Is it safe to visit Uganda for tourism in 2021/2022?

Is it safe to visit Uganda for tourism in 2021/2022? Uganda safaris have in the past decade gained a lot of popularity to global travelers because of the many tourist attractions and activities in the country, the beauty that earned it the title, Pearl of Africa.

The year 2020 started with a lot of travel plans for travelers and tour operators, however, the world has been put into a panic by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic that has made travel very difficult.

Uganda is surely a safe country to visit in Africa, however, the need to keep people safe has led to a lot of new travel bans and restrictions to travelers.

On the 21st of March 2020 H.E Kaguta Museveni, the president of Uganda announced strict measures to keep the country safe and one of them included no international flights coming in or leaving the country till the end of April.

This means whether you are Ugandan or non-Ugandan then you are not allowed to come to Uganda or leave the country.

The first case of COVID-19 was recorded in the country on the 21st of March and this makes it even more necessary to make the set rules more applicable.

This means no tourist can visit Uganda now be it for Uganda gorilla safaris, birding, chimpanzee trekking, white water rafting, or any other form of tour.

What do I do if I had planned a tour to Uganda? – Is Uganda Safe for Tourism?

Postpone your trip, do not cancel

Thousands of travelers had planned to visit Uganda and all I can say now is that you should have already changed your plans. In the COVID-19 pandemic, either the travelers or the tour operator can be affected.

If you had already made payment for your trip, the best option is to keep your booking and just change dates. When you forward your trip, you can wait for a further date when the COVID-19 pandemic is at an end then you can fix a date for your tour.

It is not wise to ask for a refund since Uganda is not much affected by the virus and will definitely be safe to visit with time.

Uganda Travel Safety Tips

When the time for your visit to Uganda comes, you will definitely need to know how to keep safe. To travel safely in Uganda, you also need to watch your personal security and be conscious of petty crime that could lead to loss of property. Here are some travel tips to help you keep safe;

Avoid moving late in the night – Is Uganda Safe for Tourism?

When in the city, always consider moving less in the night. It gets risky moving late in the night especially if you are traveling solo. It attracts petty thieves.

At night, you should also avoid visiting ATMs to withdraw cash, moving with gadgets, or moving by foot because by doing so you will be exposing yourself to the risk of theft.

Is Uganda Safe for Tourism?

Keep watch while in public places

While in public places avoid moving alone and portraying that you are unaware of where you are headed to. In case of robbery, do not physically resist since you could get into a fight with a gang especially very late in the night.

While in public places like bars, do not leave food and drinks unattended too.

Always remember to carry a copy of your passport and identification and leave the originals in the hotels.

Have photography etiquette – Is Uganda Safe for Tourism?

Every photographer would wish to take each opportunity to catch those memories with their cameras. However, remember to have a photography etiquette.

You can take photos of all kinds of animals on safari but you should not take photos of locals without their express permission.

The locals may not feel safe with what you are doing and can easily get upset with you, something you wouldn’t want to happen.

Pack the right clothing – Is Uganda Safe for Tourism?

Pack and wear the right safari clothing. Wear neutral safari clothing with khaki clothing that will not attract tsetse flies. Since khaki clothing gets dirty easily, you can wear blue jeans and khaki shirts.

Avoid wearing blue shirts while on game drives to avoid attracting tsetse flies. Avoid wearing army like clothes since it may be referred to as camouflage.

The most important rule with what to wear is to keep comfortable and wear appropriately. While visiting communities wear clothes that the community refers to as descent and wear body-covering clothes while doing activities like gorilla trekking.

The world is almost at a standstill that has made travel no lifestyle at all. However, everyone should keep safe and follow the guidelines set to ensure they win the fight against COVID-19.

You can find details of what to follow as set by the World Health Organization here – Guidelines on visiting Uganda

Best Short and Long Uganda-Rwanda gorilla trekking packages

Both Uganda and Rwanda have short and long gorilla safari itineraries. Here are our popular itineraries for better planning. You can choose from these or contact us for a customized gorilla safari.

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