Jarred: Uganda Safari Holiday: What We Loved About Tracking Chimps in Budongo Forest and Gorillas in Uganda

There is a version of this safari story where everything goes perfectly and reads like a highlight reel. This is not quite that version, and honestly, that is why it is worth reading.

Our Uganda safari tour experience, which took us from the wide-open savannah of Kenya through to the ancient forests of Uganda, was messy, surprising, occasionally exhausting, and absolutely unforgettable.

We tracked chimps, came face to face with mountain gorillas, watched hippos yawn on the Nile, and drove through landscapes that made us forget the price of our plane tickets.

This post breaks it all down so that you can decide whether a safari holiday like this is the right fit for you, and what you genuinely need to know before you go.

Why Uganda Safari Tours Are Different From Kenya or Tanzania

Most people who dream of a safari immediately picture Kenya or Tanzania, the Masai Mara, the Serengeti, wildebeest thundering across a dust-red plain.

And look, that is brilliant.

Our trip actually began there, rolling through the Mara in a 4x4, scanning the savannah for big game with the kind of excitement that only arrives when you are genuinely not sure what is about to appear over the horizon.

The game drives delivered, leopard included, and the sheer scale of wildlife in that region is hard to overstate.

But Uganda safari tours offer something categorically different.

Uganda is not about the big 5 in the classic sense. It is about primates, ancient forests, roaring waterfalls, and a density of wildlife experience that feels almost impossible to pack into one trip.

For a budget-conscious traveller who wants authentic experiences and real value rather than a glossy package, Uganda sits in a category of its own.

It is genuinely one of the most rewarding safari destinations in East Africa, and it remains far less crowded than the headline safari destinations further south.

What surprised us most was the transition. One day, we were on open savannah game drives watching elephants and giraffes.

A few days later, we were deep inside a forest listening for the calls of a chimpanzee. Same trip. Completely different world.

That contrast is something Kenya or Tanzania simply cannot offer in the same way, and it is exactly why this destination stuck with us long after we came home.

What Is the Gorillas and Plains Tour, and Who Is It For?

The trip we joined was the Gorillas and Plains Tour with Encounters Travel, a 15-day overland journey that moves from Nairobi through Kenya and into the heart of Uganda.

It is not a luxury safari in the tented camps and sundowner cocktails sense, though the accommodation is perfectly comfortable throughout.

It is more of an expedition, run in a 25-seat vehicle with a driver guide and assistant cook, covering an itinerary that takes in the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Murchison Falls, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

For a traveller who does not want to compromise on experience just to keep costs sensible, this tour sits in a genuinely useful sweet spot.

The group setting means costs are shared, the itinerary is structured without feeling rigid, and the crew handle the logistics so you can focus entirely on what you came for.

It is tailor-made in spirit if not in letter, because the stops and pace felt genuinely considered rather than rushed

The included highlights cover the key wildlife viewing moments, with optional add-ons like the chimp trekking and gorilla permits available separately, depending on your priorities.

It suits travellers who are comfortable with a group, happy to share long drives with good company, and motivated less by five-star comfort than by genuine wildlife encounters.

If that sounds like you, or like someone you know, this itinerary is one of the best Uganda safari options available for combining primate trekking and classic savannah wildlife into a single trip.

What Was the Chimp Trek in Budongo Forest Actually Like?

We almost did not book the optional chimp trek. It was an early start, an extra permit cost, and we had already been in a vehicle for a long stretch of days.

But we went, and it became one of the most talked-about moments of the entire trip.

Budongo Central Forest Reserve sits within the broader Murchison Falls National Park area, and it is one of Uganda's best spots to track chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

The forest itself is extraordinary, tall, dense, loud with birds and insects, and it carries a humidity that hits you the moment you step under the canopy.

Our local guide moved through the trees at a pace that suggested he could hear things we could not, which turned out to be entirely true.

The chimpanzee community in Budongo is partially habituated, which means they are accustomed to human presence but still wild in every meaningful sense.

When we found them, a group of around eight or nine chimps in the upper canopy, the noise was startling.

Crashing branches, hooting calls, and the occasional crash as one dropped to a lower level. We stood watching for close to an hour, necks craned, completely absorbed.

For any traveller with an interest in primate behaviour, Budongo is an underrated destination.

It does not get the same attention as Kibale National Park, which is probably Uganda's most famous spot to track chimpanzees, but the experience felt personal and unhurried.

The fact that it sits within reach of Murchison Falls means you can combine both in a single leg of the trip without backtracking, which is exactly what this tour does.

