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Uganda national parks guide: costs, hotels and budget tips
Uganda is one of the best value safari countries in East Africa, and one of the few where you can track both gorillas and chimpanzees on the same trip.
Short answer
Uganda's headline parks are Bwindi for mountain gorillas, Queen Elizabeth for savannah game, Murchison Falls for the Nile, and Kibale for chimpanzees. Everything except the gorilla permits usually costs less than the equivalent in Kenya or Tanzania. Hotels in Kampala start around $31 a night, Mbarara from $20 and Fort Portal from $24.
The gorilla permit is the exception and the reason most people come. It is expensive, limited in number and sells out months ahead.
All dollar ($) prices on this page are in US dollars (USD). Ugandan shilling amounts are marked UGX.
The parks
Uganda national parks divide neatly into primate and mountain parks and savannah parks, and a good itinerary takes at least one of each. Distances below are road kilometres from Kampala, as listed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
| Park | Known for | Gateway town | From Kampala |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bwindi Impenetrable | Mountain gorilla trekking | Kabale, or fly in | 512 km |
| Queen Elizabeth | Savannah game, tree-climbing lions, the Kazinga Channel | Mbarara or Fort Portal | 389 km |
| Murchison Falls | The Nile squeezed through a gap about seven metres wide, big game | Masindi | 305 km |
| Kibale | Chimpanzee tracking, one of the best places in Africa to do it | Fort Portal | 358 km |
| Lake Mburo | Small, closest savannah park to Kampala, walking safaris and zebra | Mbarara | 253 km |
| Mgahinga Gorilla | Gorillas and golden monkeys, quieter than Bwindi | Kisoro | 482 km |
| Kidepo Valley | Remote northeastern wilderness | Fly in, or drive via Kitgum | 571 km |
| Rwenzori Mountains | Alpine hiking and glaciated peaks | Kasese | 398 km |
| Mount Elgon | Hiking, caves and the rim of a huge volcanic caldera | Mbale | 229 km |
What it costs to enter
Park entry, activity permits and vehicle fees are all set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), which is the only source worth trusting for current figures. The tables below come from UWA's published Conservation Tariff for July 2024 to June 2026.
UWA states that tariff fees are subject to change without prior notice, and it has announced revisions since this edition, including discounted low-season gorilla permits for April, May and November. Treat every figure below as a guide and confirm the current rate with UWA or a licensed tour operator before you budget.
Park entrance fees
Entrance is charged per person for each 24 hours, and extra time in the park counts as another day. The columns show foreign non-residents (FNR), foreign residents (FR) and East African citizens (EAC) for adults. Children aged 5 to 15 pay less, and children under 5 are exempt.
| Park | FNR (USD) | FR (USD) | EAC (UGX) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murchison Falls | $45 | $35 | UGX 25,000 |
| Queen Elizabeth | $40 | $30 | UGX 20,000 |
| Kibale | $40 | $30 | UGX 20,000 |
| Lake Mburo | $40 | $30 | UGX 20,000 |
| Kidepo Valley | $40 | $30 | UGX 20,000 |
| Bwindi and Mgahinga (standard rate) | $40 | $30 | UGX 20,000 |
| Rwenzori Mountains | $35 | $25 | UGX 15,000 |
| Semuliki | $35 | $25 | UGX 15,000 |
| Mount Elgon | $35 | $25 | UGX 15,000 |
Primate permits
These are separate from entrance fees. The gorilla permit includes the guide, the day's park entrance and a community contribution. The Kibale chimpanzee permit includes the guide and Kibale entrance, while the Kyambura Gorge permit does not include entrance.
| Activity | FNR (USD) | FR (USD) | EAC (UGX) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gorilla trekking (Bwindi or Mgahinga) | $800 | $700 | UGX 300,000 |
| Gorilla habituation experience (4 hours) | $1,500 | $1,000 | UGX 750,000 |
| Chimpanzee tracking, Kibale | $250 | $200 | UGX 180,000 |
| Chimpanzee habituation, Kibale (full day) | $300 | $250 | UGX 250,000 |
| Chimpanzee tracking, Kyambura Gorge | $100 | $80 | UGX 50,000 |
| Golden monkey tracking, Mgahinga | $60 | $50 | UGX 40,000 |
Visitors from the rest of Africa pay $500 for a gorilla permit and $1,000 for habituation under the same tariff. Permits for foreign non-residents and rest of Africa visitors can only be booked through licensed tour operators.
Game drives, boats and other activities
| Activity | Where | FNR (USD) | FR (USD) | EAC (UGX) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day game drive with a guide | Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth | $25 | $20 | UGX 25,000 |
| Day game drive with a guide | Kidepo, Lake Mburo | $20 | $15 | UGX 20,000 |
| Self drive (per vehicle) | Savannah parks | $10 | $10 | UGX 10,000 |
| Launch cruise (about 2 hours) | Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo | $30 | $25 | UGX 30,000 |
| Lion tracking | Queen Elizabeth | $200 | $150 | UGX 200,000 |
| Hike to the top of the falls | Murchison Falls | $15 | $10 | UGX 10,000 |
| White water rafting | Murchison Falls | $50 | $50 | UGX 50,000 |
| Birding and nature walks | Savannah parks | $25 | $20 | UGX 20,000 |
| Birding and nature walks | Bwindi, Mgahinga, Kibale, Mount Elgon, Semuliki, Rwenzori | $40 | $30 | UGX 30,000 |
Lion tracking excludes a $10 community fee and the vehicle fee. Activity fees exclude park entrance unless the activity says otherwise.
