Uganda, the beautiful landlocked country of East Africa that Churchill aptly called the "Pearl of Africa", is truly one of the hidden gem destinations in the world that not many people know about.
It is here that you will be able to encounter mountain gorillas in the wild, tracking them deep into the forest, and observing them up close without fear of them attacking.
Uganda is one of only three countries, being Congo and Rwanda, in the world where these primates still roam free in the mountains, and within this travel guide, you will find all the information you need to do exactly that, as well as guide you to other awesome places to visit in this beautiful country.
Without further ado, here is the ultimate 7-10 day backpacking itinerary for Uganda, complete with all the information on how to go gorilla trekking, how to get around, the best places to visit, and more. Let's start off by taking a look at this itinerary on the map below:
- 7 - 10 Days Backpacking Uganda Itinerary Map
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7 - 10 Days Backpacking Uganda Itinerary
- Day 1: A Day in Entebbe
- Day 2: The Equator Monument and On Your Way to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Day 3: Gorilla Trekking & Visiting A Local Community
- Day 4: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 5 - 7: Game Drive and Boat Ride Trip at Murchison Falls
- Day 8: Visit Jinja & the Source of the River Nile
- Day 9: Hike Sipi Falls
- Day 10: Travel Back From Sipi Falls to Entebbe
- More Uganda Activities
- Uganda Travel Video
- When to Visit Uganda?
- How to Get To Uganda?
- How to Get Around Uganda?
- How Much Money Do I Need For 7 - 10 Days In Uganda?
- Is it Safe in Uganda?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Uganda?
- What to Pack for Uganda?
7 - 10 Days Backpacking Uganda Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1: | A Day in Entebbe |
| ☀️ Day 2: | The Equator Monument and On Your Way to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest |
| ☀️ Day 3: | Gorilla Trekking & Visiting A Local Community |
| ☀️ Day 4: | Explore Lake Bunyonyi |
| ☀️ Day 5-7: | Game Drive and Boat Ride Trip at Murchison Falls |
| ☀️ Day 8: | Visit Jinja & the Source of the River Nile |
| ☀️ Day 9: | Hike Sipi Falls |
| ☀️ Day 10: | Travel Back From Sipi Falls to Entebbe |
7 - 10 Days Backpacking Uganda Itinerary
Day 1: A Day in Entebbe
On your first day in Uganda, you will be arriving at Entebbe International Airport located on the bank of Lake Victoria, one of the African Great Lakes that shares shorelines with 5 countries: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The lake is one of the main sources of freshwater for many cities, people, as well as animals living around the area. Keep your eyes peeled when you are flying into Entebbe, as you will be able to witness the true scale of Lake Victoria from the air.
Once you arrive, make sure to get a SIM card at the exit terminal and find your ride to your accommodation. Most accommodations often provide airport transfers, which should cost around 20 USD to transfer from the airport to your accommodation within Entebbe.
- 9-Day Customized Uganda Holiday and Tour to See Gorillas ($3,061 pp USD)
- 3-Day Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park ($880 pp USD)
- 3-Day Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Community Batwa Walk ($1,430 to $1,650 pp USD)
Spend the rest of the day and prepare for a long drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest the next day. You should definitely get a tour for this trip as it is a long ride, and you are going to need to show a permit to go gorilla trekking. I highly recommend this 3-day Gorilla Trekking tour which should follow the exact itinerary we have here.
Where to Stay in Entebbe?
Day 2: The Equator Monument and On Your Way to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Your journey to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest begins with an early morning pick-up at your accommodation in Entebbe, and you will be traveling on a 9-hour journey to the western border of the country where the gorillas are.
On your way, you will be stopping at the Equator Monument where the equator line runs through. It is a great stop for a few photos and to enjoy a little interesting demonstration of the equator's magnetic field that affects how the water flows depending on which side you are on at the equator.
I know this in theory, but to see it with my own eyes was another story. They will show you how differently the water spins a floating flower in both the northern and southern hemispheres, as well as how the flower flows in the water if you stand right on the equator line. It was very interesting and definitely a great way to start a trip.
