Is Camping in Uganda a Good Idea? (Tips!)

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I’ve been camping in Uganda on three separate occasions. The first was on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi and was a great experience for more reasons than one (bar the mosquitos!). 

On the other two occasions that I decided to sleep in the great outdoors in Uganda, I did so within the confines of Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park, respectively. 

Sitting around a campfire with a few cold beers while looking up to the stars was pretty special on both occasions, and I loved the fact that warthogs and monkeys were in and around the campsites. 

Listening to the hippos throughout the night was also pretty memorable, even though I’m grateful that they didn’t get too close!

Outside of Uganda, I packed a tent and sleeping supplies and traveled with a high school buddy across Malawi and Zambia, before making our way down to South Africa on a camping/budget trip. 

So, I have a few experiences of camping trips in East Africa and beyond – some of which I enjoyed, while others weren’t so memorable.

Therefore, I want to provide you with some tips based on my experiences of camping in East Africa, to help you decide if camping in Uganda is a good idea for you. 

I start with some pros and cons of camping in Uganda before breezing through my top tips based on my camping experiences to date!

Pros and cons of camping in Uganda

Pros

  • As it is in most parts of the world, camping in Uganda provides cheap accommodation in locations where it is otherwise expensive (particularly in and around national parks). 
  • While there might not be a huge number of designated campsites in Uganda, lots of hotels permit you to pitch your own tent on their grounds – for a fee. 
  • Camping in Uganda is an excellent way to spend time in the great outdoors and provides you with a unique experience of a fantastic country. 
  • Setting up camp in the confines of a national park is a memorable experience and arguably the best way to hear the noises of the savannah throughout the night.

Cons

  • Mosquitos. Being outside for prolonged periods in Uganda at the wrong time of year can leave your skin crawling with mosquito bites. Not good. 
  • The weather in Uganda is unpredictable and getting caught in a super heavy rainstorm or hailstorm isn’t ideal when you’re out camping in the wild. 
  • Ants. Before moving to Africa, I didn’t pay ants a great deal of attention. But in Uganda, there are ants everywhere in the bush – from tiny red ants to huge black ants. You don’t need me to tell you about the issues with getting ants in your pants! 
  • As I’ve gotten older, I prefer traveling with the bare essentials. Of course, if you’re camping in Uganda, you need a fair amount of equipment to make it happen, which can be problematic if you don’t hire a vehicle.

My tips for camping in Uganda

Preparing a fire during a camping trip with friends in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.

As you can see, there are certainly pros and cons of camping in Uganda, and some people will love it, while others probably couldn’t think of anything worse. But if you’re reading this post, there’s a good chance that you’re on the fence about camping in Uganda, which is a good place to be!

To help you decide, I want to provide you with some of my tips for camping in Uganda. I’m not going to cover stuff like the best equipment to take with you or offer sleeping bag recommendations – I’m sure you can work those things out for yourself! 

Rather, I want to focus on tips that are specific to camping in Uganda, so you can prepare for the Pearl of Africa should you decide to sleep out under the stars during your upcoming vacation.

Identify a campsite and book in advance

I’ve already mentioned that there aren’t a huge number of campsites in Uganda. However, lots of hotels and resorts permit guests to pitch their own tents within their gardens for a fee. 

Even if this service isn’t advertised on a hotel’s website, you can reach out directly and ask the question, as you might be pleasantly surprised by the outcome. 

Doing this offers you a great opportunity to enjoy your meals at an established guesthouse or hotel while using their facilities. 

When you’ve started putting your itinerary together, perform a simple Google search to find campsites in and around the destination that you’re planning to visit and go from there. 

If you don’t find what you’re looking for, broaden your search and reach out to other hotels in the area. Even though it may not be busy, it’s always a good idea to reserve a pitch in advance, as there might not be an alternative nearby.

Bring your own gear

You can buy outdoor gear in Uganda, but it’s expensive, particularly imported brands that you’re familiar with. 

So, if you’re planning to go camping in Uganda, it’s a good idea to bring your tent, sleeping bag, and other camping essentials with you.

While this might necessitate a big pack on the airplane, the last thing you want to be doing when you land is traveling around Kampala looking for camping equipment.

Stock up on insect repellent

Camping in Uganda is a great experience, but the single biggest issue is the huge number of insects that you will encounter during your trip. 

I’ve already mentioned the ants and the mosquitos, and the latter is the biggest issue. Malaria is common across Uganda, so it’s super important to consult your doctor before leaving home to ensure you’re aware of all of the preventive measures that you can take. 

A really simple step that requires no medical advice is buying insect repellent. You can buy insect spray for your body as well as your clothes, protecting yourself as best as you can from the various creepy crawlies that might pay you a visit during your camping trip!

If you head out for a camping trip in one of Uganda’s national parks without insect repellent, I can guarantee you that it won’t be a pleasant experience.

Pack a mosquito net

No matter where you camp in East Africa, a mosquito net is essential. Photo credit: Jane Stroebel.

Following on from tip three, it’s a really good idea to bring a mosquito net with you if you’re camping in Uganda. Mosquitos have an uncanny knack for making it into spaces they have no right to enter, even when you think you’ve done a good job of keeping them at bay. 

A mosquito net provides additional protection against these pests and can make a big difference to your comfort levels during the night. 

If you can’t get hold of one at home before you depart on your camping trip to Uganda, you can buy a mosquito net in Entebbe or Kampala for around $10 – $15, and it will undoubtedly serve you well when you sleep in the great outdoors.

