Discover Uganda the Pearl of Africa

Discover Uganda the Pearl of Africa with Happy Uganda safaris

So far discovered by few tourists, Uganda is still virtually untouched and pure. Uganda is a country of many surprises with rolling hills, sparkling crater lakes, abundant wildlife, and adrenaline activities and, of course, the endangered Mountain Gorillas and good amazing culture. Uganda is still authentically African, lush green and home to the friendliest people on the continent.

Geography

The country is located on the East African plateau, with average height of about 1100 meters (3,250 ft) above sea level, and this slopes very steadily downwards to the Sudanese Plain to the north. The southern part of the country is fully covered by Lake Victoria, the third biggest lake in the whole world, while the central part is drained by Lake K yoga with a surrounding of marshes and swamps.

Uganda lies almost completely within the Nile basin. The Victoria Nile starts it’s long journey  from a point in Lake Victoria and drains into Lake K yoga and thereafter into Lake Albert on the Congolese border. It then runs northwards into Sudan.

Although generally equatorial, the climate is not constant as the altitude adapts the climate. South-Western Uganda is wetter with rain generally spread throughout the year. At Entebbe on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, most rain falls from March to June and the November/December period. Further to the north, a dry season gradually emerges; at Gulu about 120 km from the Sudanese border, November to February is much drier than the rest of the year.

In Uganda the northeastern Karamoja region has the driest climate and is prone to droughts in some years. Rwenzori in the southwest on the border with Congo (D R C) receives heavy rain all year round. The south of the country is heavily influenced by the world’s third biggest fresh water lakes, Lake Victoria, which contains many islands. It prevents temperatures from varying significantly and increases cloudiness and rainfall. Most important cities are located on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, including the capital Kampala and the nearby city of Entebbe and Jinja.
Although landlocked, Uganda contains many large lakes, besides Lake Victoria and Lake K yoga, there are; Lake Albert, Lake Edward and the smaller Lake George and every after few kilometers it is easy to find a lake or any water source.

History and Political situation

Uganda developed from the nineteenth century kingdom of Buganda, based along the northern shore of Lake Victoria. In 1894 Buganda was declared a British protectorate, but the country was never fully colonized. Growing self-government through a Legislative and Executive Council led to full independence on 9th October 1962. Milton Obote, leader of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), was elected Prime Minister. He was overthrown in 1971 by Army Chief of Staff, General Idi Amin, who established a brutal dictatorship. The Asian Community was expelled in 1972 and intellectuals persecuted. Border tension led to an invasion by Tanzania, with support from exiled members of the Ugandan National Liberation Front (UNLF). President Amin was over-thrown and ill-organized elections in 1980 returned Obote’ s UPC to power.

President Obote’ s government relied on the support of the army and soon became embroiled in a savage guerrilla war against Mr. Yoweri Museveni’ s National Resistance Army (NRA), who regarded Obote and his supporters as criminals. Growing dissent between Acholi and the Langi factions within the army resulted in Obote’ s overthrow by the Acholi, led by General Tito Okello. Gen. Okello established a military council, but after a bitter battle in January 1986, the NRA occupied Kampala and Mr. Museveni was installed as President.

In 1995, Uganda adopted a new constitution. The Constitution provided for Presidential, Parliamentary and local elections over the next two years, to be held under the existing restrictions on activity by political parties. A referendum was held in June 2000, which decided to maintain the restrictions. The elections which followed in May and June 1996, for President and Parliament respectively, were generally free and fair, notwithstanding the ban on party activity. President Museveni won the Presidency with 74.2% of the vote; N RM sympathizers won a majority vote in the Parliament.

How to get a visa to visit Uganda

Visa Requirements

Visa fees for entry into Uganda are as follows:

1. Single Entry Visa               US$50
2. Multiple Entry Visa           US$100
3. East Africa Tourist Visa US$100
4. Gov’ t officials                     No fee
5. Diplomatic Visa                  No fee

How to apply for a Ugandan Visa?

