Lakeside Tours and Travel Ltd is an authentic tour and travel Platform that ushers you to the best Known Uganda Rwanda Safaris with Uganda Safari destinations, Rwanda Safari destinations. The adjacent inviting Activities are Crafted to offer you affordable Safari Packages, there is a lot to indulge your self in, from the Uganda Rwanda Safaris including wildlife Viewing, African cultures, Gorilla trekking experiences, Chimpanzee tracking, Bird watching tours, adventure safaris and many more. We not only Craft for you the most affordable tailor-made tour packages for your ultimate Uganda Rwanda Safari Holiday but also, making sure that you stay in Comfortable Safari Accommodations.
Also known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is the ultimate tourist destination in Africa for most of the inviting Uganda Safari Activities. From the expansive thick rain forests with tangled jungles, the Savannah grasslands that are home to hundreds of Wildlife Species in the open serrated plains, to the heaven Pointing – Rwenzori snow-capped mountains
On your Uganda Safari tour, Not to be missed is not only the Big 5 but also gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, chimpanzee tracking can in Kibale National Park and several other locations. Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park are the most Visited Uganda Rwanda Safari destinations, offering excellent wonderful savannah Uganda Wildlife safaris with good wildlife viewing, as does the more remote Kidepo Valley National Park. Explore our safari packages and come discover what makes Uganda special!
Rwanda, a small Country but has alot to offer, it forms borders with Uganda, lying South of the Equator, pillowed by the voluminous Volcanoes Mountain Ranges famous for the Rwanda gorilla trekking experience, Rwanda’s gorilla trekking is not only the best Rwanda Safari Activity it has to offer but also, offers primate walks, volcano hikes and bird-watching in Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park, and boat cruise on the skyline-silver Lake Kivu in the Rift Valley and a classic safari in search of the Big Five in low-key Akagera National Park
Take a look at some of the Well Crafted Uganda Rwanda Safaris
EXPLORE THE LAND OF A THOUSAND HILLS
Rwanda offers a great view of mountain, lush rain forests, few iconic national parks, and great lakes. However, the heroes among all the charm are the mountain gorillas of the country. The incredible gorilla Trekking activity in the Volcanoes national park is one stop for all the Rwanda safaris visitors. These unique species are one of the intelligent mammal species after humans as they share 98% DNA with humans. Come and fall in love with these giant, sociable, and shy species. Most of the times they are spotted doing activities like humans. You can witness some of the humans like activities like hugging, kissing, showing love to their young, and using small tools in daily lives,
Most memorable trips - uganda & rwanda
3 days rwanda gorilla trekking
7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari
3 days akagera wildlife safari
8 days rwanda safari tour
Gorilla trekking safaris
Currently the gorilla population is split between Virunga Massif, a mountain range covering the border region between DRC, Rwanda and Uganda. The mountain gorillas originate from sub-alpine and mountainous environments, like impenetrable tangles of herbaceous growth in valley bottoms, old clearings and around landslides. It is a very large, very black, barrel-chested ape, densely-furred with a broad face. They feed on mainly on bamboo, leaves, shoots and stems of over 140 other species, vines and wild celery.
Mountain gorillas are very companionable and exist in groups of between 5 to 50 members. Each group has one dominant silverback whose silver hairs begin to grow in the saddle of the back as it gets to adulthood at 13 year of age. In a group, the silverback eats first and is accountable for the defense of the group. When threatened a dominant silverback is protected by the females. When two gorilla groups move near each other they will avoid contact in order to reduce the risk of conflict. When the silverback dies, his group usually splits. Gorillas spend much of the day resting, which provides such a great opportunity for Uganda Rwanda Safaris gorilla trackers to join and observe the group.
Reproduction in gorillas occurs gradually, where the adult females over the age of eight give birth on average one gorilla baby every four years and not more than six in a lifetime. The young gorillas are fiercely protected by both the dominant silverback and the females. In a case where the silverback dies or is pushed from the group, the incoming dominant male will customarily kill the young gorillas. The protection and slow population growth of the gorillas can be attributed to tourists who come to visit them.