After the equator, you will continue west to Bwindi for another 8-9 hours. It is a long drive, but the scenery you will be seeing along the way should help make the trip a little more interesting.
One of the first things I realized when I was traveling along this road was how hilly and green Uganda is. I had been traveling for more than a month in Tanzania and Kenya before arriving in Uganda, and I was expecting to see stretches of dry, flat savannas like I had seen elsewhere.
It was the complete opposite in Uganda. Wherever I looked, I saw hills upon hills, all covered in forests. It was a welcome change from all the plains I saw in Kenya and Tanzania. Now, I know why Churchill called Uganda the Pearl of Africa.
After a 9-hour ride, you should arrive at your accommodation inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest before nightfall, and you will be able to get a glimpse of the kind of environment in which you will be trekking the next day.
Where to Stay in Bwindi?
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking & Visiting A Local Community
After a night in Bwindi, it's time to go gorilla trekking. First, you will be taken to the ranger headquarters where you will be welcomed by the local communities with welcome performances.
The performance was actually very entertaining for me. Some of the locals weren't that young, yet they danced more furiously than any younger people around. It was amazing.
After the performance, you will be briefed by the ranger on what to expect during the gorilla trek. He will first introduce you to the gorilla family you will be encountering today, all labeled with really cool badass names like Rukumu and Mugisha.
How do they know where the gorillas will reside? Well, they base their information on the last sighting from the previous day and estimate where they will likely reside.
They will then manage your expectations by telling you that it can take between 2 to 7 hours to trek into the forest and find the gorillas, depending on how far they travel during the night.
After that, you will be briefed on how to behave around the silverback gorillas, which are the largest primates in the world. They can attack you if you do not follow the ranger's guidelines. Usually, they are quite habituated, but it's always good to know how to behave if the gorillas approach you.
Once they are done briefing, you will be taken to the place where they last found them and start trekking into the forest to see them in person.
You will be given the opportunity to hire a porter for 15 USD per person before you begin the trek, and a bamboo trekking pole will be provided to help you navigate the trails.
The trail is, in fact, not a trail at all, as the ranger will often take you through thick bushes and bushwhack their way to create a "trail" for us to trek. It can get really muddy and slippery, so be sure to wear good shoes for gorilla trekking.
Once you find the gorilla, you will be allowed to take photos and be with them for a maximum of one hour only. Then, the ranger will be obligated to take you back so as not to overstress the mountain gorillas. That is how you do sustainable travel!
It took our group a few hours to finally track them down, and they were just off the main road, eating dry leaves. When we found them, they were trekking deeper into the forest, so we had to follow them on some very treacherous trails while keeping our distance.
They ended up stopping somewhere deep in the forest, and once we got to them, they allowed us to hang out with them while they continued eating dry leaves and taking naps.
It was a surreal experience to be able to look these primates in the eyes and see a reflection of us humans in their appearances and behaviors. Gorilla trekking is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one that I will not forget for a long time. Despite the tour costing 1,800 USD, it was definitely worth every dime in my opinion.
After spending the first half of the day trekking to see the gorillas, you can then have time to explore the local communities in Bwindi before heading to Lake Bunyonyi and relaxing by the lake for the rest of the day.
Day 4: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
On your fourth day, you will be exploring the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest lakes in the region, and holding over 29 islands with 2 big islands in its premises.
At Lake Bunyonyi, you will have the opportunity to go canoeing in traditional wooden canoes, visit some of the islands where local communities strive, see how they live their lives, and go hiking up to some of the many viewpoints where you will be able to see just how pretty Lake Bunyonyi really is from above.
My guide took me to the top of one of the islands, walking through local villages, until we arrived at an open area where I was greeted with an incredible view of the lake and its islands spreading out over the horizon, as far as the eye can see.
After spending the first half of the day exploring Lake Bunyonyi, you will then have to travel back to Entebbe or Kampala on another 9-hour ride and spend the night there before going on another tour to Murchison Falls.
