Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
An ancient, dense forest on steep hills in south-west Uganda, home to about half of the world's mountain gorillas. Guided gorilla treks require a permit and start from small lodges around the forest edge.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Habituated mountain gorilla families live in this dense rainforest, and visitors go on guided treks to spend time with them.
Attractive locations
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
A small park on the border with Rwanda and Congo, covering three volcanoes. It offers gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking and hikes through bamboo and high-altitude forest.
Lake Bunyonyi
A beautiful highland lake dotted with terraced islands, known for calm water, birdlife and canoe trips. It is a restful place to stay before or after trekking in the forests.
Lake Mutanda
A lake in the shadow of the Virunga volcanoes, with forested islands and views of Mount Muhabura. Canoe paddles and bird watching on its quiet waters are the main activities.
Mount Sabyinyo
An extinct volcano with a jagged ridge that looks like old teeth, on the meeting point of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Guided hikes reach its summit for dramatic views.
Mount Muhabura
A tall, cone-shaped volcano on the Uganda-Rwanda border, climbed on a long guided day hike. A small crater lake lies near the summit, and views reach far over the Virunga range.
Mount Gahinga
The smallest of the three Ugandan Virunga volcanoes, with a short guided hike through bamboo and montane forest to a swampy crater lake near its summit.
Airports
Savannah Airstrip KHX
It is about 37 km in a straight line from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Kisoro Airport KXO
It is about 26 km in a straight line from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan19.7 °C74 mm
- Feb20.3 °C76 mm
- Mar20.0 °C133 mm
- Apr19.3 °C140 mm
- May19.0 °C111 mm
- Jun18.8 °C44 mm
- Jul18.9 °C37 mm
- Aug19.5 °C60 mm
- Sep19.8 °C92 mm
- Oct19.5 °C129 mm
- Nov19.1 °C137 mm
- Dec19.3 °C94 mm
Driest months: Jun, Jul, Aug. Wettest months: Mar, Apr, Nov.
Costs
Prices here are about 35% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
nature
Gorilla trekking dry season
Permits sell out in the months when gorilla trekking is easiest.
Who can help
Emergency
999 or 112.
local government
Uganda Police Force (emergency 999 / 112)
Helps with: Uganda's national police. Its FAQ says to dial 999 or 112 in an emergency, and its headquarters lists two landline numbers and an email for general enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Uganda, including visitors, who needs police help.
Phone: 999
Email: info@upf.go.ug
local government
Tourism Police Zonal Commanders (Uganda Tourism Board)
Helps with: Police commanders who protect Uganda's tourism destinations and the safety of travellers. Anyone facing a problem can contact the commander for their region; numbers are in a PDF on the page.
Who qualifies: Travellers, tourism operators and communities facing a safety or security problem in Uganda's tourism areas.
local government
Uganda Tourism Board (UTB)
Helps with: Uganda's national tourism board. Its tourism police page gives a general office line and email, and points visitors to the regional tourism police commanders.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Uganda or planning a trip there.
Phone: +256-414-560-800
Email: utb@utb.go.ug
ngo
Uganda Red Cross Society
Helps with: Uganda's national Red Cross society, with headquarters in Kampala. Its contacts page lists a toll-free line and separate numbers for first aid training and commercial ambulances.
Who qualifies: People in Uganda who need to reach the Red Cross, including for first aid training.
Phone: 0800 211 088
Email: sgurcs@redcrossug.org
Address: Plot 551/555 Rubaga Road, P.O. Box 494, Kampala
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Uganda
Helps with: The UN migration agency's country office in Kampala, with sub-offices at Nakivale, Kyangwali and Kyaka II. Contact it about migration matters in Uganda.
Who qualifies: Migrants and organisations working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +256 31 2263210
Email: iomkampala@iom.int
Address: Plot 6A Bukoto Crescent, Naguru, P.O. Box 11431, Kampala
embassy
Foreign embassies and high commissions in Uganda (official list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or high commission. The Ugandan foreign ministry attaches a diplomatic list (September 2022 edition) with contact details of missions.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or high commission.
local government
Department of Disaster Preparedness and Management (Office of the Prime Minister)
Helps with: Uganda's national disaster management department, based at the Postel Building in Kampala. Its page on the prime minister's office site lists a toll-free line.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Uganda affected by a disaster or reporting one.
Phone: 0800 177 777
Address: Clement Hill Road, Postel Building, Kampala