Gorilla trekking entails going on a guided hike through impenetrable rain forest to spend time with a specific gorilla family in their innate environment. Visiting these beautiful gentle creatures is a life-changing experience. While trekking you see the females cooing over their infants and this makes them human-like beings.
Uganda Rwanda Safaris are the commonest of the known Safaris to East Africa. Uganda is one of the leading tourism destinations in Africa boosting over the natural endowment it possesses. Though being a landlocked country, It has a uniquely diverse landscape which allows the variation in the vegetation cover which attracts lots of Species both terrestrial and aquatic Wildlife. Whether it’s a Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari or Budget Gorilla Tours In Africa, Lakeside tours and travel, a licensed Uganda Tour Operator, provides The Best Option For Seeing The Mountain Gorillas throughout the year. It’s true that the Gorilla trekking Safari can be crafted with other Uganda Wildlife Safaris, Rwanda Wildlife Safaris, Kenya wildlife Safaris and much more. Comparing Uganda gorilla trekking to Rwanda Gorilla trekking, all countries offer Gorilla trekking Safaris however Uganda has more wildlife than Rwanda. Besides the Uganda mountain gorillas, there is alot to feed your eyes, from the Murchison Falls Safari, Watching or tracking the primates in Kibale Forest National Park, to the tree climbing lions in Ishasha and much more. Uganda Safaris surely have unlimited book of options. If its about the cost, please note that, Gorilla permits within Rwanda go for $1500 per individual where as in Uganda, they go each for USD 700.
Habituated Gorilla families in East Africa
Uganda Safari Parks
Queen Elizabeth is located in the Western part of Uganda. The park has 611 recorded bird species in the Kazinga channel sanctuary which covers an area approximately 207km. QENP also has 95-recorded species of mammals which include Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Hippo’s and many more. The Kyambura Wildlife Reserve in the eastern reaches is a protected Area, which supports similar mammals. Other park inhabitants include 10 primate species which include the Chimpanzees, the Black and White Colobus Monkey, Olive Baboon just to name a few. Birds in the Rwenzori National Park and the southern shores of Lake George include like the Black and White-casqued Hornbill and many others.
Queen Elizabeth is well known for its cultural activities. We provide safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park which also includes a lot of interacting with the local community. We visit homesteads, learn how to make Ugandan African craft, have a look at the Bee keepers farm for honey making, go for a cultural performance and visit the Katwe Village and Salt Lake tour. This Salt Lake tour gives an unique inside into the fascinating yet though process of salt mining, as well as providing an alternative income for Katwe.
Activities that can be done in Queen Elizbathe: game drives, chimpanzee tracking, launch trips, research and monitoring of animals, cultural encounters such as cultural performance, Katwe village tour, visiting the Nyanz’ibiri Cave, Agro tour walk, birding.
How to get to Queen Elizabeth National Park By Road
This journey has two routes from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth national park, via Masaka road then Mbarara to Kasese will take 6-7 hours (404.6km) east of the park. And then via Kampala Hoima Road to Kyenjojo to Hoima will take 8-9 hours (467.5km) north part of the park. This can be an enjoyable trip on the road where see a lot of things on the way to the park.
Murchison Falls National Park is located in the western part of Uganda covering 3,480 sq km and is the largest national park of Uganda. The park is split in half by the Victoria Nile. At the Murchison Falls, the Nile River falls over the edge of the western Rift valley and forms the spectacular Murchison falls as it dashes through a narrow crevice before it falls about 40 meters forming a beautiful rainbow. The park has 450 birds species recorded, and has all the African Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo and Giraffe), Hartbeests, Oribi, countless Antelope, Hippos, waterbucks, chimpanzees and crocodiles while on the cruise. Vegetation is characterized by Savannah and woodland.
Activities that can be done while at Murchison Falls National Park Include; Game drives, Nature walks, Trail to the tops of the falls, Forest walks, Sport fishing, Bush camping, Hiking and Nature walks, Launch trips, Chimpanzee tracking and Birding.