Where to Stay in Lake Bunyonyi?
Day 5 - 7: Game Drive and Boat Ride Trip at Murchison Falls
After a night in Kampala/Entebbe, you can go on a 3-day safari tour to Murchison Falls where you will be able to hike around Murchison Falls, go on a 3-hour boat ride, and track 4 of the Big Five with game drives.
In the morning, you will be driven to Murchison Falls for about 5 hours, where you will be able to spend some time by the waterfalls and hike up to the top for a stunning view of the surrounding area.
The next day, you will go on a morning game drive to track some big cats, as well as elephants, giraffes, hippos, and other animals the national park is known for. In the evening, you will go on a 3-hour boat ride on the Victoria Nile River before ending your sixth day.
On your 7th day, you will wake up early for another morning game drive before being taken back to your accommodation in Kampala, thus ending your trip to Murchison Falls.
Day 8: Visit Jinja & the Source of the River Nile
For the 8th day in Uganda, we are going to go off the beaten path a little with a 3 Days Source of the Nile and Sipi Falls Hike Tour and travel to the east to Mbale to spend a day hiking Sipi Falls while stopping in Jinja to see the source of the River Nile along the way.
The tour should pick you up in Kampala in the early morning, and they will take you to Jinja to go on a boat ride to see the Source of the Nile where the river meets Lake Victoria.
The boat ride should take about an hour and 30 minutes as you cruise along the river, observing all the birds living around the area, stopping at the Source of the Nile sign for a photo, and exploring the coastline of Lake Victoria.
Once that is done, you will continue your journey to Mbale, a small city in Eastern Uganda where you will spend your 8th night in Uganda. Not many people make it all the way to Sipi Falls, so you won't see many tourists all the way out here.
Where to Stay in Mbale?
Day 9: Hike Sipi Falls
After spending the night in Mbale, you will be driven to Sipi Falls where you will spend the first half of the morning hiking to all three waterfalls in the area.
The Sipi Falls hike is pretty straightforward and easy, but the reward of seeing these waterfalls, some of which you can go under, is well worth traveling all the way east to get here.
Along the way, you will go through local communities and have a chance to interact with the people there. The entire roundtrip hike should take around 3 hours before you arrive back at the trailhead, where you will be given lunch.
One of the most popular activities to do at Sipi Falls is abseiling off the waterfall itself. For the price of 50 USD, you can rappel down a 100-m high waterfall in close proximity to the powerful falling water while providing you with a stunning panoramic view of the area. You can ask your tour to organize this for you if you want.
After Sipi Falls, you will then spend the rest of the day going on a coffee tour, which will take you to a local coffee farm. Here, you will be able to learn about all the processing that goes into making coffee so delicious.
They really use every single thing they get from coffee seeds here, literally EVERYTHING, from making coffee using husks instead of beans, etc.
After the coffee tour, you will then be taken back to Mbale where you will spend the rest of the evening relaxing and resting for a long drive back to Entebbe the next day.
Day 10: Travel Back From Sipi Falls to Entebbe
After 10 days in Uganda, it is time to head home. Depending on your flight, you can either spend another night in Entebbe and get a boda boda to the airport the next day or ask your tour company to drop you off straight at the airport so you don't have to pay for another taxi from Kampala to fly home.
More Uganda Activities
When to Visit Uganda?
The best time to visit Uganda is during its 2 annual dry seasons from June to August and December to February. Heavy rainfalls are rare during these periods, which in turn provide you with the best conditions for gorilla trekking and other outdoor activities.
Gorilla trekking requires you to bushwhack your way through a thick forest to find the gorillas in their habitat. The time it takes to find one can range from 2-7 hours, depending on how deep they are in the forest, and the last thing you want is for it to rain on you.
Safaris and national parks are also teeming with life during these periods, so if you want to make your trip as enjoyable as possible, I highly recommend sticking with the suggested period.
How to Get To Uganda?
To get to Uganda, you are going to have to find a flight to Entebbe International Airport, which is the country's main travel hub.
