What Are The Dos And Donts Of An Africa Safari To Uganda

African safaris to a great destinations like Uganda have guidelines from conservation bodies like Uganda Wildlife Authority. Most of these cater for the safety of animals and visitors.

Uganda game safaris are conducted in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. You need to have park entrance fees to be allowed to explore the park. These fees vary from park to park and are paid per 24 hours in the park per person.

Even car entrance fees are paid by all Uganda Safari cars per 24 hours to support the maintenance of the park tracks.

A penalty is a warded to off tracking cars and if you knock an animal carelessly, you are penalized. In case you are game filming or wildlife photographing and expect to drive off track, you need to advise the authorities in time and an extra charge is applied.

Uganda is the congregation of most of Africa’s wildlife including all the big five that is Lions, elephants, Rhinos, Leopard and Buffaloes. Even the largest primates of the world are residents of Uganda the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You need to book a gorilla trekking permit to have an hour with them or gorilla habituation permit to spend more time of about 4 hours in the company of the mountain gorillas.

The famous chimpanzees are residents of KIbale National park, Kyambura gorge, Kaniyo Pabidi and also you need a chimpanzee trekking permit to have a chance with them.

Uganda is the only country in Africa that harbors almost all the most sought after wild animals in the world within its boundaries.

What Guidelines To Follow During Uganda Safari In Africa

Have an Open Mind During Uganda Safari

You may be keen to locate particular animals like lions, leopards and more during Uganda safari but the parks are wild. The animals live freely and do not have designated points where to find them.

Just enjoy the fun of spotting wild animals in there natural habitat and looking forward to specific animals may disappoint you. Uganda National parks have animals like Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, elephants,  water bucks, bush bucks, cheetahs, jackals, elands, zebras, hyenas, duikers, topis, statungas, hippos, crocodiles to mention but a few

Keep Calm During Uganda Safari especially game drives.

Wild animals are normally frightened by unfamiliar noise in there vicinity. When you locate them, staying calm is the best solution to have a great moment with them. to take great photos you would not want an animal in fast motion as it dashes for the woods.

Even during the primates walks like gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking some level of calmness is required. Unfamiliar noise causes the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees to move into hiding denying you the chance to spend that precious hour in there full company.

Stay In The Car Or Close To Your Group During Uganda Safari

Game drives in the park may lead you to amazing views that are worth including as a backdrop for your photoshoot. Avoid getting out of the vehicle especially when you have no armed ranger.

The wild animals are very canning especially carnivores they love hiding from there preys. You may never know where the lions, leopards, jackals, hyenas, cheetahs and more may be hiding. Do not try your luck while in the wilderness its dangerous attempt.

For activities like chimpanzee trekking or gorilla trekking where you move in groups stay close to your group so that you are not lost in the vast forest. At this the forest like Kibale forest have forest elephants that are dangerous so you need an armed ranger guide with you to scare them off.

Avoid Feeding The Animal during Uganda Safari

Whether olive baboons by the road side, chimpanzees, lions, mountain gorillas and others that may look adorable but no feeding them. They are wild animals that must search for there own food.

Some animals move up the cars windscreen or porch to grab eats from tourists which they do aggressively at times. This behavior has come overtime by those who feed the animals. The olive baboons long the roads are some of victims and if not given a snack they become aggressive.

Never dangle your Limbs during Uganda Safari

Don’t be tempted to dangle your limb during Uganda safari in the game park. The wild animals especially predators may mistake you for a prey. Animals like cheetahs, lions, hyenas watch from afar and may pounce on you and you lose your limbs.

Most vehicles on safari have a pop-up roof where you can view animals from or a window seat for every one you have travelled with.

Do Not Chase Animal during Uganda Safari

Never chase after wild animals no matter how egger you are to locate them during Uganda safari. The animals may be run over by the car, may run for there safety especially the shy mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking. Even during game drives in Uganda National Parks you need to stay on the constructed tracks.

Chasing the animals may cause you to get injured because of the nature of soil within most parks

Carry your Identification documents everywhere while on Uganda safari. It can be your identity card or passport. This is used to verify you for some activities like gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking.

For Foreign residents, you receive a discount on the actual cost of the gorilla trekking permit.

Keep Garbage with in your Bag or in the vehicle during Uganda Safari

Littering the forest alters the nature of the environments through which the animals thrive. Some animals are curious too and may be prompted to eat what you have dropped which may lead to there death.

Some ungulates feed on the grass and may eat dropped plastic bags in the process which may lead to there death. Even the primates are curios to check out on new items in there environments like the chimpanzees are very curios like humans. They may be prompted to taste something that may infect them with a pandemic that may later massively kill them.

