Things To Know When Visiting Uganda
Boasting its distinct array of tourist destinations and diverse experiences, Uganda is one country with plenty for everyone to enjoy. Think of a destination to experience the off-beaten track adventures, and think not beyond Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.
Think of that one thrilling primate adventure, wildlife expedition or unique cultural experience, and a road trip to Uganda will have you covered. Visit the finest parks in Africa on a Uganda safari, explore great apes from mountain gorillas, and golden monkeys to chimpanzees and combine your primate experience with the big five encounters, watch countless antelopes and diverse bird species.
Visiting Uganda for the first time? Here are some of the most amazing tips to help you enjoy your visit to Uganda, The Pearl of Africa.
Location, Where is Uganda?
Uganda straddles in East Africa, a landlocked country sharing borders with countries like Kenya to the East. To the North, there is South Sudan, to the Southwest find Rwanda, the DRC to the West, and Tanzania to the South. It shares the vast and scenic Lake Victoria with other East African countries including Kenya and Tanzania.
Uganda is situated within the Great Lakes Area, the Nile Basin and experiences the modified Equatorial climatic conditions. 4 major regions make up Uganda, the Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern.
Currency used
The commonly used local currency in Uganda is ‘Uganda Shillings’ with the symbol ‘UGX’ and Bank of Uganda is the only entity mandated to mint, distribute/destroy currency in Uganda. Ugandan currency has different denominations both coins and notes. The coins are available in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 shs, and banknotes range from 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20000 to 50000. The currency exchange rate stands at 1 USD =UGX 3680; 1 EUR =4052. The exchange rate varies from one forex bureau to another. Please note, that the best exchange rate is done in Kampala the capital.
Visa and entry
A visa is an essential tool a visitor requires to have access to a country. Like any destination, you need a visa to enter Uganda for your vacation or business and other reasons. A single entry visa is issued at USD 50 per person, and multiple entry visas are issued at USD 100 per person. If you plan to visit more than 2 East African destinations for instance Uganda and Kenya, you can also obtain the East African tourist visa. The East African Tourist Visa allows tourists to visit more than two countries without obtaining another visa.
Language and religion
Over 50 tribes live in Uganda, with diverse languages spoken. There are 4 major ethnic groups living harmoniously in Uganda, the Nilo Hamites, Nilotics, Bantus and Hamites. The Bantu are the biggest tribal group and concentrates around Buganda, Busoga, Bunyoro, Tooro, Ankole, Kigezi and Bugwere, etc.
However, the official language is English and currently, there is an addition of Kiswahili. In Central Uganda, Luganda is widely spoken and in Western Uganda –mainly Runyankole and Bakiga are commonly spoken.
Electricity plugs
The plug types in Uganda come in 3 rectangular pins/patterns. The voltage supply is 240V and 50HZ. Uganda’s electricity system is rooted in the British style.
Health tips
A yellow fever vaccination and other vaccines should be taken before you travel for a vacation in Uganda. Aside from the yellow fever vaccination, you also required to vaccinate against polio, chickenpox, hepatitis, typhoid, and others.
Landmarks in Uganda
Uganda is a rich destination with a variety of unique physical features including valleys, forests, mountains and water bodies. The places to visit on a safari in Uganda include Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Semuliki National Park, Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, Lake Victoria, and Source of the Nile River, waterfalls and cultural sites.
Amazing experiences to enjoy on a vacation in Uganda: mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, game/wildlife viewing, bird watching, nature walking, mountaineering, hot air balloon, and others.
When to visit Uganda for a holiday?
Uganda is open to guests all year round, but the dry season is the most preferred time. The dry months come with favorable weather conditions, perfect for gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris, mountaineering, hiking and other primate adventures. The dry season starts from June, July, and August to September.
What to carry
You need to pack right for your vacation and consider essentials first. The packing list for your Uganda safari: light safari clothes (long-sleeved shirts, trousers, rain jacket, socks), waterproof hiking boots or shoes, valid passport, gardening gloves, camera, first aid kit, sunglasses, pair of binoculars, safari hat, and others.
