Uganda - The Pearl of Africa

Tourism

Uganda is a fast growing tourist destination gifted by nature together with its growing stability and hospitable communities. It continues to offer its competitively priced and high quality range of wildlife products offering an awesome experience. The development of tourism and leisure has been enhanced by effective promotion, of both the destination and products offered by government and specific businesses. Establishment of awareness programs, qualified, trained and skilled human resources, improved and stronger tourism administration, investment in the tourism sector and associated products (attractions, entertainment, shopping, etc), enhancing marketing methods and development of basic facilities, social services and proper infrastructure.

Wildlife Tourism

While the cultural diversity and effortless warmth of Ugandan people are remarked upon by all who visit the country, most itineraries revolve around the protected areas under the direction of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). These are magnificent, encompassing not only conventional Savannah- mesmerizing tracts of African bush teeming with antelope, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, zebra, forest hogs and big cats – but also the snow capped peaks of Africa's tallest range of mountains, tropical rain forests of mind boggling biodiversity, and atmospheric lakes and rivers heaving with hippos, crocodiles and birds.
As yet untouched by mass tourism, Uganda's parks are ideal retreats for the discerning eco-tourist. Uganda is the world's premier primate viewing destination, home to half of the world's mountain gorillas, large populations of chimpanzees and a dazzling variety of monkeys. For bird lovers, Uganda is practically peerless: it is the only African country that has a record of more than 1000 bird species. Each park offers a memorable experience!

How to get to Uganda

Uganda has several Airlines flying in and out of the country. Kampala's international airport is Entebbe. Scheduled airlines flying to Entebbe include: Air Burundi Air Rwanda (to/from Kigali), Air Tanzania, British Airways, SN Brussels, East African Airlines, Emirates, Gulf Air, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Rwandair Express, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Eagle Air and United Arab Airlines both Direct flights from Europe and from other African countries.
Buses and taxis are available from the airport to the city. Wide networks of buses/taxis run throughout the country connecting almost every town. Within Kampala, taxis, special hire taxis and motor bikes provide transport within the city and its suburbs. These are found on major roads in the city centre, as well as the two taxi parks. The journey time is approximately 30 minutes and fare is about $20USD.

By water: ferry services operate from Tanzania, Mwanza to Port Bell, on Lake Victoria. There are several airstrips within the country; this has made flights to tourism destinations very accessible. Examples of airstrips can be accessed in destination areas to include Kidepo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison falls and more airstrips are almost in every part of the country national airport or at any overland boarder.

Passport and Visas

A valid passport is mandatory. Visa requirements sometimes change so check before traveling. A visa to Uganda is issued at Uganda missions abroad and entry points. All countries that require visas for Uganda are also visa prone in Uganda.

Health

Travelers are advised to contact the Uganda representative in their countries or regions to determine whether vaccination is necessary before entry into Uganda.Yellow fever certificate is required if you have been transiting infected areas. Malaria is prevalent in Uganda and it is advisable to take anti-malarial and mosquito repellents Malaria Prophylaxis is recommended. It is not recommended to drink tap water. Boil it or buy bottled water from the shops. The equatorial sun can be deceptive even on overcast days. Sun glasses and sun creams are recommended to avoid sunburns.

Security and Safety

Uganda is increasingly developing to one of the top safari holiday destinations in the world. With the improvement of infrastructure and political stability, the tourism industry is soaring to greater heights. The country is very safe both in cities and remote areas. However some common sense precautions should be taken. Do not flaunt your wealth by wearing expensive jewelry or carrying large wads of money openly. Avoid changing money in the streets. Likewise avoid overcrowded streets. Leave your valuables with the hotel for safe keeping. You will come across misleading information on various websites regarding as to how insecure Uganda is for travel. They are however usually outdated and do not reflect the present state of Uganda.

Uganda Banks and Money

The Banking Sector in Uganda is growing stronger every year with local and foreign owned commercial banks and forex bureaus in Uganda. The Central Bank is Bank of Uganda Working hours for most of the Banks are 8:30 to 4:00pm every Monday to Friday while on Saturday they operate half day. Most forex bureaus are open on weekends and some run for 24 hrs. The Uganda shilling is the legal currency in Uganda. There are no restrictions on money transfer in and out of the country. The Uganda shilling is divided into denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 for paper notes, while coins are in the denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 for coins.

Food

Uganda offers a range of dishes ranging from continental, Italian, Chinese, Ugandan, Indian and more. The finest restaurants in Uganda are located in Kampala which is the capital city. Most restaurants have specialty in certain cuisine but can also handle other dishes using recipes from Uganda and other countries.

