Things to know before you travel to Uganda

Traveling to Uganda is a top Africa tour destination with primates and wildlife to be seen by tourists. Explore Uganda the Pearl of Africa and have an experience of the tropical jungles. Safaris to Uganda are definitely a favorite to many world travelers, however, there is a lot of relevant travel advice or things to know before you travel to Uganda that could be of great help to any first-time traveler to the country. Here are the relevant things to know before you travel to Uganda;

Tourist visa to travel to Uganda

Before you enter Uganda, you will be required to purchase a tourist visa. A tourist visa to Uganda can be purchased in advance via the embassy or consulate in your country or just upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport. It can also be bought at any overland border. A single entry visa will take you up to 90 days to stay in Uganda.

However, if you intending to take a combined East African trip including Rwanda tours, Kenya safaris, and Tanzania wildlife safaris along with an Uganda tour then it is recommended to request an East African tourist visa. This visa allows you multiple entries into Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya for 90 days. This helps tourists have a hassle-free entry into the countries during their combined trip.

Is Uganda Safe for tourists?

Uganda is safe and stable for tours in Africa as long as you work according to the guidelines and make sure you take good care of personal security. Uganda’s capital-Kampala is one of the safest cities in Africa and tourists who have visited this city before have left with almost no safety problems.

Petty theft and things like credit card scamming and overcharging can be avoided if any traveler is well prepared and has taken note of all the precautions before getting out in the city.

To ensure each tourist on Uganda safaris is safe, hotels and all forms of accommodation facilities have security personnel to ensure all residents or visitors to the hotels are safe.

Banks, shopping places like supermarkets, bars, offices, stores, all around the country also ensure these areas are safe and tourists are safe. In case you would like to visit any of your country’s embassy in Uganda, you can easily visit the embassy and inquire about any of your queries.

Vaccinations required before you travel to Uganda

For any travelers visiting Uganda, there are certain vaccinations that are needed to be received. Before taking a safari to Uganda, there are vaccines that are recommended.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend the following vaccinations for Uganda.

Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Cholera, Yellow Fever, Rabies, Meningitis, Polio, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), Chickenpox, Shingles, Pneumonia and Influenza.

There is a risk of yellow fever in Uganda and all travelers over the age of nine months must be vaccinated for entry.

Malaria spreads through infected mosquitoes and travelers are advised to take steps to avoid mosquito bites and take antimalarial drugs.

CDC recommends travelers planning on visiting certain parts of Uganda during the dry season (December-June) to have a meningitis vaccine.

Note: It is recommended to take these vaccines a month before your trip to Uganda.

Things to know before you travel to Uganda

All travelers planning to tour Uganda with Acacia Safaris should follow the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health. Adhere to the guidelines and have a successful and safe travel experience.

Acacia safaris currently have customized packages for Uganda gorilla safaris, chimpanzee trekking, birding, and wildlife viewing packages.