Vehicle fees
Vehicle entry is charged per 24 hours on top of the per-person fee, and Murchison Falls adds $10 for foreign registered vehicles.
| Vehicle | Foreign registered (USD) | Ugandan registered (UGX) |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon car | $40 | UGX 20,000 |
| Minibus or pick-up | $50 | UGX 30,000 |
| Tour company vehicle and 4WD | $150 | UGX 30,000 |
UWA also publishes the park rules: gates open from 7am to 7pm, the speed limit is 40 kilometres per hour, and you must stay on the tracks. Keep every official receipt, because rangers may ask to check them. Payment options at the gate include mobile money, card machines and bank transfer.
Plan the whole trip around gorilla permit availability. Everything else in Uganda can be arranged much closer to the date.
Where to stay
Kampala
The capital, and where most trips start. Around 280 bookable properties, from about $31 a night with a median near $109.
Entebbe
Entebbe holds the international airport and sits on Lake Victoria about 40 kilometres from Kampala. Because the road in can be slow, most travellers spend their first and last night here rather than fighting traffic twice. Around 98 properties, from about $29.
Fort Portal, for Kibale
Fort Portal is the base for Kibale chimpanzee tracking and the crater lakes, and it is one of the more pleasant towns in the country. Around 38 properties, from about $24 a night with a median near $80.
Mbarara, for Lake Mburo and the south west
Mbarara is the natural overnight stop on the road south towards Bwindi, and the gateway to Lake Mburo. Around 42 properties, from about $20 a night with a median near $50, which makes it the cheapest useful base in the country.
Search Uganda hotels
Kampala, Entebbe, Fort Portal and Mbarara, with live prices inclusive of taxes and fees.
Find a Uganda hotelUganda on a budget
Outside the gorilla permit, Uganda is one of the cheapest countries in this region to travel well.
- Rooms are cheap everywhere: Mbarara from $20, Fort Portal from $24, Kampala from $31.
- Park entrance runs $35 to $45 for foreign visitors, which is lower than the headline reserves in Kenya and Tanzania.
- Skip the gorillas and the trip costs far less. Chimpanzee tracking at Kibale is $250 against $800 for a gorilla permit, and Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls give you a full savannah safari without a premium permit.
- Travel by road. Distances are moderate and buses and shared transport are inexpensive.
- Consider the wetter months. March to May and October to November are rainier, cheaper and much quieter, and UWA has announced discounted gorilla and chimpanzee permits for April, May and November. Trekking still runs, on muddier trails.
Backpacking Uganda
Uganda is one of the easier countries in the region to travel independently. Towns along the western circuit all have inventory under $50, the bus network is extensive, and the distances between parks are manageable in a day. Budget the gorilla permit as a separate, fixed expense and plan the rest around it.
What a gorilla trek is actually like
You walk, sometimes for twenty minutes and sometimes for four hours, through steep forest, and once you find the family you get one hour with them. Reasonable fitness matters more than experience, and porters are available and worth hiring. Rain is common, and the trek goes ahead regardless.
UWA's rules are strict and worth knowing before you book.
| Rule | Gorillas | Chimpanzees |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 15 years | 12 years |
| Time with the animals | One hour per group per day | One hour |
| Minimum distance | 10 metres | 10 metres |
| Group size | Up to eight visitors per gorilla group | Set by the park |
| If you are ill | Do not trek with a cold or infectious illness | Do not enter the forest if sick |
| Photography | No flash | No flash |
Both animals can catch human illnesses, which is why the illness rule is enforced. Eating, drinking and smoking are also not allowed while you are with the animals.
Planning your trip
A typical first trip is ten to fourteen days: Entebbe, Kampala, then a loop west through Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, returning via Lake Mburo. Uganda takes part in the East Africa Tourist Visa, which also covers Kenya and Rwanda. Tanzania is not included, so check entry rules separately if you plan to cross the border.
Many travellers combine Uganda with a second country. Our guide to hotels in Kenya covers the Masai Mara and the coast, and our Tanzania travel guide to the best national parks covers the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. For more trip ideas, browse the EA Booking blog and travel guides.
Common questions
What are the best national parks in Uganda?
Bwindi Impenetrable for mountain gorillas, Queen Elizabeth for savannah game and the Kazinga Channel, Murchison Falls for the Nile and big game, and Kibale for chimpanzee tracking. Lake Mburo is the easiest to reach from Kampala.
How much are Uganda national park entrance fees?
In UWA's 2024 to 2026 tariff, adult entry for foreign non-residents ranged from $35 to $45 USD per 24 hours depending on the park, with Murchison Falls the highest. Fees are subject to change without prior notice, so confirm the current figure with UWA.
How much does a Uganda trip cost?
Usually less than an equivalent trip in Kenya or Tanzania on every line except the gorilla permit. Hotels start around $20 to $31 a night depending on the town, park entry is cheaper, and road transport is inexpensive. The gorilla permit, listed at $800 USD for foreign non-residents in UWA's 2024 to 2026 tariff, is a large, fixed, per-person cost on top.
When should I book a gorilla permit?
Months ahead. Permit numbers are strictly capped and the June to August and December to February dry seasons sell out first. Secure the permit before booking flights or hotels, because the rest of the trip has to fit around the trek date. Permits for foreign visitors are booked through licensed tour operators.
Where do I stay for Kibale chimpanzee tracking?
Fort Portal, which has around 38 properties from about $24 a night and is also the base for the crater lakes.
Is Uganda good for budget travel?
Yes, it is one of the best value countries in East Africa outside the gorilla permits. Rooms under $50 are easy to find in every gateway town, park entrance is lower than at the headline Kenyan and Tanzanian reserves, and buses are cheap.