Uganda travel information
Getting There
Uganda has one international airport, in Entebbe. There are also domestic airports and airfields that connect major towns and safari destinations.
The national airline is Uganda Airlines.
Depending on your arrival time, you may need to spend a night in Entebbe.
Passport and Visas
You need a current passport with six months’ validity from the date you return home and two blank pages.
You also need a return air ticket and a tourist visa.
Visas are available in advance online here: https://visas.immigration.go.ug
Weather and Climate
Uganda has a typically tropical climate, with little variation in temperatures throughout the year. There are distinctive wet and dry seasons in most of the country, except the semi-arid northeast. The dry seasons – generally from December to February and June to August – are the best times to visit. The rainy seasons are from March to May, and October to November. Despite Uganda’s position on the equator, it can be quite cool in some parts of the country, owing to the country’s high altitude. The mountainous areas in western and eastern Uganda can be cold at night, and the tops of some peaks are often covered with snow. Other parts of the country are much warmer. Average daily temperatures rarely exceed 29C.
Getting Around
Most of our itineraries involve light aircraft flights between places because road conditions aren’t reliable.
You can drive from place to place with one of our private guides and 4×4 vehicles. Keep in mind that road conditions can slow you down.
Health
Consult your GP or a travel doctor at least six weeks before you travel. You may be required or recommended to get vaccinations for yellow fever, typhoid and hepatitis A & B, among others.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for those entering Uganda; please be sure to carry this with you and present to immigration.
Malaria is present in Uganda so malaria prophylactics are recommended.
Currency
The local currency is the Ugandan shilling, however the US dollar is the preferred currency. Make sure you take US dollar bills that aren’t tattered or torn, and that were issued after 2009. It’s difficult to change money outside Kampala. Credit cards aren’t widely accepted and not all lodges will take them.
Language
English is the official language in Uganda, with Swahili, Luganda and other Bantu languages also spoken in some areas.
Uganda is waiting for you. What are you waiting for?