What to pack for a safari in Uganda : Safaris in Uganda are among the sort after experiences that tourists engage in as they visit different parts of the country.
Safaris in Uganda can take part in different seasons of the year including the dry season and also the rainy season. Depending on the season of the trip, it is important for the tourist to pack the right items for the safari.
What to pack for a safari in Uganda also depends on the activities that a tourists will engage in during their tour in the country. Some of the activities which are done during safaris in the country include guided nature walks, hiking, game drives, primate tours, boat safaris, bird watching among others.
Items to pack for a safari in Uganda include the following;
Clothing:
Due to the unpredictable nature of climate around different destinations in Uganda, some of the clothing to pack for the safari includes;
- Clothes with quick dry fabric which make it easy to wash and dry them during tours.
This type of clothing is also comfortable and light weight meaning it does not take up much space when packing for the tour.
- Clothes of neutral color
Packing clothes of neutral color also make it easy to blend in with the natural surroundings during tours around Uganda.
- Long sleeved shirts and pants:
For protection against insect bites, sunshine and also thorns when exploring the different destinations in Uganda, tourists are advised to pack long sleeved shirts and long trousers for their safaris to Uganda.
This type of clothing also comes in handy for experiences such as gorilla trekking and nature walks through dense forests which are home to different insects.
Other clothing to pack for the safari include t-shirts, dresses for relaxing after the spending the day in the wilderness during the safaris.
Sun and rain protection items
- Hat and sunglasses:
Another item to pack for protection from the sun during safaris in Uganda is hat and sunglasses.
- Waterproof jackets
Packing waterproof jackets protects tourists from the rain during their safaris in Uganda. Tourists can also pack other items like ponchos to protect themselves from rain as they take part in different activities around the country.
- Comfortable shoes
Packing the right shoes for engaging in different activities during safaris in Uganda is also something to consider when packing for a trip.
Tourists who wish to engage in activities like hiking are advised to pack comfortable hiking shoes due to the steep altitudes and long distance of hiking in destinations like Mount Rwenzori among others.
Tourists can also pack sneakers, flip flops or sandals for their safari in Uganda to relax in the evenings after the tour.
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
For protection from sunburn and insects during wildlife safaris, tourists visiting Uganda are advised to pack sunscreen and also insect repellant.
- Personal medication
Tourists visiting Uganda can also pack their prescribed medication for their safaris a s well as medicines for headaches, allergies, stomach pains among other items.
Other items which can be used incase of emergencies during the safari in Uganda can also be packed including band aids, bandages, antiseptic wipes, hand sanitizer, wipes among others.
During tours in Uganda, the guides are knowledgeable about giving first aid and can look after tourists during their safaris around Uganda destinations in the country. However, tourists can also pack their own first aid kit for the safari.
- Travel documents
Among the important items to pack for the safari in Uganda are travel documents such as a valid passport and visa.
When visiting Uganda, tourists can apply for a single entry visa or multiple entry visa and for those who will be travelling to Rwanda, they can apply for an east African visa which is a joint visa that allows them to visit both countries.
The visa for Uganda can be applied for online and it is important for tourists to know that they cannot get the visa upon arrival in the country.
Other item that the tourist will need for the safari in Uganda is a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
- Camera equipment:
To capture memories during the safaris in Uganda, tourists can bring their cameras and extra batteries. It is also important to have back up storage for the camera images and videos so as not to run out of storage when recording moments on safari.
- Binoculars
Binoculars can also be packed for the safari in Uganda to help the tourists to see wildlife species which are distant during safaris.
For bird watchers, it is important to pack binoculars to be able to see the bird species closely and identify them in different birding locations found around the country.
- Reusable water bottle:
To keep hydrated during the safari in Uganda, tourists can pack a reusable water bottle which they can refill at the hotels and other locations where they access clean mineral water for drinking.
- Flashlight or headlamp:
For tourists engaging in night activities during safaris in Uganda, they can pack a flashlight or headlamp. Tourists engaging in hiking are also advised to pack headlamps which can be used during summit attempts which take place when it is dark.
- Personal items
Some of the personal items to pack for the safari in Uganda include toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion among other items. It is important to carry travel sized personal items to avoid over packing and filling space in the travel bag.
Other personal items to pack for the safari in Uganda include a travel pillow for the long distance drives.
- Travel adaptor:
For purposes of charging electronics during the safari in Uganda, tourists can pack type G plug which are compatible with Ugandan outlets.
It is important for tourists to pack light for their safaris in Uganda. This is because extra luggage becomes a burden when moving from one destination to another and when using flights, it may incur an extra charge.
