Travel information about Uganda

Before you embark on your Safari holiday to Uganda, there are some key issues that you need to know about this pearl of Africa. This East African country is mostly known for gorilla trekking which acts as the best tourism activity. There are various things that a visitor is assured while in this great nation including; chimpanzee trekking, bird watching, cultural tours, gorilla tracking, game viewing, nature walks, hiking and many more.

However, it makes no sense to travel to this great nation without equipping yourself with some of the “must-know” things that can make your stay a success. Some of these key things that you must know while in the country include the following:-

1. How to dress

In Uganda, the dressing code is mainly informal and therefore a visitor can carry clothes which make him/her feel comfortable without any disturbance as he/she penetrates through thick forests. However, you may also be required to carry some long sleeved clothes and sweaters to wear during evenings and on a rainy day. Don’t forget to carry a strong sun cream to avoid sun burn since Uganda is hotter compared to most European and American countries.

2. Passport and Visa

Before you could be allowed to visit Uganda, you are required to obtain a visa card. These visa cards can be obtained at the airport as you enter or leave the country and can also be issued by Uganda’s missions abroad. You are advised to get these visa cards in time so as to avoid complications that can affect you safari to Uganda.

3. Handling money

While on your trip, you do not need to worry about traveling with foreign currency because the country has a liberal banking with both foreign and local owned banks and Forex bureaus. These banking institutions have no restrictions on cash flows and they deal in both local currency (Shillings) and foreign currency (pounds, dollars, Euros and Yens). This enables the visitors to exchange their money with ease while in Uganda between 8:30am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday.

4. What to carry on your safari

On top of carrying clothes and sun cream, there are other things to carry including; binoculars for viewing birds and animals from a long distance, telescopes for bird watching, both video and photo cameras. However, you should know how to deal with taking photos both in public or while in the national parks especially when tracing the gorillas and chimpanzees. Always ensure that the flush light is off to avoid scaring away of these elegant primates.

Before you could take any photo of people on your cultural visits, always ensure that you first ask for permission from the people to avoid misconception about your actions.

5. Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking tips

Trekking can be carried out both during dry and wet seasons. For gorilla and chimpanzee trekking during wet seasons, a water proof jacket is one of the essentials that you shouldn’t forget to carry plus binoculars and cameras. Make sure that you put on good hiking shoes, long sleeved shirts and long trousers because tracking involves moving through steep ridges containing thorny vegetation. Other things that you can carry include; sun glasses, sun cream, walking sticks, gloves, cameras and a hat.However,the best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the 2 dry seasons of mid-December to February and June to September.

6. When should you visit

Before embarking on your lifetime tour to this East African country, you need to know about the weather changes. The country’s location along the equator prevails 2 dry and wet seasons. Usually, the rainy season is from March-May and October- November. The remaining months are sunny and clear and are the best months for those visitors interested in game viewing.