Ultimate Uganda Safari
18 Days 17 Nights From $5260, per person
Rates are per person and based on 2 people sharing 1 room
Excluding international flights (from/to your home country)
Overview
This 18 Days Best Of Uganda Safari is for those who have more time to explore and discover Uganda, also known as ‘The Pearl of Africa’. This safari takes you through Uganda’s four Savannah parks of Kidepo Valley National Park in northeastern, Murchison Falls National Park in northern, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park in southwestern Uganda. It offers you a chance for game drives and boat cruises. You will have a boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park to the bottom of the magnificent Falls, a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, as well as a boat cruise in Lake Mburo National Park and a bonus Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district southwestern Uganda. These four Savannah National parks also offer the best of game drives with high chances of spotting thousands of antelopes, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards and so much more. The highlight of this tour is in the chance to trek the world’s Great Apes. You will trek chimps thrice in the different environments of Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale Forest National Park. The climax is definitely gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. To make sure that you also interact with the local communities around these national parks, we have several village and community walks that will take you to the nearby villages to learn more about the people and their cultures. By booking this 18 Days Best of Uganda Safari, you will definitely not regret.
Brief Itinerary of our 18 Day Ultimate Uganda Safari
- Day 01: On arrive, meet and greet, and then transfer to Entebbe Secrets Guest House on Bed and Breakfast.
- Day 02: Drive to Jinja to visit the source of the mighty River Nile. Overnight at Source of the Nile Hotel on Full Board
- Day 03: Drive to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking: Overnight at Budongo Eco-Lodge on Full Board
- Day 04: In the morning, go for Chimpanzee trekking and return for lunch. After lunch, you will visit the top of the magnificent Murchison Falls: Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge on Full Board
- Day 05: Morning game drive in Paraa and afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the magnificent Murchison Falls. Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge on Full Board Basis
- Day 06: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise to the Albert Delta: Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge on Full Board Basis
- Day 07: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park: Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House on Full Board
- Day 08: Morning Chimpanzee trekking and go a Bigodi Village wetland and community walk in the afternoon. Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House on Full Board
- Day 9: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in time for lunch. After lunch, relax before you head for an evening game drive in Mweya. Overnight at Elephant Hab Lodge on Full Board Basis
- Day 10: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. Overnight at Elephant Hab Lodge on Full Board basis
- Day 11: Morning Chimp trekking in Kyambura or Kalinzu Eco-tourism site. In the afternoon, you will visit the Katwe salt mining site: Overnight at Elephant Hab Lodge.
- Day 12: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Overnight at Broad Bill Forest Camp on Full Board
- Day 13: Gorilla tracking and village walk. Overnight at Broad Bill Forest Camp on Full Board Basis
- Day 14: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district for overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Resort on Full Board Basis
- Day 15: Canoeing and birding around Lake Bunyonyi in the morning. After lunch, relax, swim or take walk to experience the beauty of Lake Bumyonyi: Overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Resort on Full Board Basis
- Day 16: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park via Igongo Cultural center arriving at the Park for an evening boat cruise on the Lake. Overnight at Lake Mburo Safari Lodge or Rwakobo Rock on Full Board
- Day 17: Early morning walking Safari in the park and evening Game Drive.
- Day 18: Early morning game drive and then transfer to Entebbe Airport via the equator crossing.
End of service.
What you need to know about our 18 Day Ultimate Uganda Safari
- It can start any time on any date
- This safari holiday is guided by Post covid new normal safari guidelines
- The tour is all inclusive with all activities, meals, Chimp and Gorilla permits, park fees, lodges, vehicle hire and guides fee. So, hidden costs are involved.
- Minimum number of participants is two people and maximum number is six people.
- Suitable for children aged 15 years and above.
- Safari starts and ends in Uganda
- You have an opportunity to trek chimpanzees in Budongo Forest, Kibale National Park and Kyambura Gorge
- Chance to visit Jinja town the source of the mighty River Nile
- An opportunity to trek the endangered white Rhinos at Zziwa Rhino sanctuary
- You have an opportunity to trek chimpanzees in Budongo Forest, Kibale National Park and Kyambura Gorge
- You will visit three top National Parks in Uganda for game drives i.e. Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National National Park.
- You will enjoy four boat cruises on this tour. One on the River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park, another on Lake at Bunyonyi, in Lake Mburo National Park and on the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Zziwa Rhino sanctuary to visit the only remaining white rhinos in Uganda.