Check the season in advance

There are two wet seasons in Uganda, and they usually run from March to May and September to December. However, if you’re traveling to the north of Uganda, the climate differs, and the rainy season usually runs from March – October, albeit with less rainfall. 

It’s important to be aware of the wet seasons in Uganda because huge downfalls are common during the rainy months, with thunder, lightning, and hail all regular occurrences. 

Such conditions aren’t ideal when you’re camping at the best of times, but when you add into the mix that Uganda is prone to flash floods, it poses an even greater potential risk. 

While you can potentially camp during one of the wet seasons in Uganda, it’s probably sensible to plan your trip for the drier spells during the year. If nothing else, it will make things that little bit easier for you!

Pack warm clothes – it gets cold at night!

If you’ve never been to Uganda before, you might be surprised to hear that it can get quite chilly at night, no matter where you are in the country. 

While you don’t need a winter jacket (unless you’re planning a trek in the Rwenzori Mountains), it’s a good idea to make sure you’ve got some warm clothes to wear when the sun goes down. 

Long-sleeved clothes and long pants are also a good option, as they offer additional protection against mosquitos and other insects while you’re camping.

I’ve put together this super helpful guide explaining what to wear on an African safari, that you might find interesting when planning what to pack!

Hire a vehicle

There are several ways to travel in Uganda, and your choice is likely to be influenced by your budget. However, if you’re planning to go camping in Uganda, I highly recommend hiring a vehicle. 

Most internal flights have low weight limits for your luggage, while buses and public transport options aren’t ideal for bulky backpacks (I know this from experience!).

It’s also quite difficult to travel off-the-beaten-track in Uganda to potential campsites if you don’t have your own set of wheels, so hiring a vehicle for your camping trip is sensible for lots of reasons. 

The guys over at Road Trip Africa have a number of options available to suit different budgets, so you can check out their available vehicles if you want to hire a car for your upcoming camping trip in East Africa.

Consider budget accommodation as an alternative

My eighth and final tip is a little counterintuitive in many ways, but it’s important to mention. If you don’t want the hassle associated with camping, a good alternative is to seek out budget accommodation options in Uganda. 

In most cities, towns, and even close to national parks, you can typically find a self-contained double room in a local guesthouse for $20 or less. 

While it might not be the most comfortable night of your life, it might be a better option for some people than carrying all that equipment around the country! 

So, budget travel in Uganda is possible, as there are lots of guesthouse options available at a similar price point to paying for a camping pitch.

The verdict: Is camping in Uganda a good idea?

In my humble opinion, camping in Uganda can be a good idea. It’s a great way to experience the great outdoors, and it can be a truly memorable way to spend a few nights in a national park. 

Having been camping in Uganda on three occasions, I probably wouldn’t do it again, given that I now know that there are so many budget accommodation options available without having to carry all of the necessary camping gear with me.

But if you’ve got your heart set on camping in Uganda and are wondering whether it’s possible, there’s no doubt that you can have an enjoyable experience, provided that you follow my tips!

Questions To Ask Before Volunteering in East Africa

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Volunteering in East Africa is admirable, and it’s something that motivates people from all over the world to visit the region each year. 

After all, my first experience of Uganda in 2012 was through a volunteering program, and I know many others who first arrived in this part of the world via similar projects.

But volunteering in East Africa is complex, and it’s not something that you should participate in without due diligence and research. 

I also want to make this point loud and clear: not every volunteering program in East Africa is beneficial to the people it pertains to support.

After my experience as a volunteer in Uganda in 2012, I returned to the UK to study for a Masters in International Development from the University of Birmingham, to get some answers to the questions that arose during my three-month stay in the country. 

I wanted to know more about the dynamics between so-called ‘developed countries’ and those that are seemingly ‘developing.’ I also wanted to know why so many people are motivated to travel to East Africa every year to offer their services as volunteers.

Following a research project in Uganda, I had some answers to my questions, and I learned all about something called The White Savior Complex – a complex that completely reversed my views about what is at the crux of volunteering and development in East Africa. 

This article is not about the White Savior Complex, but it’s really important to acknowledge the position that Teju Cole introduced when he wrote the above article in 2012 to add context to this piece.

To avoid being a “White Savior,” it’s imperative that you fully understand the volunteering project that you’re planning to apply for in East Africa. 

While I have no doubt that the vast majority of western volunteers arriving in East Africa are undoubtedly well-intentioned, it’s crucial to question the purpose and structure of a volunteering project before signing up. 

With that in mind, I want to introduce you to eight questions that you must answer before volunteering in East Africa. They’re a result of my university research, as well as an interest in the topic of voluntourism & ethical volunteering in Africa more broadly.

I hope you find them helpful as you seek to make a positive impact during your upcoming visit to East Africa.

Volunteering in East Africa: 8 important questions to ask yourself

Volunteering in East Africa can be impactful for you and the people that you’re trying to help, but this is not always the case. To avoid unscrupulous organizations when looking at volunteering in East Africa, ask yourself the following eight questions and answer them truthfully:

Q1: Is the organization a business or a charity?

A young boy studying in Wakiso, Central Uganda. Photo credit: Felicia Montenegro, Unsplash.

