Uganda

Accommodation
The range of possible accommodations is rich and includes everything from simple camping sites and local guest houses to hotels of first class and luxury accommodation. In all accommodations hospitality comes first and you will be kindly welcomed. Accommodations of middle and luxury class are of international standards.

Airport Taxes
All taxes are included in the ticket-price.

Area
Uganda covers a total of 241.548 km² and is divided into 56 districts.

Arrival
Via air at the International Airport Entebbe or via road from Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

Capital City
Kampala

Climate
It is possible to travel to and in Uganda around the year. The best time for travelling is mid of December until the end of February and June until September since it is the dry season and some places are harder to reach in the rainy season. However, during that time the culmination of tourism is reached and therefore the prices e.g. for accommodation are a bit higher.

Clothing
During the day, light airy summer clothes and light shoes are sufficient. Depending on the skin type however, due to the intensive sun, long-sleeved shirts and trousers should be packed. This is also advisable since the temperatures can fall in the evenings and at night. As the luggage travelling by air is restricted, shirts and trousers with removable sleeves are recommended. For those trekking gorillas and/ or chimpanzees it is absolutely necessary to bring hiking shoes that reach to the ankle since you are going to move in forests. Please consider in this context, that the tours are sometimes long and in high speed and therefore it is important that shoes and socks have a perfect fit and are breathable. Many hotels offer the possibility to use a swimming pool so do not forget your bathing suit.

Important: Please do in general consider the limitations of luggage when travelling via airplane. Some clothing-advises adjust to the individual tours and destinations; particulars can be read in the tour descriptions and feel free to just ask.

Communication
Country code: + 256
The communication via telephone and fax is no problem within the bigger cities. Hotels in general ask for a surcharge of 50%. Uganda's telephone-system allows the use of ISDN-technologies. In good hotels and in many towns Internet-cafés are available. Many foreign mobile telephone companies do have roaming-partners in Uganda and therefore it is possible to use those mobile phones brought from home. Network covers almost the whole country.

Currency and Money
The Ugandan currency is the Uganda-Shilling (UGS). 1 Uganda Shilling = 100 Cents; 1€ = about 2.100, - UGS, 1$ = about 1.500, - UGS (January 2007). The import and export of money is not allowed. In the bigger cities the exchange of money during working hours is no problem. Mostly the exchange rates are best at the local bank houses. When you are trying to exchange money outside Kampala you have to expect waiting hours up to 1 ½ hours. Next to regular bank houses, bank machines, exchange offices and hotels can be used. Credit cards are accepted in bigger towns, hotels and airlines. Big bank houses also debit local currency from credit cards. Travellers cheques can be exchanged in bigger cities and Kampala, but their rates are bad. When travelling keep especially small notes since change for big notes is often a problem.

Eco-Tips
Since we are a company whose aim it is to combine adventure, holidays and expeditions with nature conservation, protection of animals and eco-tourism, we want to offer some tips for the right behaviour when travelling in a country like Uganda:

• Save water as much as possible since clean drinking water is precious,
• Never throw garbage or cigarette filters on the ground, garbage bags will always be provided by us,
• Try to buy bottles requiring a deposit since bottles out of plastic are not recycled and often just burnt,
• Avoid plastic bags when going shopping,
• Use the towels in hotels more than one time if possible as that saves water and washing powder,
• Use washing powder that is free of phosphate,
• Keep the light on only as long as needed,
• Please carry used batteries home again since in Uganda they will be thrown on common garbage places,
• When buying food or crafts outside of supermarkets with fixed prices please rely on the advise of your guide since otherwise the dealers and market vendors try to cheat you,
• Do not take photos of military or police buildings,
• Behave quietly and lower your voice when being in a natural environment, you will be rewarded with unbelievable experiences,
• Do not touch or catch animals,
• When meeting big animals never just run away but lower your gaze and slowly move backwards, that also applies to snakes,
• Never kill an animal, even those that you do not like (apart from the exception of bothering mosquitoes maybe),
• In general: try to leave as few traces in the nature as possible.

Entry Regulations
Citizens from the EU and Switzerland do need a visa for entering Uganda. Some other nationalities do need a visa as well. Please inform yourself about the regulations before you start your journey. There is the possibility to apply for the visa in the Ugandan Embassy in your home country already. In this case you have to take care of the duration. However, it is easier to get the visa issued on arrival at the airport in Entebbe, which is possible. The visa allowing single entry costs $ 50 (duration: 3 months) at the moment. The one being valid 6 months goes for $ 90 and is for multiple-entry. Your passport has to be valid for at least 3 or 6 months after leaving the country. Since the regulations can change any time, we strongly recommend that you ask for more information before starting the journey.

Important: Please always check in at least 2 ½ hours before departure since otherwise your luggage (limitations of luggage differ according to airline) might not reach at the same time as you do. Do not forget to display your home- and holiday-address on your luggage.

