Uganda with Children: Zoo, Rhinos and Islands

October 31, 2026

Advisory as of October 2026. Families should know that the US State Department lists Uganda at Level 4, Do Not Travel; the level went up in May 2026 during an Ebola outbreak that Uganda declared finished in late August 2026, and crime, terrorism and unrest are also named. The UK FCDO warns that terrorists are very likely to try attacks, including in national parks. Under Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, same-sex sexual acts are a criminal offence. Study the FCDO regional risks page and the US listing , and ask your insurer about the whole itinerary.

By Age Group

Under 12. Chimpanzee tracking and gorilla treks are closed to you. Good options are the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe, the botanical gardens beside it, the Ziwa rhino walk, the Bigodi swamp boardwalk and Lake Mburo game drives.

12 to 14. Chimpanzee tracking at Kibale opens at 12, with groups of up to 8 and about an hour with the animals. The permit for foreign non-residents is about USD 250. Gorillas are still off limits.

15 and over. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga begins at 15, and families should not expect any exception. A permit is about USD 800 per person, or about USD 600 in April, May and November. Security staff walk with groups close to the Congo border.

Entebbe

The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is open daily from about 08:00 to 18:00. Non-resident tickets cost around USD 15 for adults and USD 10 for children. Chimpanzees, lions and a giraffe platform are listed by operators; a Behind the Scenes extra needs advance booking. The Entebbe Botanical Gardens offer lakeside lawns with colobus and vervet monkeys, which are wild and should not be fed.

Walks and Drives

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary: flat ground and about an hour of walking behind an armed ranger. Ask about children’s rates when you book. Plan three hours each way from Kampala.
Bigodi Wetland: a community-run walk of roughly 3 hours at the edge of Kibale, starting about 07:30 or 15:00. Children of any age can join.
Lake Mburo National Park: game drives and a boat cruise with zebra, impala, eland and giraffes. Buffalo, hippo and leopard also live here, and walks need an armed UWA ranger. The adult entry fee is about USD 40.

Water and Islands

Ngamba Island, with a chimpanzee sanctuary, is reached by speedboat from Entebbe in about 45 minutes; the official page gives no child rules, so ask when you reserve at chimpanzeetrust.org . Adrift’s family rafting trip near Jinja is a Grade 3 style outing, and you should confirm the minimum age with Adrift. On Lake Bunyonyi, children should wear lifejackets in canoes; ask your lodge before anyone swims. Avoid wading in Lake Victoria or the Nile, where bilharzia, hippos and crocodiles are the risk.

Travel Tips for Families

Long drives are the hardest part, since Murchison is 5 to 6.5 hours from Kampala and Bwindi 8 to 10. Break journeys with a stop at Ziwa or Lake Mburo. Malaria occurs across the country, so see a travel clinic about prevention. FCDO recommends avoiding roads after dark outside main towns. Safari vehicles with pop-up roofs help smaller children see out.

Find family-friendly tours on GetYourGuide .