TRAVELING TO UGANDA WHAT YOU MUST KNOW

TRAVELING TO UGANDA WHAT YOU MUST KNOW

   Uganda which is officially called the Republic of Uganda is a landlocked Country found in the East Central African region. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda is in the African Great Lakes region. Uganda also lies within the Nile Basin, and has a varied but generally a modified Equatorial Climate.
Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country, including its capital Kampala.

   The official languages spoken are English and Swahili, although "any other language may be used as a medium of instruction in schools or other educational institutions or for legislative, administrative or judicial purposes as may be prescribed by law. Luganda a central language, is widely spoken across the country, and several other languages are also spoken including Runyoro, Runyakore, Rukiga, and Luo.




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Here are a set of common questions we often get from clients who are going on safari in Uganda;

Which international airlines can I use to Uganda?
A number of international airlines fly to Uganda  these include, Brussels Airlines, KLM, Ethiopian Airways, United Arab Emirates,Turkish Airlines, Qata Airways to mention but a few all of which fly to Entebbe International Airport. International carriers from Europe connect with most of those from North American carriers and Other African Airlines like, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Egypt air and South African Airways and those from the Middle East and South East Asia.

When is the best time to travel to Uganda for a safari
Uganda can be visited any time of the year due to its unique location next to the Equator. The country generally has cool temperatures with a predictable period of rainy and sunny seasons. Even during the rainy seasons (March – June and October – November) it may rain for only one or two hours before the sun shines again. It rarely gets too cold, and is advisable to carry lightweight rain gear in the rainy season. It can also get cold at night in some days.

Is Uganda safe?
Uganda is one of the safest and most welcoming country in Africa with warm friendly people especially for visitors to the country especially if the visitors follow certain security and safety guidelines. Rarely do you hear about security risks to tourists or accidents. The Uganda government ensures maximum security for tourists in the country and also for its citizens, these range from traffic police to national park police for all national parks in the county. Uganda is safe, but just like any country, you need to keep away from trouble and keep your self safe.

Do I need to have a Ugandan Visa? How do I obtain the Ugandan Visa?
You need to have a Uganda Visa to enter the country. It is best to get this Visa from the airport on arrival or from any other point of entry in the country. The price of the Ugandan Visa is as follows;
Student Visa – $ 20
Single Entry  – $ 50 lasts for 90 Days
Multiple Entries  – $100   lasts 6 months
Multiple Entries – $ 200 lasts 1 year

What kind of vehicle will I travel in?
 We use 4WD land cruisers for all our safaris and as for group tours we go for 4WD minibuses (these carry up to nine passengers) with pop-up tops to allow game viewing for travelers during game drives.  Small group safaris (three or less) can travel in 4WD land cruiser. Lager groups of twelve and more people who would like to travel in one vehicle are offered 25-29 seat Coaster buses that have approximately 16 window seats. Overland trucks and fourteen seater minibuses are available on request. But the safari Vehicles will totally depend on the clients choice.
Is it possible to have a flying safari instead of road?
Yes, charter flights are available to almost all safari destinations, and are a very time saving means of travel and you don’t get so tired. Though charter flights costs are high.

How far in advance do I need to book a gorilla permit?
Its advisable to book your gorilla permit as soon as possible to be on a safe side. Make sure that once you have purchased your permit a scanned copy is sent to your email to be sure.  Permits are sold up to 2 years in advance!

Dressing code for gorilla tracking
Mountain gorilla trekking adventures can be wet and hot work. Hence the need to carry both a waterproof jacket and a backpack that hold  your essentials like binoculars and cameras. Trekking can some times be through thick vegetation with thorns and steep terrain. It’s advised to have good hiking shoes, long trousers, long sleeved shirts, sun creams, sun glasses, gloves, walking stick and a hat.

How do you deal with tipping?
Tipping should depend on the level of service given by provider. There is no fixed rate in tipping in the country. Culturally people may not feel it appropriate to outwardly show their appreciation for money given, however salaries are generally low in Uganda compared to neighboring tourism destinations and all tips will be greatly appreciated. On average tips are in the region of: 5-10% in restaurants; US$5-10 per day, per client for safari driver/guides and US$5-10 per client, per day for Ranger Guides; US$5 per day for porters on mountaineering/hiking safaris and US$3-5 for Forest Walk guides.

Do the drivers speak English?
All our guides / drivers speak English, but we can also provide you with a multilingual guide who speaks your language depending on your request especially for the travelers who may not understand English. Its very advisable for the traveler to inform us in advance for the language he / she is comfortable with.
 

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