Where to stay/ Accommodation
Regardless of the destination you choose to spend your vacation, there are accommodation options to consider for a night stay. You can book a budget, midrange and luxury safari lodges, hotels and camps. The top lodges to book for overnight stay include Chobe Safari Lodge, Bakers Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Kigambira Safari Lodge, Lake Mburo Lodge, Primate Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge and others.
Getting there/around
Getting around the country is easy with different transport systems from boda bodas, cubs, taxis, and buses to charter flights. These are all good to take you around, but the best way to get around is to rent a car in Uganda and take a road trip. Hire a car that suits your trip type and we have all kinds of rental cars to make your vacation memorable.
Read MoreSerena: Perfect hotel for your next business trip to Kampala
Uganda is one of our closest neighbors to Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania and not forgetting the democratic republic of congo that are all good destinations for wildlife and primate watching experiences. Uganda does not only share a border but also much of our history is interlinked with that of Uganda. Geopolitically, Uganda could just be our sister across the border.
It is no wonder that many businessmen and women transact business in Uganda and vice versa. Personally, I have crossed the border several times for business and have traveled back to Kigali in the company of Ugandans chasing a business deal in Rwanda that includes hotel managers & employees. This makes me a business traveller, of sorts – or at least I like to think of myself that way.
But where does one stay and conduct business while in Uganda? Where can you get all the resources and business support you need to successfully conduct your business as you luxuriate in the goodness that is the Pearl of Africa?
Throughout my travels, I have stayed in many hotels. Fallen in love with a few, critiqued others and there are some experiences that weren’t worth much to pen home about. Some experiences, though, are worth repeating. So if you have heard this story, I bet it is worth reading a second time.
If you have been to Kampala, you will already know that the city traffic is only paralleled by Nairobi’s, or maybe it is even worse! So if you are conducting business in the city, you want to stay at a venue close enough to the CBD. Else, you will have to fight through heavy traffic every morning, get to your meetings late, sweaty and angry. You also want to have a good night’s sleep so you can wake up fresh and ready for the business at hand. You need a room like this:
Now that you are early for business, have your clothes pressed courtesy of the efficient laundry department, you then need to breakfast like a king! Yes, they (not me) say we Africans eat wrong! We should, “dinner like a pauper and breakfast like a king!”
After breakfast, you can then meet your guests in one of the designated meeting rooms within the hotel. There are 8 board rooms that hold up to 10 people. The hotel staff will ensure that the room is prepared for your meeting and provide drinks, snacks and of course, writing material and a projector, should you need one. If you have a larger meeting to conduct there are numerous conference halls namely Katonga, Achwa, Addis, Turaco, Victoria, Nile and Foyer each sitting over 30 – 400 people for you to use.
If you prefer to meet over a meal, there are well decorated outdoors with good Wi-Fi coverage for you to sit and work over a drink or two.
Lunch and dinner at Lakes Restaurant or the Italian-styled Explorer Restaurant are often a delight especially if it is one of the themed special Sea Food (Surf n Turf) or Local (Ugandan) cuisine buffets or Pasta Night at the Explorer Restaurant.
The hotel also boasts a state of the art gym and a world-class Spa dubbed Maisha Spa for your ultimate luxury relaxation, just meters from the sparkling blue swimming pool. Perfect given that Kampala can get quite hot at times.
Once your business in Kampala is done, then you can hire a cab to Entebbe International Airport. But let me add that on your way to Entebbe, you can detour and stop by the sister hotel, Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort, and Spa. And yes, you guessed right, the hotel I’ve been describing is Kampala Serena Hotel, which has, year-after-year, been declared the Leading Hotel in Uganda at the World Travel Awards. That’s where you conduct serious business when in Uganda!
This very accommodation and hotel are recommended to travelers by tour operators who decide to take Uganda safaris that encompass the mountain gorilla trekking in the mega Bwindi impenetrable forest national park & mgahinga national park in south western Uganda
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