Uganda Travel Guide

Uganda is a country located in Africa with name that begins with letter U. The central African landlocked country Uganda is a melting pot: Over 40 ethnic groups with their own languages ​​and customs and some of their own religions are represented in the country. The official languages ​​are English and Swahili. Around 35 million people live in an area the size of the United Kingdom; the capital Kampala on the north shore of Lake Victoria has about 2 million residents.

The equatorial region with its lakes, rivers, primeval forests and savannahs is a real natural paradise – with lions, giraffes, chimpanzees, hippos and countless other species. Check Countryaah to find more countries that begin with letter U.

Entry

A valid passport and a visa are required for entry. A 30-day tourist visa is also available upon arrival in the country. Since 2014, visitors have been able to get a joint 90-day visa for Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya.

Climate

Uganda has a tropical highland climate. The temperatures reach 25 to 30 °C during the day, at night it cools down to around 17 °C. There are no seasons in Uganda, only a change from rainy and dry seasons, whereby the climate is currently shifting somewhat: In northern regions of the country there is often no rain for a very long time, while seasonal monsoon rains are increasingly frequent in the south.

In contrast to most African regions, Uganda has a balanced, temperate climate, which results from the fact that a large part of the tropical country lies on a plateau of approx. 1,000 m.

With gorilla tracking in Bwindi NP you move in a range of up to 2,500 m

The daytime temperatures are usually between 25 °C and 35 °C, at night the temperatures drop to 12 °C to 18 °C..

The precipitation (1,000–1,500 mm) falls mostly in April and May, but October and November are also more rainy than the rest of the year. Precipitation mostly falls as brief downpours. Rainfalls lasting several hours are rare.

During the dry season, Uganda does not have the hot and humid climate that you might know from the tropical coasts or from Southeast Asia.

Food and drink

Depending on the region, different specialties are served, for example the plantain porridge Matoke in the north of the country, the vegetable stew Malakwang in the east or the high-calorie buttercream Eshabwee in the west. The flatbread chapati, grilled meat skewers and the filled and fried dumplings samosa from India can be found on many street corners. The range of tropical fruits with pineapple, papayas, jackfruit, avocados, melons and of course bananas is also very varied. In Uganda, people usually eat with their fingers, but a knife and fork is also available on request.

Cultural characteristics

The moral sense in Uganda is quite vulnerable. Therefore cautious behavior in public is advisable. One should refrain from exchanging affection in public. Clothing that is too tight can also cause displeasure.

Medical advice

Medical care does not come close to European standards. The German Foreign Office explicitly recommends taking out a health insurance abroad with appropriate repatriation insurance. It is advisable to have the vaccinations, which are also common in Europe, refreshed if necessary before traveling to Uganda. It is also advisable to take a first-aid kit with you. In Uganda, measures to protect against mosquito bites must be taken in any case, as well as protective measures against diarrhea. You will receive more information about this with the travel documents from Weltweitwandern.

Security

As for crime, the streets in the center of the capital Kampala are considered safe; in the outskirts you shouldn’t go for a walk after dark. Traveling to the national parks in the company of park rangers is generally safe.

Special provisions

• Military and security-relevant facilities (airports, bridges, government buildings…) may not be photographed.
• Drug possession is criminally prosecuted even in the smallest quantities.

All about money

Currency
1 Uganda shilling (UGX) = 100 cents

Money

Tips are usually paid in Uganda Shillings. For the entire journey you need cash in the amount of around 200-300 euros. In larger cities, shillings can be withdrawn from machines with an EC or Visa credit card. Please note that you need a pin code for the credit card. Payment by credit card is only possible to a limited extent. Sometimes problems arise with EC cards. The mixture of the above-mentioned means of payment has proven to be very useful in order to react variably to local conditions.

Tip

For the tips, a community cash desk is sometimes set up, which is used for all tips for rangers, boat drivers, hotel employees, etc. The amount of the deposit is approx. 60 euros per person for the entire trip. Your tour guide will also be happy to receive appropriate recognition after a successful tour.

Other essential information

Time difference

The time difference to CET is +2 hours

Electricity

For electrical devices, you should have an adapter (3-pin, UK system) with you. Most hotels can provide electricity.