Is Murchison Falls National Park Worth Adding to a Uganda Safari Itinerary?

Short answer: absolutely yes, and we say that as people who almost glossed over it on the itinerary.

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda's largest national park, situated in the northwest of the country along the Victoria Nile.

The landscape here is savannah and woodland, quite unlike the forest regions further south, which means the wildlife viewing operates on a completely different scale.

Game drives through Murchison Falls revealed Uganda kob, warthog, buffalo, and elephant in numbers that genuinely surprised us.

But it is the Nile itself that makes Murchison special.

The boat trip on the Nile, heading upstream towards the falls, is one of those experiences that sounds ordinary on paper and then completely overwhelms you in person. Hippos surfacing three metres from the boat.

Crocodiles the length of a family car stretched out on sandbanks. Elephant drinking at the water's edge.

And then the falls themselves, the Nile forcing its entire volume through a seven-metre gap in the rock with a roar you feel in your chest.

It is one of those moments that recalibrates your sense of what wildlife and landscape can do together.

The boat tours on the Nile are included as part of the itinerary through this route, which means you are not scrambling to organise it separately.

The combination of game drives and boat time on the water makes Murchison Falls a fully rounded stop rather than a quick pass-through, and the Budongo chimp trek adds a third dimension that turns this section of the trip into something genuinely exceptional.

What Are Gorilla Trekking Permits in Uganda, and How Do They Work?

Let us be straightforward here because this is the question we had before we went, and the answers we found online were all over the place.

Gorilla trekking permits for Uganda are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and are required for any gorilla trekking in Uganda experience inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

They are sold separately from your tour cost, which is true of most responsible gorilla safari operators, and you should treat them as a significant part of your overall trip budget.

The permits exist for a very good reason.

The mountain gorilla is one of the most endangered mountain species on the planet, and the revenue from permits funds conservation directly.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to roughly half the world's remaining mountain gorilla population, and the process of habituating individual gorilla families to limited human contact is the result of decades of careful conservation work.

Every permit sold contributes to the continuation of that work and to the local communities whose support makes it sustainable.

For the itinerary we followed, gorilla trekking takes place over two separate days, which is unusual and genuinely generous.

Most gorilla trekking experiences offer a single day of access.

Having two opportunities means that if weather, trail conditions, or simple gorilla unpredictability affect your first day, the second gives you a real chance at a meaningful encounter.

It also means you can access different gorilla families on different days, which is an experience we would not trade for anything.

What Was It Like to Stand in Front of a Mountain Gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?

We are going to try to describe this without resorting to clichés, which is genuinely difficult because the moment defies ordinary language.

We had trekked for around two and a half hours through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, climbing steeply through dense vegetation, slipping occasionally on wet root systems, stopping every so often when our guide raised a hand.

The forest in Bwindi is ancient and thick and alive in a way that feels almost layered, with sounds coming from every level of the canopy simultaneously.

And then the guide stopped, pointed quietly, and there was a mountain gorilla not ten metres away, sitting with its back to us, entirely unbothered.

The gorilla trekking experience here is about the gorillas, not about you. You are quiet, you keep your distance, you follow the guide's instructions precisely.

But within those constraints, what you witness is extraordinary. We watched a silverback move through the undergrowth.

We saw a young gorilla climb a tree at speed and then jump to a lower branch with an ease that made the whole group laugh quietly.

We saw a female grooming a juvenile. These are not zoo behaviours.

This is incredible wildlife living entirely on its own terms, and the hour we spent with the gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park felt like a privilege we had not fully earned but were enormously grateful for.

Uganda gorilla trekking is often discussed alongside Rwanda and Uganda as a combined gorilla destination, with the Virunga Massif drawing attention across both countries.

But Bwindi is unique because of the forest itself. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason.

It is one of the most biologically diverse places on earth, and the mountain gorilla trekking experience here has a rawness that more polished circuits sometimes lose.

Gorillas and chimpanzees both living in these ancient forests is something that stays with you long after you return home.

Are There Other Wildlife Highlights Beyond Gorillas and Chimps on This Safari in Uganda?

Yes, significantly more than we expected. Before entering Uganda, the Kenya section of the trip delivers classic safari wildlife viewing at a high level.

The Masai Mara game drives are genuinely thrilling, with big five sightings possible, and the landscape itself works as a backdrop that makes even a distant sighting feel cinematic.

Lake Nakuru, best known for flamingos, rhinos and hippos at the water's edge, is an easy stop that delivers every time.

For any birder in the group, Lake Nakuru alone is worth a half day of very dedicated staring.

