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Uganda Travel Directory And Guide

Find lots of information to help you organize your Uganda safari and tours perfectly. If you are planning travel to Uganda or aiming at Uganda Safari and tours. "About Uganda" is mentioned on the National Geographic Traveler Magazine in the section of Africa Trip Marks and tops the list of useful travel websites in the Bradt Travel Guide to Uganda covering gorilla safari tours and other wildlife trips. A directory of Tourism Service providers has been arranged to cover tour operators, Car hire, Uganda Flights, tickets and airfare, Uganda Hotels and lodges , apartments, diplomatic Missions and Embassies.Special interest travelers have been catered for in the Uganda trips sections for gorilla trekking safaris and also the birding Safaris respectively.

 

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You may also visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Center or what was originally called the Entebbe Zoo, also the Chimpanzee sanctuary in Ngamba. Tour Planning If you have any travel related question, please Contact the travel Advisor.
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Uganda is an ideal country for a safari vacation or holiday in Africa! It has been recommended by many tourism official websites and travel guides including the Lonely Planet,Tanzania Safaris Guide featuring Tanzania safari tripsand African Safaris and Travel Kenya holidays. You will find a wealth of information related to visiting primates, cruises, Zanzibar holidays adventure trails, sightseeing tours, mount gorilla safari tracking, trekking and Uganda trips covering many safari journeys in Africa.

WHEN TO VISIT UGANDA

Generally, Uganda's climate is warm with insignificant seasonal temperature changes all year through and this is basically because of its global positioning as it is situated on the Equator. The major factor to consider when organizing your safari is the rainfall pattern particularly if you are preparing to hike Mountain Rwenzori, or take a camping safari in any of the country's national Parks. The months that receive most rainfall are: October, November, April and May. Throughout these months camping is not very practical and hiking can turn out to be a stamina test with some roads being quite impassable.

PAPER WORK

Confirm in advance that your passport is valid and won't be expiring in the next 6 months from the date you intend to leave for Uganda. In case your passport is misplaced or stolen; it will be simpler to replace it once you have a copy of the vital pages.
In at any one time you will want to drive a private vehicle while in Uganda, organize and acquire an international driving license which may be asked for together with the original driving license. The AA office in the particular country in which you were licensed to drive will do this for you at a small fee. Also at the airport or border you may be required to present your health card to show if you received a yellow fever shot.
For security purposes, it is recommended that you compile all your important information onto a single piece of paper, make copies and distribute them among your relatives and friends at home, and in your different luggage. Among this information should be your traveler cheque numbers, refund information, traveler insurance-policy, emergency contact addresses/numbers that are always available, passport number, a contact address of a person that can be reached in case of an emergency, camera & lens numbers and your credit card and bank details.

VISAS

People from most countries need s visa to get access into Uganda. This you should obtain in earlier at the Ugandan Embassy o the High Commission in your country although it is easier to purchase the visa on arrival. Visa declarations are prune to changes so it is safer to check with the High Commission or embassy before leaving for Uganda. you may bring in personal items like cameras, binoculars or films temporarily into Uganda with no a permit but for video equipment, radios, tape recorders, musical instruments and slide projectors, a custom bond will be mandatory. Consumable in minimal quantities will be allowed duty free such as perfume, 200 cigarettes, quarter Kg of tobacco, 50 cigars or 1 liter of alcohol. Literature that is obscene is not allowed in the country. Fire arms cannot be brought into the country without proper import certificate from the police fire-arms department.

TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN TO UGANDA

Ugandans are very friendly and so hospitable especially to children. The rule governing the buses and matatu business is that one pays full fare for the seat they occupy while those carried on the lap travel for free. Hotels and lodges are always willing to offer an extra bed or mattress for the children. Actually some hotels charge per bed occupied but not persons occupying the bed and such are found everywhere through the country. Carry with you minimal white clothing because the red dust and mud are almost everywhere. Entrance fees at national parks are also negotiable when it comes to children. For additional information on carrying you children along to Uganda, you can read the book "Your Child's Health Abroad", which is a manual to guide traveling parents written by Dr. Jane Wilson –Howarth together with Dr Mathew Ellis in 1998.

FLYING TO UGANDA

Entebbe is the international airport of Uganda, located just 40 kilometers from Kampala. People traveling from North America or Europe will access Uganda via Nairobi in Kenya which is the main entrance point in East Africa. Africa Travel Centre (London WC1H9QX, 4 Midway court and Leigh street) and Africa Travel Specialists (Stag PlaceLondonSW1E 5AG and Glen House) in London are the places where one can find the most affordable tickets into Africa while in Europe.

Given that your passport is valid and you have a returning ticket, will; have no delays in going through the entrance formalities at Entebbe. Visitor who would have traveled by air are obligated to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate. You don't have it you will be requested to come with it on your next visit.
A visitor who has traveled by air may be allowed into the country with no returning ticket because they may be planning to travel to other African countries. Few travelers start their expeditions through Africa in Uganda because traveling from most countries in the world is quite cheaper to fly to Kenya's capital Nairobi as you will arrive with a one way ticket. There is a minimal likelihood that will have a hard time with the immigration officials to be worried that you may run out funds to purchase a ticket out of Uganda.
Once you arrive in Uganda and have cleared with the custom & immigration officials, you will then change your money to Ugandan currency and fortunately, there are several currency exchange facilities that operate 24 hours at the airport and in the capital Kampala. A private taxi from the airport to the capital Kampala may cost about $30 USD. Alternatively, you may take a motorcycle locally referred to as bodaboda to Entebbe town where you will board a matatu to Kampala.