Source: Pearl of Africa Tours

Mombasa Facts for Visitors

The town of Mombasa is East Africa's largest port and Kenya's main tourist hub. Located in the southeastern part of Kenya, it is one of the most significant towns, not only for its imports and exports through its port but also as a major destination for tourists visiting Kenya.

The Town

The coastal city of Mombasa is actually an island with magnificent stretches of white sandy beaches and coral reefs. The town has four major roads, namely Digo Road, Nkrumah Road, Nyerere Road and Moi Avenue. Along these major roads are where most of the towns shops and businesses are located.

Getting Around

The Moi International Airport is an architectural symbol of Mombasa's growing investment in tourism. It has been newly-renovated, and a new terminal has been built to facilitate larger aircraft and increased passenger traffic. As a direct result, many of the major airlines that operate out of the airport have increased both the number and frequency of their flights, in particular from major European cities. Smaller airlines operate local and regional flights within Kenya and East and Southern Africa respectively.

Kenya Airways offers the most frequent flight schedule into and out of Mombasa, to a variety of national and international destinations. Visit Kenya Airways to view flight schedules. Another airline that flies to and from Mombasa is Air Kenya.

Kenya Railways offers train services throughout the country, primarily between Nairobi and Mombasa. Passengers who chose to travel via rail have the option of travelling either by first or second class. A trip from Nairobi to Mombasa usually takes around 13 hours during which a variation of wildlife can be seen at a relatively close distance. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are also served on the train's dining carriage. Tickets can be purchased at local travel agencies as well as at the main station which is located opposite the roundabout of Haile Salassie avenue and Mwenbe Tyari Road.

Being a small town, Mombasa does not have an extensive transport grid. The main form of transport is the minivans otherwise commonly known and referred to as "Matatus". Both forms of transport are highly used by the locals, and a ride in a "Matatu" can be quite a fascinating experience. London-style cabs and other taxis can be found almost anywhere in the town. The North Coast is accessed via the Nyali Bridge, and the South Coast through the Likoni Ferry.

Services

In the heart of the town is where most hospitals, businesses, banks, shops and markets are situated. Hence almost all services such as health advice, financial services, or any kind of shopping, are all provided for in the City. There are four main hospitals around the City centre, with many smaller clinics located all around the town and its outskirts. They are the Mombasa hospital, Aga Khan hospital, Pandya Memorial hospital and Coast General hospital. Most hotels have resident doctors and nurses.

Financial institutions are located in abundance throughout the center of the town. Barclays Bank, Standard Chartered, and ABN-AMBRO are a few of such banks that can be found. Many other internationally-based banks also have their branches in Mombasa. Foreign exchange bureaus are also available and offer attractive exchange rates for all currencies. However it is strongly recommended for safety purposes that you carry travelers cheques (American Express or Thomas Cook preferably) as opposed to cash.

Security

Security is always a concern, and the local government has taken a number of steps to ensure that the general public feels safe in all areas of the City as well as along the beaches. The Central Police Station is located at the heart of the town, and regular patrols are carried out on foot as well as in vehicles all over the City. Kenya Wildlife Service agents maintain a safe and clean environment along the beaches, and ensure that the law is enforced with around the clock surveillance.

Port Of Mombasa

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) manages the port of Mombasa. The port serves as a transit point for Kenya's imports from other countries as well as for its exports of goods and services from the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors. Most of the ships seen at the port are from Kenya's neighboring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Zaire and few others as well. Cruise ships, Navy ships and the famous QEW are frequent visitors to the port and the town. The Port of Mombasa is vast in size. Port Tudor, Kilindini Harbour and Port Reitz, which used to be the old port, are what make up the Port of Mombasa. The Port offers many of the essential services such as cargo handling, berthing of ships, and other such facilities.

General Facts

Size: 10 to 15 miles (16 to 24 kilometers) wide
Population: 500,000
Religion: Christianity, Islam and other minority religious groups
Language: Swahili and English
Exports: Tourism, Coffee, Tea, Cement and Cotton
Climate: Tropical Climate with temperatures varying from low 20's to high 30 degrees celsius.
Rainfall: 40 inches (1,000 millimeters) a year
Currency: Kenyan Shilling (Kshs),
Time Difference: 3 Hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Electricity Voltage: 220/240v, step down transformers and batteries are highly recommended. Check if your electrical appliance is compatible with different voltages.
Distance From Nairobi: 487kms
Major Airport: Moi International Airport
Neighboring Towns: Malindi (1 hour away) Watamu (2 hours away)

Source: Mombasa Info