Hard cash is very important though it must be small amounts. You may need to buy local items for souvenir yet credit cards are rarely used in Uganda because of there length process of issuing funds.

You can change some of that monkey into local currency to transact some good while on Uganda Safari

Use Judgment when In The wilderness and during game drive

Activities like gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking in Uganda call for personal involvement in searching for these great apes in a dense boggy forest. You need to use personal judgement in order not to step in ditches that may injure your limbs.

In case of the game drive, you need to look out for slippery sections of the park that may cause you to get stuck in the middle of the vast park. Getting help may delay ruining your uganda game drive experience.

Keep the advised speed limit so as not to run over the wild animals during game drives in the national park of Uganda.

No off track driving during Uganda safari unless authorized to

 Most of the packs have track where you can drive to locate the animals. Going off track may kill a number of small animals that may not come into view. Even some hide from the noise from the vehicles so do not attempt to go off the road to get a clearer view.

Use cameras with a very good lens that will zoom and focus perfectly the photo of that animal you have spotted and bring it closer to you.

No Drones During Uganda Safari

The drones produce some irritating noise that may cause a stampede amongst the wild animals. When the animals disperse, they may charge at other cars with in the park, some may die when stepped on by there fellows, stress the animals, send them into hiding and so much more.

During Wildlife filming in the Uganda National Park and you want to use drones, seek prior permission from the concerned Authorities.

Be Infection Free During Uganda Safari

Some activities like gorilla trekking or Chimpanzee trekking are very sensitive to human infectious diseases. These primates have a DNA close to the humans which makes them susceptible to human infection. Some of the infection include covid-19, flu, dysentery and much more.

When Is The best Time For Uganda Safari

All Uganda National park are open all year round for safari bookings however the most rewarding are drier months that is June To September and December to January.

For the game parks that is Queen Elizabeth National park, Murchison Falls national park, Lake Mburo National park, most animals hang out in the open grass especially during this time.

The primate parks that is Bwindi impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park and Kibale National park, the trails are have less over growth and ground is less soggy.

The wet seasons in almost all Uganda National parks are charmed by infants that are born. This season also has plenty of food for the wild animals. Hiding places from predators for ungulates are available. The grass is taller and thicker in the wet seasons.

What Is The Best Uganda Safari Itinerary

Most Uganda safari itineraries provide for 3 day Uganda safari and above. This minimum number of days carters for safari staring day, activity day and departure day. Most Uganda safari destinations are located in remote areas that require long drives to access the.

You can do 4 day gorilla trekking and chimpanzee

5 day gorilla trekking and wildlife Uganda safari

6 day gorilla trekking and chimpanzee safari

7 day gorilla , chimpanzee and wildlife Uganda safari

What Is The Cost Of Uganda Safari

Based on your Uganda Safari budget, number of people travelling with, number of days to spend on Africa Safari,  activities to do on safari and so much more. These are the determinants of a Uganda Safari.

For gorilla trekking you need to reserve a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda which cost $700 at the moment no matter the safari package you choose.

The chimpanzee trekking permit also must be reserved but the cost of the permit depends on where you wish to do your trekking.

Uganda Safaris are packages according to Luxury, mid-range and Budget Uganda safari.

How to Get To The national park in Uganda

Uganda national parks are in remote area and the most common means of transport to get there is by road. The roads in the countryside are still remote so you need a vehicle that can withstand slippery, bumpy and dusty roads.

Daily domestic flights leave Kampala from Kajjansi Air Strip and Entebbe airport to different Airstrips in the country side. Since majority of the upcountry Airstrips are not located within the parks, you need to arrange a transfer vehicle into the park.

Which Accommodation To Book For Uganda Safari

Each Uganda National park has variety of accommodation facilities you can choose from based on your budget. They range from Luxury, mid-range to Budget accommodations.

For parks like Bwindi Impenetrable National park, you need to select accommodation close or with in the area where your gorilla permit is booked. This is to reduce on the stress of waking up very early to get on the road and drive to the briefing point. Bwindi forest is vast area divided into two sectors that is the Northern sector and Southern sector.

When Do You Pay Park Entrance Fees During Uganda Safari

 Almost all Uganda National parks pay park entrance fees except in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale National park. This is applicable if you are doing gorilla trekking or Chimpanzee trekking respectively.

The parks fees were set by Uganda wildlife Authority and they vary from park to park. These fees are used to support conservation plan and park maintenance. Park entrance fees are paid per 24 hours of your stay in the National park.