- If you enjoy walking safaris, a visit to the nearby villages will enable you to interact with the local communities and to learn the cultures of the local people in Uganda.
Detailed Itinerary
Arrival
- You’ll be picked up from the airport (or hotel)
- Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for extra cost
DAY 1: Arrive at Entebbe Airport
On arrival, you will meet, greet and be transfered to Entebbe town for your overnight on Bed and Breakfast. Entebbe is a small town located just 5 minutes from the Entebbe International Airport. Entebbe is becoming Uganda’s top tourism city due to the high numbers of mushrooming Hotels and Guest Houses. There are optional activities for those that arrive early to participate in. You may choose to tour the town of Entebbe on foot, visit the Botanic gardens, take a boat excursion to Ngamba Island or visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Center.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Lodging: Secrets Guest House Entebbe
DAY 2: Jinja Source of the Nile
This morning, you will drive to Jinja town, also known as the ‘adventure capital of Uganda’ via Kampala. The journey will take you through small towns, Mabira forest, a tropical rain forest, road side markets, tea and sugar plantations. You will arrive in time for a lunch break and a boat ride to the Source of the River Nile. It would really be unfair for you to visit Uganda and then you miss out on visiting the Source of the River Nile. River Nile is the second longest river on planet earth.
Drive time: Approximately 2-3 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Source of the Smile
DAY 3: Jinja to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Drive from Jinja to Nakasongola vie Kampala, towards north of Uganda to visit the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking. This is a perfect opportunity to track White Rhinos in the wild. Rhinos became extinct in Uganda in the 1970s due to over poaching for their treasured horns. They have now be reintroduced in the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary in the hope that when their population improves then they can be reintroduced in some of Uganda’s National Parks. Have an opportunity of tracking these endangered species and learn more about them. Overnight at Amuka Safari Lodge
Drive time: approximately 4-5 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Budongo Eco Lodge
DAY 4: Budongo Chimp trekking
After breakfast, you will walk to the forest headquarters for briefing about Chimpanzee trekking Dos and Don’ts. Thereafter, start your primate walk in the Budongo Forest guided by well-trained and experienced ranger guides. Your walk will expose you to other primates, birds and different plant species in the forest. Once you get into close proximity with the Chimps or one community/party of habituated chimpanzees, you will be allowed one hour of observations and photography before you return back to the Lodge. You may carry packed lunch or order for hot lunch which you can have when you return to the lodge. In the afternoon, you will drive to Murchison Falls National Park for a brief game drive via the top of the falls to see how the Nile waters squeeze through a narrow gorge only later to explode into what has been refereed to as one of the strongest and most powerful waterfalls on planet Earth. There after you will proceed to Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge for overnight.
Drive time: Approximately 2-3 hours
Mealplan: Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge
DAY 5: Game Drive and boat cruise to the bottom of the Falls
After breakfast, you will set off with your guide to catch some of the nocturnal animals before they return to their hide-outs. Make your way down to the Nile Delta where you may spot giraffe, elephant, different varieties of antelope, buffalo, a wide range of birds and if you are lucky, you may spot lions and leopards. You will return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will go for a boat cruise to the bottom of the magnificent Murchison Falls. From the jetty point, as you head towards the bottom of the Falls, you will spot several herds of buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos, different species of water birds and many other animals as they flock the banks of the River Nile to drink water. You will continue upstream to the bottom of the falls to observe how water squeezes through a narrow gorge only later to explode in what has been referred to as the strongest and most powerful falls on planet earth. Return to the Lodge for overnight.
Drive time: Approximately 2 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge
DAY 6: Morning game drive and late afternoon delta cruise
After an early breakfast you will return to the northern bank of the River Nile for yet another game drive in search of some of the wild animals that you could have missed seeing during your previous game drives. Return to the lodge for lunch and thereafter go for a late afternoon boat cruise to the Albert delta. Depending on how lucky you are, there are chances that you may find elephants, buffaloes and hippos crossing the delta while crocodiles are also taking opportunity of this crossing to catch the vulnerable animals. There are also high chances that you will spot the rare Shoebill stock. Return back to the lodge for overnight:
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge
DAY 7: To Kibale National Park.
As part of your 18 Days Safari, you will drive to Kibale Forest National Park via Fort Portal town. You will have a stop in Fort portal town for Lunch before proceeding to check-in at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House. No major activity on this day but if time allows, you may drive around Fort Portal town for sight seeing.