First and foremost, you need to differentiate between a volunteering placement that is offered by a business and one that is offered by a charity. Businesses that offer volunteering as part of an industry known as voluntourism do so primarily for profit, which is in stark contrast to the characteristics of charity-led volunteering placements.  

The easiest way to discern whether a volunteering placement is offered by a business or a charity is to conduct an independent search into the organization. For instance, in the UK, you can search for the organization via the UK Charity Commission to see if it is registered. You can also look at business records on Google to find out if the organization is a profit-making entity.

The reason this is important is that charities and businesses offer completely different types of volunteering opportunities for completely different reasons (more on this throughout). You can use the below comparison to understand which type of volunteering placement you have found:

Business (for-profit) volunteering opportunities are:

  • Expensive (Often thousands of dollars for short volunteering trips). 
  • Advertised with emotive imagery and suggestive tag lines (e.g., Change a child’s life, transform a rural community, etc.).
  • Available to anyone regardless of qualifications, experience, or skillset. 
  • Engineered to the satisfaction of the volunteer, as opposed to the benefit of the local community in question. 
  • Inclusive of tourism and leisure activities such as safaris. 
  • Provided by organizations that are not registered as charities.

Charity volunteering opportunities are:

  • Usually free. Many charities also offer a stipend to volunteers to cover living and travel expenses while in the country. 
  • Offered to fill a specific role that you are qualified, trained, and skilled to do. For instance, if the role is for a volunteer teacher, applicants must have teaching qualifications and experience to apply for the position. 
  • Aligned to the charity’s mission statement and overall objectives that you can find on their website. 
  • Subject to an interview/application process, as well as pre-employment checks. 
  • Provided by organizations that are registered as charities. 

As you can see, the differences between for-profit and charity volunteering placements are stark, so it’s vital that you are able to differentiate between the two before proceeding with an application. If you’re satisfied that you are indeed applying for a legitimate volunteering placement offered by a registered charity, you can proceed to the following question!

Q2: Am I qualified for the role in question?

One of the biggest issues with volunteering placements in East Africa is that positions are often filled by people who are not skilled or qualified for the role in question, which can often lead to disastrous consequences. 
The story of former American volunteer Rene Bach articulates this point.

While not all volunteer positions filled by unqualified candidates have such dire consequences, the reality is that they provide very few benefits to local communities. 

Think about this for a moment. 

If you’re keen to work in a medical center back home, what requirements would you need to be approved for a placement? At the very least, a basic understanding of medicine, some relevant experience, and perhaps studies to show that you’re working towards a qualification.

Equally, if you want to get some experience in construction, surely your employer would want to see some credentials to support your candidacy, as opposed to taking someone who has never stepped foot on a building site in their life?

But due to issues relating to the undercurrent of the White Savior Complex, western volunteers often assume that because a placement is taking place in East Africa, it doesn’t necessitate the same requirements as it would if they were applying for the role back home. 

As a result, placements are often filled by individuals who simply don’t know what they’re doing and are only in the country because they have shown a desire – and paid a fee – to be there. 

You don’t need me to tell you that this is a huge problem.

Therefore, you need to be honest with yourself. If you’re not qualified to do a volunteering role at home, you’re not qualified to do it in East Africa. It’s as simple as that.

Q3: What is the cost of the program?

I’m a firm believer that volunteering is an admirable act of altruism that the world could do with more of. After all, if more people gave their time to causes that they care about, the world would undoubtedly be a better place.

By the same token, I don’t think it’s fair to charge someone a fee to volunteer. And I’m not alone in this respect. 

Some paid volunteering programs will tell you that the cost they charge is necessary because it covers the costs associated with your placement. But in reality, it does a lot more than that, particularly when you consider the fact that you pay so much in order to offer a helping hand.

If you’re willing to give your time to contribute to a cause that you’re passionate about, you shouldn’t have to part with thousands of dollars to make it happen. 

What I mean by this is that you can find ethical volunteering placements offered by charities that actually need volunteers, as opposed to for-profit organizations that offer volunteering projects that are easy to apply for – for a fee – whether they’re required or not. 

Everything in life is subjective, but I strongly believe that you shouldn’t be required to pay a sizeable fee to contribute to a cause that you care about.

Q4: Who benefits from my volunteering?

There’s no doubt that volunteering in East Africa can be a positive thing, and I have anecdotal evidence to support this claim. 

I’m friends with the good people who run placements at Bwindi Community Hospital in southwestern Uganda, and their structured volunteering opportunities have long proven to bring benefit to the hospital, as well as the people that donate their time to be there. 

The hospital welcomes trained medics and medical students from different parts of the world to collaborate with in-country health teams, share best practices, and improve the clinical services to the people that use Bwindi Hospital on a day-to-day basis.

From the outside looking in, it’s a great model for how volunteering should work, as local people, Ugandan professionals, and the volunteers themselves all seem to benefit from the arrangement.

What’s more, there are no exorbitant fees associated with the volunteering placement, and visitors are housed in the adjacent Hospital Guest House at a reasonable fee for the duration of their stay. 

I use this as an example because it shows what is possible when responsible volunteering placements are put together. It illustrates that skilled, well-meaning people can offer their time to make a positive contribution in East Africa without exacerbating the White Savior Complex.

So, when you find a volunteering placement in East Africa that interests you, be sure to question: who actually benefits from my volunteering? It will help you make the right decision about a viable, ethical placement. 

If you’re looking for a medical volunteering opportunity in East Africa, you can find out more about volunteering at Bwindi Community Hospital here.

