Travel Advice
Visa.
Any person intending to enter into Uganda or any other country of interest should do so only for lawful purposes and in accordance with national immigration laws, guidelines and formalities.
Travel Advice
- CATEGORY: If your Safari is in Uganda only, then you can apply for a Uganda Tourist Visa via Immigration . If you are visiting both Uganda and Rwanda – or going on to Kenya, you will need an East African Tourist Visa that allows you entry into all three countries as a tourist. For East African Tourist visa, you must apply to the country that you will be visiting first. For instance, if your trip starts from Rwanda then connects to Uganda and continues into Kenya, you will have to apply for your visa via (HERE).
- REQUIREMENTS: You will be required to upload proof of yellow fever vaccination in addition to other requirements such as copy of passport bio-data page, most recent passport photograph, travel itinerary (in place of invitation letter).
- ON ARRIVAL: Apply for your visa (now) online as soon as you have the needed requirements. Your details shall be verified and you will receive an email confirmation within 24 hours. Ensure you have the confirmation that you can use as reference in case you had not received your visa by the time of setting off.
- PAYING FOR VISA: You can as well pay for your visa online during the application process. The Uganda Tourist visa costs USD 50 whereas the East Africa Tourist Visa costs USD 100.
- EXEMPT: Please check (hhttps://www.immigration.go.ug/services/visa-passes) to see if you belong to visa exempt nationalities i.e. nationals of countries that do not pay for Uganda visas.
IMPORTANT: Ensure your visa is cleared and a copy of confirmation readily available and accessible (when required).
CAR
We do provide either safari van or safari land-cruiser depending on whichever is available on our esteem client’s date (or client’s preference). Both cars are comfortable enough. The company always endeavor to see that all its safari cars are serviced and well maintained. However, in the unfortunate event that the car breaks down and a rescue becomes necessary, we do arrange and send a rescue car to ensure minimal disruption.
Travel Advice
CLOTHING & SHOES
Keep it simple, plain and practical for your comfort while on Safari. If you are hiking, gorilla or chimp tracking, pack trekking strong shoes or jungle boots for hiking, long sleeved shirts offer proper protection for you from thorns and insects, long stockings (if putting on shorts), comfortable jeans (pants/trousers).
Others may include a hat or cap which comes in handy, Khaki is good for its color and feels good as you wear it, some comfortable shorts, dresses and blouses (female). A rain jacket also comes in quite handy.
IMPORTANT: When packing for a Safari, keep it to just the essentials and keep it light. Just ensure you have packed what is just enough but considering all weather conditions.
Travel Advice
DRIVER-GUIDE & CLIENT’S SAFETY
Travel Advice
The assigned driver-guide maintains contact with the park authority in case of any suspicious person(s) trailing him and clients. On the other hand, there’s also routine patrol by armed rangers within the parks in an effort to ensure that both tourists and wildlife are safe.
Emergency
Travel Advice
For medical emergency, we do not offer flying doctors’ service. However, we do have a medical insurance that covers our clients while on the safari. In case of a health emergency, our driver-guide can rush our esteem client(s) to a nearby medical facility. For a very critical emergency, we can seek support from the Authority (Uganda Wildlife Authority) for an airlift (if required) or any other means they can offer.
IMPORTANT: Register with your embassy (just in case of any eventuality).
FOOD
Uganda being an Agricultural economy boasts of multiple options to select from in terms of food while on your trip. Almost everyone can have something to choose from. Be it gluten free diet, Vegetarian, halal, there will always be an offer to cater for one’s preference. For those not on any diet restriction, you are even luckier.
IMPORTANT: Whenever any meal preference is brought to our attention, the Reservation Team forwards to the reserved accommodations accordingly. We also let the assigned tour driver-guide know about it so as to emphasize while on the ground.
GAME DRIVES
Game drives are private in the sense that it’s always you – the client and the assigned driver-guide in the car. Nevertheless, it is possible to encounter other tourists along (and sometimes not).
During the game drive within the park, it may be tempting to go off track in search (or follow-up) of some wildlife. Whoever does that, does it at his/her own risk and once found he/she shall incur a fine of USD 150 per incident.
The use of drones has become phenomenal. However, drones are only allowed when one is on a filming or commercial photography trip which must be arranged, paid for and park authority alerted in advance.
IMPORTANT: Anyone found using drone with no proper authorization shall be liable to penalty.
GIFTS (HANDOUTS)
Should you desire to bring some gifts/handouts for the children that you may encounter during your trip into the Pearl of Africa, please note that sweets, chocolate or any other edibles (though they create more pleasure) are not encouraged. However, some clothing, pairs of sandals or shoes (where possible), football, scholastic materials e.g. books, pens, colored pencils, crayons, rulers would be much appreciated.
HAVING ARMED RANGER ON BOARD
Save for Kidepo & Pian Upe, all the other parks can be explored even without an armed guard/ranger on board. Normally, armed rangers undertake routine patrol within the park to ensure that everything is in order (both for tourists, their driver/guides and wildlife as well).
Health
From experience, most people incur no health problems while visiting Uganda but rather enjoy themselves during the time on Safari. Nevertheless, you may consider the following in your packing:
Anti-malaria medicines, pain reliever, insect repellent. Simple first aid kit won’t be bad at all.
Pack your necessary sunscreen, hand sanitizers, sun-hat plus glasses, body creams/lotions of your choice among others.
Not all accommodations may provide shampoo. Feel free to carry some if necessary.
IMPORTANT: Ask your medical insurance provider if your policy applies overseas for any emergencies. Needless to mention, ensure you have some good level of physical fitness.
MONEY
It is possible to withdraw some money from the ATM at the airport or in major towns along your safari route. If you plan to use an ATM card or credit card, it would be good to notify your Bank that you will be using your Credit Card or Debit Card for cash withdrawals from an ATM in your safari destination e.g. Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania.
LOCAL CURRENCY: In case you wish to have some local currency, the assigned tour driver-guide can always lead you to the nearby forex point.
PATIENCE
Last but the most important, please remember to carry some patience with you. The African wild is so rich and captivating but remember nothing is predictable. Your impatience could cause you that pride of lions, that leopard, that shoebill stork among others.
Tipping Figure
How much to tip (e.g. driver-guide, ranger etc.)has been and is always a difficult one to say (for sure) as it depends largely on the level of gratitude one has felt and of course the budget. Nonetheless, it could be USD 10, 15, 20, etc. per day or put together (encouraged) ) and give at the end as you say “Goodbye”.
IMPORTANT: Tipping is not mandatory but something encouraged as a show of gratitude.
Vaccination
Yellow fever vaccination is required. When applying for the visa via (https://visas.immigration.go.ug/) ), you will be required to upload proof in addition to other requirements such as copy of passport bio-data page, most recent passport photograph, travel itinerary (in place of invitation letter).
IMPORTANT: Double check and make sure that you have all the proper vaccinations and that you have renewed all essential prescriptions.
WIFI
There are some accommodations where you can enjoy Wi-Fi internet access. However, it is worth noting that the connection speed at times may not be so good. Whenever you’re at such accommodations, it will be possible to keep in touch with family and friends via email, skype etc.