Frequently asked questions about safaris to Uganda

Frequently asked questions about safaris to Uganda : Below are some of the things to know about safaris in Uganda;

1. What is the best time for safari in Uganda?

All year, safaris in Uganda can be done across the different destinations in the country. The best time of the year to engage in tours around the country is during the dry season which is experienced in the months of June to October and in December to February.

Many tourists visit Uganda for safari during the dry season which is also considered a high season. Safaris can also be done in the rainy or low season around March, April and May and also in November.

2. Which destinations are safaris done in Uganda?

Uganda has many destinations which can be visited during safaris around the country and they include national park, wildlife reserves, waterfalls, mountains, lakes and rivers, forests among others found across different parts of the country.

National parks which tourists visit during their safaris in Uganda include Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi national park known for gorilla trekking, Kibale forest national park known for chimpanzee trekking, Lake Mburo national park, Semuliki national park, Mgahinga national park among others.

Other popular safari destinations in Uganda include Sipi falls, Mabira forest, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Victoria, Mount Rwenzori, Mount Elgon, River Nile, Budongo forest, Pian Upe wildlife reserve and many others.

3. What activities can be done during safaris in Uganda?

During safaris in Uganda, there are different activities which can be done and they include game drives, boat safaris, hiking, bird watching, horse riding, white water rafting, guided nature walks, gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, community tours, cycling among others.

Game drives in Uganda can be done in the morning, afternoon or night in destinations such as Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park, Kidepo valley national park.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park. Chimpanzee trekking takes place in Kibale forest national park, Kyambura gorge and Budongo forest.

4. What to pack for safari in Uganda

There are different items which tourists can pack for their safaris in Uganda and these items vary depending on the activities, season of travel and the destinations visited.

Some of the things to pack for safaris include good hiking shoes, sun hat, gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellant, long sleeved shirts and trousers, jackets, rain clothes like ponchos as well as cameras and other recording devices, binoculars among others.

It is important to pack lightly for the safaris in Uganda to avoid extra expenses during the trip. Tourists can also inquire from the tour operators what to pack for the safaris.

5. Where to stay during safaris in Uganda

There are many forms of accommodation to choose from during safaris in Uganda including luxury accommodations, midrange accommodations and budget accommodations. Camping is also an option in some of the destinations visited in the country.

Around the national parks in Uganda, tourists can stay in lodges located inside or outside the national parks.

6. How to book flights during safaris in Uganda

Tourists can use both international and domestic flights to get to Uganda during safaris in the country and the main airport is Entebbe international airport.

Domestic flights in Uganda can be booked through airlines such as Aerolink Uganda which offers flights to different airstrips around destinations in the country including the national parks such as Bwindi national park, Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Queen Elizabeth national park among others.

These flights can be booked by individuals contacting the airlines directly or through tour operators.

7. Which wildlife species can be seen during safaris in Uganda?

Uganda is home to different wildlife species including primates, predators among others which can be seen in destinations including wildlife reserves and safari parks found in the country.

Some of the wildlife species in Uganda include the big 5 such as elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and rhinos and also hippos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, warthogs, impalas, kudu, dik dik, hartebeests, elands, bushbucks, topi among others.

Primates which can be seen during safaris in Uganda include mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, golden monkeys, blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys among others.

8. Is internet accessible during safaris in Uganda?

When visiting Uganda for safari, tourists can access internet around the lodges and also across the destinations visited during the safari.

WIFI is available for use during the safaris and can also be accessed from the vehicles used for safaris which are also equipped with charging ports. There are different internet service providers in Uganda which makes internet easily accessible at different points or destinations in the country.

9. How to pay for safaris in Uganda

Payments for safaris in Uganda can be done using credit cards or bank transfers depending on the tour operators planning the safari.

For tourists visiting Uganda to engage in primate tours such as gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation, chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation, they require permits which can be booked through licensed tour operators. Tourists are advised to book he permits in advance and they are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

The currencies which can be used to pay for safaris in Uganda include US dollars and some companies also accept Euros. Fees such as park entrance fees for national parks in Uganda are charged in USD for foreign nonresidents and foreign residents.

• What is the cost of a safari in Uganda?

There are different costs incurred during safaris in Uganda and they include transport costs, accommodation costs and activity costs.

For gorilla trekking tours, tourists are charged permit fees of 800 USD per person to trek gorilla in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park. Chimpanzee permits for Kibale national park cost 250 USD per person.

The cost of safaris in Uganda also varies depending on the number of people, activities done during the safari, type of accommodation, length of the safari among other factors.