Uganda

Uganda has two dry seasons: June through September and December through February. These are generally the best windows for trekking and travel. Trails hold up better, and conditions are more predictable.

We usually organize trekking tours in Uganda in February, which falls squarely in the dry season and is one of the stronger periods for both wildlife tracking and time in the mountains. One caveat: the Rwenzori Mountains see rain throughout the year, so wet conditions should always be expected there regardless of when you go.

Lowland areas like Kasese and Entebbe are warm and sunny, with daytime temperatures reaching 80–90°F (27–32°C), while highland towns like Kisoro sit comfortably in the mid-60s to mid-70s°F (18–24°C): pleasant for hiking, with cool evenings that call for a light jacket. Rain is still possible throughout, but typically arrives in short bursts rather than sustained all-day downpours.

The biggest climate variable on a Uganda trip is altitude, not heat. The Rwenzori Mountains span a dramatic range; from humid rainforest at the lower slopes (60–75°F / 16–24°C) to near-freezing alpine conditions above 4,000m, where temperatures can dip below 25°F (-4°C) overnight. Even in the dry season, the Rwenzoris receive regular moisture year-round, meaning mud, mist, and wet trails should be expected regardless of when you visit.

Overall, packing for Uganda means preparing for two distinct climates in one trip: lightweight breathable layers for the warm lowlands, and full waterproof and insulated gear for the mountains. The altitude and moisture of the Rwenzoris demand the most preparation; everything else is relatively forgiving.

Accommodation that we use in Uganda is shaped by the terrain we move through. Expect a mix of guesthouses, locally run lodges, and mountain huts during the Rwenzori trek, all practical and clean but basic, with shared facilities and limited amenities.

Outside the mountains, we use more comfortable hotels where you can properly rest and recover. We put real thought into where we stay at every stage, and where the itinerary earns it (like after a hard stretch in the mountains), we don’t shy away from something a little nicer.

Staying connected in Uganda is straightforward in cities and towns, but requires some planning the further afield you go. MTN and Airtel are the two dominant carriers, between them covering the vast majority of the country. Picking up a local SIM card at Entebbe Airport on arrival is the easiest option; both carriers have booths in arrivals, costs are minimal, and registration requires your passport along with a fingerprint scan.

Outside the towns, coverage thins out considerably. Expect patchy signal once you’re outside of the main urban areas, and very little to none once you’re on the Rwenzori Mountains trek. Most lodges in remote areas use satellite or limited mobile data connections, so Wi-Fi exists but can be slow and unreliable.

On guided treks like the Rwenzoris, your team carries satellite communication for emergencies. That said, like most Epic tours, this is a good stretch of the trip to put the phone away: the mountains will hold your attention far better than anything on a screen.

Uganda is a safe destination for travelers, especially in the areas that we visit on tours. National parks and trekking routes are well set up for tourism, and your guides know the terrain inside out. We’ll brief you each day on conditions, trail expectations, and the plan ahead.

Standard precautions apply as they would anywhere: avoid walking alone at night in cities, keep valuables out of sight, and don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself.

On the health side, a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry. Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and up-to-date routine immunizations are commonly recommended, and most travelers take anti-malarials. Book a visit to a travel clinic six to eight weeks before departure for personalised advice.

Ugandan food is honest and filling, built around local staples like rice, beans, matoke (steamed green bananas), vegetables, chicken, and beef.

1. In towns like Kisoro and Fort Portal you’ll find a mix of local restaurants and simple international options.
2. On the Rwenzori trek, meals are prepared by the support team: reliable and substantial, focused on keeping you fuelled rather than culinary variety.

Dietary requirements can generally be catered for with advance notice.

Most Western passport holders need a visa for Uganda. The East Africa Tourist Visa is the most practical option, covering Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya on a single application and valid for 90 days.

If you’d prefer to visit only Uganda, single-country visas are available online before arrival. Entry requirements can shift, so it’s worth a quick check on official government sites in the weeks leading up to your trip.

Uganda’s official currency is the Ugandan Shilling. ATMs are plentiful in Kampala and Entebbe, reliable in larger towns like Kasese and Fort Portal, and scarce once you’re in or near the national parks. Withdraw enough cash before heading into remote areas.

Cards are accepted at major hotels, lodges, and tour operators, but Uganda remains largely cash-based for anything local: markets, smaller restaurants, taxis, and roadside stops all run on shillings.

USD is widely accepted, but a couple of rules apply:

• Notes must be newer (older bills are routinely rejected)
• Larger denominations ($50–$100) get noticeably better exchange rates than smaller ones.
• That being said, don’t plan on paying for a trinket or anything more frivolous with a larger bill; shillings or smaller bills are better in this case
• Bring bills in good condition and avoid exchanging money at the airport; ATMs and licensed exchange bureaus in the city will give you a fairer rate.

If you have extra time after Uganda, East Africa rewards those who go a little deeper. Here are some specific destinations worth considering:

• Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda: One of Africa’s oldest rainforests and an underrated chimp-tracking destination. The canopy walkway — a 60-metre suspension bridge above the forest floor — is a highlight in its own right. A natural companion to Uganda given the similar rainforest environment, but with a distinctly different feel.
• Lake Kivu & Rubavu, Rwanda: A laid-back lakeside town on the Congo border with clean, croc-free water ideal for kayaking and swimming. Napoleon Island’s massive fruit bat colony is a quirky highlight, and the Congo Nile Trail offers excellent hiking and mountain biking along the shoreline.
• Akagera National Park, Rwanda: Rwanda’s only savanna park and a genuine big game destination — lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and hippos, all within a two-hour drive of Kigali. It’s a compact, self-driveable park that pairs well with gorilla trekking further west.
• Amboseli National Park, Kenya: Famous for its enormous elephant herds — over 1,500 individuals — set against a backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. The views on a clear morning are hard to beat. About four hours southeast of Nairobi and easily combined with a flight from Entebbe.