Ujuzi African Travel will provide you essential information to ensure that your trip to Africa is stress-free. We’ve carefully developed an itinerary and supplemental information that allow you to enjoy yourself from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. Rest assured that Ujuzi is keeping your comfort, convenience, and safety in mind.
That said, there are some things any traveler should know about touring East Africa:
General
Please remember that you are entering a developing country. While East Africans frequently cater to Europeans and, with increasing regularity, Americans, please leave ideals of Western amenities at home. Developing countries have modest infrastructures so, while you may have electricity during certain hours, you will be expected to use lanterns or candles for lighting at other times of the day. Clients should travel with a spirit of adventure and flexibility. Travel can sometimes include unexpected changes in conditions and itineraries. Clients should generally be in good health and be prepared to travel in locations without medical facilities.
Getting Around
Please be tolerant of traveling on uneven, bumpy dirt roads for considerable periods of time (five-plus hours). Clients also need to be able to climb in and out of a 4x4 vehicle and small aircraft unassisted. You should be able to stand and/or walk moderate distances at an easy pace for up to a few hours at a time for visits to gorillas, chimps, villages, towns, or other sites. Some of the walking may be on uneven ground or uphill, and often at higher elevations than many people are used to.
Passports
A passport valid for three months beyond the date of entry to Uganda and Tanzania is required. A passport is also needed in order to depart the U.S./Canada. If you currently do not have a passport or need to renew your passport, please apply as soon as possible. Typical application processing time is 4-6 week in the U.S. with an expedited service option of 2-3 weeks.
For more information, please go to the U.S. State Department.
For information on acquiring a Canadian passport, please visit Passport Canada.
Visas
A visa is required in order to travel in Uganda and Tanzania. Visas are available at both countries’ port of entries, including international airports. The current fee for a three month tourist visa obtained upon arrival at Entebbe Airport, Uganda is $50.00 USD. Travelers should be aware that a visa does not determine how long a person may remain in Uganda. The Ugandan immigration officer at the port of entry will determine the length of authorized stay, which is generally from one to three months as a tourist. The current fee for a 12-month multiple-entry tourist visa upon arrival in Tanzania is $100.00 USD.
Please bring the appropriate amount of USD to purchase your visa(s).
Currency
As of 11/25/2009, 1 USD = 1,876 Uganda Shillings (UGX). It is recommended that you bring/use an electronic debit card/credit card to withdraw Ugandan Shillings from your bank account while in Uganda. Upon arrival to the Entebbe Airport, you will be able to withdraw shillings from an ATM/cash machine. This typically offers a better exchange rate than bringing cash and using the foreign exchange. Please check with your bank to determine what the exchange rate would be and any additional fees they may apply to this transition. If you do decide to bring cash with you, please note that you will get a better exchange rate with larger bills. Cashing travelers’ checks can be very difficult. It is advised to not bring them. Ugandan shillings will be needed to purchase alcohol, bottled water at meals, gifts, and incidentals such as laundry, toiletries, and other items not included in your package price.
As of 11/25/09, 1 USD = 1,335 Tanzania Shillings (TSH). Similarly, it is suggested that upon arrival to Tanzania you withdraw Tanzanian shillings from an ATM/Cash machine. Travelers’ checks are acceptable in Tanzania. While most lodges and shops accept US dollars, it can sometimes be cheaper to pay in Tanzanian shillings for incidentals and items not included in the package price.
Security
Uganda and Tanzania are acceptably safe travel destinations since democratic, local governments came into power. In Uganda and most parts of Tanzania threats will not come from banditry or political instability, but rather from malaria, which can be prevented by following the simple steps below. In Tanzania pick pocketing and muggings can be a problem in Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, and Arusha and tourists are encouraged to be cautious at all times, practice common sense, and not to walk around at dusk or later. However, the numbers of these attacks are small and majority of tourists enjoy Tanzania in peace. Even though political instability in both countries is rare, Ujuzi African Travel errs on the side of caution and does not book trips to either country shortly before or after presidential elections.
