Most visitors to Uganda have a healthy, trouble-free trip. A little preparation makes that much more likely. This is our practical advice. We’re a safari company, not doctors, so for anything medical please see a travel clinic or your doctor, ideally at least six to eight weeks before you travel.
Malaria
Malaria is present in Uganda all year, including in most of the national parks. It’s preventable.
- Antimalarial tablets: your travel clinic will recommend the right medicine for you and your itinerary. Take the full course, including after you get home.
- Avoid bites: use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and trousers in the evening, and sleep under a mosquito net where one is provided.
- Know the signs: if you get a fever during your trip or in the weeks afterwards, get medical help quickly and say that you’ve been to a malaria area.
Vaccinations
You must have a yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Uganda. Other vaccines depend on your health, history and plans, so ask your clinic. They often discuss routine vaccines and others such as hepatitis A and typhoid. Take your itinerary along to the appointment.
Ebola in 2026
You may have seen the news. In 2026 Uganda had cases of Ebola linked to an outbreak in neighbouring DR Congo. Uganda responded quickly, and the World Health Organization declared Uganda’s outbreak over in late August 2026, after 42 days with no new cases. The outbreak in eastern DR Congo is still ongoing, and we are not running trips there. You may see health screening at airports and borders, and some countries apply extra checks to travellers returning from the region. Check your own government’s latest advice before you travel.
Food and water
- Don’t drink tap water. Lodges provide filtered or bottled water, and many have refill stations for your own bottle.
- Lodge food is generally prepared with care. Wash or sanitise your hands before eating.
- Pack a small kit with rehydration salts and your usual remedies.
- Avoid swimming in lakes and rivers unless your guide says it’s safe. Bilharzia is present in some fresh water.
Sun, altitude and trekking
The equatorial sun is strong, so use sunscreen and a hat. Bwindi and Mgahinga sit at altitude, and treks can be steep, so hire a porter and go at your own pace. If you have a cold or a cough, you won’t be allowed to trek with gorillas or chimps, to protect them from human illness.
On the road
Road travel is usually the biggest everyday risk in East Africa, so this is where we put a lot of effort.
- Our driver-guides are experienced professionals, and our vehicles are maintained for rough roads.
- We plan journeys to avoid driving after dark outside the main towns.
- Wear your seatbelt, even on short transfers.
- Avoid motorbike taxis (boda-bodas). They’re quick, but accidents are common.
- For long distances, we can use scheduled domestic flights instead.
Security and official advice
Governments assess Uganda differently, so read your own. At the time of writing, the UK Foreign Office does not advise against travel to Uganda as a whole, but highlights risks in some areas, including parts of western Uganda near the DR Congo border, where there have been attacks. That includes an attack in Queen Elizabeth National Park in October 2023. The US State Department’s advisory, last updated in June 2026 during the Ebola outbreak, is at its highest level. We follow official guidance, keep in touch with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and local police, and change routes when we need to. In towns, take normal precautions: keep valuables out of sight and don’t walk alone at night.
Insurance and evacuation
- Buy travel insurance that includes medical treatment and emergency evacuation. Serious cases may need to be flown to a hospital outside the area.
- Make sure it covers trekking, and high altitude if you’re climbing.
- Cancellation cover matters too. Gorilla permits are non-refundable.
- Check that your policy is valid under your government’s current travel advice.
- Keep your policy number and emergency phone number with you, and share them with us.
Good to know
- Bring enough of any prescription medicine for the whole trip, in its original packaging.
- Read our Uganda entry requirements and packing list before you go.
- Tell us about any health conditions or mobility needs, so we can plan the right treks and lodges.
If you have any questions or worries, ask us. We’d rather talk it through before you book than have you travel with doubts. We’re based in Kampala and are here throughout your trip.
