FAQs

A list of frequently asked questions about Uganda Safaris you should know.

If yours remained unanswered send us an email at uganda@allgorillatrips.com or call us on +256 774 570793

Why a Uganda Safari?

Uganda has got the great apes that have made it more famous and known all over the world. People have come from different nations and countries into Uganda to visit the famous national park which is none other than Bwindi impenetrable national forest a park that has got over half of the world’s mountain gorillas. This national park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda. However, Uganda has also got other national parks where mountain gorillas are found and that is the mgahinga national park. However, it is least visited by clients. Most clients prefer Bwindi because it has got a big number of gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is massively the best and most liked activity that gives the best adventure safari experience to anyone who goes for it.

On the other hand, Uganda has got a massive number of chimpanzee population in kibale national park. This park is located in the western part of Uganda. This has made chimpanzee trekking another highlight of many safaris in Uganda.

Uganda has been blessed with extraordinary bio-diversity and the beautiful landscapes making it the best memorable and adventure safari destination. It has got the Big five, the elephants, antelopes and giraffes which are just some of the wildlife you will find on a Uganda safari.

Do I need a visa to Uganda and how much does it cost?

Yes, depending on which country you are coming from you’ll need a visa to enter Uganda. Following an announcement by the Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs on October 14 2021, you are required to have a visa before your trip and have to applied for and paid online. Visas will not be issued on arrival.

Citizens from the following countries do not need a visa;

African countries namely, Zambia, Tanzania, Swaziland, Seychelles, Rwanda, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Kenya, Eritrea, Comoros, Burundi, and Angola.
Others include st. Vincent and the Grenadines Islands, Barbados, Bahamas, Antigua, Gambia, Jamaica, Lesotho, Malta, Singapore, Solomon Islands, and Cyprus

The Uganda tourist Visa Costs USD 50

If you are visiting more than one East Africa countries of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, you can also apply for an East African Tourist Visa. This is valid for 90 days and allows multiple entry into the three countries . You can apply for this visa on the ‘e-visa’ website.

The East African Visa costs USD 100

Do I need immunization or malaria medication?

It is highly recommended that you be inoculated against Yellow Fever as the country has a tropical climate and is considered a Yellow Fever risk area. (proof of vaccination needed during visa application process, hepatitis, typhoid as well as tetanus, measles, and polio. Typhoid, hepatitis-A, cholera are transmitted through contaminated food and water.

You should consult your physician regarding the best choice of vaccines for your trip. Recommendations will depend on many individual factors, including your precise travel plans. It is recommended that you see your doctor at least four to six weeks before your trip to allow time for vaccines to take effect

Please bring Anti-malaria pills

Is travel insurance recommended?

All clients who participate in Uganda Safaris are advised to be adequately covered by medical insurance as well as travel insurance to protect them in case of unforeseen circumstances.

What to know about Uganda Safaris and COVID-19

A negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate is no longer required for fully vaccinated inbound and outbound travellers. Children under the age of 6 are exempted from providing a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate whether vaccinated or not.

Arriving passengers will be subject to temperature checks and will be screened for infectious diseases by the Port Health authorities. If your temperature is above normal or you display COVID-19 symptoms you may be required to take a COVID-19 test. If a foreign national tests positive for COVID-19 and wishes to be repatriated for treatment outside of Uganda, they will be expected to cover the costs themselves.

If you’re fully vaccinated

If you are fully vaccinated (and for children under the age of 6) you are now able to enter Uganda via air and land border points without showing a negative COVID-19 PCR certificate. You will be required to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated.

Proof of vaccination status

You are required to show your COVID-19 vaccination status on arrival at Entebbe International airport and land border points in Uganda

If you’re not fully vaccinated

If you are not fully vaccinated you will need to show a negative COVID-19 PCR certificate issued no more than 72 hours before departure on arrival by land or air.

If you’ve had COVID-19 in the past year

There are no special arrangements in place for travellers who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past year.

Children and young people

Children under the age of 6 do not need to show a negative COVID-19 test certificate on arrival. Unvaccinated children aged 6 and above will need to show a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued no more than 72 hours before departure on arrival at land border points and Entebbe International Airport

If you’re transiting through Uganda

If you are transiting through Uganda on your way to another country and staying in the airport (airside) you will need to provide proof that you are fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate on arrival.

If you are transiting through Uganda on your way to another country and will be passing through immigration (sometimes known as a layover), for example to stay in a hotel for a flight the next day, you will need to provide proof that you are fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate on arrival.

Exemptions

There are no exemptions to Uganda’s entry requirements.

When is the best time to visit Uganda?

Are you wondering about what the best time to visit Uganda is? – Unlike other countries, Uganda has a some how stable climate and therefore you can visit Uganda all year round. Given that Uganda is located in the tropics, it experiences a typical tropical climate with two rainy seasons.

The longer rainy season in Uganda starts from late march through May and the shorter rainy season starts around September to November. A safari in Uganda however can be done all year round and activities like gorilla trekking are also available all year round.

The dry season usually starts in June to August and then from December to February

What is the cost of Uganda safari?

Uganda has got very cheap safaris compared Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. A forward push in the luxury safaris during the past years and therefore this has made Zimbabwe be recognized to be more expensive than Uganda. More so, Zambia and Botswana more expensive than Uganda.

