Travel Information

The people of Uganda are among the most hospitable in Africa but it’s the cultural diversity that will surely mesmerize you! With over 56 tribal communities, each with a distinct: Cultural heritage, History, Language, Food, Dance, Dressing, Beliefs, Customs, Folklore etc., you will just be blown away. A visit to the Elgon area will unveil to you the Imbalu circumcision ceremony among the Bagisu who live at the foot of the Elgon Mountain. To the west, the Banyankole perform their Kitagururo dance, the Banyoro have their Runyege and to the North, Acholi have the Larakaraka traditional dance.

You don’t want to miss the local and unique cuisines here! For example, there is (luwombo) – a traditional dish by the Baganda, the (eshabwe) – a Banyankole sauce prepared without fire, (atapa) – millet bread popular with the Iteso, and (malakwang) – a sour vegetable prepared by the Acholi and Langi. The other fascinating aspect of the people and culture in Uganda are the traditional dress and ceremonies. “Witnessing a traditional marriage ceremony, with great music and colorful dresses, makes a cultural safari tours in Uganda an incredibly unique experience”, recounted a traveler to Uganda.

The months of; December to February and from June to September are considered the best time to visit Uganda, but some intermittent rain is possible due to unpredictable seasonal changes. All the same, one can still visit Uganda even in the months considered “low season” and the encounter, experience is still outstanding. In fact, the “low season” months do have fewer travelers which means the parks are not crowded.

Uganda has the best weather and climate in the world if you like. Located right on the Equator but with a snow-capped (throughout the year) Rwenzori Mountain, you may refer to it as being warm/hot and cold but not humid. The country is sunny for a larger part of the year with daytime temperatures generally hovering between 24 and 28°C. However, temperatures can drop considerably at night (to about 16 to 18°C), enough for one to bring a sweatshirt, fleece.

The areas at high altitude such as the Bwindi, nearby Mgahinga get much colder as temperatures tend to drop to about 6°C. The parks further north, such as Murchison Falls, and Kidepo Valley are usually warmer with daytime temperatures (sometimes) at about 32°C. Rain (wet season) is generally expected twice a year, in October/November (short rains) and late March to end of May. Dry season sets in from December to February or mid-March and June to September.

From experience, a visit to Murchison Falls NP, Kibale Forest NP, Bwindi National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and also Kidepo Valley NP in the far North-east is so rewarding that one should only miss if he/she must.

While on a safari into Uganda, you may (depending on interest) undertake any of the following activities: Game drives, community and cultural encounter, gorilla and chimp trekking, boat or launch cruises, birdwatching, white water rafting on the Nile, coffee tour, mountain trekking, beach relaxation, abseiling for non-faint-hearted, hot-air balloon safari.

At least 6-Days. Even so, one can still take a 3-day trip but from experience it leaves one wishing he/she had more days to explore more.

The Uganda Shilling (UGX) is the local currency and it is available in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000. The exchange rate fluctuates between: USD 1 = UGX 3,650 – 3,850. IMPORTANT: USD Dollar bills smaller in denominations than USD 50, 100 may attract less favorable exchange rate and also USD series older than 2009 are not accepted.

It is possible to withdraw some money from the ATM at the airport or in major towns along your safari route. If you plan to use an ATM card or credit card, it would be good to notify your Bank that you will be using your Credit Card or Debit Card for cash withdrawals from an ATM in your safari destination e.g. Uganda. In case you wish to have some local currency, the assigned tour driver-guide can always lead you to the nearby forex point.

The main entry point into Uganda is through the Entebbe International Airport. You have to present your identification documents like passport and depending on the country of origin, a stamped visa. The visa must be obtained prior to the arrival. IMPORTANT: It is your responsibility to ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months and has several clear pages for visas prior to the departure to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa.