How to avoid being scammed when planning your Uganda safari online

How to avoid being scammed when planning your Uganda safari online. When planning the Uganda safari but wish to use online help to build your safari, you need to contact an accredited safari company like Encounter Africa safaris. There is so much information about Uganda safaris online however you must know who to trust with your hard earned money.

Uganda presents a variety of safari activity options but you need to choose which ones fall within your interests and budget to avoid getting confused and wasting planning time. Some Uganda safari activities have a timeline and require advance preparations including gorilla safaris, chimpanzee tours and more.

Book the Uganda safari with a registered Uganda safari company.  Encounter African safaris, we are members of Association of Uganda Tour Operators, subscribe to Uganda Wildlife Authority, recognized by Uganda Tourism Board, registered by Uganda Registrations Service Bureau and more.

Try to check online reviews about the tour company you wish to entrust with your Uganda safari from different online platforms including TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet and more. Some of the information you get may help you understand what the rest of the world knows about the safari booking agent.

Doing online background check up on the tour company you wish to trust with planning and conducting the Uganda safari helps you build confidence the fact that you have to keep communication with a person you have never physically met.

We encourage our clients not entrust details of their credit cards with a person they are still doubting about even when preparations for the Uganda safari are on going. Where possible use money transfer service where it is inevitable as you build confidence with the tour company. 

Stay alert when booking the Uganda safari and not to leave the tour operator to take control of the safari. Participate in making choices of the safari amenities necessary for the Uganda safari in order to avoid getting disappointed when you get on ground. For accommodations to use during Uganda safari, do pre-check online for information about them before zeroing down on your choice.

What to do On Uganda safari

Gorilla safaris in Uganda

Uganda offer chance to do gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience. During gorilla trekking maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit a fully habituated gorilla family. For gorilla habituation experience maximum 4 tourists accompany a team of researcher to have four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family.

Two gorilla tour destinations are open in Uganda that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

You need to book a gorilla permit as it is the number one item to confirming a gorilla trekking trip. Note that gorilla permits are limited so reserve yours in advance. Finding gorilla permit availability at the last minute gets slimmer with time.

Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda

Uganda offer chance to do chimpanzee safaris that is chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation Experience (CHEX). The last census indicated that Uganda has about 5000 chimpanzees. Uganda has a number of chimpanzee safari destinations but Kibale National Park which hosts over 1500 chimpanzees is in the lead.

Other Uganda chimpanzee destinations include Kyambura gorge, Kaniyo Pabidi forest, Kalinzu forest, Semliki National Park, Budongo forest, Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary and others.

One must have a chimpanzee permit before being allowed to be part of this adventure. Two chimpanzee trekking sessions happen in almost all Uganda chimpanzee safari destinations that is morning and afternoon.

Golden monkey safaris in Uganda

Uganda is a haven for primates including golden monkeys which is one of the endangered primates. In Uganda, golden monkey safaris happen in Mgahinga National park where you can do golden monkey trekking or golden monkey trekking.

One must have a golden monkey permit to attend this Uganda safari. Golden monkeys are charming to trek and even though they are habituated, they still posses their restless traits.

Game safaris In Uganda

Uganda is a country gifted by nature including a number of game safari destinations. Some of the Uganda game parks include Murchison Falls National park, Kidepo valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National park and lake Mburo National Park.

An early start while on a game drive in Uganda provides better wild animal viewings as they emerge from nigh hideouts.

While on game drive in Uganda, you may find lions, cheetahs, herds of elephants, buffaloes, leopards, waterbucks, elands, impalas, giraffes, reedbucks, aardwolf and more. Note that not all animals are found in all game parks in Uganda. In case you are specific on seeing a particular animal, request for advise from a safari consultant so that you are recommended on the choice of where you may find them.

It is best to use a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle  which is terrain resistant during Uganda safari because the tracks in the park get messy and rough sometimes.

Birding In Uganda

The birding safaris in Uganda can never disappoint because the country hosts more than 1000 bird species that flock a number of destinations daily. Having a professional birding guide during this Uganda safari is an added advantage because you have so much to see and get the extra explanation.

Some of the birding destinations in Uganda include Mpanga forest, Mabamba Swamp, Lake Bunyonyi, Mabira forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National park and others.

Mountaineering in Uganda

Uganda has a number of highlands where you can test your fitness level. You can do a guided excursion or choose mountain climbing adventure that takes some days. You need to pack the right mountaineering gears to get to the top and be physically fit to complete this adventure.

Some outstanding Uganda mountain climbing destinations include Mountain Rwenzori, Mountain Elgon, Mountain Mgahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Muhavura and more. It is better to arrange the mountaineering Uganda safaris in advance for better preparations.

Water activities on Uganda safari

Even though Uganda has no coast line the different water bodies within its boundaries play a significant role in providing a destination to do a number of water activities. While on Uganda safari, you can do white water rafting, visit a number of beaches to relax, kayaking, tubing, swimming, sports fishing and more.