Drive time: Approximately 4 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Isunga Lodge
DAY 8: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park headquarters located at Kanyanchu. Here, you will join other trekkers for briefing before you proceed into the forest for chimpanzee trekking. You will be led by a well-trained and experienced ranger/guide who will take you for a guided primate walk inside Kibale Forest National Park. This forest provides an opportunity to visit one of the habituated communities of chimpanzees. You are allowed to spend an hour with these Great Apes while observing their behaviour. You are allowed to take photographs. So make sure your cameras are nearby. Kibale National Park is also home to other 13 primate species which can also be spotted while trekking the Chimpanzees. Of course there are also numerous species of forest birds. In fact, this is another haven for bird lovers.
Drive time: NA
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Isunga Lodge
DAY 9: To Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, your will drive for 3-4 hours from Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will have an opportunity of passing through small towns while seeing several foothills of the magnificent Rwenzori Mountain. You will as well as cross the Equator at Kikorongo.Of course you will also see several small rivers that originate from the Rwennzori mountain ranges. You may head to the lodge for lunch or drive directly to Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This two hour boat cruise is one of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It provides you with an opportunity to view over 300 out of the 600 water bird species recorded here. There are also antelopes, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and hippos which can be sighted while on the boat.
Drive time: Approximately 3-4 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Elephant Hab Lodge or Pumba Safari Lodge
DAY 10: Game drive and Boat Cruise
After an early morning cup of coffee, you will drive back to the Kasenyi plains for a game drive to catch up with what you could have missed out on your earlier game drive. It is at this time of the morning that big cats are out hunting for their prey and as such chances of spotting lions and or leopards are slightly high. Never the less, you will be guaranteed to see buffaloes, hippos, several species of antelopes, and many others. You may return to the lodge for lunch or drive directly to Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. This two hour boat cruise is one of the highlights in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It provides you an opportunity to view over 300 out of the 600 water bird species recorded here, antelopes, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and hippos. Return to the lodge for overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Elephant Hab Lodge or Pumba Safari Lodge
DAY 11: Kyambura Chimp trekking and Katwe salt mines.
After breakfast, you will be driven to Kyambura to join other trekkers for briefing and their after start you chimpanzee walk in the gorge. Your experienced ranger guide will help you identify several flora and fauna species resident in this gorge. Once you find a community of chimpanzees, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them for photography. Return from the trek for lunch and short relaxation at the lodge before moving out for a visit to Lake Katwe salt mines. Lake Katwe is an explosive crater which is gifted with salt. The local community have been mining/extracting salt from this lake for decades. You will meet a local guide (from the community) who will take you for a tour around the salt mines while explaining how salt extraction is done, the challenges faced as well as the opportunities available. Lake Katwe salt extraction project is one of the living examples of man and biosphere reserves or conservation areas in the whole world where man is harmoniously co-existing with wildlife. Return to the Lodge for overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Elephant Hab Lodge or Pumba Safari Lodge
DAY 12: To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After breakfast, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, located in southwestern Uganda and shared between three districts of Kabale, Kanungu and Kisoro. Your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will take you through the rolling hills with terraced gardens of Irish potatoes and sometimes tea. You will arrive late afternoon for overnight at the Lodge. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to almost half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas and the only National Park where wild chimpanzees co-exist with mountain gorillas.
Drive time: Approximately 5-6 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or Trekkers Tervan Lodge
DAY 13: Gorilla tracking and Village walk
After breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters to join other trekkers to be allocated a Gorilla family that you will trek. Of course the park staff will first give you a full briefing concerning the Dos and Don’ts while with the gorillas. After that, you will be driven to the starting point of your allocated gorilla family to start your trek into the beautiful Impenetrable Bwindi Forest. This trek may take between 30 minutes to three quarters of the day, depending on where the Mountain Gorillas will be found. Please noted that gorilla trekking can be strenuous and as such a certain level of fitness is required. Once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour to observe them and take photographs. Although this time may seem too short a time, the experience you get will be worth it. Thereafter, you will return to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate in recognition of your effort in contributing to the conservation of these endangered mountain gorillas. Return to the lodge for relaxation followed by a village walk in the evening to learn more about the local people living around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This walk will enable you appreciate the effort of these people in conserving the forest and the gorillas. You can choose to support them through donation in kind. Please note that this is a voluntary act.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or Trekkers Tervan Lodge
DAY 14: To Lake Bunyonyi
Drive from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale District. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the three Lava damned Lakes in Uganda. The Lake was formed when lava flowing from one of the volcanoes blocked a river channel and water was forced to flow back hence filling the space to create the Lake Bunyonyi. Bunyonyi locally means small birds. So the Lake got its name because of the abundance of small birds in this area in filled the area. Lake Bunyonyi is said to be the deepest lake in Uganda and the second deepest in East Africa. The beauty of this Lake Bunyonyi will surely not disappoint you. It is one of the best places in Uganda to relax after your gorilla trek.
