About Uganda Brief History Uganda is a beautiful land, revered by travelers and explorers for centuries and now experiencing a rebirth. Country of the Kabaka Kingdoms, the source of the Nile, a birder's paradise, keeper of the mysterious "Mountains of the Moon" and home to the endangered mountain gorilla... this country has many unique attractions. Uganda is remembered for its beauty, its serenity and its sheer diversity. From the air much of the country seems to shimmer. Endless lakes, rivers, waterfalls and wetlands make Uganda a lush tropical haven. Lake Victoria dominates the South, her blue waters funneling into the Nile river which journeys the length of Uganda. Mountains form the Western borders, the Virunga volcanoes and the legendary "Mountains of the Moon". The far North stretches towards the Sahara and the East transforms into arid plains. However, Uganda is relatively unknown to Western travelers and her political problems of the 1970's did little to promote what is, in reality, one of Africa's most beautiful countries. Today Uganda is a safe destination, beginning to rebuild its reputation and while currently accommodations are quite basic, the great attractions of Lake Victoria, Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Kazinga channel and Murchison Falls are as beautiful as ever. Nestled on the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, Uganda benefits from flora and fauna species of both East and West Africa. Within this remarkable country are the plains of Kideop and Ishasha, the breathtaking crater area of Queen Elizabeth National Park, tropical rain forests along the western border and the mighty Murchison Falls. Uganda boasts the highest population of the endangered mountain gorilla, the rare shoebill stork, and shy sitatunga. Visitors to this area can also trek to see chimpanzee in the wild. Uganda offers a wealth of wildlife, spectacular scenery, and a warm and welcoming population. Winston Churchill fell in love with the country and christened it the "Pearl of Africa". No small wonder. "Oyina okwelabirako na masogo" - You must go and see with your own eyes... Culture & Language There are over 56 dialects spoken in Uganda which is a reflection of Uganda's multi-tribal society. English is the official language and most Ugandan's are able to communicate fluently in English. All media and business is in English and most Ugandans speak it fairly well. Swahili is the next most commonly understood language, followed by Luganda. Before you go Visa & Passport You will need a passport to travel to Uganda. It must be valid for six months after your estimated date of entry into Africa and it should have at least one empty page for each country you will visit. A visa is an official authorization to visit a country. The visa is entered as a stamp in your passport. US residents are required to obtain a visa to enter Uganda. You can purchase your visa on arrival at the border or airport for $30 for a single entry visa or get a visa at the embassy of Uganda in Washington DC. To obtain your visa in the US before your trip, please send the following to the Ugandan Embassy. Your valid passport (with appropriate blank pages) Two 2"x2" passport photographs A completed and signed visa form A money order for the visa fee A postage paid trackable return envelope Important: Remember to sign both your passport and visa forms! For processing procedures and more information, go to Ugandan Embassy Note: Before you leave home, we suggest you make photocopies of the information pages in your passport and carry them separately from your passport. We also recommend bringing at least two extra 2"x2" passport photographs. This will facilitate the replacement of your passport and visa(s) in the event your passport is lost or stolen. Immunizations & Health Current WHO Report for Uganda You will find Africa a hospitable and healthy place to visit. However, we do strongly recommend that you consult your physician regarding medications and immunizations that are recommended or mandatory. The World Health Organization compiles a listing of required and recommended immunizations for international travelers. Your health insurance provider may cover some of the costs associated with these immunizations. All vaccinations should be officially recorded and stamped in a yellow international immunization card. This card should be carried with your passport. Routine Immunizations are: tetanus-diphtheria, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza and pneumococcal. Many of these are groups together and some are oral. Additional immunizations to discuss with your doctor are yellow fever, hepatitus A, typhoid, cholera, polio and meningitis. Chimpanzee Forest Walk There is a new activity available on Ngamba island - You can enter the sanctuary to walk and interact with the orphaned infant chimps. The walk is for 2 hours with the infants and their caretakers plus seeing the chimps in the holding facilities. The cost is $100 per person. There are two walks each day, 6.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Chimpanzees are susceptible to many human diseases, so strict health clearances are required. If you are interested in participating in the walk, please take this note to your doctor and have him initial that you have received the appropriate inoculations and tests. You will not be allowed to participate in this walk unless this form is filled out entirely. This experience was the highlight of our tour last year, so we highly recommend you decide to join in the fun. Proof of vaccination of the following diseases is required and all must be up to date: _______ Hepatitis A _______ Hepatitis B _______ Measles (or had as a child with proof) _______ Meningitis _______ Polio _______ Tetanus _______ Yellow Fever _______ Proof of a negative TB test within 6 months of visit. For your safety, we request all passengers take a course of malaria prophylactics. There are several different possibilities on the market. Please discuss with your doctor which one is best for you. An International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever is required for visitors to Uganda. Please remember, not all immunizations can be taken or obtained on the same day or on the day of departure. Some immunizations must be administered serially over a period of time and some cannot be given together. See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for vaccines to take effect. *Health concerns throughout the world change regularly. For the latest requirements and recommendations consult your doctor and/or go to the above link for the latest WHO report on Uganda. It is important that you alert