How is paying for services in dollars affecting Tourism in Uganda?

Paying for services in dollars is affecting the tourism industry in Uganda both positively and negatively. This comes at a time when many of the locals in the country do not fully understand the exchange rate and what the dollar does even within the city center. The majority of Ugandans and their businesses are run by uneducated people who have supported the economic and tourism sector in the country. Some traders have started using the dollar as a mode of business exchange but the dollar rate to the UGX which is usually unstable disrupts the cost of everything including services provided in the tourism sector.

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Below we are going to discuss both the positive and negative impacts of paying for tourism services using dollars.

The positive impacts;

• The country earns good foreign exchange through tourism when the services are paid for using the dollar. Uganda as a country has earned more when it comes to tourism as it is the top foreign earning activity in the country.
• It is easier to deal with foreign non-residents in the country when using the dollar instead of the UGX. The dollar is an internationally recognized mode of exchange which makes it easy to provide services to tourists visiting the country. The Ugandan shilling is not as stable as the dollar and that is why it is the preferred mode of payment for safaris in Uganda.
• The dollar is a way for employees to earn more and get better salaries as compared to when they are paid in shillings. The people working in the tourism sector start with guides, driver guides, porters and other service providers. Tips paid for the different service providers are paid in dollars and by paying tips, you are indirectly contributing to the community and at the same time providing them with a source of income. Contact us for more information.

The negative impacts;

Although there are positive impacts to using the dollar in the tourism sector in Uganda, it affects the sector negatively especially the locals. The negative impacts of using dollars in the Ugandan tourism sector include the following:

• Domestic tourism in Uganda has been ignored which has led to the tourism sector being filled with foreign non-residents and not the locals since they do not understand the charges that are levied in dollars and to them, it is a high cost. There is hardly a local market for tourism in Uganda and it will need extensive advertising to attract the local market. And to add to that, the locals do not have a culture for holidays or vacations and would rather stay home.
• The dollar payment system has limited how payments are made. Note that cash is not allowed in many of the safari activities in Uganda including park entrance fees and credit cards are rarely used. There are also no banks in the remote locations where gorilla trekking is carried out, so you will need to carry cash with you at all times either dollars or shillings.
• The dollar causes fluctuating prices which are not similar especially if you are planning on doing it yourself (DIY). You will find that different service providers have different pricing according to the travel plan chosen and some might be higher than the rest.
• Tourism in Uganda greatly affects the value of the shilling which in turn leads to the cost of travelling to the country and imported goods/services being a bit expensive. A weaker shilling compared to the dollar makes travelling to Uganda a bit expensive, and the cost of imported goods and services is also more expensive with a weaker shilling.

The different safari activities that are paid for in Dollars

Many of the safari activities carried out in Uganda are paid for using dollars because it is the easiest and most sufficient way. The different activities that are paid for using dollars include:

The trekking permits: gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda require one to purchase a trekking permit and this is usually done after the purchase of the permit. Uganda is known to be the best primate trekking safari destination on the African continent and because of their endangered species nature, they are constantly conserved and that is why the permits were introduced to limit the number of people that visit the national parks for trekking to protect the gorillas and chimpanzees.

The cost of the gorilla permits in Uganda is $80 for East African citizens, $500 for African citizens, $700 for foreign residents and $800 for foreign non-residents. The cost of the gorilla habituation permit in Uganda which is carried out in Bwindi is $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for African citizens and foreign residents and UGX750,000 for East African citizens.

The cost of chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda depends on the safari destination chosen. Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda is carried out in Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Kalinzu Forest. The permit cost in Kibale Park is $300 for foreign non-residents and $250 for foreign residents.

Game drives: This is the most participated in safari activity in Uganda carried out in the different national parks in the country including Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park among others. During a game drive, you will be able to see animals like leopards, lions, elephants, crocodiles, cheetahs, crocodiles, antelopes, and buffaloes among others. Many of the game drives cost between $40 to 50 dollars and this charge is usually part of the park entrance fees charged depending on the destination chosen.

Bird watching: Unlike game drives that are catered for during a safari on the park entrance fees, bird watching is an entirely different story and is paid for separately. Uganda is home to over 1000 bird species that are found in the different national parks and some of the board species you should look out for include capped Wheater, Dusky Twinspot and Green-tailed Bristebill among others.

