Uganda Travel Advice – All you need to know before visiting Uganda

Safaris to Uganda are definitely a favorite to many world travelers, however, there is a lot of relevant travel advice that could be of great help to any first-time traveler to the country. Uganda travel advice includes some of the information that would be very helpful for travelers who are planning to visit Uganda from visa information, payments, safety, tips, best time, required vaccinations, and some of the popular Uganda safari itineraries for several activities. Here are the frequently asked questions on Uganda travel advice;

Do I need a visa to visit 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 the 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 it possible to use credit cards while in Uganda?

While in Uganda’s city, you can withdraw certain amounts of money from ATMs or using Visa credit cards. However, using credit cards can be minimal outside the towns where there are no banks. It is advisable to withdraw cash while in the cities before going into the parks.

Remember to change your money into Ugandan shillings because it is the easiest way of doing business. For some payments, you may require US dollars and therefore it is recommended to have both dollars and shillings. However, US dollars before 2003 are not acceptable in many places.

Please note that when withdrawing cash in public ATM’s be careful of con men and petty thieves. Avoid carrying lots of cash within busy towns especially if it can be detected and attract petty thieves.

How much should I tip in Uganda?

Tipping is not mandatory in Uganda, however, when safaris became popular in Africa travelers made it a habit to offer a tip to those who offer exceptional services to them on their trip. When you feel satisfied with a service you can offer a tip to the person who has offered the service.

The recommendable people for tipping include your tour guide, hotel servants, park rangers, and porters. When tipping hotel members it is advisable to drop your tip at the tip box rather than handing it over to an individual. For your tour guide, it is very advisable to tip them at the end of the trip.

Individuals like hotel owners and tour operators are not recommended for tipping since this may make those who offer the services on their behalf feel demoralized. If you want to do so, do it in private since it can have an impact on how services may be delivered.

Is Uganda Safe for tourists? – Uganda Travel Advice

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.

What is the best time to visit Uganda? – Uganda Travel Advice

The best time to visit Uganda is popular during the dry season and this is during the months from December to March and June to September. These two dry seasons are mostly recommended but also the peak seasons. During these times, tourists flock to the country and therefore bookings should be made early. However, the country is open to tourists all through the year.

Which vaccinations are required before visiting Uganda? – Uganda Travel Advice

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.

Before booking a tour to Uganda, then this travel advice will be helpful and you can also contact Acacia safaris Uganda for any other advice. Activities that can be done in the country include Uganda gorilla safaris, wildlife tours, birding, white water rafting, nature walks, rhino tracking, chimpanzee trekking, and any other adventure activities.