Safari Planning in Uganda involves choosing the right destinations, preparing the necessary permits, understanding the best time to travel and arranging transport. Uganda “the pearl of Africa” is one of Africa’s most diverse wildlife destinations and offers mountain gorilla trekking, savannah game drives, bird watching, chimpanzee tracking, bird watching and cultural experience. Most of these safaris combine western and northern Uganda where major national parks such as Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable, Kibale Forest, Murchison Falls, and Kidepo Valley National parks are located.
Information for visitors planning to visit Uganda
While planning for a safari in Uganda, you should put in consideration the following which will help you to figure out your journey through Uganda so as to have a wonderful experience when you visit the country.
- Decide your safari destination
- Decide when to go
- Book your tour activities and accommodation
- Book your flights
- Buy travel Insurance
- Check your visa requirements
- Organize travel medication
- Buy your travel equipment
- Decide what to do about money
- Read about your destination
Decide your safari destination
Uganda has over 10 national parks and 12 reserves, towns and cultural villages. It is good to know the kind of vacation or staycation you want and specific things you want to see. In case your interested in classic safari experience in Uganda, then perhaps Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Park will be a good choice. Are you interested in discovering ancient cultures? Karamoja region in north, Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Park can work for you.
Getting into deep nature or trekking into jungles then consider Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Forest home for mountain gorillas or Kibale Forest where you can meet our tree dwelling cousins , the eastern chimpanzees. If you’re interested in bird watching you can visit Entebbe near Lake Victoria, southern and western parts of Uganda.
Decide when to go
Once you have chosen your destination the next stop is to decide when to travel. Uganda’s climate is largely tropical which is influenced by its position along the equator and its varying altitudes. This means temperatures remain fairly stable throughout the year but rainfall patterns significantly affect safari experiences. Uganda has two seasons most travelers consider and understanding these seasonal variations helps you to choose the best time for your safari.
For instance, the dry season(June to September) are considered to be the best overall period for both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. During this time the trails are dry which makes hiking easier and safer especially in Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable National Park. Also around this time, vegetation is thinner which improves the visibility for wildlife in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo and Kidepo. Animals gather around water sources which simplify game viewing.
From December to February is considered to be a short dry season and it also excellent for trekking and game drives. However, this time is mostly used by bird watchers as migratory bird species arrive from Europe and Asia.
During wet season from March to May is considered to be a low-mid season travel. This is the wettest period of the year, the trails in Bwindi and Kibale become muddy and slippery which makes trekking difficulty. Forest animals are active but locating them may take more effort. During this season, so many lodges offer discounted rates and it is ideal for travelers who prefer privacy. However, from October to November, the rainfall is lighter and more predictable than in March to May. This is the best time for bird watching as many resident species breed during this period.
Book your tour activities and accommodation
At this time you decide whether you’re going to travel solo or with the help of a tour guide. Also will you plan the trip yourself or use a tour operator to take care of the logistics. Most foreigners prefer an all inclusive guided safari with it. Your tour operator organizes the itinerary details like accommodations, meals, transport, activities and guides. The tourist pay the tour operator and for them they will pay the service providers and manage the entire trip transporting from one place to another.
However, you can decide to book for yourself especially. if you are a foreigner but you’ll have to arrange transport and permits through a specialized tour company. Unless you are a resident and understand the local languages and travel logistics. Taking a self drive to accessible destinations like Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth National Park is easy to plan for a self planner.
Incase your preferred to use local operator, it is advisable to get in touch with the operator sooner than 4 to 12 months beforehand. This gives the operator enough time to book your gorilla or chimpanzee permit in advance because seeing the mountain gorillas is highly restricted to a few people a day.
Book your flights
As doing safari planning in Uganda you should not forget to book your flights. The flights to Uganda can tend to be expensive depending on where you’re flying from. They have limited number of carriers often meaning that seats fill up quickly so its better you book as far in advance as possible. If your using air miles its better you check whether the corresponding airline flies to Entebbe International Airport, Uganda’s only International Airport.
Always communicate your international flights with your local operator when booking so that airport transfers can be arranged on your arrival.
Entering Uganda – Visa and Travel documents
This may seem obvious but we can’t underestimate mentioning it as its very important. Make sure your passport is valid and won’t be expiring with in a period of six months or so which you maybe away on safari in a foreign country. Also not to have a backup of all your travel documents by making photocopies of those documents should they get lost, also have a copy of your travel documents on your email. Should your documents go missing, it will e easier to claim or get a valid travel document for a time until your documents get processed in a foreign county.
If you hope to go for a self-drive, hire a vehicle from a reputed Uganda Car rental company to take you around. Are you hoping to work in the country, acquire an international driving permit, which you will present together with your origin driving license.
You may also need to acquire an international health certificate as you may be required to present it when entering certain countries or crossing borders for a verification of immunization against yellow fever.
Don’t forget to have a detailed write-up of your important information, contacts, your family and friends contacts and distribute it within your language for security reasons. Incase your luggage got lost you would have a chance of finding it. Information you should not leave out includes – your travel insurance policy details as well as 24 hours emergency contact numbers, passport number, details of relatives or friends to be contacted in an emergency, bank and credit card detail of relatives or friends to be contacted incase of emergency, bank and credit card details and your travelers’ cheque numbers and other details that you may find important.
Traveling with Family
Uganda is a peaceful with welcoming people who make children comfortable. While planning to travel to Uganda with children its important to know how will workout. While travelling in a taxi, bus and matatu, children pay a full fair as an adult if occupying a seat. For accommodations, usually if informed a child’s bed is put for you in your room. Some accommodations can allow negotiations about children’s accommodation. In national parks, children fees are also negotiable depending on the age of the child but some fees are standard
Take your time to plan for your children while planning a trip to Uganda as children need a lot of care and careful planning is very necessary.
Transport Means in Uganda
Air transport is available
Uganda has international and charted air crafts to fly to airstrips around the country. Uganda has chattered flights going to the following regions of the country. Moroto and Tororo, North(Sorpti, Lira, Gulu, Paraa(for Murchison falls National park) Pakuba (for Kidepo national Park) West Kasese(for Queen Elizabeth national Park), South West( Mbarara). Booking a chartered flight can be done from any travel agency in Uganda and at our offices at Africa Adventure Safaris.
Road Transport in Uganda
This is the most commonly used means of transport in Uganda. Uganda comprises of a fair road network that are manageable for visitors to drive on. Public transport is available including taxis / mini busses that are usually found in taxi parks. There are also buses when traveling upcountry and are much safer than taxis when going for long distances. Its advisable to bargain and agree on taxi or buss or matatu transport fair before entering the taxi. Most taxis or buses will not leave the taxi park before they get full and its very important to know which place your going to before boarding a taxi or bus because each taxi has a certain route/location its driving to so if u enter a wrong taxi, you will end up in a wrong location yet you have to pay.
You can also opt for special hire services, which is more expensive than public means but more convenient still to note is to bargain price before you set off.
