UGANDA TRAVEL INFORMATION

THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: Uganda is in East Africa. It is bordered on the west by Congo, on the north by the Sudan, on the east by Kenya, and on the south by Tanzania and Rwanda. The country, which lies across the equator, is divided into three main areas—swampy lowlands, a fertile plateau with wooded hills, and a desert region. Lake Victoria forms part of the southern border.

THE CAPITAL CITY: Kampala.

LANGUAGES: English (official), Ganda or Luganda, other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic.

RELIGION: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Islam 16%, indigenous beliefs 18%.

VISA: Visas can be obtained from the embassies and consulates of Uganda, and also at the point of entrance to the country.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: one should have a valid yellow fever inoculation card. Anti malarial tablets like lariam are recommended. Lariam should be taken at least one week before travelling to Uganda, the entire period of stay in the country and at least a week after leaving the country. Most of the big cities have drugstores, but it is recommended that you carry your own medicine as recommended by your doctor.

TIME: +3 GMT.

CLIMATE: Uganda has a typically tropical climate with little variation in temperature throughout the year. Distinctive wet and dry seasons characterize the climate of most of the country, except in the semi-arid north east. The dry season, generally from December to February and mid-June to mid-August, is the best time to visit. The two rainy seasons are from March to May, and September to November. In the south the rainiest month is April. The mountainous areas in western and eastern Uganda can be cold at night.

CURRENCY: Ugandan new shilling.

CUSTOMS: Duty free entry is permitted for the following: 200 cigarettes; 1 bottle of spirit alcohol; 600g of perfume. It is prohibited to import fruits, seedlings and seeds; narcotics; explosives, firearms and toys imitating firearms. It is forbidden to export stuff made of ivory, animal hides and remains. The import of foreign currency is unconfined, but requires declaration.

ELECTRICITY: The country’s voltage is 240V, with three pinned English style sockets. In Lodges and camps (on safari) they use generators for electricity which they switch during sleeping hours at night.