Looking to travel to the Pearl of Africa soon? Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and possible answers to help and guide you as you plan you next safari vacation experience to Uganda.
Uganda is the most popular safari adventure destination notably for its Gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking experiences in its tropical rainforests, however the small East African nation abounds with much more to do and see. Uganda is a true bird hotspot boasting of to 1080 species from its varied bird-rich habitats. Of these species the highlight is a prehistoric Shoebill and several regional endemics making it a top birding destination. Safari enthusiasts seeking an authentic African wilderness feel, Uganda’s diverse and uncrowded wilderness parks provide an incredible experience including the popular Big 5 on safari drives, boat cruises and nature walks. Adventure addicts seeking to stretch their adrenaline limits will dare the Nile rapids at Jinja or take on the ultimate challenge to the snow covered peaks of Africa’s highest mountain ranges the Rwenzori’s and more.
Geographic Location of Uganda
Uganda sit at the heart of East Africa, along the Equator line and high elevations (over 1000m asl) on the African plateau between the western and eastern arms of the great East African rift valley. It neighbors Kenya to its eastern flanks, S. Sudan in the north, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the west, Rwanda on the S. West and the Republic of Tanzania on the southern border.
Frequently Asked Questions about a Uganda Safari
What is the Best time to visit Uganda?
Uganda is an-all-year-round travel destination with a pleasant and favorable weather owing to the country’s geographic location at the heart of equatorial Africa. Uganda’s high-elevation and numerous topographic features features influence local temperatures including the 2 rain seasons between March-May and Sept-November that falls across the majority of the country. The northern region in Uganda, receives a longer drier season with one long rain season falling between late Feb-June.
Do I need a Visa coming to Uganda?
On planning a safari holiday its worth checking on a Uganda immigration portal, to find out whether your country is visa exempted or not. Should you plan to combine any other East African country destination, you could purchase an East African Tourist Visa. A passport valid for six months beyond the date of entry is required. Uganda Visa fees currently stand at 50USD and East African Visa cost 100USD.
Visas are obtained online and no longer available upon arrival at Entebbe Airport or any other ground borders.
What Vaccinations are required for my Uganda Safari?
Anyone coming into Uganda is no longer required to present a COVID vaccination card/certificate but a yellow fever certificate is mandatory. Immunizations against DTP (Diphtheria, tetanus and polio) and hepatitis are recommended as well. Ensure to visit your local GP doctor before you travel for further advisory on tropical diseases including malaria prevention medication.
How is the General Security and Safety?
Uganda is a safe country to visit including all its 10 national parks which are under Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Whether you’re an independent solo traveler or within a group, the country is safe. That said, personal caution must be observed and expensive jewelry or gadgets should be tucked away to avoid being a target to petty pick-pocketers especially when walking on busy downtown streets.
Is Drinking Water and Food safe?
We highly recommend bottled mineral water on all our trips and on longer distance transfer drives we stop for coffee and hot lunches at certified places. While we love our clients to test and try out different dishes, we discourage street and roadside foods stops for their hygienic reasons.
Money in Uganda
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Can I pay with my Visa Card or Cash?
Yes, you can pay with your Visa card at all national parks’ gates and almost all touristic hotels along a typical Uganda safari circuit. Better still ATMs are almost in all major towns across the country. For cash payments, the local currency Uganda Shillings (UGX) is widely accepted in all supermarkets and shops but Euros and US Dollars above the year 2020 is mostly preferred in touristic hotels.
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Tipping
Tipping is a token of appreciation to guides, waiters and other service staff. Although not mandatory to give, its highly recommended.
About our Untamed Uganda Safari and Tours Packages
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What we mean by Untamed Uganda Tailor-made Itineraries
A tailor-made travel itinerary is like a personal planning service. You tell us what you want (either in detail, or give us parameters to work within) and then we arrange services to fit your wishes for your holiday. This is a holiday crafted to your specifications. You decide what’s on the itinerary, choosing exactly where you want to go, how long you want to spend in each place, and what you want to do in all your chosen destinations.
By personalizing a tour in this way, you create a trip that’s totally unique to you!