Q5: Can I make an impact during my stay in the country?

A child photographed by a volunteer in Wakiso, Uganda. Photo credit: Felicia Montenegro, Unsplash.

Next, you need to think about what you can achieve during your stay in East Africa. While some people come with grandiose assertions about what they believe to be possible in a week, others are more measured with their expectations. 

The reality is that you’re not going to change someone’s life by volunteering for a couple of weeks in East Africa, and it’s unhealthy to think that such an occurrence is possible. That’s not to say that you can’t make a positive contribution, but you need to be realistic about what is achievable in a short space of time.

People who are able to spend 3+ months in East Africa are much more likely to feel like their presence has made an impact than those that pass through for a week or so during a summer vacation. 

I appreciate that not everyone has the time to volunteer for several months at a time, and telling contributions can also be made in a short amount of time.

The key is to acknowledge the limitations of your potential impact and enter into your placement with your eyes open about what you can achieve. 

When you’re realistic about your impact, you are much more likely to have a meaningful experience, and you can utilize your time in East Africa efficiently. Equally, if you don’t think that you can make an impact in a short space of time, there are other ways to make a contribution, as explained below.

Q6: Could my money be better used elsewhere?

I’ve alluded to the fact that some volunteering projects can be costly, particularly those that are offered by for-profit organizations for relatively short in-country stays. 

In many instances, if you have $1,000 to spend on a one-week volunteer placement in East Africa, you will almost certainly find that donating the money to a grassroots charity in the region will have much more impact than if you were to pay to volunteer for the same amount of money.

You could look into organizing your trip to East Africa independently before making a donation to a charity directly during your trip to one of the countries in the region. This way, you still have an excellent opportunity to visit East Africa while making a positive contribution, even if you don’t spend your time actively volunteering. 

My good friends over at AJ Tours work with a number of great causes – including Project Rabies – and help people visit several projects in Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo without necessarily volunteering.

You can reach out to Andrew and the team directly or leave a comment below if you’d like me to introduce you. 

Q7: Am I taking away an opportunity from the local labor force?

Another interesting way to look at volunteering is whether or not your presence in the country is potentially taking opportunities away from local communities.

Some voluntourism projects that place unqualified teachers into roles within schools in East Africa often inadvertently take job opportunities away from qualified local teachers.

After all, if a cash-strapped school can rely on a steady stream of unpaid foreign volunteers to teach their students, they are unlikely to look for ways of generating income to pay salaries for local teachers. 

This is a problem that I’ve seen firsthand in Uganda – my wife sits as the chairperson on the board of a local primary school – and the issue of paying teachers’ salaries is always at the forefront of discussion. 

Again, it’s all about how an organization approaches a volunteering program, and some interventions can certainly make a positive contribution. 

But merely filling plugs in the local labor market in East Africa with short-term, often unqualified volunteers is certainly not going to solve any long-term, systemic issues that are prevalent within East African communities.

Q8: What visa do I need to volunteer?

Last but certainly not least, you need to think about the visa that you need to volunteer in East Africa. While many short-term volunteers often arrive in East African countries with tourist visas, the reality is that doing so is not permitted under immigration laws. 

All countries in East Africa have special permits that volunteers should apply for, so it’s super important that you read up on how to apply and what documents you need in order to arrive in the country legally.

Legitimate charities that invite volunteers to East Africa will be able to help you with the process of acquiring the correct permit for the duration of your stay, but it’s a super important issue that many volunteers overlook.

Further reading on volunteering in East Africa

As I bring this article to a close, I hope you have a much better idea of what to think about before volunteering in East Africa. Personally, I love the fact that so many people are motivated to donate their time to causes that they’re passionate about, and I think it’s something that should be celebrated. 

But I also think that we need to be clear about the differences between voluntourism and volunteerism, to ensure that qualified and skilled professionals fill placements in East Africa. 

During my first visit to East Africa in 2012, I participated in a voluntourism program, which is why I’ve been keen ever since to raise awareness about the different types of volunteering in this part of the world.

I actually wrote a book about my experiences in Uganda as a voluntourist – Tie Up The Lion – , which you can order from Amazon if you want to learn more about what a voluntourism placement in East Africa is really like.

Queen Elizabeth Self-Drive Safari (Ten Tips!)

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Planning a Queen Elizabeth self-drive safari? If so, you’ve come to the right place!

Queen Elizabeth National Park is situated in southwestern Uganda and is one of the main tourist destinations in the country. 

As a result, lots of people plan a Queen Elizabeth National Park self-drive while on vacation in Uganda, as it’s a truly memorable experience amidst a stunning natural environment. 

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve embarked upon a self-drive safari in QENP, as I live just thirty minutes from the park entrance. 

My recent forays into the park have been to try and catch a glimpse of the elusive shoebill – Uganda’s legendary pre-historic bird – but I’m yet to be successful! There’s always another time.

But on my last trip to Queen Elizabeth, I had the idea to put together this blog post to provide information to people heading into the park for the first time without a guide. 

So, without further ado, here are ten Queen Elizabeth self drive safari tips that will help you plan your trip to one of Uganda’s premier tourist destinations.

Ten Essential Queen Elizabeth Self Drive Safari Tips!

Heading out into the wilderness on your own terms is the best thing about a self-drive safari. So, to prepare for your adventure, here are ten essential Queen Elizabeth self drive safari tips to bear in mind!

