UGANDA TRAVEL REPORT.

Punctual as never before, my plane no. ET735 of the Ethiopian Airlines Company, coming from Brussels in the direction of Terminal 2 of the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (Ethiopia), (price of the multi-leg ticket including taxes from Malpensa to Entebbe (Uganda) and from Nairobi (Kenya) to Malpensa with stopover in Addis Ababa: Euro 514.14).

Dinner and breakfast are served on the aforementioned aircraft.

Arrival on time at 6.00 am, at Terminal 2 of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (Ethiopia). There is a 1 hour time zone compared to Italy.

At the aforementioned airport, I stay in the transit area (where there are seats where you can lie down to sleep) and therefore it is not necessary for me to be stamped with the Ethiopian entry stamp.

Punctual as never before from Terminal 2 of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) at 10.10 am, my plane no. ET332 of the Ethiopian Airlines Company in the direction of the International Airport of Entebbe (Uganda), (price of the multi-route ticket including taxes from Malpensa to Entebbe (Uganda) and from Nairobi (Kenya) to Malpensa with a stopover in Addis Ababa: Euro 514.14 ).

Lunch is served on the aforementioned aircraft.

I therefore arrive at 12.15 P.M., at Entebbe International Airport (Uganda), located about 40 km south-east of the center of the capital Kampala. There is a 1 hour time zone compared to Italy.

To enter Uganda an entry visa is required, both for tourism and for work.

From 1 July 2016, a new online procedure for applying for an entry visa to the country came into force, which must be requested online by connecting to the site “https://visas.immigration.go.ug”.

After entering the required data, attaching the necessary documents and paying by credit card 51 $ (single entry), 101 $ (multiple entry visa 6–12 months), 151 $ (multiple entry visa 24 months), 201 $ (multiple entry visa 36 months) and $ 101 (East African Tourist Visa - 3 months multiple entry for Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda), the applicant receives within ten days a receipt with a barcode to be presented at the Ugandan border crossing where, following the acquisition of biometric data, obtain a visa.

To enter Uganda it is mandatory to be in possession of a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate which you are promptly asked for at Entebbe International Airport (Uganda).

At Entebbe International Airport (Uganda), it is possible to withdraw money at ATMs, or change cash (Euros, Dollars or Pounds), but with a clearly unfavorable exchange rate (1 Euro = 3,800 USh) compared to what you can get get to downtown Kampala (1 Euro = 4.232 USh).

Keep in mind that in Uganda the public and private transport service on weekends and Sundays do not suffer reductions.

In Uganda a lot of people speak English.

From Entebbe International Airport (Uganda), located about 40 km south-east of the center of the capital Kampala, to reach Nakiwogo (near Entebbe), taking into account that boda -boda (motorbike) does not circulate, the fastest solution is that of taking a taxi at the price of 20,000 Ush (bargaining heavily).

The Ssese Islands (Buggala Island, Banda Island and Bukasa Island) are the most beautiful Ugandan Islands of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. The most accessible is Buggala Island, reachable by the MV Kalangala Ferry which leaves every day at 14.00 from Nakiwogo (near Entebbe). The trip lasts 3 and a half hours. The first class ticket costs 14,000 Ush, the second class one costs 10,000 Ush and can be purchased at the desk, located in the small port. Before embarking, the police check each passenger's luggage one by one.

On Buggala Island, the MV Kalangala Ferry docks at Lutoboka Bay in Kalangala, where at the small marina many Resorts, Guesthouse and Hotel, almost all overlooking the beaches of Lake Victoria, are proposed with clear signs so that you can choose the best accommodation . For the occasion I chose the Ssese Islands Beach Hotel, located on the beach, near the golf course, 300 meters away. about from the port if you pass by the beach. For each night for a double in Bugalow I paid 30,000 Ush, without breakfast and without wifi, but including free transport to the Hotel.

Buggala Island is a magnificent place to relax or hike in the midst of nature, but it is necessary to keep in mind that this is a malarial area and that it is highly inadvisable to swim in the inviting Lake Victoria in order not to take Bilharzia

From Lutoboka Bay in Kalangala (Buggala Island), to return to Nakiwogo (near Entebbe) it is necessary to take the MV Kalangala Ferry which leaves every day at 8.00. The trip lasts 3 and a half hours. The first class ticket costs 14,000 Ush, the second class one costs 10,000 Ush and can be purchased at the desk, located in the small port. Before embarking, the police check each passenger's luggage one by one.