Drive time: Approximately 3-4 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Birdnest Resort
DAY 15: Canoeing or Hiking
After breakfast, you are free to admire the beauty of the lake and its surrounding hills. You will have a choice of either taking a canoe ride on the lake to explore the different Islands with exciting histories behind them. For example, you will visit the Punishment Island. The story about this Island, it is the place where girls who were known to have conceived babies out of legitimate traditional marriage would be dumped and left to die. This is a whole day activity and you will surely enjoy it. Alternatively, you can hike one of the hills around the Lake Bunyonyi. Encounter Africa Safaris supports some projects around this area, which is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). So, for those who want to do something in the community while on their tour, this is another opportunity for you to go for volunteer work. Return to the Lodge for overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Birdnest Resort
DAY 16: To Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park via the Great Lakes Museum or Igongo Cultural center to learn more about the cultures of the ethnic groups in western Uganda. Lunch will be served en route. You will arrive at Lake Mburo National Park just in time for an evening game drive. Lake Mburo National Park is popular for animals such as Impalas, Giraffes, Zebras and so much more. Return to the Lodge for overnight.
Drive time: Approximately 6 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge or Rwakobo Rock
DAY 17: Walks and Game Drives
After breakfast, you will head out for a morning walk in the park, its a nature friendly park and hence allows walking, later return for lunch and then head out in the evening for a game drive in search of wildlife that is further and can not be reached on foot hence look for wildlife and enhance your chances as well.
Drive time: NA
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
DAY 18: Drive to Entebbe International Airport
Today marks the end of your 18 Days Safari with Encounter Africa Safaris. But, depending on your flight time, you can have a morning walking Safari or just embark on your journey to Entebbe International Airport. Of course you will have a stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photography and stretching.
Drive time: Approximately 5-6 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
COST PER PERSON SHARING
| Persons | Date | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | Any date | USD7120.00 |
| 2 Persons | Any date | USD5260.00 |
| 3 Persons | Any date | USD4800.00 |
| 4 Persons | Any date | USD4570.00 |
| 5 Persons | Any date | USD4430.00 |
| 6 Persons | Any date | USD4350.00 |
Cost Includes
- Meet and greet services
- All airport transfers
- Bwindi Gorilla permit Kibale Chimpanzee permit
- Budongo chimp permit
- Chambura Chimpanzee permit
- Visit to the source of the Nile
- Transport in a 4×4 Safari vehicle
- Services of an English speaking local guide
- Fuel for this round trip
- Drinking water in the vehicle
- Boat cruises in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo National Parks
- Game drives as mentioned in the itinerary
- Community and village walks
- Park entry fees
Cost excludes
- Visa Fees at USD50.00 for Uganda
- Excludes international flights
- All expenses of personal nature such as drinks and tips to guides and waiters.
STANDARD: 4X4 SAFARI VAN
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari Vans customized for game viewing and photography. Each safari van comes with a professionally trained driver guide and fuel for the whole safari. Our Safari vans have viewing hatches and each client is entitled to a window seat. Our Vans can take up to eight people. We also have 4×4 Super Customs very comfortable and stable on the road. These carry up to 5 people with their luggage. We also have 4×4 RAV 4 for a group of two people
UPGRADE: 4X4 LUXURY SAFARI LANDCRUISER
We have luxury latest Land cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop-up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as your smartphones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed of a window seat.
New Normal Travel Guidelines (SOPs)
At Encounter Africa Safaris our core value is to provide you with an authentic safari experience during these new and changing times when the whole world is alert about the ongoing pandemic of the Coronavirus. Encounter Africa Safari Travel SOPS have been put in place to ensure the wellbeing, safety and health of our clients and as such guidelines and measures have been put in place as we return to the new normal post covid-19. All these are in line with advice, guidelines and procedures for a post covid-19 traveler put in place by WHO, UNWTO, UWA, AUTO, UTB and Civil Aviation.