Tip #1: Hire a good vehicle (4WD is essential!)

Queen Elizabeth National Park actually has a main road running through it from Kasese to Kihihi. But that doesn’t mean that the roads are in good shape, and the vast majority of the ‘main’ road is murram, not tarmac. 

All of the tracks within QENP are essentially dirt tracks, and a 4WD is an absolute essential, particularly when you enter the park during the wet season. If you’ve never driven in sub-Saharan Africa before, you will quickly come to realize the value of a 4WD after a short time in the park!

There are several car hire companies operating in Uganda, but I highly recommend RoadTrip Africa. I’ve hired a vehicle from them on three separate occasions, and I’ve never once had a problem with the car or the level of service provided. 

If you’re planning a self-drive in QENP, you should opt for at least a Toyota Rav4, but you can also opt for a slightly bigger vehicle like a Land Cruiser if you wish. RoadTrip Africa offers 4WDs starting from around $50 per day, which is about the cheapest you can expect in Uganda for car hire.

Tip #2: Consider hiring a ranger

Now that you’ve got your hire car, it’s time to head to the park. When you arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will have to pay a park entrance fee (per 24 hours you plan to spend there) as well as a charge for the vehicle itself. 

The cost of park entrance changes from time to time, but you can find the current cost of entering the park here, thanks to the latest information from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

When you arrive at the park entrance, you will be offered the opportunity to hire a ranger. This is essentially an armed UWA official who will escort you through the park, helping you navigate the tracks and potentially improving your chances of spotting elusive animals like lions and leopards.

You don’t need to hire a ranger, and every time I have done a self-drive safari in QENP, I’ve gone it alone, without a park ranger in the vehicle. Still, it’s worth considering if you’re visiting the park for the first time, as it can enhance the experience. 

You can find the fees associated with hiring a ranger in the UWA information pack linked above.

Tip #3: Pack supplies and fill up with fuel

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a vast wilderness with very little in the way of supplies when you enter the park. The towns of Kasese and Kihihi at either end of the park are your best options for stocking up on supplies, depending on the route that you take into the park. 

My advice is to fill your car up with fuel before reaching the park (obviously!), and the same is true for food and drink. Unless you’re planning lunch at one of the lodges in the park, there are only a few local trading centers (there’s one by the Kazinga Channel, for instance) where you can stock up on supplies. 

So, to make sure you’re all set before reaching the park, load the trunk with water, snacks, and other essential supplies just in case you get stuck in the mud and are awaiting rescue! It can get pretty hot out on the savannah, so you need to have an adequate supply of water in the vehicle – just in case.

Tip #4: Don’t drive off the tracks

One of the famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha Sector of QENP. Photo credit: Maarten van den Heuvel

When you enter the park for the first time, you will likely be giddy with excitement (I always am!). You have this incredible wilderness in front of you that’s all yours to explore and the chance to see some stunning wildlife in the process. 

Queen Elizabeth NP is connected via a number of tracks that have been given different names for ease of navigation. You can actually buy a map from the park entrance (it’s around $10), and it’s a huge help when you get your safari underway, particularly if you don’t have a ranger in the vehicle with you. 

It’s really important for several reasons that you don’t drive off the tracks. First and foremost, you’re not allowed to do so, and you will be slapped with a hefty fine (I think off-roading in the park results in a fine of $150).

It’s also a bad idea because the terrain immediately next to the track is unpredictable and could cause your vehicle to get stuck. Also, by heading off track, you might disturb the wildlife living in the long grass, which is a big no-no.

So, even if you spot a leopard up a tree that is not served by a track, keep your distance and respect the tracks – it’s unfair to go off-road and can land you in trouble.

Tip #5: Drive slowly

If you think the potholes on normal Ugandan roads are bad, wait until you get into Queen Elizabeth National Park. The tracks are poorly maintained and aren’t in great shape, no matter the time of year you visit. 

So, it’s really important to take it easy and stick to the speed limit when you’re in the park. There’s no need to race around, as you could easily damage your vehicle by doing so. 

What’s more, if you’re driving too fast, you risk missing out on some awesome wildlife sightings, as going on safari is all about looking carefully through the tall grass to see if you can spot something!

Ultimately, you’re on vacation – so there’s no need to rush around the park!

Tip #6: Animals always have the right of way

This might seem like an obvious thing to say, but animals always have the right of way in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The same is true for animals in every other wildlife reserve in East Africa. 

The best way to look at it is that you’re a guest in the animal kingdom, and they have the right to do whatever is natural to them. If an elephant decides to stand in the middle of the road for 30 minutes, that’s his prerogative. You just have to sit and wait patiently for him to move! 

This point goes hand in hand with the last one and is another reason why it’s so important to drive slowly within the park.

Wild animals are completely unpredictable, and you need to be driving slowly enough to stop suddenly if something jumps into your path unexpectedly.

Again, there’s no rush when you’re driving around the park, so take your time and be sure to give animals the right of way throughout your safari.

Tip #7: Don’t get out of the car

There’s something truly liberating about a Queen Elizabeth National Park self-drive. After all, you’re in the wilderness on your own, and there’s a great chance of spotting a huge range of wildlife. 

But equally, some stretches of your safari can seem a little long and repetitive, given that the park is so big and there are only so many animals within its boundaries. But whatever you do, you should not be tempted to get out of the car. 

