Travel Tips and Advice for Uganda-East Africa

Uganda Travel Tips & Advice

Uganda Travel Tips and Advice:

Travel Tips to make your stay in Uganda more enjoyable

Travel to anywhere can be stressful and wear one out rather quickly and often a traveler is ill informed as to what to expect in Uganda. Uganda is Africa and Africa no matter what your background or your country of origin is different. Words may mean one thing in your country they mean another. If someone wants to take you to saloon here, it is not for a drink but to get your hair done. This Uganda Travel Tips and Advice page is to make your time here an enjoyable and remember to laugh, keep your sense of humor, put away your schedule at times and remember that relationships are more important than 20 minutes. Enjoy Uganda and welcome to the Pearl of Africa.

Uganda will be a life changing experience, no matter if you are coming as a business traveler, short term volunteer, or going on a Safari.

Uganda has much to offer you, but it is best to be informed so that you do not have some unpleasant surprises. The Uganda Travel Tips here will be of help to you as you come to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.

Do not forget your journal and each day write down your impressions of the day. This website as I began to transcribe thoughts and impressions from my various journals over the years.

Most of all enjoy your Ugandan Journey and a journey in Africa is simply a safari.

Practical Tips that will make your travel in Uganda more enjoyable:

Uganda Visa: Get it at point of entry. It will cost you 50 dollars. I have bought 6 month visa and longer in the USA only to be stamped for 3 months and having to pay anew for another new visa. For more detailed Uganda Visa information see the Uganda Visa Page. In order to get your visa you will need an International Health Card with Yellow fever vaccination noted on it. That is rarely looked at. You will need sufficient funds to be in the country (rarely asked of Westerners) and you will need a return ticket to country of origin. (Also rarely requested)

Money: The USD that most people bring is worth around 1600 shillings to the dollar. When you have a hundred thousand shillings on you will seem like a lot of money, but it is only about 60 some dollars. The 1000 shilling, 5000 and 10000 bill can be confused with each other, especially the 5000 and 10000 shilling notes. The latter two are very close in color and since you are untrained in using them, do not just go by color, but looks at the numerical value printed on the money. For Uganda money advice see the Uganda Money advice page.

Ugandan Transportation: Hopefully you will have someone to pick you up at the airport such as I do when I have safari guests arriving in the country. Should you not and you did not book with a higher priced hotel that offers free transport to the hotel, do not fret, you can easily rent a special hire taxi. No buses or so called taxi vans come to the airport and neither do boda-boda motorcycle taxis. The normal rate that will be asked is around 50,000 though some will ask for more, negotiate. For getting around Uganda transport information see the "getting around Uganda" page.

Uganda Hotels and Guest Houses: Just because President Clinton stayed there, does not mean it is a good hotel. I recently reviewed comments on the Internet and found one hotel where President Clinton stayed on a visit and found that the majority of comments were extremely negative. No mosquito nets, no hot water, and more. Book through someone in Uganda such as myself who understands the Ugandan market and also knows your expectations and your stay will be pleasant at an affordable price. When the Commonwealth Meeting of Heads of State took place in Uganda in 2007, everyone expected to make lots of money. The prices were raised to higher level and in many cases have not come down, so it will take someone in Uganda who can find you the right place. There are no Internet specials, it takes good old bargaining and often there is no multi-day discount and yet affordable, clean and reasonable priced accommodations can be found. See the Kampala Hotel Page for some more information.

Eating out in Uganda: Most likely you will not be cooking on your own unless you are like me and live here. If you are going to cook for yourself I can tell you where you will find a butchery and bakery that is reasonable and cuts meats in western manner. As far as eating out, there are some basic precautions that one must use in order to stay healthy. Avoid food that is brought to you and is not hot, avoid buffets where candles are used for sauces, this is especially the case with some sauces that will attract all kinds of micro-organisms, avoid fruit salads, green salads, ice cubes, juices where water has been added unless it has been bottled water. Spicy food does not mean you will not get sick. You do not want Amin's revenge and be laid up in your lodging instead of enjoying Uganda. Avoid Street Vendors. See the "Staying Well in Uganda" page and also the restaurant page regarding some restaurants in Kampala.

Staying Safe in Uganda: Be sensible and practical. Would you do this back in your own country? Uganda for the most part is safe and enjoyable. For some practical tips see Staying and Secure in Uganda.

Cell Phones: You can bring an unlocked International Quad cell Phone with you and purchase a Ugandan Sim Card from MTN, Zain, UTL or Warid. UTL and Warid international calls are at 25 cents a minute to places such as Europe, Asia and North America, whereas MTN charges about 35 cents a minute for such calls.

Internet Access: You can access at one of the many Internet cafe's that you will find in Kampala and most larger Ugandan cities. You can also do something different if you need to have ongoing access to the Internet. You can use your laptop and a gprs phone with phone tools such as Motorola has available. Upon coming to Uganda go to an MTN office and obtain a Sim Card, very inexpensive and then buy some phone air time, from 50 cents upward and add GPRS service to your sim card for about 45 dollars for a month. You now have 24 hour internet in Uganda. Not too fast, but it works just great and you have access. I use it and it is my way of updating my site and do most of my email work.

Electrical Current and Plugs: 240 volts is the voltage in Uganda and you will need a UK plug. You can buy a converter plug that will make your appliance fit locally.

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Last updated: 04 January 2009