Bwindi is located in the southwestern part of Uganda in the Albertine Rift, on the edge of the western Rift Valley. It is 321square km, holds 350 species of birds and contains 905 of all Albertine Rift Endemics, impossible to see in any other part of East Africa. To watch these birds visit Ruhija and Buhoma where you can see birds like the Great Blue Turaco Pelican and dazzling black Bee eater and the African sooty and fly catcher. The Park is a habitation to almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. At the moment Bwindi forest is home to 320 Mountain Gorilla’s of which about 116 are habituated. The Forest has about 324 tree species including vines, shrubs and ferns of which 10 are not elsewhere in Uganda. The forest is coldest in June-July and has a wide range of species of butterflies, mammals, elephants and diurnal primates. The Park spreads over the districts of Kabale, Kisoro and Rukungiri districts and is at an altitude range of 1160m to 2607m above sea level with an annual average temperature range of 7-20 degrees Celsius.
Activities that can be done in Bwindi are Gorilla tracking, Birding, Community tours including a visit to the Banana beer brewery and the Buhoma Community Hospital, Forest/ Nature walks, Cycling/mountain biking and visiting the Batwa Pygmies.
Gorilla tracking is the most exciting tourist activity in Mgahinga National Park Uganda. The adapted gorilla group in this park is called the Nyakagezi, which consists of 9 members, 3 adult females, 2 silverbacks, 2 juveniles and 2 infants. However, due to their constant movement it is advisable to check the current location of the gorillas first.
The Uganda Safari guide leads you through the gorilla’s world, explaining aspects of their ecology and behavior along the way. Gorilla tracking in Uganda – Mgahinga can be tiring and may take the whole day. We must stress that, while you have a very good opportunity of seeing gorillas, success is not very certain. They are wild creatures with no fixed routine, and finding them requires the skill and familiarity of your trackers and guides, as well as luck. The trackers and guides have helped to habituate the gorilla groups and know them closely. Please feel free to ask guides while walking, to slow down if they are going too fast and if you need to rest. Take time to stop and enjoy the trees, flowers and birds. Gorilla Tracking can be physically demanding, so go prepared. Take time to read through the Gorilla trekking rules prior to your trip.
Lake Mburo is only 370square km and is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national Parks. Its mosaic habitat, dry hillside, bushes, thickets, open and wooded savannahs, forests lakes and swamps are home to numerous of wildlife. It offers a splendid opportunity for bird watching as there are over 315 species of birds recorded in Rubanga forest, 5 of which are forest specialists. The common species are the Hawk; Green pigeon, Narinastrogn and Double Toothed Barbet. It also has about 68 species of mammals like Zebra, Buffaloes, Topi, Elands and the Leopard.
Activities that can be done in Lake Mburo are Game drives, boat rides, walking safari, horseback riding safaris, birding, sport fishing, hiking and nature walks.
Kibale is located in the western part of Uganda. The forest is 775kms 45% tropical woodland, 40% grassland 15% swamp vegetation the most common trees species being the Wild Rubber trees, Polita Figs which support flora and fauna. There are 275 bird species which include the African Grain Hepista, Wood Piker and others. The forest is known to have a wide range of primates like the Red Colobus, Black and White Colobus, Red Tailed Monkey, Velvet Monkey and Baboon. There are also a variety of mammals which include Sitatunga, Bush Pig, Bush Bucks, Otters, Mongoose and Chimpanzees. The 1450 Chimpanzees represents Uganda’s largest population.
Activities that can be in Kibale are Chimpanzee tracking and Chimpanzee habituation, Birding, Cultural Tours and Swamp walks.
Kidepo Valley can be found in northeast Uganda, it borders Kenya and Sudan covering 1442 square km. It has wonderful scenery characterized by savannah and mount landscape. It has 475 Bird species these include, carnivores birds like, the Egyptian Vulture, Pigmy Falcon, 4 species of Hornbill, Red bill, Yellow bill and many others. There are 77 species of Mammals recorded which include: the Bat eared Fox, Strait Hyena, Ungulates like Bush Elephant and others.
