Are you looking into exploring the intriguing forests of Uganda? Do you feel like you’re ready to bring the Tarzan movie to life? If yes, this guide is just what you need! We will cover important facts about Uganda, ways on how to get to Uganda (from US, UK and other European countries, Germany and Middle East), the entry requirements, best time to visit and the top attractions!
All about Uganda
Uganda — hailed as the13th most beautiful country in the world in 2015 by Buzzfeed.
In 1909, Sir Winston Churchill called Uganda the “Pearl of Africa” after being enthralled by its splendor during his visit. A landlocked country nestled approximately 3,609 feet above sea level on the East African plateau, the Pearl of Africa boasts some of the most gorgeous landscapes in the world including the extravagant snowcapped mountain range, Rwenzori Mountains.
Uganda is famous for being home to the largest number of mountain gorillas, one of the world’s rarest animal species. It is also a spectacular bird watching destination that features over 1,000 bird species in which several of them cannot be found elsewhere in the world. Adventure-seekers also love how Uganda makes the best white-water rafting destination in the world. This is because it sources the mighty Nile River.
About 24% of Uganda’s total land area is made of forests and woodlands. In here lies about 13 types of primates including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons and golden monkeys. But, Uganda is not all about the primates. You can also find other wildlife in this country including African elephants, antelopes, hippos, leopards, lions, hyenas and Rothschild giraffes.
How to get there
Entebbe International Airport (EBB) is the primary international gateway into Uganda and the country’s main international airport. It is located in Kampala, Uganda’s national and commercial capital.
If you want to fly directly into Uganda in a nonstop flight, your options are:
- Istanbul (IST) to EBB via Turkish Airlines
- Dubai (DXB) to EBB via Emirates, Ethiopian or FlyDubai
- Doha (DOH) to EBB via Qatar Airways
Although nonstop flights are not widely available, there are a lot of direct flights available in most countries. Most of these direct flights take a stop at Kigali or Nairobi. Other options include flying into other countries and then taking another flight into Uganda or taking a multiple-stop flight from your nearest airport.
Some travelers might see these connecting flights sacrificing some convenience for their part. However, nonstop flights actually come with a price. In fact, travelers are able to save 20%-60% when they choose to fly non-direct flights. Also, flight duration will of course still depend on your stopover or layover time but we will give you an estimated average just to you have an idea.
If you’re visiting from the United States, the most convenient and common options American tourists take are:
- From Atlanta:
- ATL – Amsterdam – Kigali – EBB (KLM Royal Dutch)
- ATL – Istanbul — Kigali — EBB (Turkish)
- From New York:
- JFK – Dubai — EBB (Emirates)
- JFK – Johannesburg – EBB (South African Airways)
- JFK – Abu Dhabi – Nairobi – EBB (Etihad)
- JFK – Istanbul – Kigali – EBB (Turkish Airlines, Brussels Airlines)
- From Washington:
- IAD – Addis Ababa 00 EBB (Ethiopian)
- IAD – Dubai – EBB (Emirates)
- From California:
- LAX – Doha – EBB (Qatar Airways)
- From Illinois:
- ORD – Brussels – Kigali – EBB (United, Brussels Airways)
Average flight time for one-stop flights from JFK is 19 hours and 30 minutes; from Atlanta is 21 hours and 15 minutes; and from Washington is 18 hours and 5 minutes.
Another option is to fly to London and then take a flight to Entebbe. One-stop flights from the UK usually stops at Nairobi, Dubai or Addis Ababa.
Prior October 2015, British Airways offered direct nonstop flights to Uganda. Due to commercial reasons, the operations ceased and until now, BA hasn’t given a word on whether they’re still bringing it back. But there are so many other comfortable and even more cost effective options to fly from Europe to Uganda.
- From UK:
- Average flight duration: 9 hours 15 minutes
- One-stop flights are available daily.
