Travel advisory · UgandaSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Uganda.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- 50 km strip along the South Sudan border · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, New Zealand
- Border zone with the DR Congo · avoid all travel · Spain, France
- Karamoja subregion · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, New Zealand
- Semliki National Park · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France
Also named by one government: Bwera and surroundings (France), 20 km strip along the DR Congo border (Germany), 50 km strip along the DR Congo border (New Zealand), National parks near the DR Congo border (Spain), National parks near the South Sudan border (Spain)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against travel | Oct 8, 2026 | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Level 4: Do Not Travel | Jun 4, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel to Uganda | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Erhöhte Vorsicht im ganzen Land (Terror, Kriminalität) (regional advisories) | Oct 29, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Zone de vigilance renforcée (reste du pays) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi is a steep, dense forest in southwestern Uganda where you track habituated mountain gorilla families on foot.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park sits in the Kigezi highlands of southwestern Uganda, near the borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The forest is among the oldest in Africa and one of the last places where mountain gorillas live in the wild. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and most visitors come for gorilla trekking: small family groups that have grown used to people, followed on foot over steep, often muddy ground. The forest also holds many bird and butterfly species. Its history includes the Batwa, a forest-dwelling people whose way of life changed when the park was created.
The park suits travelers who plan the trip around a gorilla trek and are ready for a physically demanding hike. Treks can last several hours, so plan at least two nights to avoid rushing the rest of your schedule. The driest months are January, February and June to August, when trails are easiest. Reaching the park means a long road transfer from Kampala or a domestic flight, so allow a full travel day in each direction.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in five
- Book your gorilla permit earlyThe Uganda Wildlife Authority issues a fixed number of gorilla permits per day for each sector, and permits for popular months sell out well before your dates.Tours and tickets
- Apply for your Uganda eVisa before you flyMost visitors need an eVisa, applied for on the official portal. Keep the approval email and make sure the passport details match it exactly.Visas and entry
- Carry Ugandan shillings in small notesCards work in Kampala, but many places around Bwindi take only cash in shillings. Bring small notes for porters, guides and roadside stalls.Money and costs
- Get cover that includes evacuationTreks cross steep, muddy forest slopes, and the nearest good hospital can be a long drive away. Check that the policy pays for evacuation from a remote area, not only for treatment.Travel insurance
- Set up a phone plan before BuhomaSignal is patchy around Bwindi and drops out in the forest. Load an eSIM or a local MTN or Airtel SIM, and download offline maps before you leave the city.Phones and eSIM
Need to know
- Currency
- Ugandan shilling (UGX)
- Entry
- eVisa for most visitors; check the official portal Read more
- Emergency
- 999 or 112 for police and emergency services
- Tipping
- Customary for guides, trackers and porters; not in shops
- Time
- UTC+3, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryDry, peak
- FebruaryDry season
- MarchLong rains
- AprilLong rains
- MayWet, muddy
- JuneDry season
- JulyDry, busy
- AugustDry, peak
- SeptemberShort rains
- OctoberShort rains
- NovemberWet, muddy
- DecemberDry, holidays
Right now in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 14°
- Humidity
- 93%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
11:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today23°15°100%Monday: Rain. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue23°15°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed24°15°83%Wednesday: Rain. High 24°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Thu25°15°91%Thursday: Rain. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Fri25°15°98%Friday: Rain. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Sat23°15°97%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 97%.
- Sun22°15°95%Sunday: Rain. High 22°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 95%.
Updated 10:53 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 4,267 UGX
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Rules for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, checked
- Keep at least 7 metres from mountain gorillas and stay with your guide for the one-hour visit.Source
- Do not trek if you have a cough, cold, flu or any other contagious illness, since gorillas can catch human diseases.Source
- Gorilla trekking is limited to visitors aged 15 and over; check the current rule with the Uganda Wildlife Authority before you book.Source
Plan around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Entry, money and transport basics for the whole country
Read the guideGetting around UgandaRoads, drivers and the long drive to the park
Read the guideWhere to stayLodges and camps close to the gorilla sectors
Read the guideTours and ticketsGorilla permits and guided treks
Read the guideVisas and entryThe eVisa and what to bring to the border
Read the guideMoney and costsShillings, cash and where cards do not work
Read the guideBwindi Impenetrable National Park FAQ
Is gorilla trekking in Bwindi hard?
It depends on fitness and the group you are assigned. Treks on steep, muddy slopes can take several hours, and porters can carry your daypack for a fee.
How many days do I need in Bwindi?
Two nights covers one gorilla trek and a short forest walk. Add a third night if you want a second sector or a longer guided walk.
Which sector should I choose: Buhoma, Ruhija or Rushaga?
Buhoma is the most visited and has the most lodge choice. Ruhija sits higher and is cooler, while Rushaga and Nkuringo are in the south, and Nkuringo is reached from Kisoro.
What is the best time to see gorillas in Bwindi?
January, February and June to August are the driest months, when trails are least muddy. The rainy months from March to May and in November are harder going.
Can I visit Bwindi without a guide?
No. Gorilla trekking has to be done in a group with park guides and rangers, so you cannot walk in alone.
Is there mobile signal in Bwindi?
Signal is patchy near the lodges and gone in the forest. Download maps and your permit details before you arrive.