Africa
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History
Visa Requirements - Holders of UK passports do require a visa for entry into Uganda and you should have a full passport with at least six months validity from the date of your return to the UK. The current cost of a single entry visa from the Uganda High Commission is £25 and remains valid for up to 3 months. Please note that World Odyssey offers an express Visa service for all destinations.
Non-British passport holders should check their visa requirements with their local Embassy or High Commission. Please also be aware that you need to have at least two blank pages in your passport.
Health Requirements - A Yellow Fever Certificate is required to enter Uganda. There are no other mandatory vaccinations required although Tetanus, Typhoid, Polio, Meningitis and Hepatitis A are recommended. Malaria does exist in Uganda and it is therefore essential that you seek qualified medical advice on its prevention.
We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or the MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) Travellers Health Line on 0870 606 2782 for all professional medical advice.
Time - GMT + 3 hours (+ 2 hours during British Summer Time)
Money - The currency is the Uganda Shilling. Travellers’ cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at most commercial banks. The use and acceptance of credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard is very limited and so an alternative payment source such as cash or travellers cheques is necessary, especially when in remote areas.
Flights
|
Airline |
Route |
Frequency |
Via |
|
British Airways |
Heathrow/Entebbe |
Tues/Thur/Sun |
Direct |
|
Kenya Airways |
Heathrow/Entebbe |
Daily |
Nairobi |
Climate - a rough guide
Although the weather pattern in the north of Uganda does vary somewhat from the south, the bulk of the country enjoys a tropical climate which, similar to the rest of East Africa, is split into two dry seasons with rainy periods between as described below:
DECEMBER - MARCH The summer months from December until March are characterised by warm, dry days with temperatures hovering around 80F. Uganda is lush and green throughout the year and there will usually be some rain even during the dry season. As Bwindi National Park lies within a rainforest there can be rain showers throughout the year, although they are normally brief.
APRIL - JUNE The average daytime temperature tends to fall slightly to an average of around 78F and this is when the bulk of Uganda's rain falls, particularly in April and May. Heavy rain can sometimes render wildlife areas temporarily inaccessible and this can lead to travel arrangements being amended.
JULY - SEPTEMBER This is the coolest time of the year and usually quite dry. If rain does occur, it is normally in short, sharp showers soon followed by sunshine.
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER These are the months of the short 'rains', when the country receives short, heavy downpours before the sun reappears. There is usually no disruption to travel at this time.
When to go - The drier months from July to October, and December to March, when the skies are clear and daytime temperatures warm are normally considered to be the best times to visit Uganda. This is also the time when the bush has thinned out and visibility for game viewing in some areas is much improved as wildlife concentrates around perennial rivers and dry season waterholes.
In the home of the mountain gorillas, which live deep in the rainforest, there is generally little change in the thickness of the foliage although the paths are in better condition and less slippery during the dry season.
During the heavy rains of April and May, access can sometimes be tricky to certain parts of the country and the bush becomes thicker which means it can be harder to observe the wildlife.
Birdwatchers will be impressed all year round with the variety of resident species found throughout the country and these are also supplemented by a large number of migrants between November and April.
|
Kampala |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
80/ |
80/ |
80/ |
78/ |
73/ |
76/ |
75/ |
75/ |
78/ |
78/ |
78/ |
78/ |
|
Rain (in) |
3.6 |
3.4 |
7.0 |
10.7 |
10.3 |
4.1 |
2.8 |
3.7 |
3.2 |
4.2 |
6.1 |
4.9 |
Temp (Fahrenheit) = Average Maximum Temperatures (day/night)
Rain (inches) = Average Monthly Rainfall