From Nakiwogo, to reach the taxi park in Entebbe, the cheapest solution is to take a boda –boda (motorbike) for the price of 2,000 Ush. The journey takes about 10 minutes.

If you have booked a Gorillas Permit, through Gorilla Tours Ltd (Open Hours: Monday - Friday. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm), located at Plot 624/625 Lubowa Rise Rd, Lubowa Estate Rise Road, Opposite Upper Gate of International Schoold of Uganda, PO Box 29333 Kampala, Uganda it is necessary to go to the same to collect the original permit for the Gorillas following the following indications: By public means, you will take a matatu [locally known as taxi] to Kampala from the taxi park in Entebbe. Please ask the driver to leave you in LUBOWA [opposite Roofings Ltd]. This is approx. 30kms from Entebbe (2,000 Ush - 40 '). From here you will take a motorbike [popularly known as the boda boda] to our offices, opposite the upper gate of INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF UGANDA. There you will find a sign post with GORILLA TOURS (1,500 Ush - 5 ').

From LUBOWA, to reach Kampala, take the main road and wait for one of the numerous Matatu coming from Entebbe. In about 20 minutes you can reach the center of Kampala for the price of 1,500 Ush. You pay the attendant before getting off.

Kampala is a fairly safe city but very busy and you can walk around, keeping in mind in Kampala Road, there are numerous banks to change money.

From the center of Kampala to reach Kasubi Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located 5 km northwest of the center, the cheapest and fastest solution is to take a boda -boda (motorbike) at the price of 7,000 Ush .

From Kasubi Tombs to reach the Namirembe Cathedral, located 4 km west of the center of Kampala, the cheapest and fastest solution is to take a boda -boda (motorbike) for the price of 2,000 Ush.

From Namirembe Cathedral to reach Bulange Royal Building, located 4 km west of the center of Kampala, the cheapest and fastest solution is to take a boda -boda (motorbike) for the price of 2,000 Ush.

The Bulange Royal Building allows you to visit the Ugandan Parliament. Visits are possible every day from 8.00 to 17.00. The cost of the fare is 35,000 Ush, including the compulsory Guide.

From the Bulange Royal Building to reach Mengo Palace, located 4 km southwest of the center of Kampala, the cheapest and fastest solution is to take a boda -boda (motorbike) for the price of 1,000 Ush.

 

The Mengo Palace can only be visited outside. Visits are possible every day from 8.00 to 17.30. The cost of the fare is 35,000 Ush, including the compulsory Guide.

From Mengo Palace to reach Rubaga Cathedral, located 6 km southwest of the center of Kampala, the cheapest and fastest solution is to take a boda -boda (motorbike) for the price of 1,000 Ush.

From Rubaga Cathedral to reach the Volcano Express Bus Station, located 3 km southwest of Kampala city center, near the Ghadafi Mosque and opposite the Bakuli Bus Terminal, the cheapest and fastest solution is to take a boda –boda (motorbike) at the price of 5,000 Ush.

From the Volcano Express Bus Station, located 3 km south-west of the center of Kampala, near the Ghadafi Mosque and in front of the Bakuli Bus Terminal, comfortable buses leave without bathroom inside, to Kigali (Rwanda) at the following times : 1.00, 3.00, 7.00, 9.00, 17.00, 19.000, 20.00, 21.00, 22.00, which also stop in Kabale (7 hours, 40.000 Ush), a town located a few kilometers before the border with Rwanda.

Lake Bunyonyi is by far the most beautiful and touristic in Uganda, full of beautiful islands and surrounded by villages and hills. It is very deep and is the only one in Uganda where it is possible to swim as it is not infested with crocodiles, hippos and bilarzia. Its waters are very warm especially in the early morning. A canoe trip costs 15,000 Ush per hour. Lake Bunyonyi, is about 9 km from Kabale, 7 of which are dirt roads. The cheapest and fastest solution is to get a boda -boda (motorbike) at the price of 7,000 Ush.

From Kabale there are no Matatu for Buhoma but only these 2 solutions:

1. Take a boda boda (motorbike) at the price of 40,000 Ush (bargaining heavily; some tourists even paid 50 USD), for about 120 km of which 76 km are unpaved for a journey time of about 3 hours (you cross the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and when you enter you must register);

2. Take a Pick up truck which leaves when full (usually at 10 or 11) in the direction of Kihihi and get off at Kanyantorogo (10,000 Ush, 3 hours). From here it is necessary to take another Pick up truck for Butogota (4,000 Ush, 30 ') or wait for the 3.00 pm bus coming from Kampala and heading to Buhoma. From Butogota, located 17 km north-east of Buhoma, it is necessary to take a boda –boda (motorbike) at the price of 20,000 Ush to reach Buhoma.

