Travelling to a new country can be both exciting and frustrating at the same time. To kick out the frustration and ensure you only experience the exciting part, we have come up with 5 tips to ease your experience for first time travelling to Uganda. Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, this Uganda Travel Guide will equip you with the essential information you need to know to enjoy your travels;
-
Prepare for the Weather
If it’s your first time travelling to Uganda, make sure to check what weather to expect. If your trip to Uganda is scheduled as from June to August and December to February, expect to experience hot and dry weather with temperature ranging from 16-27 degrees Celsius. Carry a sun but, sunscreen and light clothing during this season. Please note that Uganda is a pretty laid-back country, therefore, refrain from wearing too short clothes.
The wet season in Uganda runs from March to May and September to November. If travelling during this season, make sure to budget for an umbrella and gumboots. You don’t really need extra warm clothes since temperatures will still be high. You will also need to budget for a 4*4 car hire if you already don’t have one as most dirt roads are impassable during this season.
-
Safety
For the most part Uganda is a safe country, it’s said to be one of the safest African countries to travel too, but be sensible, keep your cellphones and wallets very safe lest you become a victim of a pickpocket, be very cautious when you are handling money don’t make yourself a target.
-
Uganda food & drink
Food is simple, cheap and filling. Meals usually consist of rice, chapatti, ugali (maize porridge) or matoke (cooked plantain) with a meat or chicken stew. Everything can be flavoured with groundnut sauce. Kampala offers greater variety if Ugandan cuisine doesn’t float your boat.
Vegetarians don’t fare well unless they make a beeline for Indian eateries. Chai (sweet tea) is widely drunk and the best beer is Nile Special.
-
Getting around in Uganda
There are no passenger trains and hardly any ferries. Buses and matatus (minibus) are cheap but unreliable and not much cop if you want to explore the parks. Boda-bodas (motorbike taxis) are for those with nerves of steel.
Roads are of a reasonable standard and self-drive car hire is available but fuel is expensive. You can also book cars with guides. The terrain is generally flat enough to get around by mountain bike and buses will usually let you transport your bike on the roof.
-
Exchange your Monies at a Forex Bureau
The local currency at Uganda is the Uganda Shilling. Travelers to Uganda will use the Uganda Shilling to ride boda bodas, pay taxis, eat at local hotels and basically get an exchange of goods and services. If travelling by road, be rest assured you will find ‘money men’ at the border points like Busia and Malaba in yellow jackets. You can exchange your money with them but be on high alert during calculations. They can easily tell if it’s your first time travelling to Uganda and give you a raw deal. We highly recommend you to change your monies at a Forex bureau for best rates and transparency.
-
What is the best time to travel to Uganda?
You can travel to Uganda all year! The best time for Uganda safaris is during the dry season from June to August and from December to February. In dryer conditions wildlife is easier to spot. The high season is from June to September, but it will never really get crowded. There is no peak season for traveling to Uganda The most challenging months to visit Uganda are March, April and May as because of the wet season traveling around gets a lot more complicated. Roads and nature trails can be in poor conditions.
-
Do Ugandans expect a tip?
Tipping is normal in Uganda. Most guides expect a small tip after for example a bout tour, game drive or a nature walk. Because locals have limited access to exchange tips in a foreign currency, the best thing to do is tipping them in Ugandan Shilling.
The average monthly income vary throughout the country and ranges between 500.000 and 1.000.000 Uganda Shilling. That is somewhere between $135 and $270 per month. Tipping someone a couple dollars will give you a lot of smiles on your Uganda trip.
-
What about the electricity when traveling in Uganda
Few areas outside the cities actually have electricity. Most of the lodges use solar energy or generators, which means there is only power at certain times of the day and electricity plugs are limited. Because of that, it isn’t always possible to charge all your devices in your room. In most places you will be able to charge your phone, but laptops or camera batteries have to be charged in the main area. Hairdryers use too many power so you’re not able to use them in your room in most places. Some lodges had one in their main toilet for the women (or men) who really need it.
A helpful Uganda travel tip is to bring powerful power banks to charge your devices when needed and bring extra batteries.
-
What to bring to Uganda.
Remember to dress respectfully. Uganda is conservative, so in general it’s better to avoid short skirts or shorts when traveling to Uganda. For women it’s best to bring an over the knee skirt because it’s impolite to wear trousers or shorts while visiting local community. I did wear shorts during day activities like hikes, safaris or boat tours, no problem.
Pack good hiking shoes for your chimpanzee or gorilla trekking. Some parts can be very muddy and slippery. It’s also good to pack gaiters, gloves, a rain jacket/poncho and a hat. Although it’s hot wear long trousers and thin long-sleeved shirts to protect your arms and legs from scratches.
Long clothing will also help protect you from diseases carried by mosquitoes and other insects such as tsetse flies. In general you could bring a flashlight, daypack, insect repellent, malaria pills, waterproof bags and an international driving license if you’re thinking of driving yourself.
Since you will probably meet a lot of children on your way, consider bringing some pencils to give to them (instead of candies or money).