The cost for Gorilla permits in Uganda is at 700 dollars which has added a fixed cost to many of the itineraries and this has however made it cheaper still than all the countries in East Africa

NOTE: Each client who may need a safari or a trip is charged a price which is different from that of the other depending on how long you want your trip to be, the type of accommodation, and also the number of clients to go for a safari.

How long is a typical Uganda trip?

Uganda is one of the gifted countries in Africa with a lot of different national parks and activities available for you to choose from for your safari. Its therefore recommended that you book a 7-14 days safari if you really want to enjoy what Uganda has to offer.

It is well known that those visiting Uganda for the first time will only yearn to come again. Aside from the the big apes like the Gorillas in Bwindi, and Chimpanzees in Kibale forest National Park, Uganda is also home to the Big five which you can see on a trip to Murchison falls and Queen Elizabeth national Park. There also several mountains such as the Rwenzoris, Mountain Elgon as well as the Muhabura exctint Volcanoes which are suitable for those looking for a mountain climbing experience.

In addition to the wildlife experiences, you can also add exciting cultural encounters as well as adventure sports like white water rafting, Quad biking, Kayaking and so much more.

In case you would like to book with us, All Gorilla Trips, we design itineraries that always match with the safaris or trip you may wish to have or you are interested in and we make the costings for you that are really favorable.

The vast majority of the trips we run are tailor-made, so we’ll design an itinerary that fits with your travel schedule, interests, and budget.

Where will we stay in Uganda?

Are you on a safari to Uganda, and you are worried about an accommodation where to stay while on your safari? No worries any more because Uganda has got a number of accommodations ranging from the luxury, midrange, and budget. All the accommodations are so amazing, attractive, ensuite with good location to favor the staying of the client to feel as he or she is at a home away from his original home.

For the clients who prefer camping, the tents are always provided to support them and help them make their tents at night to rest. And the problem of security here is already solved because the rangers always make fire at night to protect them from the dangerous animals and to also provide warmth.

Is a Uganda safari suitable for families with children?

Obviously it is suitable. In Uganda we have got people who really like kids and take care about them. They always make sure they provide everything needed for the kids to feel comfortable and feel like they are in there original homes. For example, they provide playing kits, dolls, balls, swimming places for the kids and so on. The care given to the ids is more likely the same care given to the elders.

Uganda has got very nice companies which can make for you an itinerary or a package that will make you always memorable and feel proud looking forward to coming back again.

NOTE; For the families who coming with their ids to do activities like gorilla trekking should remember that the minimum age of trekking is 15 years. There for do not get angry when your kid is stopped from trekking.

What is the food like?

Uganda has got a lot of very nice- and good-looking options of food that any client may prefer and enjoy during his or her trip to Uganda. While in your hotel, you will find a lot of different types of food styles which are international, local and so on.

Uganda always provides a camping fire at night where by it provides a goat which is roasted by the clients and enjoy it.

Is Uganda good for Solo travel?

Absolutely, Uganda is always and will be a good destination for Solo travelers.

The company has got guides who always provide care to our clients to make you feel comfortable, happy and relaxed.

On the other hand, Uganda has got very few accommodations which will help you join others on your arrival and then feel relaxed and enjoyable.

How do I get around in Uganda?

Many of the itineraries in Uganda made by different companies will always make the use combination of road and air transport. While in your comfortable zone of flying, you will typically be in a Cessna caravan light aircraft. However, the domestic flight network in Uganda is at a low level, you can only fly into airstrips near the main national parks in the south-west.

Internal flights are mostly used and available for the clients to use. This is because many of the itineraries are based on the primarily region in the south western part of Uganda.

While using the road transport in Uganda as we said earlier, you should be ready and prepared to go through the muddy, the bumpy, the humps and rough ride. This is because all the roads connecting to the national parks are not favorable and therefore they cause un comfortableness among our client.

However this has been solved by having several stop overs to relax and have relief about the poor roads. There fore fear not to travel to Uganda because of the poor roads.

How fit do I need to be for a Uganda Safari?

Would you like to visit Uganda but you are worried about your fitness and health?

Put the worries aside and get on to your journey to Uganda because most of the activities done there do not require a lot of physical fitness. Such as game drives, bird watching, boat cruise and so on. However, there are activities that require one to be physically fit such as gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking. This is because they require hiking into the jungle to look for the gorilla families because they always go too far grazing.

More so, the other activity that requires fitness is the hiking of mountains such as mountain Elgon. This will require you a lot of energy and fitness.

 

Is Uganda safe for tourists?

Uganda is really considered to be safe for travel by the tourists. This is because it has got typically a political stable country with securely operated borders within the east African region and the robust internal security bodies.

The truth is that like any other country, the African continent is a place of reality,

That is the reason as to why when most people ask, we also always give them shorter answers to their questions. But however, the answers given to them will always leave them confident, happy and comfortable hence making them feel secure and safe.

What should I expect on a day out on safari?

This is your safari trip and your experience! We’ll go for either morning, afternoon, or full-day game drives and we’ll always stop for a delicious lunch at the various picnic sites dotted around the parks. Your friendly guide will always be on hand if there is something special you would like to see or do!

 

What type of vehicle will we be traveling in?

All of our 4×4 vehicles are expertly maintained and equipped with pop up rooftops, a station for charging batteries,  and a cooler to keep food and drinks cold and fresh.

Who will be my guide?

All of our certified, English-speaking safari guides are experts in their fields. Each one of our guides has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the areas we visit, the animals we see, and, of course, creating unforgettable experiences with the guests who join us on safari!