TRAVEL TIPS TO KNOW WHILE COMING TO UGANDA
Coming in Uganda is one big off the flattened path adventure. It won’t be anything like your standard trip in Europe or the States and although it simply requires a little more planning, traveling to Uganda is a lifetime experience. While many travelers visit Uganda for the mountain gorilla trekking, the country has so much more to offer. Some people are still in the understanding that Uganda is unsafe, yet not
No country is perfect and surely not here in Africa, but its imperfections will make your Uganda trip one to remember. Planning a Uganda holiday doesn’t need to be difficult, especially now that Uganda tourism is growing rapidly and even a day trip is possible since the country is actually investing heavily in infrastructure.
1. You need a visa to come to Uganda (Visa policy of Uganda)
Visa Policy in Uganda
E-visa
Almost all countries will need a visa when traveling to Uganda. Check out for the visa policy in Uganda.
E-visas can be purchased online through the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration which is the only authentic Visa Application Portal for Uganda visas and it costs from $50 with service fee excluded
However there is still an opportunity to get a visa on arrival in Uganda, but only at the land borders though some travelers still manage to get a visa on arrival crossing overland from different countries. When flying to Uganda, an e-visas is mandatory. The Uganda e-visa is quick and easy, but also a little work as they require a passport-copy, recent passport-size photograph and your yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Eastern African Community Single Tourists’ Visa
If you are planning to travel to Kenya and Rwanda on the same trip the Eastern African Community tourists’ visa is worth applying. This visa is a single entry tourist visa for these three countries, but within its borders it is multiple entry. It cost $100 and is valid for 90 days. As soon as you leave one the 3 countries, it loses its validity.
2. You need to be vaccinationed
First of all, yes you do need shots to visit Uganda as without a Yellow Fever vaccination certification you cannot obtain a visa. They actually check it at all borders. On top of that it is also advised you get vaccinations for DTP, Hepatitis A and malaria. Some organizations may advice you to take Typhoid, Cholera, Hepatitis B and Rabies as well.
At the moment a negative PCR test within 72 hours is also required in Uganda. It make a difference if you are vaccinated, everyone needs a negative PCR test.
3. Malaria medication
There was a risk of Malaria throughout the country and therefore we the city side tours and travel guides will recommended you to take Malaria medication. If you go to the Northern areas and for example travel to Murchison Falls, we have advised most travelers to take malaria pills.
In general the most important thing is to protect yourself against mosquito bites and it can be as simple as wearing long pants and sleeves just before sunset. If you want a plant based medicinal protection against malaria, have a look into using Artemisia.
4. Uganda’s security
Uganda is generally considered to be a safe country with low crime rates. Safe all the time! Just avoid travelling by the road outside major towns at night. It’s also advised to gather the latest travel information when traveling to different parks.
However, visiting Kidepo Valley National Park, which lies close to the border with South Sudan is totally fine. Simply use common sense at all times, take care of your belongings and be aware of your surroundings and one should be totally fine traveling in Uganda a guide from city side tours and travel.
5. Best time to come to Uganda?
You can travel to Uganda all year! The best time for Uganda safaris is during the dry season from June to August and from December to February. In dryer conditions wildlife is easier to spot.
The high season is from June to September, but it will never really get crowded. There is no real peak season for traveling to Uganda. The most challenging months to visit Uganda are March, April and May. Because of the wet season traveling around can get a little more complicated. Roads and nature trails are a bit complicated to those with allergies
The gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest can be done year round. Keep in mind that places like Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queens National Park, etc can get cold at night even in summer due to their high altitudes.
6. Famous Quote about Uganda from Winston Churchill, in 1908 Winston Churchill spoke the following famous quote about Uganda that still resonates in Uganda nowadays:
“For magnificence, for variety of form and color, for profusion of brilliant life – bird, insect, reptile, and beast – for vast scale, Uganda is truly the Pearl of Africa. “That is why you will see Welcome to the Pearl of Africa all around Uganda.
7. Uganda’s currency (shillings)
The name of the local currency in Uganda is the Shilling. Uganda is still a cash country and card payments are not common. However most bigger hotels and lodges and even at the Uganda National Parks you can pay with either credit cards as well as USD, Euros and GBP these days. So when paying for example the $700 National Park fee for mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi there is no need to bring stacks of money with you.
