Uganda Travel Tips
Things to know before you visit Uganda
Uganda - Things to know before you go
Uganda is 1 country, split into 4 geographical and administrative areas, made up of 5 ancient constituent kingdoms, 9 indigenous communities, 56 tribes, 121 districts and a population of circa 44 million. The majority of the country speak English or Swahili as well as their mother tongue.
Uganda is now established as a top draw destination for travellers from all over the world that are looking for an authentic and comprehensive African safari experience. The sheer variety that Uganda offers is evidenced in all the landscapes, topography, plant life, wildlife, birdlife, culture and peoples that call the Pearl of Africa home.
The star attractions are the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Chimpanzees of Kibale Forest. The development of tourism products within Uganda now means that other attractions such as Cultural Experiences and Birdwatching are becoming more popular. Those that dare to discover and seek out Uganda’s treasures will be blown away by the remarkable variety of activities, encounters and memories that wait around each bend! Uganda has it all, Wildlife, Culture, Heritage and Tradition, isn't it time you discovered Uganda with Let's Go Travel?
Useful Travel Tips - Uganda
Get to know about Uganda before you travel
Climate & When to visit
Uganda historically has two seasons, a rainy and a dry season. There are two dry seasons which lend themselves to being good times for chimpanzee trekking and gorilla trekking:
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December to February,
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June to September,
Game drives are good in the dry season as well as in March, September and October
There are also two rainy seasons, where trekking is made more difficult but animals are still clearly visible during the early or later parts of the rainy season when the vegetation is not in full bloom.
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March to May
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October to November
Temperatures range between 24°C-30°C all year round but it does get chilly at night on account of the altitude so a fleece is always recommended for the evenings.
Public Holidays
1st Jan - New Year's Day
26th Jan - NRM Liberation Day
16th Feb - Archbishop Janani Luwum Day
8th Mar - International Women's Day
28th Mar - Good Friday
01st Apr - Easter Monday
10th Apr - Eid al-Fitr
1st May - Labour Day
10th May - National Census
3rd Jun - Martyrs' Day
9th Jun - Heroes Day
16th Jun - Eid al-Adha
9th Oct - Independence Day
29th Oct - Bishop Hannington Memorial Day ( tentative )
25th Dec - Christmas Day
26th Dec - Boxing Day
Entry requirements
All foreign nationals require a visa to enter Uganda. Application for a Ugandan visa can be made at on arrival at Entebbe International Airport (currently this may change in the future) or an application can be made online via the following link. An East African Tourism (Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda) can also be applied for online. But the application must be made to the country where you are first due to visit.
Medical Requirements
All passengers entering Uganda require a Yellow Fever Certificate to enter Uganda, but if you have had the injection before then and still have the certificate then that will be ok. You don’t need to have the booster injection. From 11 July 2016 the certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is valid for the life of the person vaccinated. This lifetime validity applies automatically to all existing and new certificates, beginning 10 days after the date of vaccination.
Although Uganda has a pleasant temperature all year round is does get chilly in the evenings. For a relatively small country by size most national parks are on average around 5 hours away from each other so having comfortable yet functional clothes are important. Neutral coloured clothes are best for any safari and Uganda is no exception. Having the ability to add or remove layers is also important as body temperature may vary when carry out activities such as trekking or on a boat cruise. Below is a guide of what you should bring:
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Sturdy hiking shoes
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Gaiters for hiking
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Quick dry socks
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Lightweight rain jacket
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Brimmed hat
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Sun glasses
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Long sleeved tops
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Long trousers
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Sandals
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Shorts
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Insect repellent
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Collapsible day rucksacks
There are specific clothes you will require for Gorilla Trekking and Chimpanzee Trekking which can also be used throughout your safari.
Please also be aware of the new Uganda Wildlife Authority COVID 19 Guidelines which require 2 masks when in any protected area and hand sanitisers. Click the link for all COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures
Money and Currency
The Ugandan Shilling is used in Uganda, although US dollars are accepted in large hotels. Please ensure that you don’t have US dollars notes prior to 2006 and the notes are not damaged or cut in any way as they are not accepted.
There are ATM machines in all big cities which accept most international bank cards and Visa. It is important that you know what your daily withdrawal limit is.
Tipping
Tipping is discretionary in Uganda and should be done when a service is delivered well. Below are guidelines on tipping, please get in touch if you are travelling in a group as the below may vary depending on the group size.
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Tipping drivers/guides $5-10 per person per day
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Tipping rangers on Gorilla and Chimp trekking is $20 per person.
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Tipping porters Gorilla and Chimp trekking is $25 per porter per day .
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Tipping captains on boat cruises $5-10 per person
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Camp/lodge/resort staff USD $5 per person per day
( please note most hotel/lodges have a tip box located at the reception that can be used at the end of your stay )
Safari Vehicles
Let's Go Travel Uganda runs its own fleet of safari vehicles which are all owned, managed and services by Let's Go Travel. The fleet comprises of 7 and 5 Seater Landcruisers, 5 Seater Minivans and a Landruiser Prado all with air conditioning, charging points and cold storage, to ensure the most comfortable safari.