us to any allergies, dietary restrictions and existing medical conditions. Packing Documentation Passport 2 passport photos Health Certificates Airline Tickets Travelers Checks Spending Money Money belt Proof of insurance Xerox copy of passport, travelers checks General Clothes 1 bag/backpack - max 30 lbs 2 pair shorts 1 small day bag 2 pair lightweight pants Travel pillow 3 lightweight shirt Travel alarm clock 1 longsleeved lightweight shirt Luggage lock 1 sweater/fleece Travel umbrella 1 warm windproof jacket Swim Suit Field Gear Undergarments & Socks Camera/film/batteries 1 pair all weather sandals Video camera/tapes/batteries 1 pair lightweight walking shoes Binoculars (Extremely Important) 1 pair evening shoes for lodges and cities African Field Guild Men: one nice collared shirt Journal & Pens Women: dress or skirt and blouse Book Map - Michelin #955 is best Water Bottle Flashlight & Batteries Sunglasses Wide-brimmed hat, baseball cap and/or bandanas Toiletries First Aid Kit General - toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, razor, shampoo, etc. The basics: bandages, antibiotic ointment, anti-diarrea tablets, antacid tablets, pain reliever, waterproof tape, antiseptic, tweezers, scissors, etc. Sunblock Allergy pills Insect repellent (containing DEET - 20% is optimal) Prescription drugs w/original label Lotion/sun protective lip balm Malaria Tablets Small bottle of Woolite or washing detergent for undergarments Contact lenses/solution/glasses Hairdryer (requires a converter 220-240 volt AC 50 Hz) Laundry services in Africa are very good and available at nearly all of our safari camps, lodges and hotels. This means that you can travel light and still enjoy clean fresh clothing throughout your journey. Money & Tipping Today's Exchange Rate The unit of currency in Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling (Ush). There are coins in the following denominations: 50, 100, 200, 500 in circulation concurrently in with notes of similar denominations. Eventually, notes of 50 to 500 will be phased out and replaced by coins. There are bank notes in denominations of 1000, 5000 and 10000. - see exchange rates for more. We suggest bringing a combination of Traveler's Checks (mainly as a security measure) and US dollars. Have your traveler's checks issues in small denomination ($20s and $50s) as you will receive the entire amount in the foreign currency you exchange for. Getting US dollars in Africa is expensive but having some throughout the trip is necessary. The remainder of your spending money is a combination of credit card purchases and obtaining local currency at ATM machines. The amount of extra money you need to bring will depend on how many optional activities interest you and your shopping habits. $300 cash should be plenty - with at least $50 in small bills for bartering and tipping. It is also important to note that small denomination bills of US$1, 5, 10, and 20 are changed at a substantially reduced rate, as are torn and soiled notes. This can be as much as a 5% difference. Personal expenditure, meals in major cities, insurance, drinks other than specified, gratuities, airport taxes and visa fees are excluded. We suggest that you allow US$25-35 per day to cover the cost of personal expenses and souvenirs (within reason). There are a number of optional activities available and recommended in the Victoria Falls area. Note: We strongly recommend keeping your passport, all money, vouchers and international air tickets in a money belt or pouch. Guide to Tipping on Safari Although tipping is a safari tradition, it is never compulsory and should only be done if you have received good service. The staff very much appreciates receiving gratuity from you and it is one way of assuring them they are doing a good job. You can tip in US dollars or local currency. Guests often want to know what is appropriate, so we have prepared a brief guideline to assist you. Professional Guides and Driver Guides We recommend, if you are happy with the service, about US$5-10 per person, per day for the guide and about US$3 per person, per day for the driver as a suggested tip. Lodges and Camps Here we recommend $3-5USD per client, per day, to be divided among the staff. Most lodges have a staff tip box located at reception or a central location. Tips left here will be divided among the porters and waiters and other lodge staff. If you are particularly satisfied with assistance received from someone, a personal tip is also acceptable. Voltage & Photography Bring the photo equipment you are used to working with. A trip like this is not the best place for trying out a new camera. If you spend all of your time learning how to use a piece of equipment, you may not learn how to shoot good images. Bring the instruction manual. Keep in mind that too much equipment can be a hindrance, while leaving behind a piece that could be useful is also a mistake. We suggest bringing an 8" x 5" beanbag to use as a tripod to hold your camera steady when shooting from the vehicle. Bring a combination of lenses that range from 25mm to 300mm. We suggest an average of 2-3 rolls of film per day of game viewing. Most of your game viewing is in the early morning and mid to late afternoons. For protection from airport X-ray machines, pack all film in lead-lined shield bags. Film and batteries are not available in the African bush. You will find them in the major cities, but they are very expensive. Digital photography is here. Digital photographers will have to plan for how to save images while in the field. Multiple storage disks are less cumbersome than bringing a laptop to download images to. Whichever film type you select, the slower ASA films (50-100) generally produce higher quality photos. I would bring a slow film and a faster one (400) for low-light situations. Note: Always ask before photographing the native people. Do not take pictures of military installations, police stations, airports, soldiers, police or border posts - you may have your film confiscated. Please consult with lodge managers about charging your equipment. Many properties are run on generators that are only turned on at certain times of the day, usually in the early evening and turned off in the late evening at bedtime. 240 volts AC, 50Hz. British style 3-pin plugs are used. The Africa factor Expect the unexpected. Despite our efforts to have every safari run perfectly, things are going to happen that are simply out of our control. We will do what we can to minimize these situations however, things will still occur albeit a canceled flight beyond our control, rogue warthogs wandering in our camp, flat tires, floods, all or none may occur.