A launch trip to in Murchison Falls National Park gets you to the strongest water falls in the world formed when River Nile squeezes through a 6 meters wide canyon into the plunge pool.

Embarking on a launch trip on Kazinga channel gets you to enjoy a variety of wild animals that move down to quench thirst from the shores of this shore. An array of birds flocks the shores of Kazinga channel daily and at times foreign migrants find there way here too.  

Sports fishing on Uganda safaris gets you to catch some of the fresh water species include tilapia, Nile perch, cut fish, lung fish, mud fish and more. You need to carry own fishing equipment, acquire a fishing permit, a boat where necessary and more.

White water rafting is available during Uganda safari where you get to peddle through the rough tides especially along the River Nile course. No experience is required to do white water rafting on Uganda safari because operators and experienced instructors are on ground to take you through all necessary.

Other water activities to do on Uganda safari include Beach activities, bungee jumping, kayaking, boat cruise ferry crossing, swimming, tubing and more.

Cultural safari in Uganda

Uganda boasts cultural diversity with a number of people having different cultural beliefs. The cultural leaders play a significant role in preserving the cultures of the people of Uganda. The most outstanding leaders are kings who head a number of cultural institutions in Uganda such as Buganda kingdom with Kabaka as the tiles of cultural leader. Busoga kingdom has Kyabazinga, Omukama of Bunyoro or Tooro Kingdoms and others.

Each of these cultural institutions in Uganda has several cultural centers and beliefs that distinguish it from another although they also have some similarities.  

Best time to Plan and book Uganda safari Online

The best time to plan and book Uganda safaris is the anytime however, the dry season is preferred and this serves as the high tourism season too. It is best to reserve most Uganda safari activities and accompanying Uganda safari amenities in advance to avoid last minute disappointment. The dry season in Uganda is normally December to January and June to September.

For safari activities like gorilla or chimpanzee or golden monkey trekking, it is best to reserve necessary permits in advance because of the restrictions surrounding their supply. Even other safari amenities are highly demanded in this season

Do personal prepare for the Uganda safari by packing the right gears, do some physicals to keep your body in shape in you have to hike or trek, conduct a body check and more. Do not forget to reserve your international flight tickets in advance to avoid inconveniences especially if your Uganda safari is commencing on arrival. 

Note that most the population of tourists who visit Uganda in the dry season is more  compared to the shoulder season so get ready ton share same space with strangers.

The low tourism season which is normally the low tourism season that is November, March to May are characterized with low tourists turn up for Uganda safaris. This should not stop you from planning the Uganda safari in the low season because Uganda is open for activities all year.

Chances of finding new infants are more open in the low season as there is so much space where to hide them. Even those intending to enjoy some peace and tranquility away from the busy life chaos, the low season to do a Uganda safari may provide that safe space.

What is the cost of Uganda safari

The cost of the Uganda safari depends on a number of factors but the tours are packaged according to Luxury, mid-range and basic. The quotations for Uganda safaris are based on per person sharing especially in case it’s a group trip but costs with single supplements can also be availed on request.

For Uganda safaris including gorilla, chimpanzee or golden monkey safaris, having a permit is top priority cost and these prices cut across all tour categories.

Uganda Gorilla permit costs

Currently the cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda include $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents, $500 for other Africans and 300000shs for East Africans.

For gorilla habituation experience permit cost, $1500 for international nonresidents, $1000 for resident internationals and 750000shs for east Africans.

Uganda Chimpanzee safari permit costs

The Uganda chimpanzee safari permit costs are determined by destination.

Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit costs include $250 for international nonresidents, $200 for international residents, $180000shs for east Africans

Kibale chimpanzee habituation Experience permit cost includes $300 for international nonresidents, $250 foreign residents and 300000shs for East Africans.

Golden monkey safari permit costs

The cost of golden monkey trekking permit for Uganda costs $ and golden monkey habituation permit cost is $  

What to expect on Uganda safari

Uganda is a country gifted by nature with numerous options of safari activities than any where else in Africa ranging from wild game drives to the friendly people who offer a free smile. While on Uganda safari, expect to visit the Uganda safari destinations included in your itinerary any time because most Uganda activities are not affected by any extreme weather.

During nature walks or primate safaris in Uganda, expect the trails that you use to explore the forests to stay moist and have protruding undergrowth that at times falls over. Several primates find comfort in the environs of different forests and you may spot some of them.

There is no universal local language spoken by people in Uganda but you may get interpreters during the Uganda safari to help you understand whatever you wish to know.

Expect to the weather in Uganda to be wet or dry during the Uganda safari because the country experiences only two seasons the entire year. You need to know the season prevailing so that you can pack accordingly.

During Uganda safari, expect to share the safari destination with other tourists because bookings are open to the public unless if you close off the Uganda tour destination for a private experience.

Please contact us for more information.