Uganda Safari Tips – Advice – Information for Uganda the Pearl of Africa
Travel advice for a Uganda Safari
Know before you Go – Practical and Helpful Uganda Safari Tips
Uganda is one of the best safari destinations in Africa. Planning a Uganda safari may not be easy if you have not been to Uganda before, but this guide gives all the information that you need to know while planning a safari to Uganda. Preparation, gathering information and planning are key for one to enjoy their Uganda safari. During this process you have to budget for your safari, plan your itinerary, get the visa and necessary immunizations as required.
While planning your itinerary, you must know the major Uganda safari activities and things to do in Uganda such that you do not miss out on the things that Uganda has to offer for example Gorilla trekking and or Gorilla habituation, Chimpanzee trekking and or Chimpanzee habituation, Volcano climbing, wildlife safaris, adventure sports and so much more. There are lots of things to do in Uganda, and you can only be limited by the number of days you want to spend on your safari.
The Advice and Tips will help guide and prepare you for your Uganda safari and also help you in making sure that your safari to Africa is a success. This guide will help you know what to expect while on your Safari, what to bring for your Uganda sari, what to wear, entrance requirements for Uganda, health tips, and so much more.
Gorilla trekking is one of the major activities to do while in Uganda.
Uganda Travel Advice
Planning your Uganda Safari
Planning the things to do and activities for your Uganda Safari involves a lot of preparation at home. It is recommended that you read about Uganda as a country you will be visiting. This helps you know the requirements for a Uganda Safari as well as knowing what to pack and what to for your African Safari.
The information available on our website will help you in planning the perfect Uganda. As a company with several years of experience in organizing safaris in Africa, we have been able to gather and prepare all the information to guide travelers planning a safari to Uganda which is available on this page and others for you.
Also note that we have several Uganda safari packages already listed on our website which we can tailor to fit the requirements of each and every traveler.
How to get to Uganda – Getting to Uganda for your safari
The main access point to Uganda is through the Entebbe international Airport. The other Major entry is by flying to Rwanda, Kigali international Airport and then driving from Kigali to Southwestern Uganda.
You can also opt to start your safari from Entebbe and end in Kigali, or Fly-in through Kigali and end / exit from Entebbe Airport.
Flying in from Kigali is mostly recommended for travelers who want to track the gorillas in Uganda, but wish to do a shorter drive. The drive from Kigali to the Bwindi impenetrable forest in Uganda is only 4-5 hours while the drive from Entebbe to Bwindi is 7-9 hours.
Generally, if you are doing longer safaris, flying through Entebbe is the most recommended option given that it offers a shorter driving time to most of the Uganda national parks such as Murchison falls, Lake Mburo national Park, Jinja, Kibale forest national Park, Queen Elizabeth national Park and you should only consider flying in through Kigali if you want to do the short 3 days Uganda Gorilla trekking from Kigali, or the 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimps from Kigali.
What to expect on your Uganda Safari
Uganda also known as the “pearl of Africa” is one of the best destination for an African Safari. It should be noted than a safari to Africa is not like a visit to the zoo as is common in the west. A Uganda Safari takes you to the wild, where you will not only appreciate nature, but also discover some of the wonders Africa has to offer. There are several activities to do in Uganda including Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee trekking, Game viewing, walking safaris, Adventure sports, big five safaris, cultural encounters and so much more.
While on your safari, it’s important to note that you will be visiting the wild animals in their natural habitat and therefore nothing is predictable as the wildlife move around the parks without cages or confinement. This provides you with the Authentic African Safari experience.
Tourist Visa for Uganda Safari
In order to enter Uganda, you are required to secure the Uganda Tourist Visa. The Uganda Tourist Visa is recommended if you are only visiting Uganda and can be secured prior to your travel through the online visa application system by the Government of Uganda (https://visas.immigration.go.ug/). You can also Secure your Uganda Tourist Visa on arrival. This is an option preferred by most travelers given that sometimes the online system is unreliable and may have downtime. The single entry Uganda Tourist Visa costs $50.
If you are entering Uganda Through Rwanda, you also have to obtain the Rwanda Tourist Visa. The Rwanda Tourist Visa goes for $30 and can also be got on arrival.
The Other visa you can secure is the East African Tourist Visa. This allows you visit Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya using a single visa. The East African Tourist Visa is $100 and must be secured through the country you are visiting first.
Tourism Visas for Uganda and Rwanda can be secured either online or on arrival
Yellow Fever Certificate:
Both Uganda and Rwanda require that you must have the yellow fever immunization Certificate before you enter the country. This is majorly to protect you from getting the yellow fever. It should be noted that if you arrive at Entebbe international Airport without the yellow fever certificate, there is an option for you to receive the vaccine at the airport for a small fee. This vaccination works for over 10 years.
Note: if you very old or have a medical condition that stops you from receiving the yellow fever vaccination, you have to get a letter from your doctor stating this and you will be allowed entry without the vaccination.
No Cases of yellow fever in Uganda or Rwanda: It should be noted that there has not been any outbreak of yellow fever in Uganda or Rwanda, there was however an outbreak in Angola (which has since been contained). It is this that prompted Uganda, Rwanda and other African countries to make the yellow fever vaccination mandatory. For most travelers, yellow fever vaccination is not an issue.
What documents will I need with me while on Safari?
Documents you should have in your possession for your Uganda Safari:
Its recommended that you keep all your documents in a sizeable plastic envelope. It’s also recommended that you carry a bag where you can keep your cash, documents and other valuables.
For all documents, its recommended that you make copies such that when walking around, you leave the originals at the hotel and move with the copies. For example, while walking around town, you can leave your passport at the hotel and move with a copy.
The main documents you should have while on your Uganda Safari include the following:
- The final safari itinerary as provided by the tour operator.
- A valid passport (expiry date should be at least six months when you return to your country). The passport should also have at least two fee pages for each country you are visiting.
- A copy of your valid passport
- Your Travel Insurance Policy if any
- Your safari booking form, this usually has emergency contacts, dietary restrictions, medical prescriptions and other vital information.
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate.
How Much Cash to carry for your Uganda Safari
While coming on a safari in Uganda, its recommended that you have some money on you for purposes of shopping, tipping and expenditure on personal effects while on the safari.
The most acceptable currency in Uganda for tourists is the US Dollar as well as the Uganda Shilling. Therefore, you can have some USD, as well as change some local currency.
Also note that in some instances its acceptable to pay by card. A 3% transaction charge usually applies for card payments. It’s also important to notify your bank to allow overseas transactions if they are not already enabled on your card. Also there are some few ATMs where you can withdraw cash from using your card. You can always inform your guide on arrival such that he is able to take you to an ATM.
There are some things you need to do when coming on safari in Rwanda that will save you some
Adventure in the wild safaris is tour operator specializing in Bwindi Gorilla and Uganda wildlife safaris. We offer a wide range of Gorilla trekking and wildlife safari packages at affordable rates with a focus on delivering high quality services for all travelers who book their trips with us.
