How to plan a safari in Uganda : There are different steps to follow during the process of planning for a safari in Uganda and they include the following;
- Researching Safari Destination
Uganda is a country with a variety of destinations to visit for safaris during the year and this includes national parks and wildlife reserves.
Some of the national parks in Uganda to visit for safari include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo national park, Kibale forest national park, Mgahinga national park, Semuliki national park among others.
This research can be done online through websites and also through social media like Facebook and Intsagram, recommendations from friends, through travel guide books, brochures and also travel agents.
- Deciding where to go for safari in Uganda
After making research on the different places to visit for a safari in Uganda, tourists can choose the destination which suits their interests.
This is because every destination in Uganda offers a unique safari experience and various activities for tourists to choose from when planning for their safari.
Some of the factors which can influence the decision of where to go for the safari in Uganda include accessibility of the destination, prices of activities at the destination, where to stay during the tour, budget for the tour and individual preferences among others.
- Deciding when to go for the safari in Uganda
During the planning of the safaris to Uganda, tourists also get to decide when to visit the destinations around the country.
Uganda experiences the dry season and rainy season during the year and safaris can be done throughout the year. Depending on the preference of the tourist, one can choose to visit in the dry season from June to October and December to February or to engage in a safari during the rainy season from March to May and in November.
The best time to visit Uganda for safaris is during the dry season when it is easier to explore and drive around the destination and also to see wildlife species in the national parks.
- Selecting a tour Operator to plan the safari
Tourists can also contact a tour operator when planning for a safari in Uganda to make it easier. This is because these tour operators are knowledgeable about Uganda and its destinations.
It is recommended that tourists choose a reputable safari operator in Uganda to plan for the safari so as to get the best services during the safari including travelling with knowledgeable guides, sleeping in comfortable accommodations, and exploring the country in well-maintained safari vehicles,
Some of the ways to choose a reputable tour operator include reading reviews and seeking recommendations from other travelers and also checking with tour operator associations in Uganda.
The tour operator can take charge of the tour and organize for the activities chosen by the tourist, transportation, accommodation and meals for the safari.
- Book your tour Activities
There are different activities which can be done when visiting Uganda for safari and they include game drives, guided nature walks, hiking, bird watching, mountain climbing, chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking and Uganda gorilla habituation, golden monkey tracking, boat rides, community tours among others.
After choosing the activity to do during the safari, tourists can inform the tour operator who is in charge of the safari to include them in their safari itinerary and make a quotation for the safari.
- obtaining necessary permits for the safari
During primate tours in Uganda, tourists are required to get permits for gorilla trekking and habituation and also chimpanzee tracking experiences. These are permits can be obtained through licensed tour operators and they are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
It is advised to book these permits in advance because of the limited number issued daily for safaris in Uganda especially during the high or peak seasons when many tourists visit the country to engage in primate safaris.
The gorilla permits cost 800 USD for gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park, 1500 USD for gorilla habituation in Bwindi national park, 250 USD for chimpanzee trekking and 300 USD for chimpanzee habituation in Kibale national park.
- Booking the hotels for the safari
There are different accommodation options for tourists to choose from during their Uganda tours and this includes budget hotels, midrange hotels and luxury hotels. Camping is also available during tours around Uganda.
Tourists can choose the accommodation within their budget for the safari in Uganda and book the hotel by themselves or through a tour operator. For those engaging in activities within the national parks, it is recommended that they book lodges within the national parks for easy movement.
The price for the lodges varies during the high season and the low season of travel in Uganda. Tourists who have a small budget can book hotel stays in the low season when prices are less costly as compared to the high season.
- Book Your Flights to Uganda
After planning and booking the safari to Uganda with a tour operator, tourists can go ahead to book their flight to Uganda.
The airport which can be used to get to Uganda is Entebbe international airport and tourists can also cross into the country from the various borders with Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and other neighboring countries.
- Booking visa to Uganda
Before travelling to Uganda, it is also important to check visa requirements and all the necessary travel documents needed for the visit to Uganda.
Tourists will need a valid visa and passport and a yellow fever vaccination certificate to be allowed to enter into the country for the safari. This information can be got from the immigration website and also from the tour operator planning the safari to Uganda.
- Packing and Preparing for the Safari
The final step of planning the tour to Uganda is packing or the safari and some of the items to pack include clothing for warm weather or rainy season, insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat, binoculars, a camera, good hiking shoes among other items depending on activities to do and time of visit to the country.