- One-stop direct flights:
- From LHR (Heathrow): Ethiopian, Emirates, Kenya Airways
- From LGW (Gatwick): Emirates
- Multiple-stop direct flights:
- From LHR: KLM, Brussels, Turkish, Qatar, Qantas, British Airways, Royal Brunei, South African, Virgin Atlantic
- From LGW: KLM, Brussels, Turkish, Qatar, RwandAir
- From Amsterdam:
- Average flight duration: 10 hours 5 minutes
- One-stop direct flights: KLM (via Kigali), EgyptAir (via Cairo), Kenya Airways (via Nairobi)
- From Paris:
- Average flight duration: 9 hours 12 minutes
- Daily one-stop flights are available via these airlines: Emirates, Ethiopian, KLM, Kenya, Egyptair, Qatar, Brussels, Turkish
- From Rome:
- Average flight duration: 8 hours 35 minutes
- One-stop flights are available daily: EgyptAir, Ethiopian, KLM, Qatar, Brussels, Turkish
Don’t worry, most major airports in Europe offer flights to Istanbul and Dubai where you can catch nonstop flights to Entebbe. Also, you can fly with Kenya Airways which flies into Nairobi and then Entebbe. Many European major airports offer daily flights through this route.
- From Frankfurt:
- Average flight duration: 10 hours 50 minutes
- One-stop flights: EgyptAir via Cairo, Ethiopian via ADD, Emirates via Dubai
- Airlines that offer multiple-stop flights: Lufthansa, SWISS, Kenya, KLM, Brussels, Air France
- From Munich:
- Average flight duration: 10 hours 20 minutes
- Airlines that offer direct one-stop flights: EgyptAir via Cairo & Emirates via Dubai
- Airlines that offer multiple-stop flights: Lufthansa, Brussels, KLM, Kenya Airways
There are several nonstop flights that go direct to Entebbe from the Middle East. These flights are available daily.
- From Doha:
- Average flight duration: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Qatar Airways offer daily flights
- Royal Air Maroc offer about 21 flights a week
- Airlines that offer connecting flights: Ethiopian (available MWF), Qatar Airways (daily) & Turkish Airlines (from Istanbul, daily)
- From Dubai:
- Average flight duration: 5 hours 20 minutes
- There are 15 available nonstop flights per week.
- Airlines that fly direct: Emirates (daily) and Flydubai (Sundays and Mondays: Morning flight; Tuesday and Friday: Afternoon flight)
- Connecting flights usually stops at Nairobi in Kenya or Addis Ababa.
- via Nairobi: RwandAir, Kenya Airways, Emirates
- via ADD: Ethiopian, Emirates
If you’re already in Africa or you’re planning to visit one of the other countries before heading to Uganda, here are the direct flights available in the continent:
- From Johannesburg, South Africa:
- Average flight duration: 4 hours
- via South African Airways, available everyday except Tuesday
- From Nairobi, Kenya:
- Average flight duration: 6 hours 20 minutes
- via Kenya Airways
- From Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:
- Average flight duration: 2 hours 5 minutes
- via Ethiopian, Air India, ASKY Airlines
- From Kilimanjaro, Tanzania:
- Average flight duration: 1 hour 50 minutes
- via Precision Air
Entry Requirements
These are the requirements for visitors to Uganda.
#1 VISA
Any visa-prone nationalities (all not listed on the Visa Exemption list below) intending to enter Uganda must obtain a visa at Uganda embassies and high commisions, online or upon arrival at the country’s gazetted ports of entry. If you have been issued an e-visa, bear in mind that you have to travel with your printed e-visa confirmation.
Tourist Visa-on-Arrival Fees (in USD):
- Single entry: $50
- Multiple entry valid for 6-12 months: $100
- Multiple entry valid for 24 months: $150
- Multiple entry valid for 36 months: $200
- East African Tourist Visa (valid for travel to Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda): $100
Visa Exemptions:
Nationalities that do not need visa to visit Uganda for up to 3 months are as follows:
- COMESA (Angola,Eritrea, Malawi, Madagascar, Seychelles,Swaziland, Zambia, Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Zimbabwe)
- EAC (Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi)
- OTHERS (Antigua, Barbados, Fiji, Grenada, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, The Grenadines, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Bahamas, Belize, Gambia, Jamaica, Malta, Singapore, St. Vincent-Tonga)
#2 PASSPORT
Passports should be valid for at least 6 months.
