Uganda Country Guide
“Uganda - home to the endangered
mountain gorilla.”
National Parks in which we operate
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Introduction to Uganda
Uganda inspires fierce loyalty amongst those fortunate enough to have been there,
and with good reason. Uganda safaris offer a great diversity of wildlife, people and
landscapes, placing Uganda safaris amongst the richest experiences Africa has to
offer.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest located in the South West of the country is
characterised by thick tropical rainforest, often shrouded in mist, and is regarded as
one of the most biologically diverse forests of Africa. At an altitude of between 1,000
metres and 2,600 metres, it is a true rainforest with 1,500mm of rainfall per annum.
The Bwindi Impenetrable
National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
is renowned for its mountain gorillas
and moreover the incredible privilege
of being able to track them. Over half
(some 320 mountain gorillas) of the
world’s population of mountain gorillas
live within Bwindi’s forests.
There are three gorilla groups in
Buhoma, Northern Bwindi. These are
the Mubare Group (M), the Habinyanja
Group (H), and the Rushegura Group
(R). The Bitukura Group (B) is situated
in Ruhija which is a two hour road
transfer from Buhoma.
UGANDA
General information
Time zone GMT +3 hours.
Capital city Kampala
Population Estimated 32 million
Currency The local currency is the Uganda Shilling - Ugs. Currency can be exchanged at major
banks and in hotels. Travellers’ cheques are not
a convenient mode of payment in Uganda.
Credit cards MasterCard and Visa are accepted
in Kampala and ATM machines are available in
the capital Kampala. We suggest you carry sufficient local currency and additional US dollars
to cover the cost of any additional purchases.
At Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp we accept
Visa, MasterCard or Amex, as well as cash and
travellers cheques. We do not accept Diners
card.
Lake
Albert
1
Kampala
Kajjansi
Entebbe
SANCTUARY
GORILLA
FOREST CAMP
2
Lake
Victoria
Bwindi Impenetrable
National Park
Flying times
1
2
Kajjansi to Kayonza/ Ishasha Airstrip
1 hr 40 mins
Entebbe to Kayonza/ Ishasha Airstrip
1 hr 40 mins
Road transfers
Kayonza Airstrip to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
40 mins
Ishasha Airstrip* to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
2 hrs
Kampala to Bwindi
10 hrs
Kigali (Rwanda) to Bwindi
* Mainly groups
6 hrs
What to pack
KAMPALA AVERAGE MAX TEMPERATURE IN ˚C
DAY
NIGHT
40
For the gorilla track
30
• It often rains heavily, even in the dry
season, so a light raincoat will be
useful
20
• Sturdy walking boots with good
ankle support and grip are also
recommended
10
5
0
JAN
FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
AVERAGE MONTHLY RAINFALL (MM)
72
86
163
258
252
117
76
77
76
103
142
119
6
5
5
5
5
4
AVERAGE DAILY HOURS SUNLIGHT
5
6
5
4
4
6
Gorilla Permits
A permit must be obtained in advance in order
to track one of the habituated mountain gorilla
families in Bwindi.
A one day tracking permit is currently priced at
US $500 per person and these remain valid until
30 June 2013. A member of our team can buy
your permit directly from the Ugandan Wildlife
Authority office in cash, please contact us for
more details. Please note only children aged 15
and above are eligible to trek with gorillas.
• A light shoulder bag or small rucksack
is useful to carry your packed lunch,
water bottles, raincoat, camera and
other essentials. Local porters are also
available.
• Strong gloves are of enormous help,
as you will be hauling yourself uphill
by grabbing the bushes, and often
sliding downhill on the seat of your
pants
• During the track, wearing a pair of
walking trousers or gaiters will prevent
cuts and scratches.
• Carry a water-proof plastic bag to
wrap your camera and film or memory
cards in
• Flash photography is strictly
prohibited as this may upset the
gorillas. Make sure you bring ample
supplies of high-speed film (400 ASA
minimum or 800 ASA recommended)
or memory cards to counter this. Also
make sure you are completely familiar
with the workings of your camera
before you observe the gorillas.
For the Camp
• Evening dress is ‘smart casual’, there
is no formal wear required. We advise
guests to dress in a way they feel most
comfortable.
• The altitude at Bwindi is just over a
mile high. Evenings can get chilly, so it
is advisable to carry a sweater. For the
daytime, light clothes usually suffice.
Uganda’s seasons
There are three main seasons in
Uganda:
• December through March
This is the hot season
• April and May
The rains begin
• June through November
This is the cooler season
Baggage Restrictions
• A maximum of 12.5kgs of luggage per person is
allowed for light aircraft flights, including hand
luggage and camera equipment. It is important
that you carry soft-sided bags.
• It is highly recommended that you lock your
luggage with a secure padlock. It is also advisable
that you do NOT pack valuable items in your
checked luggage.
Laundry service
• We offer a complimentary overnight laundry
service in Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp. Please
speak with a member of the camp staff who will
be happy to assist you.
Communication
• The international country code for
Uganda is +256.
• The mobile phone service in Uganda
is rather unreliable and signal
coverage in rural areas does vary.
Electricity
• Electricity in Uganda is 240 Volts. If
your appliance is not designed for 240
Volts, you can use the adapters that
provided at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest
Camp.
• Electrical sockets used in Uganda
are the same 3-pin plug used in the
United Kingdom.
Internet
• Complimentary wireless internet
access is available for all guests in the
main areas of Sanctuary Gorilla Forest
Camp.
Passport and Visa Information
• Foreign visitors must pay for a visa
to enter Uganda. Please visit http://
www.uganda.visahq.com for a full list
of nationalities which require visas for
entry into Uganda.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate
required.
• Valid passport and completed immigration visa form.
The cost of your visa will be:
• US$ 50 for single entry/ US$ 200 for
multiple entry valid for six months.
Health precautions
• We advise all travellers to take
precautions against malaria and we
recommend speaking with your GP or
personal physician four to six weeks
before departure.
• You must ensure all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.
Tipping and gratuities guide
If you enjoyed your stay with us the
guidelines below can be used as a
reference. Tipping is a very personal
matter and it is not included for staff at
our lodges and camps.
Drivers and Guides
US$ 8.00 per person per half day tour
US$ 12.00 per person per full day tour
Rangers and Trackers
Ranger – US$ 15.00 per person per day
Tracker – US$ 8.00 per person per day
General Lodge and Camp Staff
This is at your discretion, but we advise
US$12.00 per person per day and this
will be divided amongst the staff.
Contact details for Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp in Uganda
Tel: +254 (0)20 248 7374 • Fax: +254 (0)20 695 0320 Email: [email protected]
This country guide is intended for advice only, and while every care has been taken to ensure that the descriptions, facts or opinions are accurate, please ensure
you make your own enquiries before travelling. Passports, visas and travel insurance are the traveller’s responsibility.