Set in east-central Africa, Uganda is renowned as the home of the mountain gorilla and chimpanzees. This beautiful country boasts a rich cultural heritage, unforgettable wildlife experiences and incredible landscapes. Featuring lush jungle-clad hills, swathes of golden savanna, and remote rainforests, the ‘Pearl of Africa’ provides a habitat for animals and birds unrivalled in East Africa. Visitors can look forward to discovering the River Nile,  Murchison Falls, Lake Victoria, and various unique Ugandan safari adventures at diverse national parks, including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch a glimpse of the majestic primates on a gorilla trekking excursion.  

 

Rwanda rests in the heart of Africa and offers an enriching and unique mountain gorilla safari experience as it is home to over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. Take a journey into the land of a thousand hills, explore the diverse terrain and enjoy the best primate tracking and sightings in the world. Track chimpanzees in the ancient Nyungwe Forest and catch a glimpse of the majestic mountain gorilla in the misty Virunga Mountains. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the vast Lake Kivu, the vibrant city of Kigali, and the wildlife-rich Akagera National Park. 

Tourist Information

Language
Rwanda: Kinyarwanda, French, and English.

Uganda: English and Swahili.

Currency
Rwanda: Rwanda Franc (RWF).

Uganda: Uganda Shilling (UGX)

Visa
required for some countries

Airports
Rwanda: Kigali International Airport (KGL) and Kamembe International Airport (KME).

Uganda: Entebbe International Airport (EBB).

Climate
Rwanda: Situated within the equatorial belt, Rwanda is warm and generally overcast with a temperate, tropical highland climate. The central and eastern part of the country is semi-arid due to its position in the rainy belt of the western highlands. Temperatures range from 12 °C and 27 °C, with little fluctuation throughout the year.

Uganda: Uganda has tropical weather, with temperatures ranging between 16-28°C for most of the year. Uganda has two rainy seasons per year, March to May and September to December. The northern region lies outside the tropical belt and experiences only one rainy season from March to October 1.

Best time to visit
Rwanda: The best time to visit Rwanda is from June to September, the drier period, offering the best chance of spotting the elusive mountain gorilla, and the rainy season from March to May and in November, are the best times for tracking and spotting chimpanzees.

Uganda: The best time to visit Uganda is during its two dry seasons, from between December and February and between June and August. During these months, visitors can enjoy trekking to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees and spot wildlife in various national parks.

Must visit
Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, King’s Palace Museum, Akagera National Park and Lake Kivu.

Uganda: Murchison Falls National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Ssese Islands.

Food
Rwanda: Ibiraya (Rwandan fries), Igisafuria (plantains with chicken and vegetables), Akabenzi (pan-fried pork), Isombe (pounded cassava leaves), Agatogo (plantains with meat and spices), Mizuzu (deep- fried plantains), Brochettes (barbecued meat).

Uganda: Muchomo (roasted meat), Matoke (steamed green bananas), Luwombo (meat stew and steamed vegetables), Posho (corn meal), Katogo (fried plantains).

Drinks
Rwanda: Urwagwa is a popular beer made from fermented bananas combined with sorghum flour and Ubuki, an alcoholic drink made of fermented honey.

Uganda: Waragi (homemade gin).

Tipping
in Rwanda and Uganda – 10%

Journeys

Juvenile Gorilla climbing a tree

Land of Gorilla's