa, chimpanzee trekking in Budongo, and classic Murchison Falls game drives.

Murchison Falls waterfall gorge on the Nile, Uganda

A fast, efficient fly-in trip with a game drive and boat cruise to the base of the falls.

Murchison Falls National Park landscape, Uganda

A longer, quieter Nile cruise downstream to the Delta on Lake Albert, known for strong shoebill stork sightings.

Murchison Falls National Park landscape, Uganda

Hike to the top of Murchison Falls where the Nile forces through a narrow gorge, plus classic savannah game drives.

Wildebeest migration crossing the Serengeti plains, Tanzania

Skip the long drive with a direct flight to wherever the migration currently is, for a fast, high-value trip.

Wildebeest migration crossing the Serengeti plains, Tanzania

Follows the migration in the Serengeti while adding Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a genuine shot at the Big Five.

Wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Witness roughly half a million wildebeest calves born within weeks of each other on the southern Serengeti's plains.

Wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Based directly in the northern Serengeti near the Mara River during peak river-crossing season.

Zebra herds during the Serengeti wildebeest migration, Tanzania

The migration's scale in the Serengeti paired with Ngorongoro Crater's density and reliability.

Lion in a Kenyan national park, near the Masai Mara

A focused Masai Mara trip timed to migration season, when the reserve holds one of the densest wildlife concentrations on Earth.

Zebra herds during the Serengeti wildebeest migration, Tanzania

Extended time near known Mara River crossing points, chasing the migration's most dramatic single moment.

Wildebeest on the Great Migration in the northern Serengeti, Tanzania

A migration-focused Serengeti safari with your route planned around where the herds are expected during your travel dates.

Maasai Mara National Reserve landscape, Kenya

Kenya's classic Big Five circuit across three parks chosen specifically to maximize your chances of seeing all five.

Masai Mara wildlife on the open savanna, Kenya

A sunrise hot air balloon flight over the Mara plus classic Big Five game drives and a bush breakfast.

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Private vehicles and extended golden-hour game drives, built specifically for photographers chasing the Big Five.

Safari vehicles watching a lion couple in the Maasai Mara, Kenya

Extended Masai Mara game drives timed to migration season, without giving up your chances at the Big Five.

Safari vehicles watching a lion couple in the Maasai Mara, Kenya

A quick weekend escape from Nairobi with two full game drives in one of the world's best-known reserves.

Uganda Gorilla Trekking Experience

Discover Uganda’s gorilla trekking experience where misty rainforests shelter mountain gorillas, ancient trails wind through Bwindi’s depths, and every step brings you closer to one of Africa’s most profound wildlife encounters, blending raw nature, conservation, and lasting memories.

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