Inside Uganda, one of the stops we had not researched properly was Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Uganda's only location for rhino tracking on foot, with guides leading you through open bush in genuinely close proximity to the animals.

It is a very different kind of encounter from vehicle-based game viewing, and the experience carries a weight that sitting in a truck does not quite replicate.

Lake Mburo National Park, later in the trip, offers zebra, impala, and multiple antelope species in a compact and accessible reserve that works beautifully as a transitional stop on the way back south.

Queen Elizabeth National Park deserves a mention too, even though our particular route did not include a full stop there.

It is Uganda's most visited wildlife park and offers game drives in Queen Elizabeth that can include tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, elephant, buffalo, and the famous boat trip on Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George and produces hippo and bird sightings at extraordinarily close range.

For any traveller on a Uganda safari with more time available, adding Queen Elizabeth to the itinerary is a decision you will not regret.

How Does the Accommodation Work on a Group Safari Like This?

We want to be honest here because accommodation expectations can make or break a group trip.

This is not a luxury safari in the traditional tented camps sense, and it was never presented as one.

The accommodation across the itinerary ranges from guesthouses to basic lodges, and the standard varies by location.

Some nights were genuinely comfortable with excellent food and lovely views.

Others were more functional, a clean bed, a working shower, and the understanding that you are in a remote location where comfort is relative.

The key thing is that the accommodation is included for 14 nights as part of the tour, along with meals as indicated in the itinerary and all transport in the expedition vehicle.

For a traveller managing a careful budget, this structure removes a significant amount of financial uncertainty from the trip.

You know what is covered before you go, which means your spending decisions on the ground are genuinely optional rather than unexpected obligations.

Hidden costs and unclear communication are among the most common frustrations travellers report on group trips, and this tour structure addresses both directly.

The social aspect of shared accommodation in a group setting is also worth mentioning.

We met people from several different countries on this safari, and the evenings spent around a shared table discussing the day's wildlife sightings became a genuine part of the experience.

There is an intimacy to this kind of overland safari that a purely private trip can sometimes miss entirely.

What Should You Know Before Booking a Uganda Gorilla Safari?

A few things we wish someone had told us clearly in advance.

First, the gorilla permits and chimp trekking permits are excluded from the tour cost and need to be arranged separately.

This is standard practice with responsible safari experts, and it is worth factoring them into your overall budget from the beginning rather than treating them as a surprise.

Second, travel insurance is compulsory for this tour. The terrain is remote, the activities are physically demanding, and being properly covered is not optional; it is essential.

Third, the physical demands of gorilla trekking are real.

You can be on your feet for anywhere between 30 minutes and several hours, depending on where the gorilla family has moved to overnight.

The forest floor is uneven, the trails can be slippery, and altitude adds to the effort.

Most reasonably fit people manage it comfortably, but going in with realistic expectations means you will not be caught off guard.

Trekking poles are genuinely useful, and porters are available at the national park gate if you want extra support on the trail.

Fourth, visas. Uganda requires a visa for most nationalities, and Kenya does as well.

The e-visa process for both countries is straightforward but takes time, so start early.

The crew and safari experts at Encounters Travel are a practical source of current advice on visa requirements, and you can reach them directly via their contact page with any pre-booking questions.

Is a 15-Day Uganda Safari the Best Uganda Safari Format for First-Time Visitors?

If your goal is to experience both the classic savannah safari wildlife and the primate trekking that makes Uganda truly distinct, then a longer itinerary is almost certainly the right format.

Shorter trips can work, and a 3-day gorilla-focused extension from Rwanda is a popular option for those already in the region, but the best Uganda safari experience, in our view, is one that gives you time to absorb the transitions.

The shift from the Mara to the Nile to the forest to the lake is genuinely transformative, and rushing it costs you something real.

For a first-time traveller, the group overland format removes most of the logistical pressure from the trip.

Accommodation, transport, local guides for each activity, meals as indicated, and an experienced crew who know the itinerary inside out.

That infrastructure lets you be present for the actual experience rather than spending your mental energy on coordination.

The best Uganda safari is ultimately the one where you come home having actually seen and felt the place, rather than spending your holiday managing the details of how to get there.

Uganda sits at the heart of East Africa in a way that is still genuinely underappreciated by mainstream travel markets.

It is a destination that rewards curious travellers with an appetite for authentic experience over polished convenience.

The incredible wildlife, the ancient rainforest, the impossible gentleness of the gentle giants in Bwindi, and the raw power of the Nile at Murchison Falls: this is what a safari holiday can be when it moves beyond the postcard version of itself.

It is a safari in Uganda that reminds you why you started travelling in the first place.