Safari Tips

What To Wear

Pack some comfortable clothing that is not too tight, as Uganda is in the tropics and the weather is generally hot and humid. Stay away from blues as they tend to attract tsetse flies especially when you are out on a boat ride or game drive. It is pretty sensible to pack long sleeved shirts as they will protect you from severe sun burn and insect bites. Some parts of Uganda can be really cold like in Bwindi, it is smart to pack some light jackets or sweaters but avoid Camouflage because in Uganda it can get you arrested. One more essential to come with is a backpack to carry all your valuables and snacks you will need mostly on the walks.

What Gadgets To Bring

Good binoculars and a good camera with a great telephoto lens can cause for a spectacular holiday. Carrying with you a professional type of Camera enhances your experience of watching the pride of lions in the savannah and can be an even greater experience for bird watchers. It is also wise to carry a camera with a bigger memory size; nothing ruins a great photo moment like the signal on your camera going ‘No memory!’ But most importantly do not be so focused on taking pictures to totally miss the Safari.

What Voltage of Plug to Bring

The voltage in Uganda is 240 volts, so you will need a plug made in UK. Alternatively you can use a converter plug that you can manually fit. What would be even better is a laptop surge protector. Fluctuations in electrical service are common around Uganda known as blackouts. When power returns, it can come in a rush, rising significantly above standard household voltage levels to burn wires, overwhelm circuits and potentially cause damage to laptops. A surge protector diverts the extra voltage from a power surge to a ground wire; sparing harm to any connected electrical devices.

Medication & Insect repellant

In case you are taking medication, bring it with you and also do not forget to carry with you or to take your Malaria regiment. You will also need insect repellant especially in areas with tsetse flies; you can buy it online or some outdoor specialty shops. I would also advise you carry some antibiotics and Imodium just in case; you do not want to miss your Safari lying in the hotel room. However, consult your doctor or your local clinic about antibiotics and Imodium before taking any.

Mobile Phones

When travelling, it is much better to have an unlocked International Quad cell phone. On arrival you will need to purchase a sim card as the telecommunication companies use sim cards you will have to register that sim card with a passport size photo and ID and registration is free or you will be provided with the company registered sim cards to use temporarily on your tour depending on the availability.

Bring a Friend with you

It is so much cost effective to bring a friend or friends on tour. Solo Safaris cost higher while if you travelled with a friend expenses can be shared as well as experiences and laughter.

Climate

Uganda has an equatorial climate, with daily temperatures varying between 20℃ and 27℃ and a minimum average temperature of 18℃, though the temperatures can sometimes dip to 12℃. The highest temperatures are usually in the north of the country while the lowest occur on the peaks of Mount Rwenzori.

Most parts of Uganda receive an average annual rainfall of between 1,000mm and 2,000mm, with the North having some areas with the average annual rainfall as low as 100mm.

DOs and DON’Ts

Turn off flashlights when taking pictures of gorillas

Gorillas have a limited tolerance for flashlight as it irritates their eyes. To be on a safe side, use camera settings that don’t trigger flashlight. Settings between 400-800 ASA is okay.

Avoid wearing red cloths

Gorillas associate red with blood and death. If you wear that colour, they are bound to spend more time looking at you than living their normal routines. By the same token, they don’t like bright clothes as it robs them of peace of mind. Cloths with earth colours like brown, black, dark blue are more recommendable.

Don’t litter the park

Throwing non-biodegradable pauses a danger to animals to whom the park is home. They can easily swallow it thinking it is edible, only to suffocate to death.

Speak in low voices

Encountering gorillas is such an emotional experience. Lots of travelers get so carried away in the moment and yell. Though there is no penalty for this, it is not advisable as gorillas shy away from noisy environments.

What to pack

Comfortable hiking shoes

Gorillas live at very high altitudes where temperatures drop as low as 10 degrees. For the bodies of mountain gorillas to operate efficiently without shutting down, they eat 15-30kgs of food every day to enable their bodies generate enough heat. They thus spend much of their day wandering from one part of the forest to the other in search for food. You are abound to spend 1-4 hours hiking through the primary forest to get to where they are. For that, you need comfortable hiking boots. Water proof shoes are more recommended as some parts of the forest are muddy.

Warm clothing

Bwindi experiences sudden rainfall due to its status as a rain-forest in a tropical region. It is advisable to carry warm clothing and waterproof jackets for your camera and gadgets. Long sleeved shirts, gloves and long parts are a must as Bwindi is impenetrable in the real sense of the word. To get your way through some parts, you might have to slither past some itchy plants.