Uganda 8-Day Luxury Private Tour

Yes. Your driver-guide and vehicle are for your party only, and the route is tailored with you before you book. Lodges, restaurants and parks are of course shared with other guests, and the primate treks are done in small ranger-led groups, as the park rules require.

Every package uses carefully selected properties. The Luxury Package uses high-end 4-star and standard 5-star hotels and lodges; Premium Luxury moves up to selected 5-star lodges and boutique stays; and VIP All-Inclusive uses the most luxurious properties available at each stop, with suites where possible. Your proposal names every hotel, lodge and room type before you book.

Visa and entry. Visitors need a visa, applied for online on Uganda’s official immigration portal before you travel; you print the approval letter, and the visa is issued on arrival at Entebbe. If you combine countries, the East Africa Tourist Visa (US$100) covers Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya for 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after you arrive. Rules depend on your nationality, so please check them before you travel; we send you the official links when you book.

Gorillas. Your gorilla permit is included and booked as soon as you confirm. Under Uganda Wildlife Authority rules, gorilla trekking is for ages 15 and over. A gorilla trek takes about two to seven hours in all, including one hour with the family, on steep and often muddy trails; groups are small and you keep a distance of about 7 m. If you have a cold or flu you may not be allowed to trek, so tell us early if you feel unwell.

Health. Malaria is present in most of Uganda. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for visitors, and a certificate is often asked for on arrival at Entebbe, so carry it with your passport. See your doctor or a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you go about vaccinations and malaria prevention, and follow your doctor’s advice.

Weather and what to wear. The drier months, June to August and December to February, are the easiest for trekking; March to May and October to November bring more rain, and Bwindi’s trails can be muddy at any time. Uganda sits on the Equator, so days are warm, but Bwindi is cool in the evening. For the forest, bring a waterproof jacket, long trousers, long sleeves, gloves and boots with a good grip. Neutral colors are best, and camouflage clothing is not allowed for civilians.

Fitness. Average fitness is enough for most of the trip, and the gorilla trek is the main effort. Hiring a local porter at the start makes a real difference on the slopes. There are no long drives: every main leg is flown, and road transfers are short. On the light-aircraft flights the usual limit is 15 kg per person, in soft bags.

Children and single travelers. Children aged 6–12 have a reduced price and infants aged 0–5 travel free. Because of the age limits above, younger children cannot join the gorilla trek, so we plan a different morning for them. A single supplement applies if you travel alone; ask us for it.

Tips. Tips are not included and are always your choice. As a guide, about US$15–20 per day for your driver-guide (per party), around US$10–20 per person for the ranger team on each trek, about US$15–20 for a porter on top of the porter fee, and US$10–15 per guest per day for lodge staff, usually into a shared tip box. US dollars and Uganda shillings are both welcome.

Safety. Uganda’s national parks are well set up for visitors, and park rangers accompany every trek. We follow official travel and health advice, including any health screening at the airport, adjust the route if needed, and stay in touch with you throughout your journey.

The drier months from June to September and from December to February are the most comfortable for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, with firmer trails. Uganda can be visited all year, and the green seasons from March to May and in October and November bring more rain but fewer visitors and lush scenery.

Yes. In eight days you see Murchison Falls, a savanna game drive among Rothschild giraffes and the mountain gorillas of Bwindi, with flights instead of long drives. The gorilla trek needs reasonable fitness and the minimum age is 15. Permits are limited, so we recommend booking several months ahead. If you can add a few days, our longer tours include the chimpanzees of Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Absolutely. This itinerary is a starting point, designed for a first visit. Share your interests, travel dates and preferred style of stay, and we can add Kibale Forest for chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth National Park or Lake Bunyonyi, or upgrade your lodges. Returning to Uganda? Ask us about a tailor-made journey. Your written proposal confirms everything.

Send us your preferred dates, the number of travelers and the kind of trip you would enjoy. Your travel specialist will confirm the route, lodges, permits, flights, included services and total price. A 30% deposit secures your reservations, and the payment schedule is set out in your proposal.

Your written proposal sets out the deposit, payment dates and cancellation terms before you book. Refunds depend on those agreed terms and on the arrangements reserved for your journey. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are issued by the park authority and are usually non-refundable, so we explain this clearly before you pay.

Prices are per person in USD for the complete 8-day private tour, based on two adults sharing a double or twin room. Groups of four adults save approximately 20% per person and groups of six approximately 30%. VIP prices are starting prices. Your final quote confirms any seasonal supplements, optional upgrades and all included services.