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Our Privately Guided Tours
Our tours are personalized and led by highly experienced and dedicated local tour driver/guides in various fields including birding, culture, adventure, animal behavior and the natural world. They are locals, well conversant with diverse cultures and the local flora and fauna of the regions we operate in ensuring visitors both engaging and informative travel experience.
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What we mean by Best of Uganda Tours
Uganda is such a diverse travel destination packed with bucket-list adventure activities that somehow, it’s can be tough to include all activities in a usually short duration! Under this theme, we tempt to serve sizable bits of what the Pearl of Africa has to offer ensuring that it’s not a marathon!
These sizable menu includes major highlights considered “must-dos” that lie along a given circuit for example, wildlife safari, guided walking safaris, boat cruise, adventure and primate safaris. To create more flexibility, we mention several of these experiences as optional, leaving them at your pleasure and cost once you’re there.
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Best of Uganda and Rwanda Combo Safaris
The great lakes countries of Uganda and Rwanda are similar in many ways sharing ecological and cultural traits. Named as the “Pearl of Africa” and a “Land of a thousand Hills” respectively, a combined tour to these destinations would give one a “Wholesome Experience” exploring diverse cultures with one of the friendliest people on the continent!
These two destinations fall within the western arm of the rift valley, the Albertine region which is the most important ecological region on the continent hosting several endemic flora and fauna attracting both dedicated naturalists and casual adventurers.
The spectacular landscape of these two countries is dotted with towering montane and terraced highlands, high altitude lakes and swamps. The rainforests are the last strong-hold to the only surviving world population of Mountain gorillas, Golden Monkey. The savanna parks are fully stocked to give one an incredible wildlife safari and boat experience bring one close to African Big 5 giants.
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What our Specialized Tour plans mean
Running on short or long duration plans these are crafted to focus on specific experiences. These include; Primates Tour focusing on tracking the mountain gorilla, chimpanzee, golden monkey and other smaller primate encounters. Wildlife packages would focus more on of wildlife safari including the Big 5 game drives, walking safaris and boat cruise. Birdwatching plans would take in a visitor’s experience with East Africa species and target local specialties that occur in diverse habitats that converge in Uganda. To ensure a satisfactory safari, a specialized guide will be leading these safaris.
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Our Adventure and Cultural Experiences Plans
These plans are crafted mostly for variety of cultural and adrenaline experiences that suits all categories of thrill seekers. These could be rafting the white waters of the Nile, multi-day hikes including onto the snow-capped mountains of the moon of Rwenzori, guided nature walks close to variety of game.
Cultural experiences are crafted to connect the visitors to the indigenous and authentic cultures of Uganda and other areas we visit. Visits are locally guided by community guides exploring traditions and norms that are diverse and distinguishable. Whether one choose to camp with the former nomads of the east or follow on the footsteps of former forest dwellers on a hike or participate in ancient coffee brewing with the local coffee growers one is spoilt for choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions about a Uganda Safaris mode of transport do we use?
While all major Uganda/Rwandan roads connecting most tour attractions are in great conditions, tracks within national parks remain rough and natural requiring 4WDs. On our tours, we use 4WDs land cruisers and vans built tough for tracks while ensuring all have roof tops for game viewing, window view for all guests and enough leg room. These are further fitted with charging points.
Frequently Asked Questions about a Uganda Safari for Accommodation Types to use.
On all Untamed Uganda Safaris we take seriously accommodations that feature on all our safaris. This wide range of accommodation options include an All-inclusive High-end to Luxury facilities or Mid-range to rustic-feel facilities! Our recommendations aim to cater for our client’s interests and needs first and from the feedback of our ground teams that regularly visit to check ensure the standards are high.
Personal service, comfortability, location and cost top our checklists for these establishments, while their environmental friendliness, their support to the local community and towards local conservation, are among other top things we consider.
Standard amenities must include Hot/cold water en-suite, Wi-Fi, excellent dining, where possible a swimming pool, while rooms could be set in banda style, canvas or any other natural material giving a typical wilderness safari feel.
More Reading:
Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda!