The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has lifted its advice against all but essential travel for certain areas of Uganda, including the Queen Elizabeth II National Park and Semuliki National Park.
Originally put in place in 2023, following an isolated attack on a pair of visitors and their guide, the lifting of the advisory is good news for Western Uganda, which is one of the best places the world to see primates, including mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.
While the gorilla and chimp tracking areas were not directly impacted by the restrictions, it had suppressed visitation, and UK visitors are now free again to combine primate watching with visits to Queen Elizabeth National Park which has a healthy population of elephants, as well as lions, leopards and birdlife.
Praveen Moman, Founder of Volcanoes Safaris, and a pioneer of tourism in the region, commented: “This is welcome news for the country. The Albertine Rift is one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. Income from sensitive and controlled ecotourism is a major driver for funding the conservation of gorillas, chimpanzees and other wildlife. It is also essential for community livelihoods which is critical to get the support of local people. Uganda is a warm, welcoming country for travellers of all backgrounds.”
Wanderlust Founding Editor Lyn Hughes added, “I visited Western Uganda earlier this year including the QEII National Park and found it very welcoming. All in all, it was one of the most astounding wildlife experiences I have had, and an example of somewhere where tourism is a much-needed force for good, both in conserving rare wildlife and habitats, and in providing livelihoods and opportunities for locals.”