#3 DECLARATION CARDS
Upon arrival, all visitors will be required to fill out arrival declaration cards as well as comply with other immigration formalities such as undergoing required biometric information. Arrival/departure declaration cards are available at the arrival lounge.
Important Things to Remember:
- Overstaying beyond approved duration of stay/visit is prohibited. Otherwise, that visitor will be subject to a fine of UD$30 per day plus other appropriate legal action including prosecution and deportation.
- For visitors seeking to stay longer than the period granted, visitor shall seek extension from the Immigration Headquarters in Kampala or respective regional offices before expiry of the initial visitor’s pass.
For more information, visit The Directorate of Citizen and Immigration Control.
When is the best time to go?
The best times to visit Uganda are during the dry seasons which are from June to August and December to February. These seasons aren’t only perfect to visit the primates, but also an excellent time to see many animals congregate around water sources and saunter around the savannah. Even though rains cannot be avoided in rainforests, dry seasons can promise less rains, clear skies and brighter sunshines compared to the other months of the year.
If you’re aiming to go bird watching, the most ideal time to go is between late May and September. This time is just perfect to avoid heavy rains and also enjoy nesting season for Albertine Rift Endemic birds.
Why go to Uganda over other countries?
Uganda, despite its small size, offer one of the richest biodiverse landscapes in the world. In fact, its variety in scenery and activity made it won the Best Destination in 2012 by Lonely Planet. If your main travel goal is to experience a wildlife safari, maybe Uganda may not be your first choice… But, while it may not match the wildlife viewing in other East African countries, it maintains one of the most authentic wildlife viewing experiences. With a wilderness still untouched by mass tourism, Uganda has so much to offer including the Big Five. You also get to feel as if you have the whole place to yourselves as you won’t be able to encounter numerous vehicles surrounding the game.
Of course, the main highlight of Uganda is the primates. It is one of the only 3 countries that offer gorilla trekking in the whole world, hosting nearly half of the total population of the remaining endangered mountain gorilla on Earth. Its tours give visitors a chance to have a close encounter with the gorillas for up to 1 to 4 hours. Plus, trekking rates in Uganda is almost two times cheaper!
There really is no other country that offers such experiences and exclusivity. The thrill, the rawness, the variety, the adventure. In Uganda, you can meet the “Big Seven”: Lion, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant, Gorilla and Chimpanzees.
Ready to plan for your trip?
Check out Uganda’s top attractions:
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST
Recommended tour: 4-Day Gorilla Trek Safari
Home to most of Africa’s endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a must-visit in Uganda. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s famous for its exceptional biodiversity, harboring over 160 species of trees, over 100 species of ferns and an impressive array of birds and butterflies.
MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Recommended tour: 4-Day Murchison Falls Adventure
Murchison Falls National Park is located in the northwestern part of Uganda. It is widely known for the majestic Murchison Falls, where the Victoria Nile River surges through a narrow gap over a massive drop. Aside from the beautiful landscapes and plethora of activities like boat cruises, Murchison Falls National Park also features wildlife such as warthogs, giraffes, hartebeests, oribis and four of the Big Five (except rhinos).
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Recommended tour: 8-Day Chimpanzee, Gorilla and Tree-Climbing Lions
Known to keep the widest variety of wildlife compared to any other park in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most popular and most visited parks in the country. It hosts an extensive range of large animals and primates, including four of the Big Five: elephants, lions, leopards and buffaloes.
KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Recommended tour: 6-Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Adventure Safari
An evergreen rainforest, Kibale Forest National Park is an excellent birding destination and home to the greatest variety and concentration of primates found anywhere in East Africa. It is also one of the most popular destinations for chimpanzee trekking.
A unique adventure
Now that you know how to get to Uganda and all other important facts you need to know for your travel plans, it’s normal to want to pack your bag already. After all, it is not just a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life, it is also an absolutely unique kind of African adventure!
