Hotels in Uganda

Hotels in Uganda: your guide to where to stay

How much does a hotel in Uganda cost?

The price depends on the standard, the location and the dates. The table shows indicative nightly rates for a double room. Simple homestays are cheapest, while 5-star hotels in Kampala and lodges near the parks are the priciest. A room in a modest property starts at just a few dollars.

Indicative rates, updated periodically. For exact prices and availability, select your dates in the search above.

Where to stay in Uganda: most popular cities

A trip through Uganda usually starts near the capital and then heads to the lakes and parks. These are the destinations travellers choose most often:

• Kampala. The capital and the widest choice of hotels, from budget to 5-star. Markets, an arts scene and a base for onward trips.
• Entebbe. A town on Lake Victoria by the international airport. A handy stop to start or end a journey.
• Jinja. The source of the Nile and a base for water sports. Plenty of cheap hostels and apartments.
• Ssese Islands (Kalangala). Beaches on Lake Victoria and quiet resorts. Reached by ferry from the mainland.
• Fort Portal. The gateway to the western parks, with rolling hills and tea plantations. Guesthouses and mid-range hotels.

Nightly rates vary between destinations. Here are indicative prices per night for a double room:

What to see in Uganda

Uganda brings together wildlife, lakes and the Nile, so it is easy to match a trip to your interests.

• Gorillas in Bwindi. A rainforest home to about half the world's endangered mountain gorillas. Trekking needs a permit booked in advance.
• Lake Bunyonyi. A freshwater lake with 29 islands in the south-west, near the border with Rwanda.
• The Kasubi Tombs. The burial site of the kings of Buganda in distinctive thatched dome buildings.
• Murchison Falls. The Nile squeezes between rocks and plunges down with a roar. A boat trip is a common highlight.
• The Ssese Islands. Dozens of islands on Lake Victoria with white-sand beaches and local fishing life.

How much does a trip to Uganda cost

The country runs largely on cash. Cards are basically taken only at hotels, so for day-to-day spending you will want cash in Ugandan shillings (UGX). A three-course meal at a better restaurant is about 20,000-30,000 UGX (around $5-8), a bottle of water about 1,000 UGX, and a beer under 3,500 UGX. Larger bills are easier to settle in dollars.

When is the best time to visit Uganda

The best weather runs from June to September, when the rains ease and daytime temperatures sit around 27 degrees Celsius. June tends to be the cheapest month and April the most expensive. The rainy seasons are cheaper, but some park roads become difficult. Sunday is usually the cheapest day to book, Thursday the priciest.

Getting to and around Uganda

International flights land at Entebbe Airport near Kampala. Carriers include Qatar Airways, Emirates and KLM, with connections via Johannesburg, Amsterdam and Cairo. By car you can enter from Kenya via Busia, from Rwanda via Katuna or Cyanika, and from Tanzania along the western shore of Lake Victoria. Buses run from Nairobi, Kigali and Juba. Within cities there are minibuses known as taxis, a short Kampala-Namanve railway, and low-cost flights by Aerolink and Eagle Air between hubs. Most travellers need a 30-day tourist visa (around $50), best arranged online, though some countries enter visa-free.

Example hotels in Uganda

A few recognisable properties from different destinations for reference:

• Kampala Serena Hotel and Sheraton Kampala Hotel in the capital (upper tier, from approx. $220).
• Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe and K Hotels Entebbe by the airport (from approx. $120).
• Speke Hotel in Kampala and Mountains of the Moon Hotel in Fort Portal (from approx. $60).