Guided nature walks: Guided nature walks do not have a specific rate to them but it depends on the distance and what you wish to see during the hike. Uganda as a country is gifted offering so much to see during the guided nature walk including wildlife, bird species, tree species and the varying landscape among others. This is your chance to get in touch with nature and get a closer feel of nature in the safari destination.

White water rafting: White water rafting is the best activity often carried out along the River Nile in Jinja a few kilometres from the famous Itanda Falls. White water rafting is carried out at the precise location where the Nile River gains momentum as it pushes through Uganda to Egypt. You do not need to have any experience when it comes to rafting because there will be an instructor to help you through the experience. It is a fun experience with tourists getting to choose the level of tides that they can handle.

Boat rides: Boat rides also known as launch trips are offered in two national parks in Uganda that is Queen Elizabeth National Park along the Kazinga channel and Murchison Falls National Park along the Nile. The boat ride along the Kazinga Channel is a 3  return trip and you will be able to see wildlife like elephants, waterbucks, crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes and antelopes among others. The trip along the Nile in Murchison is one of the best leading you along the most powerful points along the Nile to the Murchison Falls. There are also several bird species that are along the river banks and note that this activity is paid for in dollars.

Cultural trips: Uganda’s culture is one of the best and the experience you get from this is the best because you not only get to meet and mingle with the locals, but you can as well learn about their unique culture. During a cultural trip, you will be able to learn about the different cultural practices like circumcision (imbalimbalu the Gishu), visit the Kasubi tombs where the Kings of Buganda are buried, visit the communities near the safari destinations where you are welcomed with songs and dance, and trying out their local dishes among others.

Mountain climbing: Uganda is home to several mountains that are worth climbing and the most visited are Mountain Rwenzori and Mountain Elgon. Mount Rwenzori is the highest in Uganda with a snow-capped peak and the best to visit for tourists looking for an adventure and once you get to the peak, you wil have the best and most exciting views of the surrounding areas.

Safari destinations in Uganda

Many of the safari destinations in Uganda are worth visiting and because they are found in remote areas, it might take time to get there depending on the mode of transport that you have used which includes road and air transport. The different safari destinations in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kalinzu Forest, Kibale National Park, Jinja City, Mountain Rwenzori and Elgon, Sipi Falls, Kampala city and Mgahinga National Park among others.

When booking and planning for a safari to Uganda in any of the above-mentioned safari destinations and others that have not been mentioned in this article, note that all the costs will be stated in dollars so that international guests can get to know the estimate of what they have to pay for the different safari activities and other services like transport, accommodation, meals and many more others. Get in touch with us for more information.

When is the best time to travel for a safari to Uganda?

Tourism is one of the top earning revenues in the country and the best way to learn more about Uganda as a country. Uganda is an all-year-round safari destination however the best time is during the dry season (June to September) which is also the peak season. The wet season (March to May) is also a good time to travel to Uganda for a safari. There are however a few factors that you need to put into consideration to be able to get to know the best time to travel because each individual has a time that they consider good when planning a safari. The best time to visit Uganda can be influenced by numerous factors some of which include:

The safari activities: There are numerous safari activities that are carried out in Uganda and these are gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game drives, guided nature walks, boat rides, Mountain climbing and cultural trips that are best carried out during the dry season. Bird watching and photography safaris are best carried out during the rainy season. This however does not mean that you cannot carry out the activities in the different seasons because it is possible because of the ever-changing weather in Uganda due to the closeness of the equator.

The season of travel: There are two seasons in Uganda and these are the dry and rainy seasons. Different activities are carried out in these seasons and this greatly determines the best to go for a safari in Uganda. If you do not mind large crowds and costly safaris, the dry season is the best time for you to travel to Uganda for a safari and if you are traveling on a budget, then the best time is during the rainy season.

The travel budget: The travel budget determines when to travel to Uganda for a safari. If you have a great budget to splurge more, the best time is during the dry season which is a peak season because the cost of most of the services during this period is hiked to cater for the large crowds. The rainy season is also the low season and the best time for tourists to travel for tourists that are on a low budget.

Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris for more information about the tourism sector in Uganda.