From the US, there is no direct flight from the US to Entebbe, but there are airlines like Emirates, KLM, and Qatar that will fly from most major US cities to Entebbe with one transit at their headquarters. The journey will take a minimum of 20 hours, including transit time.
From Europe, you can also fly from places like London, Amsterdam, and Paris on Emirates or Qatar Airlines to Entebbe with transits in Dubai and Qatar, respectively.
From Asia, Qatar and Emirates Airlines remain the best options out there with flights connecting major cities in Asia such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, and Bangkok to Entebbe via Doha or Dubai respectively.
To find a cheap flight to Uganda, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and choose the best one.
How to Get Around Uganda?
By Organized Tours: The easiest and most convenient way to travel around Uganda is to go on an organized tour that will handle all the logistics for you, without you having to worry about it, especially when it comes to more remote places where buses do not go.
Unfortunately, this is also the most expensive option as organized tours in Uganda are extremely expensive compared to places like Kenya and Tanzania due to lower demand.
That said, despite paying more here, you are definitely getting your money's worth with these tours as they will often go out of their way to make your trip as convenient as possible with smooth transfers, great accommodation, and more.
If you are looking for the most convenient way to explore Uganda and you don't mind paying a little more, I highly recommend that you browse through some of the tours here and pick the ones that will help you get to far-flung places like Murchison Falls and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
By Boda Boda: For short distances, a boda boda (motor taxi) is a fast and affordable way to get around town or to navigate through busy streets. You will often find them in large cities like Entebbe and Kampala, congregating in front of streets, or you can flag them down from the road.
It is a fun and easy way to get around, but be sure to tell them to drive slowly if they are going too fast for your comfort. Also, the golden rule of using non-metered taxis still applies here. Make sure you agree upon the price before you get on.
By Buses/Matatus: For traveling between cities, you can rely (I say this very loosely here) on buses and matatus (taxis/vans) that often connect Kampala to other cities in the country like Mbale, Jinja, Kabale.
The problem with traveling independently in Uganda is dealing with the unreliability of its transportation infrastructure. The big buses run on schedule, but they are often unreliable and run late. The matatus only leave when they are full, and oftentimes, the conductors may try to jack up the price when they see new faces in town, and there is no way to know if you are paying the right price or not.
For those of you who are looking to save every bit of money while traveling in Uganda and do have the flexibility of time, traveling by buses and matatus may be a great option, although a bit adventurous, for you.
But for those with a fixed timeframe, I would recommend that you go with organized tours instead. You can find organized tours in Uganda here.
How Much Money Do I Need For 7 - 10 Days In Uganda?
Uganda is not a cheap destination to travel, especially if you want to go gorilla trekking, which is the most expensive activity of all. The permit alone costs 700 USD per person.
With that in mind, here is approximately how much money you will be spending in Uganda.
Accommodation: You will be spending around 5 nights independently with the itinerary, so you can expect to pay a minimum of around 170 USD (603,713 UGX) for accommodation.
Food: Food costs about 10,000 UGX per meal in Uganda on average, so you can expect to pay around 150,000 UGX for 5 days of traveling independently, while the rest will be included in the tour prices.
Transportation: A transfer from and to the airport in Entebbe should cost around 40 USD or 142,050 UGX, and that is it for transportation.
Activities: For a gorilla trekking tour to Bwindi ($1,850), Murchison Falls ($700), and Jinja & Sipi Falls ($490), you can expect to pay around $3,040 (10,795,809 UGX) for activities.
Total budget for 10 days in Uganda: 11,691,572 THB (3,292.24 USD)
I told you it isn't cheap here, but you can trim down the itinerary to make it cheaper. You can remove either the Murchison Falls or Jinja & Sipi Falls tours and make this a 7-day itinerary instead of a 10-day itinerary.
I wouldn't recommend removing Gorilla Trekking. It is a once-in-a-lifetime activity and one of the main reasons why you are probably visiting Uganda. It would be a shame if you missed out on it.
