How paying for services in Dollars is affecting Tourism in Uganda

How paying for services in Dollar is affecting tourism in Uganda. The main means of foreign exchange for Uganda is dollars which is not locally understood by indigenous Ugandans. Majority of the business sector of Uganda is under the uneducated who support its existence but need to used dollars as a means of business exchange

 Most chargers in the Uganda tourism sector as a business are levied in dollars. The unstable dollar to local Uganda shillings makes it quite disturbing to charge the costs in the shilling.

Some of the tourism services charged in dollars include accommodation, park entrance fees, activities within the parks, the driver guide and so much more. The price of the gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is $700 per person which makes it more convenient to foreigners who do not understand the huge Uganda shilling figures.

The use of a dollar for paying for tourism services in Uganda is positively or negatively affecting tourism as stated below.

Most Popular Gorilla Safaris

• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking
• 5 Day Gorilla and Chimp
• 8 Day Gorilla Tracking
• 2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Via Kigali
• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Via Kigali
• 5 Day Chimp and Gorilla Habituation
• 3 Day Fly in Gorilla Habituation
• 3 Day Fly in Safari to Murchison Falls National Park
• 3 Day Bwindi Double trek via Kigali
• 5 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Highlights

Positive Effects of the dollar to Uganda Tourism

• Ease Service exchange to Foreign Tourists In Uganda
• Brings Uganda Foreign currency
• Better salaries paid to Workers

Ease Service exchange to Foreign Tourists In Uganda

As foreign tourists using the dollar as a means of exchange for services provided while on Uganda safari is convenient. This is because its an international currency that is recognized worldwide.

The dollar prices are more stable and understood by the user unlike the Uganda shilling that is unstable.

Brings Uganda Foreign currency

Uganda as a country earns foreign exchange through the sale of tourism services in Dollars. Tourism is one of the intangible goods that Uganda sells to other countries without crossing borders.

The country does not need to spend money-paying taxes to cross there good to another country, which is quite costly.

Better salaries paid to Workers

When tourism workers are paid in dollars, they earn better. They are able to work harder, promote and love the growth of the Uganda tourism. With dollars as a means of earning, the lives of staff members working in the Uganda tourism industry are made better. No one would like to be served on holiday by a frustrated attendant. A part of smile they bare comes from what they earn.

When you hire a porter during gorilla trekking and pay them in dollars, you directly contribute to the zeal to keep protecting the mountain gorillas.

Tipping after any Uganda activity or service provided may not be compulsory but a token of appreciation for work done. It takes a lot of courage to keep serving those on holiday even if its their work.

Negative Effects Of The Dollar To Uganda Tourism

Domestic tourism is not promoted

Most local Ugandans do not understand the charges levied in dollars. The figures look smaller compared to the Uganda shilling yet the dollar weighs much more. The exchange rate for a shilling to dollar is high and may not be affordable to local Ugandans.

This makes domestic Uganda tourism very hard to promote. Even most of the local Ugandans do not have the culture of holidays in a place away from the usual environment. Many would rather stay in there homes as a place for holiday.

Domestic Uganda tourism is still suffering the disease of unpopularity.  During the low seasons when less foreign tourist are coming into the Uganda would be the best time for domestic tourism. This because the demand for tourism services in the destinations is low. Even the service providers like lodges and hotels may offer discounted prices compared to the normal prices.

Fluctuating costs of tourism services in Uganda

Uganda tourism prices are unstable with some services making it quite hard to plan. In case you are doing a DIY (Do It Yourself) Uganda tourism package, chances of finding different prices per your plan is high. This is because no one warns you about these changes unless if you are within the Uganda tourism circles.

 Credit cards rarely used in Uganda as a means of exchange

With the dollar exchange, there is a limit to how much you travel with in cash so using a credit card would be the other alternative. In Africa, the credit cards are rarely used because of the lengthy means of getting money off them.

Even the machines used to obtain money from them are scarce and require recharging which yet electricity power is not yet well distributed in Uganda.

Using a credit card requires one with good knowledge of how to use it which is not common in Uganda. You need to employ a person or train well a person to operate the credit machine.

What Uganda Safari Activities Are Paid For In Dollars

The Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit

The Uganda gorilla permit is paid for in dollars to Uganda Wildlife Authority. The current cost fo the Uganda Gorilla trekking permit is $700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents and 250000 shs for East African residents.

 This gorilla trekking permit cost includes ranger fees, park security, park maintenance, gorilla fund, community support and others. Such money is used to facilitate the conservation for sustainable existence of the endangered mountain gorillas.

Uganda National Park Entrance Fees

All activities done within the Uganda National parks require paying park fees. Even those that have permits like chimpanzees and mountain gorillas have this fee embedded in there permit cost. Some of the Uganda National parks include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Semliki National Park, Rwenzori National Park and other.

At the moment, the cost of Uganda National Park fees are between $40 and $45 per person per 24 hours. Schools have a special arrangement to enable children or students appreciate conservation of wildlife and other features.

Chimpanzee Trekking In Uganda

The Uganda chimpanzee trekking permits are sold at Uganda wildlife Authority. Chimpanzees have DNA of about 98% that of humans bringing them closest to humans in the animal kingdom. In Uganda chimpanzee trekking, is mainly done in Kibale National Park. Its chimpanzee trekking permit currently costs $200 per person per trek.