QENP is home to lions, leopards, hippos, elephants, crocodiles, snakes, and a whole host of other animals that can potentially cause you harm. Even if you think the coast is clear, it’s impossible to know what’s around you, and you put yourself in danger if you step out of the vehicle.

If you want to go on a walking safari, you should head instead to Lake Mburo– Queen Elizabeth National Park is not the place to go wandering through the bush!

Tip #8: Ask guides for animal sighting tips

Elephants are a common sight in QENP. But to see more elusive animals like leopards and hyenas, a guide is helpful. Photo credit: Social Income.

One of the only downsides of a Queen Elizabeth National Park self-drive is the fact that you don’t have a knowledgeable guide in the car with you. When you organize a safari through a tour company, the guide knows where animal sightings are most likely and is connected to other guides and park rangers who advise them where to go. 

However, just because you don’t have a guide in the car, it doesn’t mean that you can’t take advantage of their knowledge. When you see a tourist vehicle pulled over on one of the tracks, take the initiative to engage the driver in conversation.

They will be more than happy to share their recent animal sightings with you and will tell you where to head if you’re looking for something in particular – the tree-climbing lions are perhaps QENP’s biggest draw!

If you don’t engage the guides that are currently within the park, you might not be able to find the best locations for specific sightings, so it’s an important step to take if you’re on a self-drive safari in Uganda.

Tip #9: Plan your exit

The Ugandan day runs from 7 am to 7 pm, and this correlates with the opening and closing times of the national park. It gets dark in Uganda immediately after 7 pm, and you’re not allowed in the park after dark. 

I’ve been caught out by this on several safaris, and it’s not a pleasant experience! It’s extremely difficult to see where you’re going in the dark of night, and of course, it’s a lot more dangerous to be out alone at night. 

Therefore, to avoid getting stuck in the park after dark, make sure you plan your exit. What I mean by this is that you shouldn’t be heading to the middle of the park at 5 pm, leaving you several hours away from an entrance/exit when the hours of darkness arrive.

Of course, on a pre-arranged safari, your guide will deal with timings. But when you’re on a Queen Elizabeth National Park self-drive, you’re responsible for leaving the park at the right time. 

So, consult your map and make sure that you’re not too far away from an exit as 7 pm approaches.

Tip #10: Enjoy the experience!

My final Queen Elizabeth self drive safari tip is a simple one – enjoy the experience!

Sure, there’s a lot to think about in order to prepare for a Queen Elizabeth National Park self-drive, but the main thing is that you need to enjoy the experience! 

It will prove to be an extremely exciting adventure, and you will find that it will almost certainly be memorable for all the right reasons.

The bottom line: Planning your Queen Elizabeth Self Drive Safari

If you follow the tips listed in this guide, I’m sure you’ll have a successful trip to Uganda’s most impressive national park, and I hope you have a wonderful time. 

Should you have any questions about your upcoming self-drive safari, or if you want to share tips with other travelers, leave a comment below!

If your upcoming Queen Elizabeth self drive will be your first experience of driving in Uganda, check out my recent post containing tips for driving in Uganda as a tourist!

You might also find my step-by-step instructions to planning a self-drive safari useful, as you prepare for your trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Is Traveling in Uganda Expensive for Tourists? (2023!)

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Is traveling in Uganda expensive in 2023? Allow me to explain.

If you’re planning a trip to Uganda in 2023, you might be wondering if traveling in Uganda is expensive for tourists.

The great news is I’m going to talk you through everything you need to know about how much travel costs in Uganda so you can budget for your upcoming trip without getting any unwelcome surprises when you arrive!

According to BudgetYourTrip, Uganda is the fourteenth most expensive country in Africa to travel in, and they recommend a budget of $49.00 per day.

While this might be a decent place to start, it’s important to recognize one important truth: Travel in Uganda is as cheap, or as expensive, as you want it to be.

As such, traveling in Uganda is a delicate balancing act. You need to think about comfort and safety, but equally, you might not want to pay over the odds for exclusive travel when there’s a budget option available.

This post is fairly comprehensive, so I’ve decided to break it down into several sections to make your life that little bit easier. I hope you find this guide useful, and if you have any questions, you can leave a comment at the end, and I’ll get back to you!

What is the currency in Uganda?

Before I start talking about costs, you should be aware that the currency used in Uganda is Ugandan Shillings. Many hotels are willing to accept payment in US Dollars, but GBP and Euros are less commonly accepted.

When paying for transport and generally moving up and down the country, you will need to pay in Shillings.

You won’t be able to get shillings before you arrive in Entebbe, so make sure you have some money to change at the airport or in Entebbe town. You can also withdraw money from an ATM if you prefer.

At the time of writing this post [November 2022], the currency rate was as follows:

$1.00 = 3,800 UGX

Note that the value of the Shilling changes a lot, so make sure you double-check the current exchange rate before arriving.

I’m going to list all prices in this post in USD just to make things easier. Please note these prices are all subject to change.

In your experience, you may even find markedly different prices to those I list here. If you do, please make a note of this in the comments.

I will provide links to my sources where possible unless the costs are from my personal experience. And in that case, you’ll just have to trust me!

So, without further ado, let’s dive in and answer the question – is traveling in Uganda expensive for tourists in 2023?

Is traveling in Uganda expensive? The cost of travel in Uganda 2023

I’m not going to get into international flights, visas, or inoculation prices; those will be covered in a separate post. Here I’m only concerned with the cost of travel when you actually arrive in Uganda.

