Uganda is one of the top worlds most visited country by tourists. Its diversity in wildlife and tour activities have made it a target for travelers. From the different cultures and traditions to having half of the worlds mountain gorillas and not forgetting the amazing water bodies, Uganda should be on every travelers wish list for a perfect safari experience.
Vibrant Holiday Safaris brings you some of the highlights and information you should know before planning your Ugandan safari.
Is it safe to travel to Uganda
Uganda is generally considered to be a safe country with low crime rates. Just avoid travelling by road outside major towns at night. It’s also advised to gather the latest travel information when traveling to the South Sudan border region and Karamoja in the very north. There have some problems reported regarding the so called Kenyan Warriors, but not against tourists.
However, visiting Kidepo Valley National Park, which lies close to the border with South Sudan is totally fine. Simply stick to your guides at all times, take care of your belongings and be aware of your surroundings and one should be totally fine traveling in Uganda.
Best time to travel to Uganda
You can travel to Uganda all year! The best time for Uganda safaris is during the dry season from June to August and from December to February. In dryer conditions wildlife is easier to spot.
The high season is from June to September, but it will never really get crowded. There is no real peak season for traveling to Uganda. The most challenging months to visit Uganda are March, April and May. Because of the wet season traveling around can get a little more complicated. Roads and nature trails can be in poor conditions.
The gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest can be done year round. Keep in mind that places like Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queens National Park, etc can get cold at night even in summer due to their high altitudes.
What is the currency in Uganda
The name of the local currency in Uganda is the Shilling. Uganda is still a cash country and card payments are not common. However most bigger hotels and lodges and even at the Uganda National Parks you can pay with either credit cards as well as USD, Euros and GBP these days. So when paying for example the $700 National Park fee for mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi there is no need to bring stacks of Uganda cash.
Makes sure you always have Uganda Shillings (UGX) on you during your Uganda trip. Small bills like 1,000 UGX are the equivalent of just 25 dollar cents, but they are worth big smiles if you give them to locals as a tip. Try to buy local to support local people in Uganda.
Exchange Money
You will get the best value for money when you exchange US dollar into Ugandan Shilling at a Forex office in one of the towns. You can also change money at the Entebbe Airport, but the rates are significantly lower. There are exchange offices all around the bigger towns and the Uganda tourist attractions.
Be aware of the US Dollar-UGX exchange rate. Some Ugandans are very ‘creative’ with converting their currency in for example US Dollars or Euros. As per March 2023 the official exchange rate is around: $1 USD = 3,710 UGX.
Ugandan Food
Local food is a mix of matoke (cooked bananas), cassave, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, tomatos, cabbage and a sauce made of grounded peanuts. The sauce is very similar to satay sauce from Indonesia. This is what a standard local meal looks like in Uganda and you should try it in a local restaurant. Locals love it if tourists come and try their local food. It shouldn’t cost more than $2 normally.
When traveling in Uganda you will also quickly find out that there is a huge Indian influence and that is why you can find Indian food everywhere. It is also very common to find chapati on the streets and in restaurants.
One more great thing to mention about Ugandan food is that there are fresh fruits everywhere. You can find it on the streets and it is CHEAP!
Are you staying in more upscale lodges, then often the meals are included. That means you will be served a 3 course meal every evening, which mostly is Western orientated dishes like pasta, steak, fish, etc.
Do you tip in Uganda
Tipping is normal in Uganda. Most guides expect a small tip after for example a boat tour, game drive or a nature walk. Because locals have limited access to exchange tips in a foreign currency, the best thing to do is tipping them in Ugandan Shilling.
The average monthly income in Uganda varies throughout the country and ranges between 500.000 UGX ($140 USD) and 1.000.000 UGX ($280 USD) . Tipping someone a couple dollars will give you a lot of smiles throughout your trip to Uganda. Ugandan people are super friendly, especially the ones in the tourism business and those who speak English. I am sure you gonna see a lot of big smiles leaving a couple dollars behind as a tip.
How much are the National Park fees in Uganda in 2023
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has set fixed fees for visiting national parks in Uganda. Park entrance fees differ a little per National Park but most of the famous tourists spots in Uganda are around $40 for tourists. Some lesser known parks charge $35 and some small reserves only $10 for foreign non-residents (FNR). Be aware that National Park fees in Uganda are per 24 hours. That means you can be creative with the park fees when you schedule it right.
When and where to buy Chimpanzee and Gorilla trekking permits
Secure your gorilla or chimp trekking permits prior to arrival to avoid disappointment! The permits are issued by UWA that markets them through Uganda Tour Operators to the public. Therefor it’s best to book your trekking permit (or a complete trekking tour) with a tour operator that is a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. The mountain gorilla trekking permits cost $700 in 2023 for foreign non-residents.
Languages in Uganda
Uganda counts more than 40 languages, every tribe speaks their own language. Uniform language especially in and around the famous tourist places in Uganda is luckily English. If you go off the beaten path you could run into places where English is not spoken very well, but in general you shouldn’t have any problems communicating with local people.
In general all the Ugandans are very friendly people. It’s impolite to only say ‘Hi!’ So instead use ‘How are you?’. Even children will greet you with ‘How are you?’ They also love to touch your soft ‘Muzungu’ skin.
Things to do and places to visit in Uganda
We already spoke about the Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park, which obviously is the major tourist attraction in Uganda, but there is much more to see and do. The Chimpanzee trekking is another amazing thing to do in Uganda and a must see when you are a wildlife lover are the tree climbing lions. It is a very rare phenomenon but you can see them in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Apart from the stunning wildlife there are some epic waterfalls to visit. A tour to Murchison Falls is a very popular tourist destination and a little more off the beaten path are the Sipi Falls. Just about 80 kilometer East of Kampala you will find the laidback city of Jinja, where you can find the source of the Nile and where white water rafting is the number one thing to do.
A place to visit in Uganda that is popular with backpackers is Lake Bunyonyi. A stunning crater lake with numerous islands. Kayaking and taking in the stunning views while swinging in a hammock are great things to do here. Near Lake Bonyonyi there is Lake Mburo National Park and much more to the Northeast there is Mbale and Kidepo Valley National Park which are popular places to visit in Uganda.
What to bring to Uganda
Remember to dress respectfully. Uganda is conservative, so in general it’s better to avoid short skirts or shorts when traveling to Uganda. For women it’s best to bring an over the knee skirt because it’s impolite to wear trousers or shorts while visiting local community. I did wear shorts during day activities like hikes, safaris or boat tours, no problem.
Pack good hiking shoes for your chimpanzee or gorilla trekkings. Some parts can be very muddy and slippery. It’s also good to pack gaiters, gloves, a rain jacket/poncho and a hat. Although it’s hot wear long trousers and thin long-sleeved shirts to protect your arms and legs from scratches.
Long clothing will also help protect you from diseases carried by mosquitoes and other insects such as tsetse flies. In general you should bring a flashlight, daypack, insect repellent, malaria pills for some areas, waterproof bags and an international driving license if you’re thinking of driving yourself.