Uganda tours & vacations

Travelers from most nationalities need a visa to enter Uganda. For more information, please visit the Government of Uganda’s website or the Essential Trip Information.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveler. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information.

You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our visa and entry requirements page.

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travelers, regardless of their nationality.

We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

For travelers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travelers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Read more about travel insurance

Tipping isn’t mandatory in Uganda but considering that most Ugandans earn little, tips will be appreciated. As a guide, adding 10% in cafes and restaurants is acceptable, although not necessary.

Uganda has a mostly tropical climate, meaning it can be quite humid, with two rainy seasons throughout the year. Temperatures are typically moderate to warm, so bring lightweight clothes that breathe easily. Other essentials include a rain jacket, mosquito repellent, sun protection and binoculars.

Ex-military or military-style clothing and equipment are not recommended. In Uganda, people tend to dress conservatively, especially women. It is advised that travelers also dress modestly, e.g., in shorts and skirts that sit around the knees and tops that cover the shoulders.

If you are visiting wildlife areas, ensure you have quality closed-toe shoes and long trousers and shirts. Long shorts are fine for warm weather. It can get cold in the mornings and evenings, so bring a warm layer or two as well.

Depending on the trip you are going on, you may need special gear. If you are camping, you’ll likely need to bring a small amount of specialized equipment, specifically items like headtorches and sandals.

If you are going to Uganda to trek for gorillas, you will need to have a good and comfortable pair of waterproof hiking boots, a surgical face mask (can be provided), long socks and long trousers and shirts. It’s not permitted to be wearing any bright-colored clothing when gorilla trekking, so ensure your items are dark or neutral colors.

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Uganda. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found; some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Travelers will be able to access the internet quite easily in the internet cafes of Uganda’s capital and large cities, but limited to no access should be expected in regional and rural areas.

Cell phone coverage is generally good in Uganda’s large cities and towns but less so in rural and mountainous areas. Ensure you have global roaming activated before leaving home if you wish to use your cell phone.

Squat/pit toilets are the standard in Uganda, except for Western-style flushable toilets that are sometimes available in large hotels and other modern buildings. Carry your own supply of soap and toilet paper, as these are rarely provided.

Some of the language in the anti-homosexuality law passed in May 2023 is vague and open to interpretation, and it remains unclear how this law will be implemented. We recommend that LGBTQIA+ travelers carefully consider the risks of traveling to Uganda and refer to your government’s foreign travel advisories. Equaldex and ILGA are other useful resources for LGBTQIA+ travelers.

If you are traveling solo on an Intrepid group trip, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travelers who do not wish to share a room.

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveler. Trips to Uganda directly support our foundation partner, Gorilla Doctors.

Gorilla Doctors

Gorilla Doctors help safeguard wild eastern gorilla populations with life-saving veterinary care. Donations from our trips help them provide routine health monitoring, veterinary visits and clinical interventions for injured mountain and Grauer's gorillas. Each animal they treat contributes to the gorilla populations' health, genetic diversity and long-term sustainability.

Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Find out more or make a donation

We believe travel should be accessible to everyone. Although some destinations and itineraries may be more accessible than others, we'll do our best to accommodate your needs, make reasonable adjustments where possible or guide you toward the most suitable trips. Get in touch with our friendly adventure consultants to chat about your options.

Our Tailor-Made team can also help you plan a customised trip just for you.