19 Days Best Of Uganda Safari
19 Days 18 Nights From $5580.00 per person all inclusive
Rates are per person (pp)and based on 2 people sharing 1 room
Excluding international flights (from/to your home country)
Overview
Our 19 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 Budogo 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 19 Days Best of Uganda Safari, you will definitely not regret.
Brief Itinerary of our 19 Days Best Of Uganda Safari.
- Day 01: Drive from Kampala to Gulu Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino Tracking: Overnight at African Roots Gulu on Full Board
- Day 02: Drive to Kidepo National Park for an evening game drive: Kidepo Savannah Lodge on Full Board
- Day 03: Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park: Overnight at Kidepo Savannah Lodge on Full Board
- Day 04: Visiting the Karamanjongo Villages or/Game Drives to explore cultures of these pastoral people. Overnight at Kidepo Savannah Lodge on Full Board.
- Day 05: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park for an evening game drive: Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge on Full Board basis
- Day 06: Morning Delta Cruise and afternoon water fall boat cruise. Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge on Full Board Basis
- Day 07: Morning and afternoon game drive. Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge on Full Board Basis
- Day 08: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park and Bigodi Wetland walk: Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House on Full Board
- Day 09: Morning chimpanzee trekking and relax for the afternoon. Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House on Full Board
- Day 10: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. Overnight at Elephant Hab Lodge or Buffalo resort on Full Board Basis
- Day 11: Morning game drive and afternoon Game Drive. Overnight at Elephant Hab Lodge or Buffalo Resort on Full Board basis
- Day 12: Transfer to Ishasha southern part of Queen Elizabeth NP for game drives for overnight at Enjojo Lodge on Full Board Basis.
- Day 13: Morning and afternoon game drive and evening community experience.
- Day 14: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Overnight at Trekkers Tavern Cottages Lodge on Full Board
- Day 15: Gorilla tracking in Ruhija or Buhoma and village walk. Overnight at Trekkers Tervan Lodge on Full Board Basis
- Day 16: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi for overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Resort on Full Board Basis
- Day 17: Canoeing and birding around Lake Bunyonyi: Overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Resort on Full Board Basis
- Day 18: 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 Lodge on Full Board
- Day 19: Early morning walking Safari in the park and then transfer to Entebbe Airport via the equator crossing.
End of service.
What you need to know about our 19 Days Best Of Uganda Safari
- It can start any time on any date
- This safari holiday tour is guided by the new normal post covid lockdown safari SOPs
- The tour is all inclusive with all activities, meals, chimp and gorilla permits, park fees, lodges, car hire and guides fee. So there is hidden costs 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
- 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
- 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 of 19 Days Best Of Uganda Safari
Arrival
- You’ll be picked-up from the airport (or hotel)
- Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for extra cost
DAY 1: To Gulu Town
After breakfast, you will be met by your guide for briefing about the tour. Thereafter, you will start your 19 Days Best Of Uganda Safari with a drive to Kidepo Valley National Park northeast Uganda.
Note: You will have a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctaury for Rhino tracking before proceeding to Gulu town for overnight. All our tours to Kidepo National Park stop at Gulu town for overnight and to break the long journey.
Drive time: Approximately 7-9 hours
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: African Roots Gulu
DAY 2: To Kidepo National Park
After breakfast, drive to Kidepo valley National Park located in northeastern Uganda. Check in your accommodation property, relax and prepare for a late afternoon game drive. Kidepo Valley National Park was recently voted CNN as one of the best National Parks in Africa. It is the only place where you can see Cheetahs. The park is also home to several herds of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes as well as several prides of lions that can easily be spotted compared to other National Parks.
Drive time: Approximately 4 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Kidepo Savannah Lodge or Apoka Bandas
DAY 3: Morning and afternoon game drives
Today, you will spend both morning and afternoon doing game drives in the Savannah plains of Kidepo valley National Park. This park hosts a great variety of animal species in comparison to any other Ugandan parks. Eighty species of animals were recorded in this park in 1971. Twenty eight of these species weren’t known to exist in any other park within Uganda. Carnivores existing include lions, side-striped jackals, leopards, black-backed jackals, various small cats as well as spotted hyenas.The distinctive Carnivore species found in Kidepo are: Hunting dog, Bat-eared Fox, Cheetah, Striped Hyena, Caracal and the AardWolf. The more uncommon ungulates are: the greater & Lesser Kudu, roan antelope, Chandler’s mountain Reed buck, beisa oryx, Klipspringer and Bright’s Gazelle. However, these species have greatly decreased in number over the years due to poaching. Among the other big ungulates are: elephants, oribi, burchell’s zebras, Jackson’s hartebeests, bush pigs, bohor reed buck, warthogs, Rothschild giraffes, defassa water bucks, cape buffaloes, elands, bush duskiers and bush bucks . Five species primate are also found within this park, with Kavirondo bush baby as the most endemic.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Kidepo Savannah Lodge or Apoka Bandas
DAY 4: Karamajongo villages and cultural visits
After breakfast, you will visit the the Karamajongo homesteads, known as the Manyatta. Here you will have the opportunity to interact with the elders and get to know more about their culture and lifestyle. Here you can contribute by making donations on any kind towards their social welfare. As part of our sustainability practice, we take our clients to appreciate their lifestyle and daily activities which include grazing and milking cows. we fee this is the perfect opportunity for those who like to immerse themselves in the cultures of the communities they visit.
