WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TRAVEL TO UGANDA AND RWANDA

WEATHER

Uganda lies across the equator and enjoys a tropical spring like climate all year round with wet and dry Seasons though it can be wet and cool any time of year. The most commonly occurring weather patterns are:

December to February – HOT DRY SEASON

Good for birds and game viewing, although the grass is long and smaller species may be hard to view. It is perfect for Gorillas Tracking.

March – THE BEGINNING OF THE RAINS

Spring like day conditions are offset by cool nights. Game viewing is excellent over the short new grass. Gorilla trekking is excellent

April to May – HEAVIER RAIN SEASON

Roads including game tracks are muddy and slippery.
Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking are more challenging – but chances of viewing these gentle giants remain high at 98%.

June to October – COOLER DRY SEASON

It is cooler; roads are dusty; exceptional wildlife/game viewing conditions in the game tracks. It is also a perfect time to trek the Mountain Gorillas tracking.
Includes the peak tourist months of July and August

November – SEASONAL SHORT RAINS

This is the absolute best time for bird lovers with hundreds of migrant bird species from Eurasia. Please note – muddy and slippery conditions for chimpanzee and Gorilla tracking.

GETTING THERE

The capital Kampala, sprawls across seven hills (each of historical importance to the country’s religions, culture and the economy) on the shores of Lake Victoria is a modern cosmopolitan city.
Entebbe International Airport (40 kms/1 hrs drive) is served by major International airlines – SN Brussels,
, South African Airways, Precision Air, Rwandair, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways,etc. Uganda can also be reached by road from Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

VISAS and other entry requirements

All visitors require a Visa to enter Uganda.

ONLINE TOURIST VISAS AND FEES:

Visa fees for Uganda single entry is now $ 50, Tourist Visa is $ 100 ,the Government of Uganda introduced an online visa application system and all travelers are required to apply online prior to the arrival Please log into https://visas.immigration.go.ug/.

The requirements are: A valid passport, Return/onward ticket, International health certificate (you may be requested to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate)

HEALTH

A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required. All visitors should take malaria prophylactic drugs. It is advisable to drink only bottled mineral water and not tap water.
A fully vaccinated certificate of covid-19 is required or a negative PCR test done within 72 hours before travel.

UWA points out that:

  • There will be mandatory temperature screening using non-contact infra-red thermometers at the key tourism gates of the different protected areas.
  • Wearing of masks is mandatory for all visitors in the park.
  • Tourists will also be subjected to mandatory hand washing / sanitizing at the entrances of all UWA premisesand protected areas.
  • Staff on duty shall sensitize the visitors on the general government approved COVID-19 operationalguidelines including the ones developed and approved by UWA management.
  • Staff have provided with appropriate wear to protect them and the visitors from any possible infection.
  • The safety of our staff and visitors is important to us and we shall continue to operate while exercising.At all lodges/hotel there will be mandatory temperature screening using non-contact infra-red thermometers.
  • Wearing of masks is mandatory for all visitors.
  • Tourists will also be subjected to mandatory hand washing / sanitizing at the entrances of hotels/lodges.MONEYThe unit of currency is the Uganda shillings and the US Dollar is the preferred hard currency. The Euro and Pound sterling are also widely accepted.
    Hard currency cash can be exchanged for local currency at banks and bureau de changes in large towns. Traveler’s cheques are not widely accepted outside Kampala.Local currency can be drawn against visa and other major credit cards at selected ATMs in Kampala, Entebbe Airport and in a few large towns. A few hotels and safari lodges accept American Express cards.TIMELocal time is GMT+3.LANGUAGEEducated Ugandans are generally fluent in English, which is the official language. However of the 30 plus different indigenous languages, Luganda is the most widely used across the country.FOODS AND DRINKSTourist hotels and restaurants serve good western style meals with a wider range of cuisines available in the capital and some larger towns. Local restaurants serve Ugandan dishes, typically ugali (as stiff maize porridge) or matooke (cooked bananas) eaten with stew.DRIVINGDriving is on the left side. Visitors without experience of African roads are advised to stick to the drivers & vehicles organized by our company.WHEN TO VISITIn Uganda, any time is visitation time though mountain hikes, gorilla tracking and other forest walks are more challenging during the rains which generally peak over mid September to November and March to May.WHAT TO BRINGA Valid passport is mandatory and visa requirements should be checked before you travel. To make the most of game reserves and national parks, carry binoculars and field guides. Photographers will need a zoom lens for wildlife (30-300 or similar).

Do not to forget a windbreaker or a light raincoat. When tracking for gorillas you will be in a rain forest, so it will more likely than not, rain. You will need good hiking boots and a hat if you are gorilla tracking. Garden gloves, to avoid stinging nettles, and gators, are recommended.

A light sweater for the evenings is recommended and generally long sleeves and trousers worn at this time will help keep the mosquitoes away.
If you swim, bring your swimming costume.

WHAT TO WEAR

Day time temperatures are generally warm to hot so bring lots of light clothing, evenings are cooler, especially at high attitudes, so carry a couple of light sweaters too. Those who intend to hike on the mountains will be exposed to alpine temperatures and should pack accordingly. Solid walking shoes and sturdy clothing are ideal for forest walks. Do not forget to bring a hat, sunglasses and water proof jackets.

WHAT TO BUY

A wide selection of local handcrafts is available as souvenirs – including musical instruments such as hide drums made at Mpambire as well as excellent local basket work, paintings, batiks and pottery.

ELECTRICITY INFORMATION FOR OTHER PLACES

Electricity in Uganda is 240 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Uganda with a device that does not accept 240 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. Electrical sockets (outlets) in the Republic of Uganda are the “Type G ” British BS-1363 type. If your appliance’s plug doesn’t match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in.

There are three main types of voltage converter. Resistor-network converters will usually be advertised as supporting something like 50-1600 Watts. They are light-weight and support high-wattage electrical appliances like hair dryers and irons. However, they can only be used for short periods of time and are not ideal for digital devices. Transformers will have a much lower maximum Watt rating, usually 50 or 100. Transformers can often be used continuously and provide better electricity for low wattage appliances like battery chargers, radios, laptop computers, cameras, mp3 players and camcorders. However, they are heavy because they contain large iron rods and lots of copper wire.

TIPPING

Tipping is not standard practice at local hotels and restaurants but will always be appreciated. It is normal to tip 510% at tourist oriented restaurants. Guides and drivers should always be tipped.