Travel tips for visiting Uganda: Travel tips for visiting Uganda is the information you will need to know before your trip to the country. Before travelling to Uganda some of the information to know includes the following:
When traveling to Uganda, it is important that you get to know the entry requirements for visiting Uganda. Different countries have different requirements to be allowed into Uganda. Some countries will need visas to enter Uganda while other countries are visa exempt.
It is important to note that visas are not issued on arrival in Uganda and it is also recommended that travelers get visas before traveling to Uganda. A single entry visa to Uganda costs 50 USD and the visa can be got online using the immigration link https://www.immigration.go.ug. The single entry visa is valid for 3 months.
Some of the visa exempt countries in Uganda include Angola, Botswana, Ireland, South Sudan, Eritrea, Malawi, Malaysia, Madagascar, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia, Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Antigua, Barbados, Fiji, Grenada, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, United Nations laissez-passer, Solomon Islands, The Grenadines, Vanuatu, Ghana, Cyprus, Bahamas, Belize, Gambia, Jamaica, Malta, Singapore, St. Vincent-Tonga.
Other types of visas in Uganda include the multiple entry visa, diplomatic visa, transit visa and also the East African tourist visa. Travelers will also need a valid passport to be allowed to enter Uganda. These passports are required to be valid for at least 6 months from the time of entry into Uganda.
Another entry requirement for visiting Uganda is COVID 19 vaccination certificate for those who are fully vaccinated. Negative PCR test results valid for 72 hours is to be presented by travelers who are not vaccinated and wish to visit Uganda.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is another requirement for travelers to be allowed to enter Uganda.
When planning to travel to Uganda
During the planning phase of a trip to Uganda, there is a lot to consider including where to go, when to go, activities to do, where to stay, how to get there and very importantly the budget for the trip to Uganda.
When deciding where to go in Uganda, there are many destinations to choose from and they include national parks like Bwindi national park which is known for gorillas, Kibale national park for chimpanzees, Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kidepo valley national park, Lake Mburo national park for wildlife safaris, Semuliki national park for the Sempaya hot springs and birding as well as Mount Elgon national park and Mount Rwenzori national park which are famous hiking destinations in Uganda. Uganda is also known for Lakes, Rivers, forests, beautiful cultures, amazing food and so much more.
Deciding when to go to Uganda is another important decision travelers encounter during the planning phase of the trip. Uganda experiences two seasons which include the dry season and also the rainy season. There are 2 dry seasons in Uganda and they are experienced around June to October and also around December, January and February. The rainy season in Uganda is experienced in March to May and another rain season is experienced around November and early December.
The best time for visiting Uganda is the dry season from June, July, August, September and October and also in December to February. June to October is considered a high season of tourism in Uganda while March to May and also November are considered low seasons of travel in Uganda with few tourists travelling around the country.
Activities to choose from when planning a trip to Uganda are so many and some of them include game drives, guided nature walks, hiking, boat cruises, gorilla trekking and habituation, chimpanzee trekking and habituation, canoeing, cultural tours, rafting, golden monkey trekking, hot air balloon safaris, zip lining, bird watching, rhino tracking among others. These activities are carried out in different destinations and can also be done throughout the year.
Another important decision when deciding when to visit Uganda is the place to stay. There are luxury, midrange and budget accommodations around Uganda as well as camping for tourists during their tours in the country. The prices for these hotels and lodges and tented camps depends on the seasons such as the high season when prices are high and the low season when the prices are discounted.
Travelers also ask themselves how they will get to Uganda ad also travel around the country as they plan for their trips. The main airport in Uganda is Entebbe international airport which operates both domestic and international flights. Different airlines fly into Entebbe airport during the year. When you are in Uganda, the modes of transport which can be used include road, air and water with the popular one being road. Scheduled and charter flights are also offered around Uganda by airlines such as Aerolink and Bar aviation.
The budget for a trip to Uganda is also important as it helps the traveler to know how long their trip will be and also decides many other aspects of the trip. Travelers with a bigger budget for a safari in Uganda can spend more days in the country as compared to those with a limited budget. Uganda is however a traveler friendly country and the costs are not very high. Currency of Uganda is the Uganda shillings which is in notes and coins and denominations of 50,000 Uganda shillings, 20,000 Uganda shillings, 10,000 Uganda shillings, 5000, 2000 and 1000 Uganda shillings. Coins in Uganda shillings include 100, 200, 500 and 1000 denominations.
After completing the planning phase of traveling to Uganda, the decision making phase begins. This will help the traveler chose which destinations suit them and their preferences in regards to accommodation and everything else. The tours can be booked using a tour operator and individuals can also plan their trips on their own.
Uganda is generally a hospitable country and is safe for tourists with a security sector that ensures both locals and foreigners are safe.
After travelling to Uganda, you can take with you souvenirs from the different places you have visited as a way to remember the pearl of Africa which is what Uganda is referred to and this statement was made by Winston Churchill.