Internal flights

Many tourists seek out internal flights to take them from Entebbe to their desired destinations, ‘up country.’ This is fair enough, as many of the national parks in Uganda are located at the extreme ends of the country [Bwindi & Kidepo being prime examples].

Internal flights within Uganda are operated by Aerolink, and if you’re traveling independently, you should make your reservation through their website. The booking process is incredibly straightforward.

Here’s a link to Aerolink’s flight timetable, and you can see how often they fly to each tourist destination. They don’t publish the cost of their flights on their website, and you will have to complete a search to find out the prices.

But to give you a rough idea of what to expect here’s an example:

To fly from Entebbe to Kihihi [the airstrip that serves both Queen Elizabeth NP and Bwindi] in March 2021, it would cost me $236.00 each way. So, for a round trip, I’d be looking at $472.00.

The flight takes just over an hour and is an excellent way of seeing the country from above. I took my first flight with the recently established Bar Aviation, and I was super impressed with their service. They have emerged as competition to Aerolink, which will hopefully drive down the cost of flights in the near future.

Buses

If flying is out of your price range, you could consider taking a long-distance bus from Kampala to your destination up-country. I’ve taken many buses in Uganda on various routes, and I’m not a huge fan.

This is because I’m 6ft3 and heavy-set, so they’re pretty uncomfortable for me! Here’s a brief summary of what to expect from Uganda’s buses:

[Please note, I haven’t traveled on a bus in Uganda since COVID-19, so some of the SOPs might have affected the overall bus experience!]

  • They leave when they’re full, regardless of whether they tell you they will leave at a specific time.
  • You won’t have much legroom at all, as seats are tightly packed together.
  • There is no toilet on board.
  • It can take hours to leave Kampala. [On my most recent night bus journey from Kampala to Kanungu, the bus left the station at 8 pm and was still in Kampala’s infamous jam at midnight].
  • Uganda doesn’t have the best road safety record in the world, and bus accidents are relatively common. That being said, the Daily Monitor reported in 2015 that incidents were declining thanks to improved road safety.
  • Prepare to have your personal space invaded by other people and their luggage.
  • Don’t make any plans for the day or night of your intended arrival, as you are likely to be late. And you will need to rest and recover from the journey.
  • There’s no such thing as first class on a Ugandan bus.

With all this considered, buses in Uganda are cheap and the best way to travel if you’re on a budget. To use the same example as the Aerolink flight, if I wanted to travel from Kampala to Kihihi [8-12 hours travel time depending on traffic and mechanical issues], it would cost approximately $11.00.

When public transport returned after the COVID-19 lockdown, the cost of the same bus ticket doubled and was $22.00, as buses were running at half capacity.

So if you’re planning on taking this bus in 2021, expect to pay somewhere between $11.00 and $22.00 for your ticket!

All buses are run by private companies with names like Savannah, Global, and Star Link. The best way to book a bus is to head to the bus park in Kampala and buy a ticket directly from the relevant office.

Just tell someone when you arrive at the park where you’re traveling to, and they will point you to the relevant booking office. Although it’s organized chaos, you’ll find what you’re looking for with a bit of patience.

Private hire

Traveling in Uganda through traffic in Kampala
Traffic in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, is nothing if not chaotic. Prepare yourself for a jam! Photo credit: Prince Beguin, Unsplash.

If you’re traveling independently in Uganda [i.e., your trip isn’t being arranged by a tour company], you can hire a driver to take you to your desired location for a pre-determined price.

Here’s an important point: everything in Uganda is subject to negotiation, particularly when it’s related to travel.

When you first approach a driver and ask him/her to take you to a specific location, be prepared to negotiate. Some cars in Uganda are in horrendous mechanical condition, so you need to make sure you trust the driver that you hire.

If you’ve never been to Uganda before, the best thing to do if you’re interested in organizing a private hire is to book it through your hotel or hostel.

Failing that, you could book through a tour company. I would personally recommend AJ Tours and Travel, a small-medium-sized tour company based in Kampala.

They’re super friendly, and the manager, Andrew, actually helped me buy a car earlier this year. They can arrange a private hire to take you anywhere in Uganda at a reasonable price.

Again, using the same example of a journey from Kampala to Kihihi, AJ Tours could arrange a private hire for you for $100.00 per day, which includes a vehicle and driver. Be aware that you have to pay for your fuel on top of this price and will need to fuel the vehicle to return to KLA.

While this is an expensive option if you’re on your own, if there’s a group of you, it actually works out as a good deal and is much more comfortable than the bus.

In 2020, a new app was launched called SafariShare, which is essentially a platform where you can request a ride from one location to another for a small fee. I’ve seen it advertised on Ugandan TV a few times, but I’ve never used it.

The premise is certainly a good one, and it could be worth downloading to check it out if you’re looking to share a ride while in Uganda.

Self-drive/Car rental

For those of you that fancy an adventure, renting a car in Uganda is exactly that.

It takes a brave soul to get behind the wheel in Kampala. In fact, I think the first time I drove in Kampala was in 2016, and I still have nightmares about it.

However, if you avoid Kampala and hit the highway, driving in Uganda is great fun. You just need to be careful, as I’ve already mentioned that road safety in Uganda isn’t the best.

But before I give you some tips for driving in Uganda, let’s talk about the cost.

I’ve rented a Rav4 from RoadTripAfrica on several occasions, and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.

