Practical information : Sightseeing Uganda
Timetable
The national parks are open all year round. However, motor vehicles are not allowed to enter the natural areas (Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo) between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. (the gates controlling access to the parks are closed during this period). Inside the parks, most activities take place during the day. Chimpanzee tracking (Kyambura gorge, Kibale forest, etc.) is scheduled for 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., while gorilla tracking (Mgahinga National Park, Bwindi forest) starts at 8.30 a.m.. The rare nocturnal outings (Kibale forest walk, night game drive) are sometimes subject to conditions. Reserves managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and those under the aegis of the National Forestry Authority (NFA) are also open 365 days a year. As with the parks, almost all activities take place during the day. For those wishing to explore the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, please note that no vehicles are allowed to enter the protected area after 9pm.
Museums, places of worship, historical sites, botanical gardens and other attractions are open daily (with the exception of the Rwenzori Foundry, which is closed on Sundays). The early-morning museums are open from 7am, but the bulk of openings take place between 8.30am and 10am. In the evening, their doors are closed between 4pm and 7pm. Visits to religious buildings are sometimes restricted on weekends (services, celebrations...).
To be booked
In Uganda, only a tiny fraction of sites and attractions, whether natural or cultural, require a reservation. For example, you don't need to make a reservation to admire a museum's collections or to take to the trails of a national park in your 4x4. You pay for your ticket or admission fee on the spot, without having to do anything in advance. Likewise, most of the activities organized by UWA(nature walks, bird watching, etc.) do not require you to make a reservation. Nevertheless, we invite you to contact UWA staff a few hours (at the latest) or, if possible, a few days before your visit to guarantee your guided tour. Finally, there are a handful of expeditions for which booking is highly recommended, if not essential. The first of these is gorilla tracking in the Bwindi forest. Whether you book through an agency or take matters into your own hands, you'll need to reserve your permit several months in advance. If you intend to undertake your gorilla tracking in Mgahinga National Park, the situation is somewhat different, as the Uganda Wildlife Authority does not issue permits in advance. You'll have to go to Kisoro and enquire at the local UWA branch. If the gorillas are around, you can buy your permit at the last minute. Finally, for the golden monkeys and chimpanzees, although you can register on the spot at the last minute, it would be wise to book in advance with the UWA headquarters in Kampala, as the number of places is limited (for the chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, booking is almost a sine qua non during the peak tourist season).
Budget & Tips
Museums, shrines, historic sites, palaces and places of worship. Entrance fees range from 10 to 35,000 Ush. Nearly 100% of the shrines and places of worship scattered across Uganda are freely accessible, but there are an infinitesimal number of exceptions, such as the Namugongo Shrine (pilgrims are exempt from entrance fees) and the Great Mosque in Kampala (guided tour subject to a fee).
Parks and reserves managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This guide deals exclusively with entry fees forForeign Non Residents. Expatriates and East Africans benefit from lower rates. Children under 15 receive a discount. For those traveling with an agency, these fees are normally included in the price.
- Murchison Falls: US$45 for 24 hours (US$25 for children aged 5 to 15).
- Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Bwindi, Mgahinga, Kibale, Kidepo: US$40 for 24 hours (US$20 per child).
- Semuliki, Rwenzori, Mount Elgon, Toro-Semliki, Katonga and Pian Upe: US$35 for 24 hours (US$5 per child).
- Other reserves: US$ 10 for 24 hours.
For Murchison Falls Park, you will need to add a 24-hour entry fee of 10,000 Ush for a vehicle registered in Uganda and 10 US$ for a vehicle registered abroad. You'll also need to add US$30 per person for a cruise on the Nile or the Kazinga Channel, US$30 per vehicle to hire the services of a park guide for a day safari (not compulsory), US$50 per person for a night nature walk, US$250 per person (entrance fee included) for chimpanzee tracking at Kibale (US$100 at Kyambura; entrance fee not included)... In short, quite a budget! Gorilla permits cost US$800 (including entrance to Bwindi or Mgahinga parks). The UWA website (ugandawildlife.org) is very well designed and regularly updates its prices.
Good deals. In addition to the clever trick of sleeping on the edge of the parks (which saves you a lot of money and gives you a good chance, if not the certainty, of observing wildlife across the boundaries of the protected areas...), you can also try your hand at chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu forest (US$ 50) and birdwatching in the Bigodi swamps (US$ 40) or on the Royal Mile (Budongo forest).
Guided tours
We won't list here all the guided tours offered throughout the country, from Fort Portal to Mbale and from Kabale to Kitgum, as they are abundant. However, several of them stand out for their originality. One example is the exploration of Kampala - often overlooked by busy tourists and tour operators - on foot (Immersion Ug, Kampala Walking Tours...) or from the saddle of a boda-boda (Keefa Motor Tours, Walter's Boda Boda Tours...).
Tourist traps
Ugandan guides are, for the most part, qualified and honest. Although very few in number, impostors and usurpers do exist. To avoid these improvised guides and their dubious knowledge and skills, gravitating around tourist sites (outside reserves and national parks) and/or self-proclaimed driver-guides, we refer you to the national and local associations and tour operators mentioned in this... travel guide. Independent visitors wishing to acquire a gorilla permit should contact UWA directly, either online (ugandawildlife.org) or in person at its offices in Kampala or Kisoro, in order to prevent any possible malpractice...