General recommendations for personal hygiene, cough etiquette and keeping a distance of at least one meter from persons showing symptoms remain particularly important for all travelers and even those without symptoms. These include:
- Perform hand hygiene frequently, particularly after contact with respiratory secretions. Hand hygiene includes either cleaning hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand rub. Alcohol-based hand rubs are preferred and are not easily soiled. All travelers are advised to carry with.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a flexed elbow or paper tissue when coughing or sneezing and disposing immediately of the tissue and performing hand hygiene; the recommended type of mask is the N95.
- Refrain from touching mouth, eyes and nose, in general areas of the face.
- Postponing travel plans in cases of illness, and avoiding contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections, hence social distance of at least one meter apart and if you are not sure of your health then postpone travel until you feel
On arrival at the airport or any entry point
- Mandatory temperature screening using non-contact infra-red thermometers at the key tourism gates at the Airport.
- Clients are required to have tested for the Virus prior to travel dates and should carry with medical documents supported by medical evidence and consistent with health best practices.
- A non-contact system (digital travel) has been introduced at the Airport for clients to check in and out and at visa points, you will be attended to by someone behind a glass shield and they will also wear face masks and protectors to maintain as little contact as possible.
- It’s now a must for all travel bags to be wrapped in plastic bags for travelers who are checking in at the Airport.
- Mandatory hand washing / sanitizing at all entrances of the Airport for all travelers and staff.
- Face masks are a must for all travelers, the recommended mask is an N95.
- Tours should not exceed more than 4 in a group to maintain social distancing and walk marks in place around the airport.
In the vehicle while traveling.
- Regular communication of safety protocols and responsibilities to clients, and to keep them informed and reminded to stay vigilant while enjoying.
- Onboard sanitizing tissues and/or fluids to clients (travelers) and staff (driver guides and the like) will be available and we encourage you to use them.
- Making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and surfaces. Hence we will minimize the stops and set designated stopping areas that we prove to be safe for our health and we will encourage a takeaway food system to seating in hotels during stops. We rather encourage picnic eating along the way.
- Cleaning all surfaces more frequently, using products and disinfectants that meet requirements with special attention to high-touch surfaces like vehicle door knobs, picnic boxes, hand rests, refrigerators, etc.
- Redesigning all processes towards a more digital and touchless approach in all possible touch-points. Like cashless payment points as money has been found to spread the virus.
- Reduce the number of objects on board. Limit luggage quantities while traveling to only what is enough for your tour.
At the lodge.
Encounter Africa Safaris is working with only those lodges that have proven to uphold the health of our clients first and practicing as per the guidelines of WHO as below;
- Our partner hotels, lodges and restaurants are those that have increased the frequency of cleaning in common areas and contact surfaces and rooms. The lodges have also gone further to put hand sanitizers in both the common room and in bedrooms.
- Social distancing is a must in lodges we use of at least one meter which is the standard around the world.
- Upon arrival standard safety protocols will be outlined and how the lodge is practicing them to prevent spread of the virus in case a person is found to be sick.
- Our partner hotels and lodges keep spare rooms for possible sick or quarantine guests that are suspected to have the virus and later inform authorities about it.
- The hotels and lodges we use have implemented contactless check-in and provide guests with a hygiene welcome kit where possible (this may include gloves, masks, and sanitizers).
- Where possible temperature will be taken using a contactless infra-red thermometer as a basic standard for checking the common symptom of covid-19.
- The partner lodges have adopted new services such as room service or picnic takeaway to reduce convergence in the common dining area at the lodge and also you are encouraged to avoid buffets while ordering for meals as these attract many people.
- Our partners lodges and hotels foster flexibility in all their operations, such as those that can amend bookings if clients are not able to make it at suggested times and those that can keep credit for the client until when they are fit to travel.
At the national parks.
- All Staff and visitors shall wear the right face masks that have been prescribed by Ministry of Health (Visitors will carry their own masks an N95).
- Staff of Uganda Wildlife Authority will inform the visitor of the general government approved covid operational guidelines. They will explain to the visitor the UWA safety COVID measures (DOs and DONTs) during their tour and stay within the protected areas.
- The tourists shall be required to provide a certificate that shows that they are COVID negative, either provided by our Ministry of Health or the relevant authority from the country most recently visited.
- Temperature screening will be done at the key tourism gates of the different National Park. Those with temperatures above 37.6 degrees Celsius shall not be allowed into the protected areas and shall be advised to seek medical help through the mechanisms set up by authorities to get to the nearest quarantine location.
- Every tourist shall have wash and disinfect their hands at all entry points to the protected areas. Sanitary alcohol sanitizer dispensers as well as hand washing facilities with soap shall be installed at all entry points.