Their service is incredible, and I’ve genuinely never had a mechanical problem with a car that I’ve rented from them. They have lots of different vehicles you rent, starting with a Rav4 and going all the way up to a Land Cruiser.

The cheapest deal they currently have offers a Rav4 at $46.00 per day, which includes roadside assistance and insurance.

Petrol in Uganda is currently about $1.80 – $2.00 per liter.

Renting a vehicle is an excellent way of seeing the country and gives you the chance to arrange your own safari [which saves you a heap of money and is generally amazing]. I’ll write about this in detail in a future post.

Here are some of my tips for driving in Uganda:

  • Don’t speed. Even though you will be presented with vast swathes of empty roads when you’re out of Kampala, don’t be tempted to break the speed limit. Here’s why:
  • Potholes. Trust me; they’re like craters.
  • Cows and other animals regularly saunter into the middle of the road.
  • The traffic police utilize speed guns and are good at hiding.
  • The speed bumps are enormous, and if you don’t see them, you could wreck your car.
  • Buses travel faster than the speed of sound [they don’t, but they go way too fast].
  • People overtake recklessly, even on blind bends.
  • Trucks are a nuisance and are either driving too slow or too fast. And they’re commonly overloaded.
  • You get the point – the roads are tricky if you’re not used to them. Stick to the speed limit.
  • Regularly check your oil and water. Get into the habit of doing this every time you stop for fuel. Also, check your tire pressure every time you refuel.
  • Carry your permit at all times when driving. It’s common in Uganda for the traffic police to pull you over just to check your license. Make sure you have it on you, or you’ll get fined.

If you’re up for it, driving yourself would be my recommendation, but you need to be careful. It’s not for the faint-hearted.

Public taxis and boda-bodas

A Boda Boda rider in Kampala taking a rest between passengers. Photo Credit: Social Income, Unsplash,

If you spend any time at all in Kampala, the chances are you will need to take either a taxi or a boda-boda.

What on earth is a boda-boda, I hear you ask?

It’s basically just a motorbike taxi. You hop on the back, and the driver takes you where you want to go [usually]. They are notoriously dangerous in Kampala, but initiatives like SafeBoda have improved safety in recent times.

It’s basically just a motorbike taxi. You hop on the back, and the driver takes you where you want to go [usually]. They are notoriously dangerous in Kampala, but initiatives like SafeBoda have improved safety in recent times.

Boda-bodas are more expensive than public taxis, but they’re more convenient, too, and get you to where you need to go more quickly.

People don’t tend to use boda-bodas for long journeys and usually just go short distances within the city. They’re also a common way of getting around in rural areas and provincial towns and are useful if you don’t have a vehicle.

It’s really hard to tell you the price of a boda-boda journey because they vary enormously. However, for a journey of up to 5km, you could expect to pay somewhere between $2.00-5.00, depending on how good you are at negotiating. 

As for public taxis, I prefer not to use them.

I should note that taxis in Uganda are shared minibusses that leave when they’re full. I don’t really understand their pricing structure, but it seems to depend on where you go.

Taxis shuttle people around Kampala, but they also take you to various locations outside the city.

I remember taking a taxi from Kampala to Jinja one time and regretting it immensely. It was just too hot and crowded for my liking, but it was super cheap, which was one positive.

For taxis in and around Kampala, don’t expect to pay more than $2.00 for short distances. If you’re heading out of the city, be sure to ask the price before you board.

I regularly use boda-bodas, as I find them much more comfortable than taxis, but I know lots of people don’t use them because of their dubious safety record.

If you’re using a boda-boda, bear the following in mind:

  • If you can, book through an app like SafeBoda. You will get a better price and a better quality motorcycle.
  • Always wear a helmet. If your driver doesn’t give you one, find another rider. If you’re around for a while, it’s a good idea to buy one for yourself and carry it with you.
  • If you’re negotiating on the street, check the quality of the boda before you get on. If it looks like it could collapse at any minute, find another driver.
  • You need to negotiate the price. Never accept the first price they give you. It’s always going to be considerably less than they quote initially.
  • Avoid traveling on bodas in the rain. Obviously, you will get wet, but the roads are extremely dangerous when slippery. I’ve fallen off a boda once, and it was after a heavy rain storm.

Generally speaking, only use taxis and boda-bodas in and around towns and cities. For traveling further afield, use one of the other options I’ve listed.

Is traveling in Uganda expensive? Summaries and recommendations

So, is traveling in Uganda expensive for tourists in 2023?

I would say it’s as expensive or as cheap as you would like it to be.

For instance, you can get from Kampala to Bwindi for $20.00 or less using the bus. The same trip would cost you more than $200.00 on an internal flight.

Here are my recommendations:

For budget travelers: Uganda provides a range of cheap transport options for budget travelers. If you utilize taxis in towns and cities and travel on buses from place to place, your dollars can go a long way.

For mid-range travelers: If you have a little more money to spend, I’d recommend hiring a car for the duration [or at least part] of your trip. Fuel isn’t too expensive, and you have the freedom a car affords you; just be careful not to speed.

For you lucky people who don’t need to worry about money: If money isn’t an issue, hop on an internal flight and see the beauty of the country from above. You can then hire a private car and driver to take you from place to place.

So, there you have it, your ultimate guide to the cost of travel in Uganda in 2023!

If you have any comments or recommendations for other travelers, please do let me know in the comment section below.