Equipment
Next to well chosen clothes and hygienic articles the following should be part of your equipment:

• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Camera / Zoom-Objectives / Video camera / Films / Batteries and support
• Torch and matching batteries
• Small backpack or bag
• Hat or headscarf
• Insect repellent
• Raincoat
• Literature
• Prophylactics against Malaria and other prescribed medicine
• Multiple sockets to charge batteries using an adapter.

Food/Drinks
The cuisine is inexpensive, simple but nice and European dishes can often be found. Water needs to be bought or disinfected/cooked. Please do not drink tab-water.

Health
The provision of medical treatment, clinics and doctors is given in almost all parts of the country. Big hospitals are located only in bigger cities. Necessary and basic drugs should however be part of every luggage, including e.g. mosquito repellent, bandage, pain killers,… A first-aid-kid with basic pharmaceuticals and equipment is provided in every vehicle. Please bring all necessary drugs, especially those you depend on, from home. The vaccinations recommended for Uganda include yellow fever, hepatitis as well as prophylactics against Malaria. A travel insurance should either be done privately in your home country or can be arranged by ANS if asked for.

Holiday Cancellation Insurance
We advise you to acquire a full holiday cancellation insurance that includes the following: health-, luggage-, accident- and third party insurance as well as an emergency-insurance including additional expenses for urgent return in case of an accident or sickness.

Independence Day 9th of October 1962

Inhabitants
In total 27,3 Million (July 2005).

The population of Uganda is composed out of different groups:

Bantu: Baganda 12 %, Ankore 8 %, Basoga 8 %, Bakiga 7 %, Bagisu 6 %, Batoro 4 %, Banyoro 3 %, Bagwere 2 %, Bakonjo 1 %,
Nilots: Iteso 8 %, Langi 7 %, Acholi 5 %, Jopodhola 2 %, Alur 3 %, Karimojong 2 %,b Sudanic: Lugbara 4 %,
Rundi 2 %, Rwanda 7 %, Non-Africans: Asians 0,82 %, Europeans 0,095 %, Arabs 0,066 %, others 8 %.

Language
The official language in Uganda is English although in everyday life, especially in the central region, Luganda, the language of the Baganda, is widely spoken. Next to English and Luganda, Kiswahili and Arabic are common and in general more than 60 languages and dialects are counted in Uganda.

Limitation of Luggage during the Journey with ANS In general 25 kg per traveller are permitted. We kindly ask for your understanding that a limitation is necessary. In case you already arrive with more luggages it is of course possible to take only the essential part and leave the remaining in our offices where it will be secure and protected.

Park Entry
In general all entry fees for the National Parks and reserves are included in our prices. If interested, we offer you all the information.

Photos
Of course a good photo-equipment should not be missing when travelling through East Africa. Bring a sufficient amount of films and spare batteries for the camera since quality and prices are not the same as abroad. Filmstrips are difficult to get in Uganda. Furthermore, when choosing your films please keep in mind that special activities such as gorilla- or chimpanzee-trekking require sensitive films since the animals can be found on the shady grounds/trees of tropical forests. For professionals a sensitive telephoto lens is advised. It is possible to develop the photos in Uganda but the quality is not always as expected.

Those places where photos are not allowed to be taken off are marked. Just as in other countries people should be asked if they mind being photographed.

Postal Service
The postal service in Uganda is reliable and cheap but not very fast. Being the recipient requires some patience. Stamps should be bought together with the post cards or envelops. The price of the stamps relies on the destination and needs to be given when buying them. Letterboxes can be found in many hotels and camps.

Religion
Around 70 % of Uganda's population are Christians. Two thirds are Anglicans and about 20% Catholics. 18% of the population believe in traditional African religions. A tenth of the population are Muslims. Minorities are the 2% Baha'is and a small congregation of about 500 African Jews called Abayudaya, near Mbale.

Time Difference
The time shift between Uganda and the central European time (MEZ) is one hour in European winter and two hours in summer time. Please keep in mind that the time data in all offers and correspondences etc. within Africa are marked with either "am" or "pm".

Traffic
Ugandans drive on the left. The main roads are good and partly tarmac. Apart from the main routes the streets are in a worse condition and often require a four-wheel-drive. Due to international projects the road conditions are improving. Outside the towns and trading centres the provision of petrol is not always certain and therefore it is advised to carry enough spare petrol. For renting a car, an international driver's licence is required.

Travel Time
Due to the convenient warm temperatures throughout the year, Uganda is a good destination any time. Only during the rainy season some limitations occur. However, since ANS has modern vehicles and experienced guides those limitations are minimal and do not trouble our guests. Some peculiarities might come up according to special tours such as mountain climbing, therefore please read the individual tour descriptions as well.

Weather
Thanks to the high altitude (on average 1.000 - 1.300 m above sea level) Uganda's climate is very pleasant. The temperatures range from an average of 21 to 25°C. However, especially in the mountainous areas the temperatures can drop at night. Northern Uganda is hotter than the rest and Karamoja in the north-east is particularly hot. There are two rainy seasons per year of which the main rainy season is from March to May and the smaller one from October to November.