Activities that can be done in Kidepo are visiting the Kanagorok hot Springs, hiking Mount Morungule, birding and game drives, hiking and nature walks.
Mount Rwenzori national park is found in the western part of Uganda in Kasese district bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo near Mountain Stanley. Mountain Stanley’s Margherita Peak is over 5,110m above sea level that was divided at the border of Congo. Mountain Rwenzori is recorded as the third Mountain with the highest peak point in Africa and it is part of the equatorial snow peak.
The lower slopes of the mountain are covered with moorland, bamboo, and well-off with the moist montane forest. The mountains are also rich in huge trees and lively mosses that are covered across the side of the mountain with everlasting flowers which creates a beautiful scene.
The park is big in size and home to over 70 mammal species and over 220 bird species which include 20 Albertine rift endemics. The park also has the world’s rare vegetation, waterfalls, and lakes.
Brief History
In 1991, mount Rwenzori national park was gazetted and three years later, the park was recognized by the world heritage site (UNESCO) and Ramsar site recently in 2008. In AD 150, Alexandrine named the mountains the “mountains of the moon” in his geographical discovery in Africa. Mountain Rwenzori is a block of rock built up the floor of the Western Rift Valley in the whole of East Africa.
In May 1888, the explorer Henry Stanley set up the map of mountain Rwenzori and named it “Ruwenzori”. Ruwenzori was a local name that Henry noted that it meant “Rain-Maker” or “Cloud-King”. Recently in 2010, Margherita Peak was visited by an old woman called Ms. Beryl Park who was 78 years old and she was recorded to reach the peak of the mountain.
How to get to mountain Rwenzori national park
By road
The park has more than one route that can get you there. It is over 350 km from Kampala while passing through Fort Portal city, and Mubende and the other longer route is over 380 km while passing through Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi then Kasese.
Mount Elgon is on the Uganda – Kenya border, it is an extinct volcanic mountain standing at 4,321 meters above sea level. And with a 3840 km2 has the mountain the largest volcanic base in the world. The park was gazette in 1993. Mount Elgon is perfect for mountain climbers, nature lovers, hikers and birders. But the park has more to offer. Mount Elgon has amazing caves left by moving lava and erosion of soft volcanic deposits and a natural pool named after the early explorer Jackson. That is why they call it now, Jackson’s natural Pool. It was names after him as Frederick Jackson was the first one to climb the mountain in 1889. Sipi Falls can also be found in this area. On the western sides of the Mountain are 3 waterfalls that are beautiful to see. Next to that rock painting, wildlife and birds are among the great things you can find here. The wild life that can be seen here include Leopard, Hyena, Buffalo, Bush Buck, and Water buck, duiker and tree Hydrax.
Activities: Mountain/ Volcano climbing, hiking, nature walks, birding, sport fishing, abseiling, rock climbing and mountain biking.
Semliki National Park is an extension of the vast Ituri forest and forms part of the forest continuum situated in the extreme west of Uganda, along the Uganda/Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border in the western arm of the East African Rift Valley. It is the only lowland tropical rain forest in East Africa and is one of the richest flora and fauna biodiversity areas in Africa it hosts some of Africa’s most spectacular and sought after birds such as horn bills and lyre tailed honey guide. It has 336 tree species recorded of which 24 are restricted to Semliki National and 34% of Uganda’s (441) recorded bird species some not found elsewhere in East Africa. It is bordered by the Rwenzori Mountains, the DRC, the Semuliki Flats and Lake Albert. The park has four ethnic groups living around it; the Bamba and Bakonjo are cultivators living in the valley and mountain slopes, the Batuku- pastoralists occupy the rift valley floor; the Batwa (pigmies)-hunter gatherers are an Ituri ethnic group.
