Uganda travel tips and advice – Safety and Security in Uganda.

Uganda travel advice – We think Uganda is safe. Visitors are welcomed with open arms in their land. Some governments warn against traveling to distant locations, but tour providers will only take you to safe areas. Tourists visit Uganda annually, and most have no problems. Ugandan safety recommendations are below.

Uganda vaccinations

Travel information for Uganda Before visiting Uganda, see your doctor and acquire all the necessary vaccines to be healthy. Polio, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A & B, and Tetanus vaccines are advised. Rabies and meningitis are advised.

After an outbreak of yellow fever in April 2016, the Ugandan Ministry of Health now asks passengers to provide confirmation of immunization.

Ugandaanti-malaria pills

Uganda has a high malaria risk, so check with your doctor before traveling there to determine whether you need malaria treatment. Wearing long-sleeved, light garments and carrying a 50% DEET insect repellent may help prevent mosquito bites.

Visa/Passport Needed

Visitors visiting Uganda need a visa and a passport valid for six months after leaving. Ugandan visas are available at all main crossings including Entebbe International Airport. Single and double-entry visas cost $50 and last three months. The Kampala immigration office may extend them.

Ugandan tap water

Uganda National Water treats all tap water. However, it is tainted and should never be drunk until cleansed or cooked. Bottled mineral water is inexpensive and abundantly accessible, so stock up. Monumental Expeditions and Safaris always has plenty in our safari vehicles.

Local Ugandan cuisine

Ugandan cuisine is usually meat-based stews or sauces with posho, a thick maize flour dough, or mashed green bananas/matoke. Along with meat and vegetables, stews include beans and ground nuts for texture, cassava, yams, sweet potato, and rice. Ugandans eat tiger and tilapia from several rivers. Uganda, Africa’s fruit bowl, has several fruits, including Jackfruit.

Try a handful of deep-fried grasshoppers for something new. If you can’t tolerate these insects, chapattis are offered with many Indian-inspired cuisines. Mandazi—deep-fried flatbread topped in cinnamon or sugar—is a popular delicacy. Enjoy a millet or banana-fermented local beer with your dinner.

Tipping in Uganda

Many service workers in Uganda earn little and must stretch it since there is no minimum wage. Safari driving guides demand $10-15 per passenger each day plus a few bucks for the chef and porters in a shared tip jar. In restaurants, 10% of the bill is enough to depart. Thanking taxi drivers by rounding up the fee is good. Tipping is a sign of gratitude but not required.

Ugandan souvenir stores

Uganda has affordable traditional African goods, making souvenir purchasing wonderful. Support the community and take home a unique piece by buying carved wooden masks and sculptures from local artisans. Bowls, batik paintings, and woven baskets are more home decor options.

Bright textiles with beautiful African designs may be bought and carried home or tailored by a local. Again, purchasing custom-made garments will help locals earn money, and no one will wear the same item as you back home.

Ugandan bargaining

In Kampala’s major stores, most things have set pricing and cannot be negotiated. Stalls, marketplaces, and family-owned businesses don’t have price tags, so you may haggle. Most importantly, haggling should finish with buyer and seller satisfaction. Staying calm and not being aggressive is also polite.

Uganda lone female traveler-safe

Ugandans are curious in foreign women, especially white ones, so expect to be spoken to, touched, and invited to their homes. This attention is usually harmless and motivated by curiosity. Men may pester you, but a strong “no” typically gets them to go.

In Africa, women seldom go alone, therefore it may be wiser to claim your boyfriend or spouse is meeting you. A guy in your bag picture and a phony wedding band provide credence to your claim. Avoid going out alone at night since muggings happen.

Uganda duty-free allowance

Travelers over 18 may carry the following duty-free:

250g tobacco

1L spirits or 2L wine

500ml perfume and eau de toilette, up to 250ml perfume.

Items up to $500 (for returning residents)

Narcotics, pornography, counterfeit goods, cultural objects, and explosives are prohibited from Uganda. Before traveling, check for prohibited medications.

Hunting weapons, live animals, fruit, flowers, cuttings, and seeds need a permit, and importing a drone takes around four months since several government departments are involved.

Ugandan currency

Ugandan Shillings are its currency. Euros, British Pounds, US Dollars, South African Rand, and other major currencies may be converted locally or before departure. In big cities, bureaus de change and banks provide ATMs and exchange services. It might be difficult to collect change from big bank notes, therefore request smaller notes for minor transactions and gratuities. Avoid Traveller’s Cheques since they’re hard to exchange and expensive. Ugandan banks don’t accept outdated or written notes, therefore carry the latest ones.

Things cost in Uganda

A permit costs USD700 per person each trip for Ugandan gorilla tracking safaris. A mid-range hotel room is USD150 per person sharing each night, and dormitories cost USD35 per trip. Street food may cost less than a dollar, while African or Indian sit-down dinners cost $10-15.

A pint of beer at a pub costs USD2 and considerably less in a store.

Ugandan plugs, voltage

Standard voltage is 230-240V. UK-style three-square-pin sockets are used for primary sockets. Take a universal travel adaptor. You need a voltage converter and plug adapter to utilize U.S. appliances.

WiFi is widespread in Uganda.

WiFi is available in most Kampala hotels, restaurants, and cafés, although rural regions are less connected. Power outages and surges may harm gadgets and interrupt connection. Detailed Uganda travel suggestions are available from Monumental Expeditions and Safaris.