Alternatively, you can choose to do more game drives on this day.
Drive time: NA
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Kidepo Savannah Lodge or Apoka Bandas
DAY 5: To Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, you will drive back to Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda. This is the biggest conservation area in Uganda with amazing Riverine, forest and Savannah environments. Depending on the location of your accommodation within the park, an afternoon game drive in this park is usually a rewarding experience.
Drive time: Approximately 5-6 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Murchison River Lodge
DAY 6: Morning Delta Cruise and boat cruise to the bottom of the Murchison Falls
Early morning departure from the lodge with picnic Lunch and transfer to catch the morning boat at the Jetty point. While on this boat cruise, you can spot several herds of buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, Jackson’s Hartebeast, Giraffes, Elephants, and several other wild animals that flock the River Nile to drink water. Not forgetting the several bird species that can as well be spotted while on the boat. In the afternoon, you will come back for yet another excellent boat cruise to upstream to the bottom of the Falls. You will be in a much better position to observe how the might River Nile water squeezes itself through a very narrow gorge to only later explode in what has been referred to as the strongest and most powerful Falls on the planet earth. You will return to the Lodge for overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Murchison River Lodge
DAY 7: Morning game drive and evening game drive.
After an early breakfast, you will head to the park for a game drive. Today, you will be able to experience beauties within this park as you drive along the Nile Delta stretch. You will sure likely see several animals including; Lions, Leopards, Jackal, Elephants, Giraffe and several other species of the Albertine Rift birds. You will return to the lodge for lunch, after which you can go swim or just relax at the lodge as you wait to return for an evening game drive to catch a glimpse of the beautiful animals have their last meal of the day.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Murchison River Lodge
DAY 8: To Kibale National Park.
As part of your 19 Days Best Of Uganda 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. After checking in, you will drive to Bigodi Village for a wetland walk. This walk is designed and managed by the local community surrounding the park. All the fees you pay for this walk directly goes to benefit the local community living around Kibale Forest National Park. As Encounter Africa Safaris, we encourage our clients to take part in this walk as the money raised helps the communities to sustainably manage and utilize this wetland
Drive time: Approximately 4 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Isunga Lodge
DAY 9: Chimpanzee trekking
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.
Return to the Lodge for overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Isunga Lodge
DAY 10: Drive to Northern 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 11: Morning and Evening Game Drives.
After an early morning cup of coffee, you will drive back to Kasenyi plains for a game viewing. It’s this time of the morning that the big cats are usually out to hunt for their prey. There will be high chances of spotting lions and or leopards on a hunt or feasting on their kill. Obviously, there is a guarantee that you will see buffaloes, hippos, and several species of antelopes, and many more. You may return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation and return later in the day for an evening game viewing. Return to the lodge for overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Elephant Hab Lodge or Pumba Safari Lodge
DAY 12: Transfer to Southern Queen Elizabeth in Ishasha Sector.
Enjoy a Lazily morning game viewing en-route to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park otherwise known as the Ishasha. After your lunch, you will drive into the park in in the afternoon to search for the popular tree climbing lions. Although this is the best place to see tree climbing lions, the chances of seeing them is not guaranteed. The Ishasha region also has other animals species like Buffaloes, Elephants, Antelopes and many others. You may also drive to River Ishasha to see the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Thereafter, you will return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Ishasha Jungle Lodge or Enjojo Lodge
DAY 13: Game drives and Evening Community Experience in Ishasha Sector.
Bush Breakfast Start the day with a very short drive to our amazing Bush breakfast spot. Accompanied by your driver guide, you will enjoy your morning breakfast with the view of the Ishasha beautiful wilderness. After breakfast you will embark on yet another game drive in the rich Ishasha areas in search of wildlife including warthogs, bush bucks, water bucks, Uganda Kob, Elephants and countless bird species. Remember you also still have yet another beautiful opportunity to see Tree Climbing lions that are only famously found in the Tree figs. You will visit the Ishasha community projects later on in the day.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Ishasha Jungle Lodge or Enjojo Lodge
DAY 14: To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After breakfast, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park which is located in southwestern Uganda. 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. By the way, this is the only National Park in Uganda where wild Chimpanzees co-exist with the Mountain Gorillas. Of course your well experienced guide will help you understand the differences between these Great Apes.
Drive time: Approximately 4-5 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Trekkers Tervan Lodge or Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge
DAY 15: 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: Trekkers Tervan Lodge or Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge
DAY 16: 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: Bird nest Resort
DAY 17: 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: Bird nest Resort
DAY 18: 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: Rwakobo Rock or Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
DAY 19: Drive to Entebbe International Airport
Today marks the end of your 19 Days Best Of Uganda Safari. 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 | USD7560.00 |
| 2 Persons | Any date | USD5580.00 |
| 3 Persons | Any date | USD5100.00 |
| 4 Persons | Any date | USD4870.00 |
| 5 Persons | Any date | USD4730.00 |
| 6 Persons | Any date | USD4645.00 |
Cost Includes
- Meet and greet services
- All airport transfers
- Bwindi Gorilla Tracking permit
- Kibale Chimpanzee permit
- Budongo chimp permit
- Chambura Chimpanzee permit
- On foot Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- 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 as mentioned in the itinerary
- All Park entrance fees
Cost excludes
- Visa Fees at USD50.00 for Uganda
- 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