Tourist Activities- Tourists to enjoy breathtaking views of the savannah and clear blue skies, forest buffaloes and elephants, sitatungas, leopards, crocodiles, various primates and a wide range of forest and water birds, primates, butterflies and plants. Nature walks and visiting the hot springs. As well chimp tracking is possible here, birding, hiking and walking and visiting the Batwa Pygmies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Bwindi is 331 square kilometers, located in South Western Uganda, on the edge of the western rift valley, shared by Kabale, Rukungiri and Kisoro Districts. Bwindi’s key tourist attractions are absolutely the Mountain Gorillas. The gorillas have been habituated since April 1993. Currently there are four areas to track gorillas from in Bwindi and these include; Rushaga, Nkuringo in the southern par., Ruhija and Buhoma in the northern part. Each sector has different gorilla groups to be tracked. Permits are sold at Uganda Wildlife Head Quarters in Kampala for each of the mountain gorilla groups. It’s wise to book 3months in advance to be sure the requested dates are available. 8 persons only can visit a given gorilla family per day. In Uganda, 10 families have been adapted in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and so can host 80 persons tracking the mountain gorillas on any day. Gorilla Tracking can be actually challenging, so go prepared. Take time to read the Gorilla Rules before your trip.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Gorilla tracking is the most exciting tourist activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The adapted gorilla group in this park is called the Nyakagezi, which consists of 9 members, 3 adult females, 2 silverbacks, 2 juveniles and 2 infants. However, due to their constant movement it is advisable to check the current location of the gorillas first.
The guide leads you through the gorilla’s world, explaining aspects of their ecology and behavior along the way. Gorilla tracking can be tiring and may take the whole day. We must stress that, while you have a very good opportunity of seeing gorillas, success is not very certain. They are wild creatures with no fixed routine, and finding them requires the skill and familiarity of your trackers and guides, as well as luck. The trackers and guides have helped to habituate the gorilla groups and know them closely. Please feel free to ask guides while walking, to slow down if they are going too fast and if you need to rest. Take time to stop and enjoy the trees, flowers and birds. Gorilla Tracking can be physically demanding, so go prepared. Take time to read through the Gorilla trekking rules prior to your trip
The gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs per day $700 for foreign residents. As of 1st July 2022, the permit for foreign residents of East African countries (Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Kenya) was raised from $600 to $700. For East African residents it costs Ugx 250,000 throughout the year. The gorilla habituation experience permit costs $1500 for foreign residents, $1000 for foreign residents in East Africa and Ugx 750,000 for East African residents. Gorilla permits are booked with Uganda wildlife authority through your tour operator.
- Always stay 7 meters (21 feet) away from the gorillas. This is to protect them from catching human diseases.
- A tourists must be 15 years and above to trek gorillas.
- A group of 8 people is allowed to visit a gorilla group per day.
- If you are feeling ill, or you are carrying a contagious disease, volunteer to stay behind. An alternate visit will be arranged for you, or you will be refunded your money.
- Respect the limits imposed on the number of visitors allowed with the gorillas each day. This minimizes the risk of disease transmission and stress to the group.
- If you feel the urge to cough or sneeze when you are near the gorillas, please turn your head away and cover your nose and mouth in order to minimize the spread of bacteria or viruses.
- If you need to go to the toilet while in the forest, please ask the guide to dig you a hole with his panga. Make sure the hole is 30 cm deep and fill it in when you are finished.
- Do not leave any rubbish (e.g. food wrappers) in the park; foreign items can harbor diseases or other contaminants.
- You must stay in tight group whey you are near the gorillas.
- Keep your voices down at all times. However, it is okay to ask the guide questions.
- Sometimes the gorillas charge. Follow the guides example (crouch down slowly, do not look the gorillas directly in the eyes and wait for the animals to pass). Do not attempt to run away because that will increase the risk.
- Do not smoke, drink or eat when you are near the gorillas. Eating or drinking inevitably will increase the risk of food/drink morsels/droplets falling, which could increase the risk of transmission of diseases.
- Flash photography is not permitted! When taking pictures move slowly and carefully.
- Do not touch the gorillas. They are wild animals.
- The maximum time you can spend with the gorillas is one hour. However, if the gorillas become agitated or nervous, the guide will finish the visit early.
- After the visit keep your voices down until you are 200 meters away from the gorillas.
