Uganda Safaris itineraries, where to go on Uganda safari, accommodation on a Uganda Safari, how to get to Uganda
Our Uganda safaris itineraries offer a range of high-quality Uganda tours offering Gorilla trekking game viewing to the most sought after Uganda safari game parks, game reserves and other tourist places, family adventures and cultural tours plus chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
Information on Uganda Safaris
Uganda Safaris form a perfect ground for exploring this amazing and diverse country crowned the Pearl of Africa by Winston Churchill – the then Prime Minister of Britain in 1908. Located within the region of East Africa and forming a great point of ecological intersection between the Congo Equatorial Jungle and the East African savannah, undertakers are immersed into incredible diversity including two of the Great Apes; Mountain Gorillas and Common Chimpanzees and then the classic Africa wildlife including the popular Big five.
The verdant green vegetation, lush mature tropical forests, deep grabens and their extensive flats and rising block Mountains within the Rift valley system, the meandering River system and the gigantic fresh water lakes, the great deal of Volcanic activity justified by a range of explosion craters and massive volcanic ranges and the over 1060 bird species combine to make the natural beauty a point of great attraction for travelers on Uganda Safaris.
Uganda Safaris include Uganda wildlife safaris, Uganda birding safaris, Uganda cultural tours, Uganda mountaineering tours, Uganda Chimpanzee safaris and Uganda safaris to see Gorillas, with destination Uganda Safaris you will have a diversified remarkable experience.
Where to go for Uganda Safaris
Wildlife safaris in Uganda are majorly undertaken in Kidepo Valley National Park, Pian Upe Game Reserve, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. Besides wild game viewing, Chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda is another wonder to explore and this is conducted in Kibale National Park, Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Budongo Forest Reserve and Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Uganda gorilla Safaris to the famous Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offer an experience like no other.
For the cultural adventure enthusiast
With over 66 tribal groups, the cultural tours in Uganda are incredibly diverse and very fascinating. Catching up with the Imbalu festival among the Bagisu, visiting the indigenous tribes of Ik and the Batwa Pygmies with their ancient heritage, the Kasubi tombs of the Kingdom of Buganda or the ancient Bachwezi earthworks at Ntusi among others is amazingly rewarding.
For adventurous:
The mountaineering tours in Uganda feature remarkable Mountains including Mount Rwenzori – the third highest in Africa (5109m), Mount Elgon – the fourth highest in East Africa (4321m) and the three of the eight Virunga volcanoes namely; Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Muhabura and Mount Gahinga.
There is also the adrenaline filled white water rafting on the River Nile in Jinja and other spots along the River Nile – not to be missed.
When to go for Uganda Safari or best time for Safari in Uganda
Uganda Safaris can be undertaken throughout the year but the variance occurs depending on seasons.The dry season is always better due to less or no rainfall and thus, the ground is dry making driving in countryside areas easier and walking / trekking in forested areas easier compared to the wet season where the trails are muddy and slippery. The rains also affect the quality of wildlife sightings though in most parks, the Uganda tour activities would proceed as planned including Mountain Gorilla Trekking.
The longest dry season is from June, July, August to September and it’s the period when most world travellers take up Safaris to Uganda. The shorter dry season is from December, January to February and also the Uganda safari undertakers are many. These dry months are also good for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and also Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda because the forest trails would be dry and less slippery except that the supply of food in the forests like for Chimpanzees might be scarce and this makes the movements to be longer as the animals would have moved a distance searching for it.
For savannah parks where classic wild game viewing is carried out, the vegetation is scarce which makes it easier to spot wildlife and due to insufficient water supply, the animals tend to gather around water points making sightings easier. The months of March and October are green season as the rains would have started but not in plenty and its also a good time to do Uganda Safari tours especially if you wish to avoid many tourists (not crowds though) during the tour. The animal sightings are also good as there is good supply of food / pasture and water.
The wet season of months of April, May & November also receive visitors as it does not rain the whole day and every day. Being a tropical country, the skies open up to sunshine after a session of rain. But generally, the rains affect the roads with some areas like Kidepo experiencing floods while areas of Kigezi where Bwindi Impenetrable NP is located experience landslides. The forest trails become muddy and slippery but activities proceed as planned and thus, you need to carry along the rain coats.