1. Submit an online application through the e-visa system by clicking here https://visas.immigration.go.ug/#/help/visa or download, fill and submit to the Embassy the Visa Application Form. Please note that the online application system is centrally managed in Kampala and all inquiries related to the application should be directed to the addresses provided. 
2. Must submit original passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel and past the date of your expected departure from Uganda;
3. A Money Order of the correct visa fees (Single Entry = $50; Multiple entry = $100; East Africa Tourist Visa = $100)
4. A letter of invitation/introduction, if traveling for business;
5. An international vaccination certificate against yellow fever must be presented at the point of entry into Uganda;
6. Enclose a prepaid, self-addressed UPS, FEDEX, DHL, USPS Priority or Express return envelope. Regular envelopes are not accepted.

Holders of Travel Documents 

Holders of travel documents (non-passports) issued by the U.S. Immigration Department to refugees are required to submit the following in addition to the above requirements:

1. An invitation letter from the host legally residing in Uganda.
2. The host must obtain a letter from the local authorities (such as Local Council I Chairman) confirming that he/she resides in that locality.
3. A copy of a Photo ID of the host in Uganda, such as a driver’s license, national ID card, passport, etc.
4. A copy of the travel itinerary or airplane ticket clearly showing Uganda as the destination.

Fluently asked questions about obtaining a Ugandan visa

Do I need to apply for a visa to visit Uganda?

A visa is required for US citizens to travel to Uganda as is a passport that will be valid for 6 months after your date of entry. Visas for Uganda can permit a single or multiple entries. … Typically, you will be permitted to stay in Uganda for two weeks to three months, depending on the details of your trip.

Can I get a visa on arrival in Uganda?

Visitors to Uganda must obtain a visa on arrival to Uganda or from one of the Ugandan diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.

Can I Enter Uganda on an East Africa Tourist Visa?

If you are traveling between Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, you may enter all three countries on an East Africa Tourist visa. Obtaining one visa instead of three separate ones saves you significant time completing paperwork, and it saves you money on consular fees. This visa is only available for tourist travel, however, and no work is permitted under this visa class. The East African Tourist visa permits multiple entries between Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya for a period of 90 days.

What Types of Materials Support My Uganda Visa Application?

To apply for a Uganda visa, you will need:

• Valid Passport
• Passport Photos that Meet the Embassy of Uganda’s Requirements
• Proof of Yellow Fever Vaccine
• Properly Completed Uganda Visa Application Form
• Money Order

Depending on the details of your trip to Uganda, you may also need:

• Proof of the Polio Vaccine

NB, Confused by the document requirements for travel to Uganda! Unsure of how to obtain an East Africa Tourist Visa. Let the experts help! Call +256 752 810 425 and you can call any time 0r contact by email happyugandatravellingservices@gmail.com for all information required to get Uganda’s visa and all the other legal travel documents to Uganda.

What Else Do I Need to Do Before Traveling to Uganda?

Make sure your passport is still valid and will be for a minimum of 6 months after the date you plan to enter Uganda. Is your passport expiring soon? You can visit your travel consultant in your country for quick help.

Be sure to receive the proper vaccinations! Depending on your health history, the Yellow Fever and Polio vaccines may be required for travel to Uganda. Schedule an appointment with your doctor and get all of the vaccines, medications, and travel supplies you need for entry into Uganda.

What are the major attractions in Uganda?

A Map of Uganda showing tourist sites

TOP DESTINATION IN UGANDA

 Bwindi Forest National Park
If it comes to safari book with Happy Uganda safaris

Looking for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda? Located in Western Uganda, Bwindi Forest is the most popular tourist site in Uganda, home to the extinct mountain gorillas.