Makes sure you always have Uganda Shillings (UGX) on you during your Uganda trip. Small bills like 1,000 UGX are the equivalent of just 25 dollar cents, but they are worth big smiles if you give them to locals as a tip. Try to buy local to support local people in Uganda.
8. Exchange money
You will get the best value for money when you exchange US dollar into Ugandan Shilling at a Forex office in one of the towns. You can also change money at the Entebbe Airport, but the rates are significantly lower. There are exchange offices all around the bigger towns and the Uganda tourist attractions.
9. Buy a local sim card
Stay connected in Uganda and buy a local sim card. Prepaid Uganda sim cards are cheap and you get about 5 GB for $5 USD. Our advice to all travelers to get sim cards, we have mtn, airtel, and mango
10. Food
Local food is a mix of matoke (cooked bananas), cassava, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, tomatoes, cabbage and a sauce made of grounded peanuts. The sauce is very similar to satay sauce from Indonesia. This is what a standard local meal looks like and you should try it in a local restaurant.
In Uganda we have fresh fruits everywhere and they are CHEAP to purchase at any time.
Are you staying in more upscale lodges, then often the meals are included. That means you will be served a 3 course meal every evening, which mostly is Western orientated dishes like pasta, steak, fish, etc.
11. Tipping is normal. Most guides expect a small tip after for example a boat tour, game drive or a nature walk. The average monthly income in Uganda varies throughout the country and ranges between 150.000 UGX ($41 USD) and 1.000.000 UGX ($280 USD) . Tipping someone a couple dollars will give you a lot of smiles throughout your trip. Ugandan people are super friendly, they are hospitable.
12. National Park fees in Uganda
Queen Elizabeth national park fees
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has set fixed fees for visiting national parks in Uganda. Park entrance fees differ a little per National Park but most of the famous tourists spots are around $40 for tourists. Some lesser known parks charge $35 and some small reserves only $10 for foreign non-residents (FNR). Be aware that National Park here in Uganda are per 24 hours. That means you can be creative with the park fees when you schedule it right
13. Boda Boda’s In Uganda
Uganda was named the Vietnam of Africa. If you have ever visited Vietnam then you know what he means. Motorbikes are the main mode of transportation for local people in Uganda, not for tourists. However, there are motorbikes everywhere so you can make great use of that.
If you are up for an adventure then traveling by motorbike in Uganda is pretty wild!
14. There is Uber and Bolt in Uganda
Looking for a safe way to travel then surely recommend you to use one of the taxi apps. The most common one to Western tourists is of course Uber, but you can also use Bolt in Uganda. It is the exact same thing. Of course if you go off the beaten path in Uganda, don’t expect to find an Uber or Blot, it is limited to the bigger cities only.
When looking for food delivery apps then download the Glovo app. There is no Uber Eats in Uganda, but Glovo works fine. However, it is very limited to Kampala mostly. Glovo can do grocery shopping for you or deliver you stuff from the pharmacy.
15. Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Permits?
Secure your gorilla or chimp trekking permits prior to arrival to avoid disappointment! The permits are issued by UWA that markets them through Uganda Tour Operators to the public. Therefor it’s best to book your trekking permit (or a complete trekking tour) with a tour operator that is a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. The mountain gorilla trekking permits cost $700 for foreign non-residents.
You can obtain and pay the Gorilla trekking permit directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority website.
I advise you to apply for a permit 6 months prior to the date you want to trek. Permits from June-August and December and February tend to sell out quickly. Last minute bookings may be possible during low season. For more information please contact city side tours and travel.
16. Electricity Plugs In Uganda
More areas outside the cities actually have electricity. Though Most of the lodges use solar energy or generators, Because of that, it is always possible to charge all your devices in your room. In some places you will be able to charge your phone, laptops and camera batteries
The electricity plugs in Uganda are similar to the ones in the UK. So make sure you bring a travel adapter with you when coming to Uganda.
Note it’s always advised to carry a powerful power bank because to some places while on trip power is not stable.
17. Road Conditions in Uganda
There are a lot of road works in Uganda although many roads are under renovation some roads are still in a fair condition. Depending on the weather sometimes it can be challenging to travel around Uganda without a city side guide. If you choose to drive yourself (which is an option) I would suggest driving a 4WD. Keep in mind that you have to drive on the left side of the road.