In Buhoma, there are Lodges which cost 750 USD per night and Guesthouse which cost 10 USD. I slept in a Bungalow at Buhoma Community Rest Camp, located right next to Bwindi park Headquarters, at a price of 30 USD per night or 216,000 Ush, excluding breakfast, but including free wifi in the dining room, which often doesn't work . Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available for USD 10 to USD 20.

In the world there are only 600 Mountain Gorillas distributed in 3 countries: 300 in Uganda and 300 distributed between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Considering that the latter country is currently not safe for tourism and that the cost to see Gorillas in Rwanda for an hour is 1,500 USD, it is logical that you end up choosing the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda where the costs are as follows: High Season (June to October and December to May): USD 600. Low Season (April, May and November): USD 350. Since only 96 permits are issued per day in 4 locations (Buhoma , Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga), in High Season it is necessary to purchase the permit at least 3 months in advance (especially for Buhoma which is the most accessible location and therefore the most requested) and to obtain it you must contact the Uganda Wildlife Authority via e_mail (UWA), but probably, as happened to me, you will not get an answer and therefore you will have to go to a Ugandan travel agency who will get permission for you and ask you for 50 USD for the service. I turned to Gorilla Tours Ltd (Open Hours: Monday - Friday. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm), located in Plot 624/625 Lubowa Rise Rd, Lubowa Estate Rise Road, Opposite Upper Gate of International Schoold of Uganda , PO Box 29333 Kampala (Website: - www.gorillatours.com ,, E_mail_: violet@gorillatours.com). So in the end you will end up paying almost 700 USD (600 USD for permit, 50 USD for the agency, 50 USD to pay the Bank for the execution of an International Bank Transfer, since it is the only accepted means of payment. ). Once you have paid, the Agency will purchase the Gorilla Permit at the UWA in Kampala and will send it scanned by E_mail and when you arrive in Uganda you will have to go to the Agency at the aforementioned address to collect the original permit to present the day of the excursion.

For those like me who have purchased the permit to see the Gorillas in Buhoma, you must show up with the original permit and the attached card, at 7.30 am on the day indicated on the permit at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Headquarters, located next to the Buhoma Community Rest Camp, where the UWA employees will check your permit and issue you the receipt to be presented 300 mt. further on, which is the point where you are for the departure, how to behave with the Gorillas is explained and 5 groups of about 15 people are formed who will go to see the 5 Gorilla families distributed in 5 different areas of the park. Only the excursion for the "Mubare" family, in which I participated, starts from there. The others must be reached by car.

The excursion starts at approximately 8.45 am and lasts from 5 to 8 hours depending on where the Gorillas are and the athleticism of the group of people. The path is bumpy. The caravan is made up of 2 armed guards (one in front and one behind), a Guide, the carriers of paid backpacks for those who want them and of course the 15 tourists. Once you leave, the chance to see Gorillas is almost guaranteed. You can stay with the Gorillas for only 1 hour and the excursion is carried out in any weather condition. At the end you are given a Certificate of Participation.

From the center of Buhoma, there are 2 buses a day to Kampala: the first one leaves at 4.00 A.M. and takes about 12 hours to reach its destination while the second leaves at a time between 16.00 and 17.00 and arrives in Kampala shortly before 6.00 A.M. The ticket price is 40,000 Ush. You pay the attendant after getting on.

In Kampala the Bus coming from Buhoma, will probably arrive at the Buganda Bus Park from which it is necessary to take a Boda Boda at the price of 4,000 Ush, to reach Easy Coach Bus Station, located in Dewinton Road.

To reach Nairobi from Kampala there are several bus companies with departures in the early morning, afternoon or evening. One of the most reliable is the Easy Coach, which has three departures a day: at 6.30 A.M., at 14.00 and at 19.00. The trip lasts from 13 to 16 hours. The ticket price is 73,000 Ush. You pay at the desk before getting on the bus.

 

You pass through the Busia border post, where the Ugandan and Kenyan desks are adjacent.

The Ugandan exit stamp is obtained after completing the appropriate form, taking fingerprints and taking a photograph.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2018/04/viaggio-in-uganda-e-kenya-attraverso-le.html