Kyambura gorge is another interesting chimpanzee trekking destination in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It was formed as a result of Kyambura river erosion as it flows into Kazinga channel.

Kaniyo Pabidi in Murchison falls National Park is also renowned for hosting the chimpanzees in Uganda. Ngamba Chimpanzee Island is the rescue center for orphaned, rescued, abandoned chimpanzees that cannot be rejoined with there communities.

Uganda Wildlife Education Center the former Entebbe zoo also harbors some chimpanzees where you can watch the through the exhibits. With Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary and Uganda Wildlife Education centers, you do not need to park fees but center entrance fees.

Launch Trip On Uganda Safari

Two Uganda game parks have the opportunity of watching game and other stunning features from the Launch trip. Murchison Falls launch trip and Kazinga channel launch trip are breathtaking.

The launch trip on Kazinga channel takes you for a 3 hours return trip. Watch out for several animals  that grace the shores overtime like lions, leopards, herds of elephants, water bucks, hippos, crocodiles, cape buffaloes and others. Look over to the beautiful Rwenzori with its snowcapped peak Margheritah that can be seen during a clear day. Sometimes you have high chances of watching the slowly deem into the dark as it sets behind the horizon.

Murchison Falls National park Launch trip takes you one of the most powerful points of River Nile the longest river in the world. River Nile bisects Murchison Falls National park into two parts and is its lifeblood.

During the launch trip on River Nile, watch out for schools of hippos, crocodiles, herds of elephants, giraffes, herds of cape buffaloes, leopards, hartebeest and others. Majority move down to quench thirst and cool off the day’s heart.

 Both Kazinga channel and River Nile banks are graced by an array of birds especially riverine birds that love feeding from there marshy banks.

The cost of uganda launch trips vary from the vessel you use. There is the universal vessel and some can privately take the launch trip on several boats privately owned. All these are charged in dollars.

 Game Drives During Uganda Safari

Uganda is rich with game in its national parks. Although there may be a similarity in wild animals living in the national park, there those only known to be living in particular parks. Some the Uganda wild animals  living in the national parks include lions, leopards, waterbucks, bush bucks, warthogs, elands, zebras, hartebeests, cheetahs, jackals, wild cats, giant forest hogs and others,

 You need park entrance fees that are charged in dollars that is between $40 to $45 per person per 24 hours.

The best animal views in Ugandan parks are either early morning or evening hours when animals are rising from night hideouts or day hangouts respectively.

Some of the Uganda game parks include Kidepo valley national park, Murchison falls National park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and others. Having a knowledgeable safari guide or ranger guide to take you through the game drives is cheery on top of icing.

Birding Safaris In Uganda

Birding in Uganda is one of the most special activities that requires a well-acquainted Uganda birding guide with experience in birding. The rates of birding guides in Uganda are charged in dollars and vary according to experience or inconvenience expected to happen in the field.

Uganda hosts over 1000 bird species and is Africa’s best birding destination. There are some birding destinations in Uganda where you need to take a little risks to get the best of what you want.

Some of the birding destinations in Uganda include Mabamba swamp, Mpanga forest, botanical gardens, queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National park, Bwindi Impenetrable National park and others.

Some of the birds you may get to see include Standard-winged nightjar, Green-tailed Bristlebill, yellow-throated Greenbul, Red-Headed Bluebill, Dusky Twinspot, Bronze Nannikin, African Finfinch, Spotted Palm Thrush, Capped Wheatear, Sooty Chat and others.

Mountaineering During Uganda Safari

Hiking the great highlands of Uganda is exceptional and all the charges are levied in dollars. They vary according to where you wish to end your hike and which mountain you chose.

 Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon area the highest to climb in Uganda. Its peak is Magheritah which stands high with a snowcap. One need a return tour of the Rwenzori mountains for 7 days. All charges are levied according to the services you wish to enjoy while on this muscle challenging adventure.

You can take the one days mountaineering experience on Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Gahinga and others.

Nature Walks during Uganda Safari

No specific rate is accorded to nature walks in Uganda but it depends on what you wish to see. Uganda is a country gifted by nature and you can take walks in the wild with an escorting ranger guide. Walking in the wild alone of forbidden because you are not familiar with the wild.

Even chances of encountering the wild beasts without fending weapons to protect you are high.

During the nature walks in the wilderness, you may get to see primates like red colobus monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus and others.

Uganda Cultural Safaris

Uganda is multicultural country offering a wide variety of tributes. Most of these tribes are under the leadership of cultural leads including Kings and chiefs. To get to the Uganda cultural destinations, the costs are charged in dollars and there is no universal price for this expereince.

Some of the Cultural destinations you can visit include Tooro palace with the King Called Omukama, Bunyoro Kingdom with a the King referred to as Omukama, Bulange Mengo with its king called Kabaka, Bugembe palace in Jinja with Kyabazinga as its King.

White Waters Rafting

 River Nile has its source in Uganda and just a few kilometers from the source is the Itanda falls for white water rafting. Here the Nile gains momentum that will push its course through to Egypt.

You do not have to be with any experience to enjoy the white water rafting experience. Instructors are in place to take you through all the requirements of white water rafting.

Beating the tides is the most important and you can select which level of the tides you wish to take.

White water rafting costs are levied in dollars too which vary from level of the experience to level.

Contact Encounter Africa Safaris for more information.