Uganda is a diverse destination and its popularly known for Uganda gorilla safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks Uganda Chimpanzee Safaris to Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest Reserve, Kalinzu Forest Reserve andKyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda Wildlife Safaris to Murchison Falls NP, Queen Elizabeth NP, Lake Mburo NP, Kidepo Valley NP and Pian Upe Game Reserve Uganda cultural tours to various heritage sites and tribes of Uganda, Uganda Mountain climbing tours to Mount Rwenzori, Mount Elgon and Virunga Volcanoes and Uganda birding safaris
Safari Cost for Uganda Safari
Uganda Safari cost is derived from various elements that comprise the tour package. The Uganda tour activities considered such as Gorilla Trekking whose permit is now priced at $700 pp, chimpanzee trekking permit $200 pp, the Boat safaris, the game drives which require National Park entry fees of $40 pp per day, then, the accommodation category of choice whether Luxury $300+, Mid-range $150 $300 or Budget below $150 for a double room Full board and eventually the safari vehicle of choice such as 4X4 Safari Landcruiser or 4X4 Safari Van.
The length of your safari in Uganda coupled with the distance to be covered and the number of people that you are to travel with are all central to determining the cost of Uganda Safari. Uganda Safaris and tours are always customized to the interests of the traveler putting in consideration the areas of interest and the available budget.
Uganda Visa Policy/ What to know about Visa policy for Uganda
Uganda like any other sovereign country requires one to be in possession of her visa if he / she is to enter into her boundaries except the nationals of the Visa exempt countries. Uganda Visa is secured online at $50 per person.
You need a visa for your Uganda safari adventure
ONLINE VISA APPLICATION – UGANDA (July 2021).
The Government of the Republic of Uganda has given the following directives effective 3rd July 2021 regarding clearance of tourists and other residents returning to Uganda:
All persons intending to travel to Uganda for holiday, tourism, business, study, visit, and/or medical are required to apply and obtain a visa online. Applications should be filled at the following link:
Applicants are advised to only submit their application in a period that falls within 3 months of their departure from Uganda. The validity of an approved E-Visa is three months starting from the issue date.
If approved, please download the approval letter (travel authorization) and carry it with you to the airport. If deferred, you will be requested to upload additional information online. Your application will then be reviewed again. Information about documents required in the online visa application can be found here
We request all our clients to kindly adhere accordingly so as to avoid any inconveniences When applying for visas, please be extra careful and ensure accurate information is submitted to avoid any delays.
If you have a problem uploading your documents on the E-visa system, it may be due to the file size of the document. Please reduce the size. If you are having trouble with PDF format please convert them to JPEG and try uploading again. Click https://visas.immigration.go.ug/#/help for additional answers to any other questions about E-visas.
If you have any issues with the yellow fever vaccine you may attach a doctor’s note detailing any medical issues you may be experiencing with the vaccine.
You are encouraged to submit your E-visa applications 30 days in advance to allow for any delays or eventualities.
To check the status of your Visa application, please make sure you have your application identification number, passport number and date of birth ready: go to https://visas.immigration.go.ug/#/check fill out your information and select “check status of my application”
The passport must have 6 months validity and should have blank space where the visa stamp should be put. The foreign residents in the East African Community do not require pay for the Uganda Visa just like the East African Community Citizens. The nationals of Somalia are refused entry or transit unless they have biometric passports.
The following countries are Uganda Visa exempt; Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brenada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Vanuatu, Zambia & Zimbabwe.
Vaccinations required for Uganda Safari/ Is Yellow Fever Vaccination mandatory for travel to Uganda?
Mandatory Vaccinations for Uganda and Recommended Vaccinations for Uganda. Yellow Fever is mandatory for any visitor coming for a Uganda tour. The Yellow Fever certificate is required at all ports of entry.
You can as well consult your doctor about suitable anti-Malaria tablets as its recommended. Otherwise, unless you will be participating in special activities like Chimpanzee close up that require a range of specialized vaccinations, there is no other mandatory vaccination for travel to Uganda except Yellow Fever.
Time in Uganda while planning a safari to Uganda/ what is the time in Rwanda?
Uganda is +3 hours ahead of GMT similar to Kenya and Tanzania and is 1 hour ahead of the neighboring Rwanda and East of Democratic Republic of Congo. Thus, Uganda Safaris Trip undertakers arriving from Kigali have to know this time difference and its effect on the border crossing and the start time for activities in Uganda such as Gorilla Trekking.
Which Currency to expect in Uganda during Uganda safaris
Uganda Shillings is the national currency of Uganda and its usually abbreviated at UGX and the sign is /=. Getting Uganda Shillings while on Uganda safari tour can be done at Entebbe International Airport or any boarder post if you are entering via land or you can convert at any of the Forex bureaus in Kampala, Entebbe and other major towns of Uganda.