- Wear Long Sleeved Shirts – Long Trousers. Can be waterproof. These protect you from thorns, nettles and branches that can prick you.
- Wear comfortable waterproof hiking shoes suitable for steep muddy slopes.
- Carry rain gear, sunscreen lotion, a hat (as the weather is unpredictable) and insect repellent.
- Sturdy Gardening Gloves to protect you against nettles, vines and brancked.
- Put on ear plugs for those who feel uncomfortable with the jungle sounds.
- Carry a packed lunch and enough drinking water.
- Bring a camera. Using flashlight is not permitted.
- A gorilla permit is a document or card issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority that allows any traveller above 15 years of age to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. The gorilla permit consists of two armed rangers for your jungle security and a well-informed tracking guide to lead you to where a mountain gorilla group of the day will be scavenging. Your assigned guide will lead you and seven other trekkers into the forest, flanked by armed rangers after verifying your permit at any of the forest trailheads. The gorilla trekking permit allows you exactly one hour in their presence. Though trekking can take 30minutes to 8 hours. Even though they can be found in less than 3 hours
The Uganda wildlife authority issues the gorilla permit at face value. Any traveller can purchase the permit directly from the authority’s office or use a licensed tour operator to process the permit on their behalf. Mountain gorilla permits are scarce during peak travel months of June, July, August, September, December and February. Therefore, planning a gorilla trekking safari requires that you book a permit months before your journey’s date.
Lakeside tours and travel has been processing gorilla permits for tourists since it started its operations.
- Tourist trekking gorillas have 99% viewing success rate. Usually in the morning a ranger is sent out to see where the gorillas were last sighted last night then trail them to see where they are and informs the other rangers of the direction of the gorillas.
- Most people who want to tour Uganda keep wondering whether they need a tour guide or not, but here is the answer, yes you need a tour guide to take you through Uganda because these tour guides know places that you don’t know. Once you’re arranging a trip to visit Uganda, consider using a reputable tour company with professional tour guides/ drivers. Uganda as country is a unique place that has beautiful green countryside, organic food, and a moderate climate which has attracted tourists from different canners of the world.
- Coming to Uganda has been safe and it will still be safe because of the good climate, political stability of the country and the welcoming people in the community. It is okay to come to Uganda at any time of the year for a tour or a visit. If you want to tour national parks and some activities like game drives, hiking, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, boat cruises, and a few others, yes you need to get in touch with a local tour agency who will advise on your travel plans.
- Uganda is one of the three African countries that have many tourist attractions. it is a place that everyone can call home because of the amazing wildlife and unforgettable experience. Here are some of the main reasons why you should choose to come to Uganda;
⦁ Variety of Wildlife
Uganda has Africa’s big 5 that includes lion, rhino, elephant, leopard, and buffalo. This country also has more species like birds, mammals, reptiles, rich in biodiversity, and many more species found in the Pearl of Africa. Uganda carries half of the world’s mountain gorilla population with more than 400 gorillas that are found in the world.
⦁ Uganda local dishes
When it comes to food, Uganda is one of the blessed countries with fertile land that has good food that is harvested on a daily basis across the country. The food in this country is very tasty and you can’t fail to give it a try once you come to Uganda the pearl of Africa. Among the local foods include Motoke, sweet potatoes, millet flour Posho, and many more dishes. This can be found in most of the local restaurants across the country to enjoy the goodness and tasty natural minerals from the garden.
⦁ Friendly people
Uganda is one of the most welcoming people with beautiful smiles. Our tour guide will be more than ready to welcome you and attend to your requests and have full knowledge about the local places you may want to visit. And always feel free to ask your tour guide any questions concerning Uganda at large.
⦁ The wonderful culture of Uganda
Uganda is rated with one of the best cultural norms in Africa with interesting dances and cultural backgrounds. The country has over 50 tribes with totally different cultures and staple food is somehow similar to other tribes like Matooke which is a staple food to the Baganda tribe from the southern region and the Bakiga tribe from the western region.