Is it Safe in Uganda?
All things considered, Uganda is relatively safer than Kenya or Tanzania, with friendlier people. The people here have a more relaxed and open vibe than anywhere else I've been to in East Africa.
That said, petty thefts may still occur if you are not careful, so make sure you take all the precautions while you are traveling in Uganda. Do not hold your phone near an open window, always agree upon prices before getting on taxis, and do your research well.
Stay away from crowded areas like Kampala; it can also help since the country shares the border with Congo, and there may be times when terrorist attacks spill over the borders into Uganda.
Believe it or not, the very day I arrived, there were two suicide bombs that went off near government buildings in Kampala, killing many people.
The locals were definitely on edge, but life went on as normal, especially outside of Kampala, where we will be spending the most time. Before traveling to Uganda, check the news and ensure that you are aware of the current situation on the ground.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Uganda?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Uganda without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Uganda:
There are many carriers in Uganda - MTN, Airtel, and many more. However, MTN and Airtel have the best coverage in the country. If you are traveling around Uganda, I highly recommend either one.
Personally, I used MTN during my 2-week trip in Uganda, and I got an LTE signal at almost every place I visited, except for one place. When I was in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, I tried to see if I had any access to data, but I only got a 2G signal, which is understandable as I was deep in the forest.
The SIM card from MTN will cost around 2,000 UGX, plus 500 UGX preloaded. With the SIM card, you can subscribe to several data bundles available, starting from 20,000 UGX for 3 GB of data up to over 550,000 UGX for 170 GB of data, both valid for 30 days.
I got the 30 GB one, which cost me about 100,000 UGX (30 USD), and it works great for 2 weeks with plenty of data left at the end. You can get the SIM card right at the terminal's exit and waiting area, where you will find 2 yellow and red kiosks for MTN and Airtel, respectively.
The process of activating your SIM card might take around 20 minutes, so please keep that in mind. The clerk at the kiosk will help you out with it, so do not worry. Once you get the SIM card activated by the clerk, you should have access to the Internet all over Uganda.
For more information about Uganda's local SIM card: Uganda's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Uganda?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Uganda:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
4 Comments
the costs are ludicrous. Absolutely ridiculous. Over a thousand dollars to stay in a tent one night and see a waterfall. 1500 dollars to see a gorilla for an hour. Luxury tourism is poison.
Yup, I agree, 1000+ usd is pretty hard to stomach but considering the permit itself is already 800 USD and the drive to Bwindi is 9 hours each way, I think it's a pretty reasonable deal. Also, you can't get it anywhere else but here so there's that. :)
Crazy you arrived on the day of the attack! That's definitely get me on edge...Did you run into many travelers who were backpacking and 'DIY'ing' instead of tours? I know you need one for the gorillas, but I have time and was just gonna bus around the other sites... Also did you travel similarly in Kenya and Tanzania, or did you find those easier to DIY?
Hey Nick,
I know right? It's crazy. I didn't realized until I was half way to Bwindi haha. Yes, there were many travelers doing it independently. It's not as difficult in Uganda as other Eastern African countries but finding the right buses and moto taxi can be a bit challenging. Most people I met relied on their accommodation to help guide them through it. You can also do that to save a bit of money.
In Kenya, the first day I was independent, I got arrested by the police because I took a photo of a "government building" (it was in Mombasa in a touristy area) which led them to asking me for bribes and that really put a damp on my trip. My friends got into a similar situation about mask wearing. You can do independently but you just have to have your wits about you at all times.
Tanzania I didn't get a chance to do in independently as I was doing a safari and then the Kilimanjaro tour but I've met quite a few doing it. They got their safaris through their accommodation and traveled mostly by bus.
All in all, it is possible with Uganda, easier than the others, but corrupted police will be your biggest challenge. If you decided to do it, I recommend you have a decoy wallet with small changes, like 10 - 20 USD, so when they stop you and ask for bribes, you can show that wallet and prevent them from getting more. ;)
I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck!