If you have plans of touring a natural place like Uganda, you are on the right track. Going on a Uganda safari comes with a lot of fun. However, before you get on the plane, we advise you to put into consideration the following tips as they aid you to prepare for your safari and elude some common errors.
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Check your Passport
If you are preparing for your next vacation, we advise checking your passport to ensure that it is still valid. To travel to Uganda, your passport must be 6 months valid prior to your arrival at the airport. Thus, you must look at it and check if it has the allowed validity time. if not get to the immigration office to renew it to avoid any inconvenience like being blocked from entering Uganda.
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Get a Visa
Apart from citizens of Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, all other nationalities have to acquire a visa to enter Uganda. The Ugandan visa is acquired online by visiting the Uganda immigration portal. When you make an application, within 24 hours immigration informs you if you have successfully been granted the visa. A reference number is issued which is presented at the immigration point which could be Entebbe airport or any border point to print the actual visa into your passport. The tourist visa in Uganda costs 50 and its validity is three months or less.
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Get your Driving License
Do you wish to go for a self drive in Uganda, then you will require a driver’s license to rent a car. You are allowed to drive in Uganda with a driver’s permit of any nationality but if you are planning to do a cross border travel to other east African countries, you are advised to get an international driving license (IDP). The IDP is simple to get, just visit the traffic office in your country. The driver’s license must be valid for six months and above. If you wish to drive in Uganda for more than 3 months, you will then need to apply for a driver’s license in Uganda. This is because other nationalities’ driving licenses are valid for only 3 months.
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Medications and Vaccinations
It is sad to carry medicine on a holiday. But it is significant especially when you are away from home. You may have an underlining illness that requires you to have medicine all the time. Antibiotics and anti-malaria tablets are advised to pack when traveling to tropical countries.
In some instances, medications are mandatory. Take an example, right now a traveler cannot enter Uganda without presenting a covid-19 vaccination certificate or PCR- Test document and a yellow fever vaccine card.
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Get some Cash
The norm of carrying cash when traveling has diminished because of the invention of credit and visa cards. Most travel services have electronic modes of payment where you just swipe your card or make the transaction through an online payment portal. However, in third-world countries like Uganda, there are some service providers still more comfortable with cash transactions. For instance, local restaurants have little room for electronic transfers, they are cash all the way. Additionally, the fruit vendors and souvenir shops prefer cash. Thus, if you wish to enjoy a local meal and African fruits and buy some gifts on your safari, ensure to carry cash. The US dollar is the most convenient foreign currency to exchange in Uganda shilling.
The other option to get cash is to carry a visa card which you can use to withdraw cash and use in whichever transaction you may want to make.
The above are the major things to conder before you travel. You can add other tips to ensure you have a delightful safari.
