Boutique hotels in Uganda

Uganda packs mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions and the source of the Nile into a country the size of Great Britain. Its lodges are generally small, often with fewer than a dozen cottages, and many sit on ridges or forest edges with big views.

Gorillas and primates

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to roughly half of the world's mountain gorillas, with lodges at Buhoma and Nkuringo. Kibale Forest is one of the best places on earth to track chimpanzees, and nearby crater lakes around Fort Portal offer lakeside lodges with Rwenzori views.

Savanna and the Nile

Queen Elizabeth National Park has tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and a gorge of chimpanzees at Kyambura. Murchison Falls, in the north, is where the Nile squeezes through a narrow gap before falling into a pool. Kidepo, in the far northeast, is remote and wild.

Lakes and the south

Lake Bunyonyi, a deep, terraced lake near the Rwandan border, has quiet island lodges, while Jinja and the Ssese Islands offer a water-sports and relaxation-based pace. Entebbe is the airport town on Lake Victoria.

When to go

The dry seasons, from June to September and December to February, are best for trekking. Rain falls in March to May and October to November, which makes forest trails muddy.