⦁ Beautiful scenery
The country has very many touring places like the lakes and national parkswith plenty of wildlife spotting and amazing surroundings. Some parks have gorilla tracking activity which is highly demanded by most tourists and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is their best choice for a track in Uganda and it’s rated among the most beautiful places rich in nature. Uganda also has beautiful beaches with a perfect view of the lake and guests are more than welcome to visit them like Ssese Island, Lake Victoria shores, Lake Bunyonyi, and many others that have a very perfect background for a picture.
- It’s only in Rwanda, where you can get your visa on arrival either at any border or at the airport, though it used to be the same case with Uganda but few months back the ministry of internal affairs changed the system. All visitor who want to visit Uganda must apply their Visa online. In Rwanda, the cost of a single entrance for a Visa is 50 USD, this allows you to stay in the country for only 30 days. A single entrance for a business meeting costs 30 USD and it takes a month to expire, if it’s more than one single entrance the cost is 50 USD which will take over a year to expire. The entry visa can be paid as soon as you arrive at any point in Rwanda from the following countries Germany, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Sweden, and United States of America.
When paying for the visa on arrival to Rwanda, it can be paid in Euros/USD/GBP with cash or a credit card. Once you choose to come to Rwanda, make sure you have a valid passport and a yellow fever certificate of immunization. If you are coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius, Hong Kong, and Singapore, you don’t need a visa to come to Rwanda for a maximum of 90 days to stay in the country. All countries that are not on the above list must process a visa either on arrival at any point in Rwanda or apply for it online.
In Uganda, the cost of a visa for a single entrance is 50 USD and takes 3 months to expire. All visa applications for Uganda are only applied online to avoid duplicate documents and must have a current passport, passport photograph, and a yellow fever immunization certificate. When it comes to tourists that are coming for a trip to Uganda, they must show proof of their return ticket and travel itinerary which must be submitted at the airport. On arrival at any border of Uganda, you must present a barcode that was sent to your email for the immigration officer to scan and take a copy of your fingerprints and passport photos and later they clear to enter Uganda.
NB: All yellow fever vaccination certificates needed at the border of Uganda must be for travelers that are above 1 year of age. Another important issue to note in respect to visa acquisition, Tourists who intend to visit east African countries can make a onetime visa payment which is discounted and the cost shall be 100 USD and it takes only 3 months to expire. In this case the countries to visit after paying only $100 include Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi Congo Tanzania, Kenya and southern Sudan.
Getting a visa has become so hard lately to a country of your destination, some people go through a hard time looking for ways on how to do it as soon as possible. There are people from certain countries all over the world who don’t need a visa to come to Uganda for either a tour or a business trip. Below are some of the countries currently which do not need a visa to visit Uganda which is commonly known as the Pearl of Africa.
⦁ Botswana ⦁ Angola ⦁ Ireland ⦁ Malawi ⦁ South Sudan ⦁ Eritrea ⦁ Zambia ⦁ Swaziland ⦁ Seychelles ⦁ Malaysia ⦁ Madagascar ⦁ Kenya ⦁ Rwanda ⦁ Tanzania ⦁ Zimbabwe ⦁ Comoros ⦁ Mauritius ⦁ Burundi ⦁ Fiji ⦁ Barbados ⦁ Antigua ⦁ Grenada ⦁ Lesotho ⦁ Ghana ⦁ Vanuatu ⦁ Solomon Islands (The Grenadines) ⦁ United nations laissez-passer ⦁ Sierra Leone ⦁ Cyprus ⦁ Bahamas ⦁ Belize ⦁ Gambia ⦁ Jamaica ⦁ Malta ⦁ Singapore ⦁ St. Vincent-Tonga
Years back, Africa was named a dark continent and Uganda was among the isolated countries in Africa after-all trading activities happened on the coasts of the African continent. In 1000BC, the Bantu people were attracted to the favorable climate located in this place for farming. Uganda is a landlocked country in the whole of East Central Africa and it received its independence on 9th October 1962 from the British governance. The country is now referred to as the republic of Uganda which got its name from the Buganda Kingdom. The Buganda Kingdom has the largest portion of land i.e. the capital city Kampala and many other places though not listed. Uganda is recognized in East Africa as the famously known country for Agriculture products like tea, tobacco, cotton and many more. The country also has a variety of natural features like water bodies, mountains, and is home to plenty of wildlife like mammals, primates, and reptiles.