- There will be regular disinfecting of common areas with heavy tourist contact before, during and after visiting hours. These include information counters, service desks, waiting areas, park offices and toilets. Toilets in particular should be cleaned at least every 2 hours
- Where applicable, transparent screens will be fitted at all, park gate counters. The staff manning the gate will only allow visitors who have the prescribed face masks and who have washed/ sanitized to enter the park
Tourist vehicles and boats within the national parks
- The National guidelines issued by MoH shall be enforced by tourists while in visiting the National Parks i.e
- Saloon cars – 3 persons (This does not include the guide, where one is requested and paid for)
- Buses, mini buses and omnibuses – Half capacity
- Overlanders – Half capacity
- Concessionaire delivery vehicles, pick-ups and lories – 2 persons
- Private boats and launches – Half capacity
- Tour operator game drive vehicles and UWA owned game drive vehicles – 6 persons
- Social distancing should be observed within the vehicles
- Tour operators and service providers will be regularly reminded to disinfect their cars regularly
- UWA owned vehicles will be washed every day before use and disinfected daily through spray pumps
- Every protected area shall provide a safe location where this spraying can be done, and where they tour operators can also park their cars to disinfect them
- All tour operators shall be encouraged to provide their drivers with an alcohol rub/hand sanitizer for frequently or alternatively wear gloves. Caution should however be taken to remove this sanitizer whenever the car is parked
- All other precautionary measures have to be enforced ie washing hands, social distancing and cautiously using masks
Key Tourism Activities
Briefing of tourists
- Before engaging in any tourism activities, the tourists shall be given the usual briefing regarding the activities they are about to engage in. In addition to this, the guides shall remind the tourists about the risk / looming dangers of covid and brief them on the general preventative measures government has instituted and the measure they will be expected to abide by while in the Protected Areas, and remind them that it’s both for their safety and that of the wildlife.
- These guidelines and measures shall also be printed and displayed in key visible areas within the park such as the briefing areas, the gates, the information centres, the canteens, to mention but a few.
Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking
- The existing gorilla and chimpanzee tracking rules and guidelines (see annex) will remain in force to prevent any human to animal transmissions. These include
- 8 and 6 tourists will be allowed to track the gorillas and chimpanzees respectively
- The tourists must keep 7m away from the gorillas and chimpanzees
- Tourists who during the briefing are observed to be overly coughing shall not be allowed to track
- Tourists who during the briefing are observed to be sick shall not be allowed to track. These include tourists with signs flu, and those who report to have diarrhoea and stomach upsets, malaria etc
- While the forests are dense and don’t have any specific trails for tracking, the assigned UWA guides shall try as humanly possible to ensure that there is social distancing among the tourists while the tracking takes place
- The tourists shall be encouraged to carry light equipment to minimise the need for potters while they undertake the tracking. This will be communicated to potential tourists through the tour operators and other fora
- Due to the reported side effects of putting on masks for long periods and in high altitudes, the number of breaks during the tracking shall be doubled to give tourists time to breathe fresh air.
- During these breaks, social distancing should be observed
Game Drives
- The regular park rules shall apply
- The vehicle guidelines above shall also apply
- Where a guide is requested, the guide shall sit at the front and shall continuously remind the tourists about the need to social distance
- Masks shall be worn at all time
- Where a tourists gets side effects due to putting on a mask for a long time, the tourist shall inform the guide who will find a safe and secure place to park the vehicle and allow for the tourists to get fresh air while maintaining social distance
Boat Cruises
- The regular park rules shall apply
- The boat and launches guidelines above shall also apply
- The UWA owned boats must be cleaned and disinfected every day before any boat cruise activity
- The concessionaire shall also be required to clean and disinfect their boats every day before any boat activities
- The guide shall enforce social distancing while on the boat.
- Masks shall be worn at all time while on the boat
- Where a tourists gets side effects due to putting on a mask for a long time, the tourist shall inform the guide who will find space within the boat for this client to get some fresh air for a few minutes. This shall be away from the other tourists
Anticipated travel needs for anyone traveling post Covid-19
- Bring enough of your medicine to last you for the entire trip.
- Pack enough alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) and keep it within easy to reach.
- Bring a cloth face covering to wear in public places. Mask N95 is recommended while traveling to Uganda.
- Prepare food and water for your trip where possible and avoid eating at places providing buffets.
- Limit the number of people you get in contact with while on safari.
For more information about safety and healthy responses and updates on Covid-19 in Uganda and East Africa, do not hesitate to contact Encounter Africa Safaris
