Passport and Visa
For any visitor to enter Uganda, a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry is required by all Nationals. Entry may be refused to passengers not holding sufficient funds, return or onward tickets, and other necessary travel documents.
Travel Visa requirements:
Requirements for Uganda visas and entry into Uganda differ from country to country, are subject to change, and each Uganda visa application is treated as an individual case. Always make visa inquiries before travelling to Uganda. All persons intending to come to Uganda for holiday, tourism, business, study, visit, or Medical are required to apply and obtain a visa online.
Applications should be filled at. The following link: The decision taken on the application will be sent electronically through the email provided by the applicant. If approved, an approval letter will be sent as an attachment to the email provided. Print it out and present it together with a valid passport/travel Document at the port of entry. Information about documents required in the online visa application is found here:
Types of Visa
- Multiple-Entry
- Diplomatic and Official
- Ordinary
- East Africa Tourist Visa (multiple entry valid for 90 days to Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda)
- Transit
Accessibility:
Entebbe International Airport is the Major Airport in Uganda. It lies 43 km from the capital Kampala and is serviced by a number of international airlines such as SN Brussels, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Rwanda Air Express, Egypt Air, and Ethiopian Airlines. Uganda can also be reached overland from Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Arrival:
At this point, customs and immigration officials of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) are polite and efficient to all the visitors to the country. A visa can be purchased on the spot at Entebbe International Airport or at any overland border. Foreign exchange and ATM facilities are available at the airport, which is also serviced by several shops and restaurants.
A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required. All visitors should take malaria prophylactic drugs. It is advisable to drink bottled rather than tap water. At the airport, there is a variety of Airport taxes which can take you on town service but is much advisable to our clients to request our standard vehicles to any destination of choice.
Departure:
There is no Customs desk on departure at Entebbe International airport. Departing passengers are required to present a valid passport or other travel document and a completed departure embarkation card to the immigration officer. The officer will ascertain that the traveller obtained the relevant Visa. The travel document is duly stamped and returned to the passenger. Passengers then proceed to the departure-transit concourse for duty-free shopping and refreshments. After the final security formalities, passengers get into the holding area where they can ascertain their belongings, tickets, passports, and traveller’s checks.
Where to Stay:
Uganda has a number of hotels and safari lodges that offer meals and overnight accommodation to both budget and luxury travellers. You can do your booking to Uganda Hotels, safari lodges, Guest houses and apartments in Uganda through the experts of Trekking adventure Uganda.
Security tips:
Precautions should be taken as in any major city. Unless safety deposit boxes are available in your hotel or lodge, always carry travel documents, traveller’s cheques, cash and other valuables with you at all times. We recommend that you do not walk late at night but instead take a taxi if you have to though Uganda is extremely safe, we can’t guarantee your safety.
Currency:
The unit of currency is the Uganda shilling. The US dollar is traditionally the hard currency of preference, but Euro and Pound Sterling are also widely accepted. Hard currency cash can be changed for local currency at banks and private Forex bureaus in all large towns. However, travellers’ cheques are not widely accepted outside Kampala.
When to Visit:
Uganda has a beautiful climate all year round and can be visited at any time. The temperatures range from 21 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius during the day and 16-20 degrees Celsius at night. The hottest months are from December-January and the wettest and coolest months are March-May and the mid-September to November. Activities like mountain hikes, and gorilla trekking tours which involve tracking through steep slopes with dense foliage and undergrowth and other forest walks are more challenging during the rainy seasons, which generally peak from mid-September to November and March to May.
What to Bring:
Visitors to Uganda are required to have valid passports, and visa requirements should be checked with the customs and immigration at the Airport on arrival before you travel. Binoculars and tour guides will enable you to reap the most out of game reserves and national parks tours and game drives. Zoom lens for Photographers who intend to capture beautiful wildlife and scenery (70-300 or similar). Printing film and developing facilities are available in Kampala. Toiletries and other essential commodities can be purchased at any of the numerous supermarkets and shopping centres in the cities.
What to wear:
During the day, temperatures are generally warm depending on which region of the country one is in, so bring lots of light clothing. Evening temperatures are cooler at especially high altitudes, so it is advisable to bring a couple of light sweaters as well. For the tourist intending to hike or climb the mountains, you are advised to pack accordingly due to the alpine temperatures. You would do well to carry solid walking shoes and strong clothing, a sun hat, sunglasses, and waterproof jackets which are ideal for forest walks, game drives and national park tours.
Driving :
Visitors who wish to self-drive are advised that driving in Uganda is done on the left side. There are numerous car hire service providers within the city with attractive rates although the fuel prices are fairly high, considering that Uganda is a landlocked country. For visitors that have no experience of African roads, you are advised to arrange for a vehicle with Trekking adventure Uganda plus a driver.
Tipping :
Tipping is not a culture that is practised often at local hotels, bars and restaurants, but it is always appreciated. The amount depends on the tourists’ discretion, although tour guides and drivers should always be tipped.
