Uganda is seeing ever-growing numbers of travelers as a safari destination. It’s not surprising that you’re eyeing it for your next holiday journey and you need proven easy steps to planning a successful trip to this gorilla destination.
Uganda offers 10 National Parks and 4 Wildlife Reserves, and many towns, cultural villages, and communities to choose from, deciding where to go on a safari in Uganda can be daunting. Determining the kind of vacation you want, or the specific things you’d like to see and do is very important. This will be the turning point for you to have a successful safari.
For you to have a classic safari, you must have a plan to visit Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will be able to see the big five and many other wildlife encounters as well as a boat cruise.
If you are planning to discover the ancient cultures of Uganda, Karamoja and kidepo valley will be the best option. This will give you the opportunity to explore northern Uganda most especially the kidepo national park a hidden gem for wildlife and birds.
Planning for deep nature as well as trekking in the jungle, join Bwindi national park, Mgahinga national park and kibale national park to interact with gorillas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees.
Once you’ve chosen your destination, then you need to know when to go for the safari holiday. Uganda has two travel seasons the Dry season and Rainy Season. The best time to explore Uganda is during the Dry Season (June to September and December to February). It is the best time for gorilla trekking adventures. During this time, the forest floors are less damp, trails are passable, and your photography equipment will not get drenched in downpours.
This is also the best time to view the wild animals. During this time, clear skies, less rain, more sunshine, and vegetation are excellent for wildlife photography. Animals gather around main water holes, making wildlife easier to spot.
Once you have made up your mind on when to go, decide whether you are moving solo or with a driver guide. You will need to coordinate with a local tour operator who will lead you in your safari helping you to arrange the entire safari including transport and lodges.
Once all the above are put into consideration, you will then have to book your flights as early as possible since they tend to fill up fast. You will then communicate your travel details to the tour operator for clear lodging preparations on the entire safari.
At this point, you’ll have invested a significant amount of money in flights, tours, and your accommodation. It would be best if you have protection for this safari. Insurance is important more so in Africa, where airlines cancel flights without warning regularly, and state hospitals are not places you want to end up after an emergency.
This same insurance should cover trip cancellation, loss of valuables, baggage loss, or theft. If you’re traveling to a remote spot, ensure that your insurance covers medical evacuation.
You need to check your visa requirements since different countries have their own requirements. That is determined based on your nationality, not your country of residence. Uganda visa rules change anytime, so checking with an official government source is essential rather than relying on advice from outdated travel websites.
Uganda issues single-entry visas valid for three months from the date of issue and multiple-entry visas valid for six months.
At least two months before you depart for your Uganda trip, you must visit a travel clinic and determine what vaccinations they recommend for Uganda. Uganda immigration will require proof of yellow fever vaccination as a condition of entry, and malaria is prevalent throughout most regions. Consult your doctor before deciding which anti-malaria prophylactic to take.
Go ahead for your shopping including items from mosquito repellents to a good set of binoculars and a pair of durable hiking shoes. Think about preserving your memories, whether investing in a quality camera, expanding your smartphone camera space, or buying a scrapbook and a spare set of pens.
You need to read about your travel destination before your time of travel. An online travel guide can give you valuable insight into a country’s history, culture, and lesser-known things to see and do. All the above will give you the best move on conducting your safari in Uganda.