Immunizations and Malaria
Before visiting Uganda or Tanzania, you will need to get vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases for which you might be at risk (Note: Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities.).
To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine (ask your regular practitioner who this is) at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it. Even if you have less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see a health-care provider for needed vaccines, anti-malaria drugs and other medications and information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling.
Please note that Uganda and Tanzania requires proof of the yellow fever vaccine if you are coming from a country where yellow fever is present.
For more information, please visit the Center for Disease Control.
Water and Drinks
Bottled water will be provided in rooms and vehicles. During meals tap water is available, but if you prefer not to take the risk, order bottled water. Soft drinks and fruit juices are widely available. Chai, a sweet tea, where all ingredients are boiled together in a pot is the most common local, hot beverage. If you are interested in American-style coffee, you are more likely to find its equivalent in Tanzania than Uganda, where it seems watery, even though it is a major cash crop in both countries. For alcoholic beverages, try some of the local brews or South African wines.
Food
You can expect to eat close to 90% of your meals at or from lodges or hotels. Days that include game drives early morning or mid-day or transportation to and from destinations may include a packaged breakfast and/or lunch box. You can expect most Ugandan and Tanzanian accommodations to serve high-quality Western or Indian food. Vegetarians are often poorly catered to (with the exception of Indian restaurants), so please be sure to inform Ujuzi African Travel in advance about you dietary preference so we can make the appropriate accommodations. Be sure to try some local cuisine as well, which is based around a meat or chicken stew eaten with one of four staples: rice, chapati, ugali or matoke. Ugali is a stiff maize porridge eaten throughout sub-Saharan African. Matoke is a cooked plantain dished. Another specialty is groundnut (think peanut) sauce.
Weather
Because of their location on the equator and elevation Uganda and Tanzania have the gift of vacation-weather year around. That said, due to the two rainy seasons a year, the best times to travel are December to late February and from June to September. In western Uganda, where the elevation is higher, temperatures during the dry season will be in the mid to upper 40s at night and mid 70s during the day. For the rest of Uganda during the dry season, expect temperatures in the low 60s at night and upper 70s/low 80s during the day. Tanzania temperatures are a bit warmer during the dry season with averages at night in the upper 60s and mid-80s to low 90s during the day.
Flights
Due to the variability of prices, international flight costs are not included in any Ujuzi African Travel package price. Tickets may be purchased separately on your own or through Green Concierge Travel, a partner of Ujuzi African Travel.
Bargaining
Bargaining is expected in markets and gift/tourist shops not affiliated with lodges and/or hotels.
Travel Insurance
Optional insurance coverage is available for baggage, accident and trip cancellation/interruption, medical, and emergency evacuation at www.insuremytrip.com or through Green Concierge Travel, a partner of Ujuzi African Travel.
Before going abroad, learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, Remember to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form. Although many health insurance companies will pay "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States. Medical evacuation can easily cost $10,000 and up, depending on your location and medical condition.
Tourism is the largest voluntary transfer of resources from the rich to the not so rich in history. Tourism is Africa's fastest growing industry, which according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization attracted 44 million travelers to the continent in 2007. Because of Ujuzi African Travel’s commitment to responsible tourism we encourage clients to engage in travel philanthropy and gift-giving.
Travel Philanthropy
Ujuzi African Travel is committed to providing wildlife, cultural, and service tourism as a means of creating rich, memorable experiences for our clients and supporting and strengthening the communities that we visit. By traveling with Ujuzi African Travel, you are supporting travel that builds awareness and understanding and offers opportunities for people from differing cultures to learn from and appreciate one another. Please inquire if you would like to include travel philanthropy as a part of your package.
Gifts
Some tour package will include visits to orphanages or you will be staying in close proximity to an orphanage. Please consider bringing a children’s book (English is the national language and studied by children in school), as well as school or art supplies to present to the children during your visit. Many of these children have very few possessions or new reading or art materials; your gift will bring you and the children joy. You will find that these children will be eager to visit with you, practice their English, learn about your culture, and proudly share their own.
More information will provided upon reservation of your tour package.