The wild side is waiting for you! More than 470,000 people visited Uganda in 2020, many of whom went on their first Uganda safari. 

If you want to see animals you can’t find anywhere else, you should visit Uganda. But don’t call a travel agent just yet. You need to answer a few questions to get the most out of your vacation. 

What do you need to do before you travel to Uganda? What is a gorilla trek like? What are Uganda’s most extensive nature reserves and cultural centres?

Get the facts, and you can make memories that will last a lifetime. Here is your quick guide.

Get Your Paperwork for Uganda

To go to Uganda, you must have a valid passport for at least six months before arriving in the country. If you do not have a passport, you should apply for one now. At least one page in your passport must be blank, allowing a Ugandan official to stamp your passport when you land. 

You also need a visa, regardless of how long you stay in Uganda. You can apply for one through an embassy office or online. 

If you plan on visiting Kenya and Rwanda, you can also apply for an East African Tourist Visa. The visa lasts 90 days, giving you time to visit the nature reserves in Uganda and then cross international borders. 

Besides applying for a passport and visa, you must have a yellow fever vaccination before visiting. You can get one from your personal physician. You may also want to get hepatitis, cholera, and rabies shots, especially if you are going on a wildlife safari.

Visit your country’s department of state for travel advisories related to Uganda. The US Department of State and other organizations advise foreigners to keep a low profile, especially in major cities like Entebbe. 

Meet Some Gorillas

Ask someone about visiting Uganda, and they will talk to you about gorilla trekking. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Forest National Park are home to hundreds of gorillas.

Tour guides can bring you into the areas where gorillas live, letting you get close to them. Along the way, you can view other species of animals, including monkeys and forest elephants. 

A gorilla trek can last for two weeks. The longer you go trekking, the more likely you are to see gorillas. 

You should be prepared to walk a long distance, so you should pack a pair of hiking boots and a rain jacket. You should wear long pants and shirts to protect you from insects in the thick forest. The ground can be uneven, so you can bring a walking stick to help you keep your balance.

You go on a gorilla trek whenever you want, but most people prefer to visit in the summertime. It is less rainy between June and September, making the walking conditions a little easier. You can also visit during the winter.

If you’re more interested in chimpanzees, you can go to Kibale Forest National Park. You should still bring good hiking boots and clothes for the weather.

Tour the Big Five Parks

The Big Five Parks are the five major national parks in Uganda. They are great places to see African wildlife and landscapes, and each offers its own experiences.

The five parks are close to each other; you can visit most or all of them in a single visit. You can also focus on just one and still have plenty of opportunities to see animals.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a terrific site for game driving, boat launching, and chimpanzee tracking. You can also go near volcanoes and craters. You can go on a jeep if you don’t like hiking.

Kidepo Valley National Park is a savannah with rolling hills. The park receives fewer tourists than other Uganda nature reserves, so you have roads and lookout points to yourself.

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s most famous national park. The eponymous falls are great for photographs, and you can hear the surge of water from hundreds of feet away. You can also get close to crocodiles in the water, especially if your tour goes near Lake Albert.

Lake Mburo National Park is excellent for viewing zebra, hippos, and leopards. It is close to Mbarara, so you can fly in and make a quick visit before heading to another nature reserve. 

Semuliki National Park contains a natural rainforest, hot springs, and plains. You can see many different species of plants, birds, and butterflies.

Interact With the Culture

You can find many opportunities during your Uganda safari to talk to local people. Your tour guide can tell you about their connections to the locations you are visiting.

Your tour can start from Kampala, Entebbe, or another Ugandan city. Kampala is the capital of Uganda, home to important sites like the Kasubi Tombs and Namirembe Cathedral. You can also visit museums and learn more about Ugandan history and culture. 

Depending on your itinerary, you can stay at a few different safari lodges alongside natives. The lodges let you stay in luxury while giving you beautiful views of your surroundings. 

Plan Your Perfect Uganda Safari

Arranging a perfect Uganda safari means planning for a few things. Get your passport, visa, and vaccinations in order now. 

If you want to trek for gorillas, pick a park you want to focus on and pack comfortable clothing. You can also visit a few different reserves in Uganda and see monkeys, birds, and water life. But no trip to Uganda is complete without a tour of Kampala and interactions with the locals. 

Talk to a travel company that can plan the perfect safari with you. Oasis Safari Limited serves international travellers everywhere. Get a quote today.