In 1908, Winston Churchill declared Uganda to be the Pearl of Africa at the end of his book (My African Journey) and he talked about its wonderful color of bird species, insects, reptiles, mammals, beasts, vegetation, and the moderate climate. Winston was so amazed by everything he found in Uganda and emphasized everyone to go and witness the beauty in this country. Most of the features Winston saw in Uganda he said he had never seen them elsewhere, the place with a unique environment attributes and its moderate climate because the country is located at the equator.
Plenty of things describe Uganda as the Pearl of Africa because of the majestic scenery. The sceneries include natural landscapes with hills and valleys, waterfalls, rivers, mountainous places like Mount Rwenzori, plenty of animals including Africa’s big 5, and a variety of bird species. The country also has lakes, streams, forested landscapes, mammals, reptiles, culture, etc.
Visiting Uganda and Rwanda is the best decision any adventurous person and make and while on a visit to the above countries, there is one main currency that accepted all over which USD on top of their local currency. Forexampla in Uganda shillings is common currency used while on Uganda trip, in Rwanda the local currency is called mafranga. Though USD I can be used in both countries, It’s better to travel with notes that are not older than 2003, the usd notes is supposed to be from 2003 and above. Make sure that it’s not torn in any corner of it, this will not be a perfect currency to move with for a tour in Uganda. If you are in Uganda and you want to change your money to local currency, you should change it to shillings in one of the Forex Bureaus or banks all over the country. it’s better to stick to the bank or an official Forex bureau because they have the best rates for exchanging money for any currency you want.
In Rwanda:
When you travel to Rwanda for a tour, USD cash is better and a few local currencies for the road expenses like drinks, souvenirs, and much more. In Rwanda, you have to make sure that the USD is beyond 2005 and in a very good condition to make sure that if you want to change the currency, you’re easily worked on than bouncing back. When in the country, it’s not advisable to move with a big amount of money while on Rwanda Uganda tour.
The cost of visiting Uganda usually depends on how long you will be staying in the country plus your travel interest or the touristic places you intend to visit and the number of people you with on the safari. still it will depend on which tour accompany you’re going to use because different tour companies have different charges. I personally I would advise any traveler to contact different tour agency in order to get a good deal. Visiting Uganda can be cheaper if you’re ok with traveling in a group. This means most the costs will be shared hence paying little money per person.
Generally, the cost of visiting Uganda may depend on different factors like the class of accommodation one is interested in, number of days to be spent on trip, type of activities where we have gorilla trekking which has an element gorilla permit that is costly for example in Uganda gorilla trekking permit is at $700 per person per trek and in Rwanda, it’s 1000$ per person per trek.
- So many people keep wondering and asking themselves whether it’s okay for them to move around the country with hard cash. Here is the answer, it’s not safe at all because of the insecure people that are found in the county. Uganda has got very good people and very bad people who can do anything because of money. Please avoid carrying hard cash on a tour in Uganda. Always carry a reasonable amount of money just for your drinks at the lodge and buying souvenirs.
- Most banks in Uganda have access to visa credit cards that can be used to withdraw money in Uganda using any bank. The costs which they charge when you withdraw money are very high and you are limited to the amount you’re supposed to withdraw per day using the ATM Machine of any bank. Some hotels in Uganda accept payments using a credit card but on the condition that you pay an extra 10% in addition to the actual amount you are supposed to pay which is a bank charge.
To avoid inconveniences, please talk to the manager of the hotel or restaurant when you intend to pay using a credit card before using their services to confirm whether they accept cash or the use of a credit card with an extra fee of 10%. If you don’t want to spend much time, exchange your currency as soon as you arrive at the airport but easy currencies to exchange at the airport are British Pounds, US dollars, and Euros. If you are going to pay for a visa at the airport on arrival, you either pay in US dollars or in Shillings.
