Planning a trip to Uganda
Uganda for first-timers — arriving at Entebbe, lively Kampala, the source of the Nile at Jinja, and gorillas in the southwest.
Uganda packs a lot into a compact, green country: primate tracking, the source of the Nile, savannah safaris and one of East Africa’s friendliest capitals.
Arriving
International flights land at Entebbe, on a peninsula in Lake Victoria. Many travellers spend their first or last night lakeside in Entebbe — it is calmer than Kampala and close to the airport — before heading onward.
Kampala and Jinja
- Kampala, built over green hills about an hour from Entebbe, is the energetic hub — markets, music and cafés.
- Jinja, a couple of hours east, is where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria and Uganda’s adventure capital: rafting, kayaking and bungee.
Gorillas and wildlife
The headline is mountain-gorilla and chimpanzee tracking in the southwest (Bwindi and Kibale), with savannah parks like Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls for classic safari. These are long drives from Kampala, so plan multi-day trips.
When to go
The drier spells (roughly December–February and June–August) suit trekking and game drives. Start in Kampala, Entebbe or Jinja — browse stays to base your trip.