However, the foreign currency is also used most especially the US Dollars at Hotels, major shopping malls and at the tourist sites. Thus, it’s always recommended to have both Uganda Shillings and US Dollars during your safari in Uganda as local currency makes payment for local items like souvenirs easier while the US Dollar can assist with tipping among others. Other Foreign currency like Euros or British pounds can be accepted but within Kampala or Entebbe and may not easily make transactions in countryside areas.
Ugandas International Dialling Code – code to put while making a call to reserve your safari to Uganda
Uganda’s International dialling code is +256 after which you put the respective number excluding the Zero that is normally at the start of the number. The Ugandan numbers differ according to the issuing telecom company and these include; MTN, Airtel, Uganda Telecom.
How to get a local Ugandan Sim Card on Uganda Safari
With your passport, you can get a Sim card upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport from any open Telecom stall including Airtel or MTN. It takes about 10 minutes and you can then load the data or Airtime that you may need. If you are going to be in one location for an extended time, it’s better to know which network works well in that area and then you can purchase the suitable Sim card. The cost of a getting local Ugandan sim card is around $5.
Uganda Safari Companies: which Safari Company to Travel with
Considering the above, undertaking Uganda safari offers you an opportunity to explore all these attractions ranging from adventure to classic game viewing, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, bird watching, sightseeing and cultural tours and you would definitely require an esteemed company to travel with.
Safari to See Gorillas has positioned itself to make your Safari in Uganda an adventure of a lifetime by organizing a wide range of packages ranging from short to medium and long safari company with some featuring specialty attractions while others are intermixed and surprisingly at an affordable price in any category that you wish to travel in ranging from Luxury to Mid range and Budget that you can hardly find elsewhere and yet without compromising quality of the experience as seen from the reviews of the traveler that have opted to use its services in the past.
Explore the unknown, spend less, enjoy the best service right from the booking to the vehicle, lodges and the expert guides with Safari to See Gorillas. Please feel free to contact us at any time.
Traveling around Uganda during Uganda Safaris
Travel in Uganda during Uganda safaris is comfortable when travelling with us in our safari customized 4×4 safari Land cruisers or safari vans The major routes connecting to various parts of the country are tarmacked. Murram roads then connect from the nearby towns where the tarmac stops linking to the Uganda safari destinations. These roads can be rough at times. However, the efforts are being made to replace the old roads with the new ones.
Because of the varying landscape and the nature of the connecting murram roads at times, it is not advisable to drive yourself for the first time. Safari to See Gorillas has expert driver guides who offer the themed interpretation and take you through the challenging road sections carefully and safely as they have the expertise in this. Our Uganda safaris vehicles all with 4WD feature the strength to negotiate the challenging landscapes including the Kigezi highlands and Karamoja landscapes. This is a lovely attempt that will offer you a safe and trusted leisure and educational life time experience on Uganda safaris exploring Uganda in detail.
Uganda Safari Flights: Flights to Uganda/Airlines, Air tickets to Uganda Uganda Tourists and general travelers can access the country using a variety of flights from various points of the world and those interested in undertaking tours to Uganda can book the flights through a local agent in their home countries, through airlines directly, international ticket vendors most of which are online
Uganda Safaris By Charter Flights
Uganda safaris can also be conducted by charter. Being on the diverse destinations, a range of micro destinations are scattered and far apart from the beginning point and one another. For example, it takes 1 ½ days to connect from Kampala to Kidepo Valley National Park 700km apart, for the gorilla safari destination of Bwindi, it takes a minimum of 10 hours’ drive to cover
Uganda Safari Accommodation
Uganda Safari lodges are presented in the three classes including; Luxury, Midrange and Budget to serve the varying interests of world travellers intending to take up tours in Uganda. The standard of lodges put in one category may not necessarily be the same as one park might have limited choices compared to others allowing the proprietors freedom to rank themselves beyond.
Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Birds – Uganda Safaris must Encounter.
Additionally to note is that these varied landscapes support great counts of flora, fauna and bird life. Our Uganda safaris feature birding since Uganda contains about 1,061 Species of birds forming a half of the bird species on the continent of Africa featuring one endemic bird species named the Fox Weaver. Besides birds, Uganda has the great count of primate species.
Talk of watching the critically endangered mountain gorillas viewed on gorilla safaris in Uganda in their natural habitats of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national Park and Mgahinga Gorilla Park, the chimpanzees in the forests of Kibale Forest National Park, Semuliki National Park, Budongo Eco Reserve and the Valley of Apes – the famous Kyambura gorge, the endangered golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Black and white colobus monkeys, Red and Blue tailed monkey in Kibale Forest National Park not forgetting the localized patas monkey in Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park
