How to plan a successful trip in Uganda; Uganda is ever-growing in number of tourists because of its remarkable attractions thus boasting as one of the top safari destinations in Africa. For your next holiday journey let Uganda be and you only need a few steps to take in planning your successful trip to this kingdom of mountain gorillas, a chimpanzee destination. More so, Uganda once called the Pearl of Africa, this is beautiful it attracts lots of attractions and activities that is; a beautiful landscape, diversity in wildlife species, vegetation, and variety of birdlife among others. Moreso, its eastern region – stuns with Elgon Mountains across Lake Victoria to the snow-covered Mountain of the Moon thus rewarding Uganda as the most verdant land in Africa.
The western Uganda region remarks with rainfall, bright sunlight, mountain gorilla giants, several rivers, lakes, highlands as well as lowlands. More so, the region stuns with incredible national parks, coffee, tea, and banana plantations, and various towns and stunning villages with welcoming people and fantastic history.
However, those who have visited before can witness and can’t wait to go back to explore Its gorgeous attractions;
Below are the steps to take in order to make your dream African Holiday successful in Uganda;
Decide Where to Go
Uganda boasts over 10 National parks and 12 wildlife reserves as well as many towns, cultural villages, and communities to choose from, deciding where to go in Uganda is the best empathy. The first step determines the kind of vacation you prefer or the specific attractions you’d like to see and do.
Are you looking for a remarkable safari experience? Take a visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park or Murchison Falls National Park these are the major choice for you.
Are you enjoying discovering great ancient cultures? Take a visit to Karamoja in the north or Kidepo Valley National Park for the activities. Although it’s a long traveling journey by road from Kampala, the best option is to fly over by domestic flight -Aero link from Entebbe International Airport.
Perhaps, getting deep into nature through trekking the unique endangered mountain gorillas which can be trekked in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – home to the world’s half remaining mountain gorillas or visit Kibale Forest home to the capital of primates with over 13 primates species, especially the chimpanzees out closest relatives said to be 98% DNA to human genes.
You can vibe into a city tour or go adventure the colonial Jinja town through visiting the mighty Source of the Nile where you can marvel at lots of activities.
In that case, Uganda is an excellent destination for a family journey, groups, researchers, students, and solo travelers among others.
Decide When to Go
Once you start planning for a safari, you need to choose a destination to visit first, the next step is to decide when to travel. Well, Uganda has two optimum travel seasons that most tourists consider that is; the dry season and the rainy season.
To most of the travelers prefer visiting Uganda during the dry seasons of June to September and December to February. However, it’s the best time for gorilla trekking adventures. During the dry season, the forest floors and trail are easy to access thus making hiking adventure impressive in Uganda’s rainforests.
More so, the dry season is also the best time to visit the wildlife savannah reserves to watch crowds of animals across vast plains. During this time of the year, skies can be clear, less rain and more sunshine and vegetation rewarding for wildlife photography. A large number of animals can be seen gathering around the main water holes thus making it easier to adventure wildlife in their natural savannah inhabits.
The dry season is the best time to enjoy a boat launch safari on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Victoria Nile in Murchison Falls National Park
Book You’re your Activities and Lodging
Next step, you need to decide whether you’re going to travel solo or with the help of a tour guide. To make a successful plan for your safari to Uganda, you need to find a tour operator to take care of the local travel logistic.
More so, you need your tour operator in touch with will help you organize a perfect and affordable itinerary including accommodations, meals, transport, activities, and guides. Then you will reserve your trip in advance with the tour operator in charge and it will be his duty to pay the service provider as well as manage the entire trip, chauffeuring you from one place to another. If you are a foreigner you have to arrange transport and permits through a reliable safari company, if you don’t hesitate you can book with us Achieve Global Safaris for your reliable safari.
Book Your Flights
Depending on where you’re flying from – flights to Uganda can be experienced but affordable. There are a limited number of carriers often, which means seats fill up so quickly. For that matter, if you want the bests rates, you should book as far in advance as possible. Remember, Uganda has only one international Airport which is Entebbe Airport. For more information about scheduled flights to Uganda, you can visit useful websites like Skyscanner.com to guarantee the lowest fare. And always communicate your international flights with your local operator when booking, so the first-night hotel will be responsible for arranging airport transfers.
Buy Travel Insurance
Before planning your safari trip to Uganda, you will have invested a significant amount of money in flights, tours, and accommodation and these are safe if you plan in advance.
Take note; travel insurance is essential, especially in Africa where airlines cancel flights regularly without warnings and hospital bills are not places you want to end up after an emergency.
Apart from medical costs, your insurance should protect against trip cancellation, loss of valuables, baggage loss, or theft. You have to ensure that your insurance covers medical evacuation.
Check Your Visa Requirements
Before your departure date, check with your consulate whether you need a visa. This is based on your nationality, not your country of residence. Note; Uganda visa rules change anytime, so the best way is to check with an official government source which is essential rather than relying on advice from outmoded travel websites.
Fact, Uganda’s immigration requires all persons intending to travel to Uganda for holiday, and tourism among others, to apply and obtain a visa online at; https://visas.immigration.go.ug/.
One to apply for a visa, must have a valid passport for at least six months from the date of entry.
Organize Travel Medication
This must be organized for at least two months before you set off for your Uganda trip, visiting a travel clinic, and determining what vaccinations they recommend for Uganda.
Diseases like Hepatitis A, typhoid, and rabies among others. Well, Uganda immigration will require proof of yellow fever vaccination card as the best way of entry and malaria is prevalent yearly in most regions. You should always be sure to consult your doctor before deciding to take anti-malaria prophylactic since they all have different side effects, especially for pregnant women.
You should always up -to – date with current Covid- 19 recommendations for tourists – by checking https:// travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/respectively.
How to plan a successful trip in Uganda : Buy Your Travel Equipment
A traveler planning a Uganda safari comes from buying all your specialized equipment like mosquito repellents, pair of binoculars, and comfortable hiking shoes.
How to plan a successful trip in Uganda : Decide What to Do About Money
Despite the fact, traveling to Uganda carrying large amounts of cash around isn’t safe; however, ATMs are not available on every street or in every region in the country. But you can withdraw enough cash at the ATM with your credit or debit card upon arrival to take you through your safari. Or else you can visit a Forex Bureau on arrival, change some cash into smaller bills, and exchange some into Uganda Shillings ‘’UGX’’.
For safety, you need to divide your cash and keep it in several locations. Always make sure your credit card has a Visa or Mastercard logo. Planning your Uganda safari journey, you need to alert your bank in order to avoid canceling your card to fraud when you use your card abroad.
How to plan a successful trip in Uganda : Read About Your Destination
Before you get to Uganda destination, you need to first research it and get to know to procedures; Like online travel guides like Destination Uganda Traveler or a Guidebook like Bradt Travel Guides can give you valuable insight into a country’s history, culture, safari adventure, and other things to see and do. All the above will help to give you a sense of what to expect before you travel.
Learning a few local language sentences which help you make friends. Try Swahili or Luganda -English phrases for visitors.
Lastly, if you planning to visit the ‘’Pearl of Africa’’. Get started now! To witness beauty of the country, however, those who have planned before can witness and can’t wait to go back to explore Its gorgeous attractions.