Contact city side tours and travel to obtain up-to-date information about the road conditions and identify the preferred route when visiting Uganda.
18. Gas Stations in Uganda
Always make sure you have enough fuel for a long journey. In general there is no shortage of gas stations along all the routes, but plan your Uganda road trip itinerary carefully with city side tours and travel. For example if you decide to visit Kidepo National Park. It’s a long journey up north and you need enough fuel (including your game drive activities in the national park) since there is no gas station in or around Kidepo Valley National Park. The nearest gas stations are in Kaabong and Kitgum here you will need a help from a city side driver.
19. Languages in Uganda
Uganda counts more than 40 languages, every tribe speaks their own language. Uniform language especially in and around the famous tourist places in Uganda is luckily English. If you go off the beaten lane you could run into residences where English is not spoken very well, but in general you shouldn’t fear communicating with local people because Ugandans are more hospitable.
In general all the Ugandans are very friendly people. It’s impolite to only say ‘Hi!’ So instead use ‘How are you? Even children will greet you with ‘How are you?’ They also love to touch your soft ‘Muzungu’ skin.
20. Enjoy the Best of Uganda
As we had explained about the Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park, which obviously is the major tourist attraction in Uganda, but there is much more to see and do. The Chimpanzee trekking is another astonishing thing to do in Uganda and a must perceive when you are a wildlife lover are the tree climbing lions. It is a very rare phenomenon but you can see them in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Apart from the stunning wildlife there are some epic waterfalls to visit. A tour to Murchison Falls is a very standard tourist destination and a little more off the beaten route are the Sipi Falls. Just about 80 kilometer East of Kampala you will find the laidback city of Jinja, where you can find the source of the Nile and where white water rafting is the number one thing to do.
A place to visit in Uganda that is popular with backpackers is Lake Bunyonyi. A stunning crater lake with numerous islands. Kayaking and taking in the stunning views while swinging in a hammock are great things to do here. Near Lake Bunyonyi there is Lake Mburo National Park and much more to the Northeast there is Mbale and Kidepo Valley National Park which are popular places to visit in Uganda.
21. Kampala tour
Are you ready for an adventure then definitely don’t miss out on visiting Kampala? I totally recommend you to vist Kampala city at all costs and see the beauty of night life were lights every were, those who drink bars open, the national museums, Gadhafi mosque, kings palace, historical sites etc.
22. What to bring
Bear it in mind to dress respectfully. Uganda is conservative, so in general it’s better to avoid short skirts or shorts when coming to Uganda. For women it’s best to bring an over the knee skirt because it’s impolite to wear trousers or shorts while visiting local community wear shorts during day activities like hikes, safaris or boat tours, no problem.
Pack good hiking shoes for your chimpanzee or gorilla trekking’s. Some parts can be very muddy and slippery. It’s also good to pack gaiters, gloves, a rain jacket/poncho and a hat. Although it’s hot wear long trousers and thin long-sleeved shirts to protect your arms and legs from scratches.
Long clothes will protect you from diseases carried by mosquitoes and other insects such as tsetse flies. In general you should bring a flashlight, daypack, insect repellent, malaria pills for some areas, waterproof bags and an international driving license if you’re thinking of driving yourself
Subsequently you will probably meet a lot of children on your way, consider bringing some pencils to give to them
23. Camera Gear and Equipment for Uganda
Descent camera: for example a DSLR with several lenses or a camera with enough optical zoom. Or you can pack photography bag with a Canon 5D Mark IV with a Canon 100-400mm lens, Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 lens and a Canon 16-35mm 2.8 lens.
24. Quick Packing list for Uganda
Here are all the above mentioned items in one Uganda packing list:
Over the knee skirt (women)
Gaiters, Gloves, Rain jacket, Poncho, Hat, long sleeve t-shirt, Long trousers, Flashlight, Daypack
Backpack, Insect repellent, Malaria pills, UK electricity plug adapter, International driver’s license
Passport, Gifts for children, Camera gear, Binoculars, Tripod, Extra batteries, Memory cards
Note: Please always feel free to contact City Side Tours and Travel for more details in regards to Uganda
