One thing you should be assured of as you plan your next holiday tour in Uganda is that you’re bound to have lots of fun. Because the country has plenty of attractions and activities that you can do, like going on game drives, visiting the different waterfalls, mountain climbing and tracking the mountain gorillas.
But even with the surety of enjoying yourself in the ‘Pearl of Africa,’ it helps to know certain things that can make your visit effortless and fabulous. So, here are five travel tips to make that happen:
- Book a flight with a reputable travel agency
Because doing so will ease the booking process for you as you’ll get one-stop service from cheaper air tickets to all-inclusive holiday packages. Plus, you’ll have the flexibility to make changes to your itinerary before departure and also make special requests to get window seats or vegan meals, unlike with online booking sites. Besides that, travel agencies like Travelcare offer after-sale services to ensure that you have a great time throughout your trip. And to guarantee the credibility of a company before making a booking, check out its reviews on TripAdvisor and verify that it’s a member of The Uganda Association of Travel Agents (TUGATA). Since the association demands that its members provide quality services and tours to clients and act with integrity.
- Get travel insurance
You might end up not needing travel insurance during the safari, which is a good thing, but it’s best to be safe than sorry. Because no matter how many safety precautions you follow, you can never entirely rule out accidents from occurring. Or diseases from attacking you. Furthermore, make sure you’re conversant with the travel insurance’s coverage to avoid getting shocked upon making a claim.
- Pack appropriately
Since Uganda straddles the equator, its weather is unpredictable even in the dry seasons, so you’ll have to pack clothes suitable for both the hot and cold weather. And on top of packing appropriate clothes, you need to pack other essentials to make your trip enjoyable.
What to pack:
- Soft duffel bag or backpack – Because it’s easy to carry in safari cars without taking up much space, which is much needed for a comfortable ride.
- Camera – To capture your experiences, though, you must remember to put it down from time to time to bask in the moment of seeing the sought-out places and the animals.
- Binoculars– For those times when your vehicle can’t get close to the sighted animals, or for use while birding.
- Sunscreen – To protect you from harmful UV rays.
- Sports bra – Much needed on adventurous tours for the ladies.
- Sleeveless shirts or T-shirts – For wearing on hot days.
- Long-sleeved shirts – To prevent you from getting scratched by branches and bitten by insects, as well as to keep you warm while tracking gorillas or chimps.
- Cap or sunhat – Just one of the two or both of them can do the job of protecting you from the abundant sunshine in Uganda. Though if you’re fashionable and desire different hats to finish off your daily looks, then feel free to pack a reasonable number so long as you leave space for the other essentials.
- Wet wipes – For cleaning sweat and dirt off your face on hot days.
- Lip balm – To keep your lips moist and soft during warm days.
- Windproof jacket – For layering your clothes on cold mornings while on early morning game drives.
- A pair of shorts – For when it gets quite hot during the day.
- Sunglasses – To shield your eyes from the glaring sun.
- Travel adapter – To keep your camera fully charged so that you can take photos whenever you wish to. The plugs used in Uganda are type G with a standard voltage of 240 V and a frequency of 50Hz. So as you pack, carry an adapter of that type or instead buy a universal one that you can use even in other countries.
- Long pants/Jeans – For keeping your legs warm, and protecting them from insect bites and scratches.
- Swimming gear – To swim at the lodges or hotels during your downtime on the holiday tour, since most lodges and hotels have swimming pools.
- Sneakers or closed shoes – For easy movement, to keep your feet warm when it’s cold, and to also protect your feet from insect bites, poisonous plants, scratches, and bumps.
- Waterproof hiking boots – Most especially for gorilla tracking in the Bwindi impenetrable rainforest.
- Raincoat -To protect yourself from the unpredictable rain in the Bwindi rainforest while tracking gorillas.
- Insect repellent with Deet – To keep mosquitos and other insects at bay as you enjoy your safari.
- Medicine – Pack malaria tablets, anti-diarrheal medicine, motion sickness medication, and rehydration salts for emergencies.
- Sealable bag– For keeping your medicine.
- Flashlight and batteries – If you plan on camping.
- Party clothes – Pack some of them if you plan on enjoying the vibrant party life in Kampala and Jinja.
- Travel with an open mind
To ensure that you still have a great time on your holiday vacation even when things don’t go according to plan since tours are at times unpredictable. For instance, you might fail to see some animals because they’re elusive, like the leopards, and have your itineraries changed due to unforeseen reasons like heavy rains and impassable roads. Even your desired accommodation could get booked up and you’re checked into an alternative, but rest assured that it will be up to the same standard as the previously requested one.
- Follow safety precautions
These precautions are there for a reason – to keep you safe, and you can only ignore them at your peril. So if your guide advises you to stay in the car or to keep quiet in certain areas, please do. Because they know what they’re talking about.
With all that, you’re now ready for a holiday tour in Uganda. Contact us so that we can streamline the booking process for you.
