General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Uganda. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING AND LEAVING UGANDA: For US citizens, a valid passport and visa are required. One can obtain a visa either in advance (strongly recommended) through the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda, 5909 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20011; telephone (202) 726-7100 or froma visa service such as CIBT. Uganda requires that all visitors hold a yellow fever vaccination certificate. We will send you documents to use in support of your visa application with your final invoice. Departure taxes from Uganda total US $50 at the time of writing; these are often included in your airfare.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Uganda in the University of Texas series here. You can review the U.S. Department of State background notes on Uganda here.
HEALTH: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommend a malaria preventative; travelers to Uganda should take one of the following antimalarial drugs: mefloquine (Lariam®), doxycycline, or Malarone®. You should contact your doctor as to which of these drugs would be best for you.
The CDC further recommends the following vaccines (see your doctor at least 4—6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect): Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG); typhoid; yellow fever (required by Uganda); and as needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria, measles, and a one-time dose of polio vaccine for adults.
As the situation changes fairly frequently we suggest consulting your doctor for the latest advice shortly before starting your course. You can review the latest CDC advisories here.
CLIMATE: Despite its proximity to the equator, much of Uganda feels anything but tropical, and many people are not prepared for how chilly it can be. Some of the tour is at elevations over 5,000 feet and highland days can be quite cool if there is cloud cover. One camp is at 8,000 feet and it can get quite cold here. However, when the sun shines, it can get considerably warmer. Humidity is low. Rain is possible almost anywhere but we will probably only experience it in the highland areas and even then it should not be prolonged. A lightweight sweater should be adequate for some of the cool evenings and a lightweight jacket will be useful for early mornings and high altitudes.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: There are a few traveling days where long drives are required and you should be prepared to spend a little more time in the vehicle than you would on tours to other countries. As each vehicle has roof hatches and each person has a window seat, this is not as daunting as it might first appear.
There are some long walks on this tour. One, at Ruhijha, takes almost all day and involves the descent from about 8,000 feet to about 6,000 feet in elevation, followed by thee return climb to our starting point. In places the going can be hard. The treks to see the gorillas can also be quite long. A reasonable to good degree of physical fitness is required to take part in all the walks on this tour.
Most days will finish at dusk and we try to allow a one-hour break before we meet to do the daily checklist and have dinner. On a few days this break may be shorter or longer depending on the schedule. There may be some nights when we go out after dinner to look for nightbirds, though we are not allowed to leave the compounds in the national parks.
ACCOMMODATION: During the tour we’ll stay in a variety of hotels, lodges and tented camps of varying quality. In order to have access to some areas we have to use accommodation in a few places that is below the normal standard. In some of the older, out-of the-way places service can be slow and patience is required. For example, at Ruhija Research Hostel, there is dormitory accommodation with outside toilets and showers. A couple may have to share a bunk-house with other couples, there is no central lighting or running water and the toilets are 30 meters from the rooms.
On this particular trip, not all hotels/hostels/lodges provide mosquito nets. Hotels normally spray rooms, but even that is not 100% effective. For clients not happy to apply repellent, a mosquito net would be a useful item to take along.
The food throughout the tour is generally good to excellent and many people are surprised at the high standard provided, even in the remoter parts of the country. Breakfasts are buffets offering everything from full cooked meals to cereals and fresh fruit. At other meals there is almost always a choice of two or three main courses. Vegetarians are well catered for.
DRESS: Informal throughout the tour.
TRANSPORT: Transportation will be in long wheel-base Toyota Landcruiser or Nissan Patrol-type vehicles with opening roof hatches for window-free viewing and photography. Our drivers are professionals, skilled at finding birds and mammals, and at repairing vehicles. Some of the driving is on unmade roads and while most of these are in good condition there are some bad sections. In most National Parks leaving the vehicles is prohibited. Each person will have a window seat and the roof hatches are helpful, but come prepared to spend an unusual amount of time in the vehicles. Please note that the leader will operate a rotation system for seating in the vehicles.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group. If any location where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, that stricter policy will apply.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour. Please note that except as noted in the tour descriptions, meals are not included in the cost of our tours in the United States and Canada.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Uganda will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
Updated: December 2008