Travel Information

The main entry point to Uganda is Entebbe International Airport, which is 40km from the capital, Kampala. The airport is served by several international airlines, including SN Brussels, British Airways, South African Airways, Emirates, Kenya Airways, FlyDubai, Air Tanzania, RwandAir, Air Arabia, EgyptAir, and Ethiopian Airlines. Uganda can also be reached overland from Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Passports valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry are required for all tourists to enter Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Congo. On Arrival, customs and immigration officials are polite and efficient, and a visa, if required, can be purchased on the spot at Entebbe International Airport or at any overland border. Foreign exchange and ATM facilities are available at the airport, which is also serviced by several shops and restaurants. African Jungle Adventures Limited will arrange free airport transfers for our clients.

NOTE: Nationals of the countries listed below are exempted from visa requirements for travel to Uganda. They do, however, need to have a current passport issued by their respective countries.
Members of COMESA: Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Eritrea, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Others exempted are: Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Jamaica, Lesotho, Malta, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Tonga, Vanuatu, Italy (Only diplomatic passport holders), and Cyprus.

Uganda can be visited at any time, though mountain hikes, gorilla tracking, and other forest walks are more challenging during the rains, which generally peak over mid-September to November and March to May.

Currency: The currency used is the Uganda Shilling (Ug.shs). Coins are issued in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 shillings. Bigger amounts of 1000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 Uganda Shillings are issued in notes.

US dollar, GB Pounds, EURO, and Yen are readily exchangeable. Large US dollar bills attract the best exchange rates. Currency exchange rates are not constant and are posted at all banks and forex bureaus around Kampala, in major up-country towns, and in the local newspapers. There are no restrictions on other international currencies.

It is strongly recommended that you change money in Kampala or at the airport before your safari, as more favorable rates are available there.

Photography during the Uganda safari: It is only polite to request permission from people before taking photographs. However, it is not permitted at any time to take pictures of, or near, military buildings or soldiers.
Film and other photographic accessories are available in Uganda.

For digital photography, it is recommended that you bring extra batteries and a car charger. Most Hotels and Lodges provide facilities for recharging batteries for visual and audio equipment. Feel free to confirm on time. There is no charge for photography cameras and personal video recorders, but there may be a charge for commercial filming and photography in some places.

Binoculars: A pair of binoculars is quite useful for close-up game viewing or birdwatching, so do not forget to carry them.

Camera: Since the evolution of smartphones, cameras have become outdated for capturing day-to-day moments. However, during a safari, you will need something more than a smart camera; a camera that will get you clear images from afar, since you cannot get very close to the wild animals unless you are gorilla trekking.

Internet and Telephone services: Internal and international telephone communication is good from Kampala, but can be problematic in some rural areas. Uganda has a good mobile phone network in most of the country, but the network can be weak in some remote areas. SIM cards can be bought in all towns and service centers with a valid passport for foreigners and a National ID for nationals. Also, international roaming facilities are available.
Internet services are widely available in Kampala and in most parts of the country.

Electricity: Uganda: 240 volts. 3-pin sockets. We suggest that you bring your own adaptor. Most hotels, camps, and lodges can arrange battery charging. Please ask us on booking if you have any specific requirements.

Alcohol: Several brands of local and international beer are available; leading local beers include Bell, Club, Pilsner, Eagle, and Nile Special, while Guinness, Heineken, and most spirits and wines are imported and readily available. However, drinking alcohol under the age of 18 years is also illegal.

Begging/Donations: It is not recommended to give money to street children or beggars, as this only worsens the culture of begging and dependency. Donations can be made to established international and local charities that work with the homeless, street children, and orphans.

We can arrange visits to these local projects and organizations on request.

Not to be caught on the wrong side of the law, Kampala City Council passed a law in July 2019 making it illegal for anyone to give money to beggars on the streets. You might be tempted to chip in a coin in one of the beggars’ trays, only to be found on the wrong side of the law.

Drinking Water: For your health, we strongly recommend that you avoid drinking spring or tap water.  Most restaurants and hotels provide boiled drinking water, or you can choose from several brands of mineral water available at supermarkets or groceries.

We recommend buying mineral water mainly in major towns to avoid being a victim of fake mineral water, which is sometimes sold on the streets. To be on the safer side, buy water from recognized outlets that issue receipts as proof of purchase.

Foods:
Fresh tropical fruits and vegetables are plentiful throughout the country. A wide range of dishes, both traditional and international, are served in the hotels and restaurants. If you are the camping kind, pineapples should be on your top list of fruits.

Health Requirements: Certificates may be required for yellow fever vaccination. Check current medical advice on typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis. But these diseases are not very common, so do not feel obliged to spend a lot of money on injections. Malaria risk is widespread, and preventive measures should be taken. It is advisable to start anti-malarial medications 10 – 14 days before arrival and continue them for 2 to 3 weeks thereafter.

Language: The official language is English, but Kiswahili and Luganda are commonly spoken. Actually, in Uganda, over 40 languages are spoken! Some may not be surprised to hear a different language every 25 kilometers, especially outside Kampala.

Luggage: Airlines will offer you 20-40 Kgs, or two pieces, of luggage on most flights. It is preferable for you to use soft luggage as space in vehicles is limited. If you come with winter clothes, we can arrange for their storage so you will not need them on safari.