A safari to Uganda is fantastic and comes with lots of adventures. Uganda is a stunning country with beautiful scenery, friendly people and breathtaking wildlife. Explore the incredible diversity of this charming destination, trekking Gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park in the south western part, while tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, a home to some of East Africa’s most impressive wildlife. Murchison falls national park with the most powerful water falls in the world. Uganda offers a life time chance and memorable experience of coming face to face with the chimpanzees in Kibale national park, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest and Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria
Getting in and around Uganda is characterized by many experiences as the whole process involves driving to new destinations that come a long with cattle, cyclists, traffic jam and potholes, jumpy roads. While on a road trip in Uganda, expect to bump into these at any point especially in the remotest areas where most of the country’s tourist attraction Centers are. To get out of this situation, you must plan adequately prior making your final journey to a destination of your choice.
Uganda is one of the best safari destinations in Africa. Uganda safari companies cover safari tours in around 10 national parks and 12 game reserves across the country. Budget safaris in Uganda require some flexibility as most national parks in Uganda offer only top-end or very basic accommodation.
In Uganda you can use public transportation to visit different place however, public transport might need a bit of planning before you travel, but it is readily available and easy to arrange. There are different kinds of public transport so you get to pick whichever is most suitable for your travel needs at a particular time.
Taxis
You can use a taxi which comes in form of vans and mostly have a capacity of about 14 people. They can easily be got in Kampala and also other cities around the country and they are pocket friendly. In Kampala they operate within Various Taxis Parks with different routes meaning they can make a stop at any point while picking and dropping off passengers. Each taxi comes with a driver and a conductor and in case you are not familiar with the destinations feel free to inquire from one of them, but be careful as most of them tend to take advantage of new faces in town and they make you pay a higher amount compared to the rest of passengers.
To be on safer side, you will need to have prior knowledge about routes and the amount charged. There are taxis nearly in every part of the country and not only Uganda. However, note that not all the taxis can deliver you to exact destination of your choice given that they have their specific routes.
Boda Boda
A trip on a boda boda [motorcycle] fills travelers with adventure experiences though it can be scary. Boda bodas are found in various parts of Uganda mostly in Kampala and they can maneuver via the traffic but costlier than the taxis. For interested travelers, you can use safe boda which comes with helmets for a rider and a client as a way of reducing risks of road accidents.
Special hire taxi
These are commonly called cabs. They are costly for one to get around Uganda but can be pocket friendly when you are sharing the bill. If you plan to use a special hire taxi, you can bargain for the price though you may not get the best cost depending on how you will negotiate.
Buses
There are various buses in Kampala that navigate through various routes in Uganda. In Kampala city Centre you will find different bus terminals where you will be able to get a bus that goes beyond the city to further areas of Uganda. They have bigger capacity and at times cheaper than using a taxi.
Car rental
This is another perfect means of transportation and there are many car rental companies that you can deal with to get the best and comfortable car for your safaris, whether you plan to go for a self-drive adventure or guided tours. Depending on what your interests are, car rentals in Uganda can be hired both with a driver or only the car with fuel in it.
Air Travel / Domestic Flights in Uganda.
All flights from outside the country only have safe landing at Entebbe International Airport which is the only international airport in the country. There is a plan of developing some other airstrips to attain international status too but apparently, one Airport stands out in Uganda. Some airstrips frequently used by travelers in the country include; Arua Airstrip, Moyo Airstrip, and Kololo Airstrip usually for business. For tourism purposes, the airstrips that have been developed for easy connection to the different destinations in the country include; Apoka, Pakuba, Bugungu, Kasese, Mweya, Kihihi, Kayonza and Kisoro.
Given few major urban commercial cities lie more than 4 to 8 hours’ drive from the capital, flying is not a viable domestic transport option for most people in Uganda. A couple of CAA-managed and privately run airstrips scattered around the countryside. Only three domestic schedule operators; Aero link, Eagle Air, and Kampala Aero club and Flight Training Centre (KAFTC) operate daily scheduled domestic flights. Scheduled Uganda Local domestic Flights by Aero link provide local air service that interest tourists are scheduled domestic flights to several game parks or nearby gateway towns.
If you are interested in domestic flights to local destinations, there are some airlines like Eagle air fly that can arrange for you flights to most of the remotest areas in Uganda where airfields are. You may also use Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and they arrange flights to Ssese Island.
Traveling on Water
There is a regular inland ferry connecting Nakiwogo in Entebbe and the Ssese islands on Lake Victoria and one between Bukakata pier near Masaka town and Ssese islands on Lake Victoria. These islands are one of the most visited places in the country by both local and international visitors majorly for relaxation. The ferry from Nakiwogo leaves at around 1:30pm and leaves Ssese islands at 8:00am arriving at Nakiwogo at around 11:00am. Usually this journey takes about 3 hours on water.
