Choosing a Local Tour Operator To Handle Your Uganda Safari
Choosing a Local Tour Operator To Handle Your Uganda Safari
Choosing the best local tour operator to handle your Uganda safari is like finding the best hairdresser. They should understand your personal style and expectations well enough to give you a service worth your money.
Uganda is open for tourism, and travelers are looking to get back into the African wilderness. The Covid Pandemic may still be taking its toll. Still, vaccines’ wide availability gives travelers the courage to return on the road and even take that uncertain leap in booking gorilla trekking adventures.
In retrospect, safari may be far from simple. The emergence of new pandemic waves is forcing the travel industry into regularly creating new operating procedures to keep travelers safe and tourism open. These operating procedures are pushing the “Do It Yourself” travelers to seek out the services of a local tour operator in the hope of reducing the planning stress and just getaway to relax and have fun.
Most Uganda safari operators offer their services free (others charge 5-30% of the total price), hoping to profit from commissions on accommodation, transport, and permits. Do-it-yourself travelers should take advantage and use local operators to plan their Uganda safari.
Looking through hundreds of available local operators for a Uganda safari is challenging for a first-time traveler. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. With Encounter Africa’s knowledgeable advice on choosing one from the crowd, you’ll find your way to the gorilla nation with ease.
7 Things to consider when choosing a local Uganda safari operator
1. Research
Spare a day in your planning calendar to research which Uganda safari operator would suit your style of travel. The quickest online research should show you a good number of local operator websites you can visit. The most revealing page on a local operator’s website is the “About Us” page.
The about us page should give you a good enough introduction to the company without bragging so much about how they’re the best local Uganda safari operator you should choose without comparison.
Alternatively, if you have someone you know that’s been to Uganda or gone on a gorilla trekking safari planned by a local company, ask them for a name. The best travel recommendations are from the people you know that why most travelers trust reviews from other travelers.
Read some online articles written by international media about Uganda safaris or gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. You most probably will find a recommendation of a company to trust. Add the name on your research list and check out their website later.
2. Licenses and Memberships
A local tour operator without valid memberships and local operating licenses raises serious red flags. Your main concern should be to trust the travel company enough to pay them thousands of dollars and hope to get value for money. Can you trust them with your expectations and your life during the safari holiday?
Local travel memberships will prove that the safari operator is vetted, licensed to offer travel services, and someone is responsible for questioning their unexpected, inappropriate behavior. The best way to find out is to check their website, ask them to provide proof of membership, or contact the association or bureau for evidence.
Some of the primary operator memberships in Uganda include the Association of Tour Operators (AUTO), Uganda Travel Bureau (UTB), Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), Uganda Safari Guides Association (USAGA), Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA), Uganda Association Of Travel Agents (TUGATA), and Association of Uganda Women in Tourism Trade (AUWOTT).
The Uganda Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, issues all local tour operator licenses. The tour operators are governed by regulations and legislation stipulated in the Tourist Agents (Licensing) Act, 1968, The Government of Uganda Tourist Agents (Licensing) Act, 1972, and The Hotel Act, 1964. These regulations standardize the activities of all local tour operators in Uganda.
3. Sustainability
Traveling in a manner more respectful towards the environment is a growing trend that allows destinations to be better attractions for those who live there and those who visit them.
What’s happening worldwide is that more travelers are becoming sustainable travelers, and local operators should adopt sustainable and ecological best practices to book more tours.
If you’re aware of your ecological impact when you visit a destination and are willing to support and contribute to the local communities, your chosen local safari operator of choice should have programs, models, or practices that have a positive impact on the ecosystems concerning the preservation of cultures, nature conservation and protection of the environment.
Where there are tourists, there is always some conflict with the environment and nature. The introduction of green tourism and ecotourism provides relief and initiatives to lessen the conflict and reduce the impact on the environment.
On the other hand, there are many instances where operators irresponsibly label their businesses as “green” to tap on this popularity, which is termed as ‘greenwashing.’ Under these circumstances, don’t be fooled and disillusioned that the company has any positive impact on the environment.
Look at their social media pages, social responsibility pages for proof that they care about nature and the environment or ask for evidence from the local operator.
4. Time in business and reputation
A local safari operator with at least three years of experience offers the benefit of accumulated lessons and insights of the destination, which will clearly show during your Uganda safari journey.
Of course, this is not to say the newer operators can’t deliver excellent services. A more recent operator could show an innovative and enthusiastic edge, especially during the planning process of back and forth communications.
One of the most effective ways to vet a local tour operator for your Uganda safari is by looking at the reviews left by previous travelers. And not just the good reviews but also the bad ones can tell you how much trust they can earn from you. How they respond to bad reviews is also a great indicator of their confidence in their services.
Self-verified, usually found on their website not affiliated to any review verification site like TripAdvisor, are a big red flag. Look out for local operator reviews on top review sites like TripAdvisor, Google My Business, Yelp, Safaribookings, Trustpilot, and Facebook.
5. Responsiveness
How fast the local operator responds to emails, calls, or chats is a good indicator that you may find it easier to plan your Uganda safari with them. It derails your trip planning process when a company responds to inquiries at a snail pace.
The other indicator is how knowledgeable and confident they are in responding to your inquiry. A good local operator will know their destination too well to confidently provide knowledgeable information about their product as fast as possible.
The quickest way to vet a local operator is through a call or chat service like WhatsApp rather than email. Email is quite outdated and only be used when you’ve settled on planning your Uganda safari with the operator.
6. Tour Packaging
Most Uganda tour operators list their tour packages on their websites. These safari packages are usually example packages of what they can provide. Some include prices to give travelers a range of what the package could cost.
The way the operator presents the tour package style, the language, and the pricing should tell you if that is the kind of service you would like to get when you book the package. You should asl read from the package whether you’re the type of traveler they are targeting.
Don’t inquire with a local operator who clearly shows that their tour packages are for high-end luxury travel when you’re a budget backpacker and your price offer falls way below what’s shown on their safari packages.
Look out for cues like pricing, accommodation choices, type of cars they use, what’s included and exclude in the price, group size, and package complimentary. See if they match the type of traveler you are.
7. Booking Terms and Conditions
Flexible terms and conditions are essential in booking a Uganda safari with a local operator you’ve never traveled with, especially during uncertain times like the prevailing pandemic.
You should reschedule or cancel your gorilla safari with minimal financial when the destination or your country changes travel restrictions or when you can’t travel due to illness or an unexpected family emergency.
Ask for the company’s booking terms and conditions and make sure they match with yours and prevailing conditions before you make any commitment with the local operator.
Choosing Encounter Africa As Your Local Uganda Safari Operator
Encounter Africa has been operating Uganda gorilla safaris since 2003 and has the memberships and license to show off. We are members of AUTO, UTB, and Wildlife Conservation Society.
Our verified reviews on TripAdvisor show off our reputation in providing outstanding services to our customers.
We serve budget travelers, mid-range and high-end luxury travelers. Our partnerships with local guides that understand the destination leave a satisfaction stamp on all our travelers’ minds and keep us in business. Our sustainable programs and policies help preserve nature and cultures for those that will come after us, and we’re proudly sharing them with all our guests.
When you inquire with us, a team of happy, well-traveled, and knowledgeable consultants will be glad to connect and share the information you need to plan your Uganda safari package.
Encounter Africa is your choice of local safari operator in Uganda. Please send us an email at info@gorilla-tracking-uganda.com or use any of our contacts below to reach us. Travel with confidence!