Queen Elizabeth National Park
Discover Uganda with Happy Uganda safaris

This is the second most popular tourist destination taking Uganda Safaris. It is the most popular destination for holiday makers having a big population of tree climbing lions high concentration of hippos and crocodile on the Kazinga channel.
Queen Elizabeth National park is located in south western side of Uganda and is lying on the base of the rift valley between lakes Edward and George and its western side bordered by Democratic Republic of Congo.
Park History
The park was founded in 1952 as Kazinga National park and later after two years it was renamed Queen Elizabeth National to commemorate the visit by queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth covers 2475 square kilometers with Kigezi wildlife reserves and Kyambura. March to May and September to November are usually the wettest seasons in this park.The temperature range from 18 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius.
Getting to Queen Elizabeth National park
The easiest way to access the park is from Kampala via Mbarara town the home of long horned cattle Bushenyi via Katunguru and this distance covers 420km.While it covers 410km from the north Fort portal- Kasese via Katunguru.
Queen Elizabeth can also be accessed from the south Kabale or Bwindi Impenetrable National park via Kihihi to Ishasha gate.Flights are always arranged from Kasese, Mweya, Ishasha

THINGS TO SEE AT THE PARK
Queen Elizabeth is known as the best destination of tourists in Uganda and it has the “BIG FOUR” that is to say Lions, Leopard, Elephant,and Buffalo. And the other animal found are Warthog, Uganda Kob, Antelope, Giraffe, Topi, Giant forest hog, Bush buck, Hippo, Olive Baboon, Chimpanzee, Hyena and many more.The park also has many more bird species of about 400+ hence classified as the very important bird area species of birds include king fisher, Shoebill stork, Vultures, Eagle, Fish eagle, Falcon, Bee eater, and many more also beautiful  butterflies are found every where in the park.
The park includes Lakes of all types and sizes, the surfaced crater lakes, the inland salt Lake,and the Fresh water lakes.It also has mountains,  unexplored wooded valley,and a broad Savannah which provides a home for a wide variety of all kinds of creatures both in water and land.

THINGS TO DO AT THE PARK

Chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura Gorge
Chimpanzees here live the Kyambura River which flows towards the Kazinga channel across the Rift valley.Searching for chimpanzees starts from the Kyambura fig tree camp in the morning hours to early evening and these are always guided walks.
Game drives
The are usually three game drives done in Queen Elizabeth, Kasenyi area game drive,The Northern crater area game drive and Ishasha plains game drive. These are always done very early in the morning and in the evening hours.The game drives usually take you to vast population of Antelopes, Elephants, Buffaloes and Lion in fig trees and these are known as tree climbing Lions.
Kazinga Channel Lunch cruise
Kazinga channel is known as the 40km channel that connects Lakes Edward and George.The shoreline of the channel large number of mammals, reptiles and a lot of bird species which fish in the shallows of the channel.The lunch cruise is the most popular activity done on Kazinga  channel.
Bird Watching
This is an interesting activity in the park since the park has almost 500+ species of birds and is known as home for birders with the help of experienced guide you can spot birds in Lake area, swamps and other places in the park.
Nature walks
One activity done in one of the most popular tropical forest with large tracts in Uganda noted for large primate population and bird species is Maramagambo.This will give  a great experience with the help of an experienced guide who will give you relevant information of primates and birds here.

 Murchison Falls National Park

Renowned safari park with diverse fauna and flora, home the great scenic Murchison falls and a variety of animals, birds and plants.

Rwenzori National Park

Also known as the mountains of the moon, Rwenzori Mountain is one the best places for hiking to the glaciated peaks.

Kibale Forest National Park

This is the best place for chimpanzee tracking while in Uganda. The forest has over 13 primates that thrive in the forest.

Kidepo National Park

Located in the extreme northern part of Uganda, Kidepo has an amazing array of wildlife and its indeed the best for game viewing.

Popular destinations

There are lots of great places where you can enjoy a safari in Uganda. Here are some of the featured destinations you should not miss;

• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – A UNESCO world heritage site that is home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas.
• Queen Elizabeth National Park, the best place to enjoy experiential safaris and game viewing.
• Kibale Forest National Park home to 13 different primate species
• Murchison Falls National Park home to the scenic Murchison Falls. Lots of wildlife & beautiful scenery