Few animals have sparked the imagination of man as much as the Gorilla, the largest of the living primates. Most Gorillas live in inaccessible regions in various dense forests in tropical Africa, one subspecies, the Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) lives within only four national parks in the world, one inhabits the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda (2006 census recorded 30), the second is in a mountainous region referred to as the Virungas, which includes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda and Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo DRC (2010 census recorded 480).

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Entry Requirements - Passport Validity section (updated).  The overall level of the advice has not changed; we advise against all travel to Karamjoa region except for trips to the Kidepo Valley National Park.

Visitors to Uganda can benefit from heavily discounted Gorilla tracking permits in a special Uganda Wildlife Authority promotion running until the end of November 2011.

Uganda "The Pearl of Africa" has been listed by Lonely Planet as one of the best countries to travel to in 2012.