EATING AND DRINKING

If you are not the picky type and never bothered with variety, you will find cheap meals almost everywhere in Uganda. There are several restaurants locally referred to as hotels that serve satisfying but not very good quality meals for less than $2 USD. The commonly served foods include chicken or beef stew served with any of the 4 common staple foods that are matooke, posho or Ugali, rice and chapatti. Matooke is a steamed plantain dish that is usually served mashed and is the staple food for close to three quarters of the country's population.

In the bigger towns, you will find posh restaurants serving Indian and western food for a price between $4 - $10 USD and most of these are around Kampala. High-class restaurants or lodges serve top quality foods although vegetarians are not well catered for. For that reason, vegetarians should notify their tour organizers earlier so that they can make all necessary arrangements. For visitors on special diet, Ugandan has fresh fruits which can be cheaply purchased from the markets. Packed soups are the available dehydrated food on the market to cater for hikers while in Uganda. And in case of any special requirement, it is advisable to make all you're shopping in Uganda before traveling upcountry.

International brands like Coca-cola, Fanta and Pepsi are found all through Uganda and available at the international price. If you don't like bubbly stuff, you will purchase packed fruit juices some imported from South Africa from the big super markets within Kampala or other big towns. Bottled mineral water is prevalently available in Uganda, although you can also drink boiled tap water.
Chai is the most popular beverage taken in Uganda; which is a sweetened tea comprised of boiling a variety of species all I one pot. Among the spices used is vanilla and ginger. Surprisingly, coffee is the major export in Uganda but you will be so fortunate to find a Ugandan who can brew a good cup-of coffee.
HEALTH

It is recommended that all people visiting Uganda receive anti malarial medication. It is mandatory to use mosquito repellants in addition to mosquito nets especially if you are going camping.
WEATHER

Generally, the country is mainly sunny all year round and temperature above 29C. the heavy rains are received between March and May where as the short rains are from November to December although in between the are always hours with sunshine.
CURRENCY
The currency unit of the country is the Uganda Shilling which fall in denominations of 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, and 1,000 for notes in addition to coins in 500, 200, 50 and100. There are no limitations on the currency movement in and out of the country for ant current transactions.
LANGUAGE
English is the official language in the country although Luganda & Swahili are also spoken widely.
TRANSPORT

Air;
Many companies are presently operating internal flights such as United Air and Eagle Air. There are also opportunities to contract a small air craft to fly you to the different airstrips around the country which are in the north; Soroti, Gulu, Pakuba-to Kidepo National Park, Lira and Paraa-to Murchison Falls National Park, south West to Mbarara, East –to Moroto & Tororo, and west-to Queen Elizabeth National Park. A popular Ugandan safari company- AA Safaris and Tours is operating chartered flights for tourist, companies and individuals to visit the various national parks in Uganda.
Road Transport;
The train manages only freight services. There are well managed roads along the main routes for easy and swift travel. It is rather safer to use buses although they are slow but cheaper compared to other means. Vans locally called taxis are also available. Minibuses too are found in the taxi parks. These are very convenient for short journeys and usually available in the big town. It is recommended that that you agree on the taxi fare before boarding. The buses and matatus in most cases won't move from the stage before they are fully boarded. On Sundays and public holidays, the buses take a long time to fill up but if you are rushing somewhere you can always take a motorcycle which locally referred to as bodaboda although they are slightly costly than public-passenger service vans. But if you rather travel privately then you can take a small cab which in Uganda are locally referred to as 'special hire'; they too are expensive but can take you to which ever destination you want as long as you make full payment. African Legends Furthermore are several types of cars offered by the numerous car hire companies but remember drivers are an asset in case of mechanical breakdown.
LAW AND RESPECT
Visitors are required to respect the president, other leaders and all uniformed officials under the public service. It is an offense to tear or burn a presidential portrait. Avoid breaking the law particularly the Foreign Exchange-Control Act, anti-prostitution laws, traffic regulations, drug trafficking and taking or abuse of drugs. Foreign law breakers are usually charges and fined or compelled to leave Uganda. Smoking cannabis sativa/ Bhang or opium is forbidden and any individual got importing it in his luggage is headed for serious problems.
COMMUNICATION
There are numerous telephone services prevalent through the country with some mobile-phone countries running 'rent a phone' service for limited durations. in large town you can get internet or email services.
CULTURAL ETIQUETTE

Uganda has a diverse culture that it would be overwhelming to list all the norms down. But nevertheless visitors are recommended to request for information on some of the cultural patterns that they are prune to encounter such as the greeting, bargaining, eating, and dress code together with other practices and common beliefs.
GREETING

The way people greet is a very vital thing for successful communication with the natives at whatever social level, be it in the market, offices, over phone calls or the streets.
DRESS
It is not allowed for visitors to move in public places while in swimming wear because this is against the tradition culture and greatly offends the natives. Ugandan people greatly honor decent behavior and hate any degenerate morals.

Author: Sandra Nans