How to Find Hotels in Uganda

Visitors to Uganda are amazed by the modernity of its major cities like Kampala and blown away by the breathtaking natural beauty of its many rivers, mountains and other natural wonders. Uganda is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in Africa.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rental car
• Hotel reservation
• Passport
• Credit card
• Computer
• Plane tickets
• Map

Know Your Destination

1. Pack appropriately. The overall climate is tropical but varies depending on altitude and location within Uganda.

2. See the mountain gorillas. These magnificent creatures are some of the rarest primates in the world and their existence is constantly threatened by poaching, disease and loss of habitat.

3. Know that Uganda is easier to navigate than some other African nations. Its primary language is English and it is a predominantly Christian nation.

Organize Transportation

4. Fly directly into Kampala if you can. Most American and European tourists, however, land in nearby Nairobi, Kenya and take a taxi or bus to Uganda.

5. Enjoy the scenery or catch up on some sleep. The bus ride from Nairobi to Kampala is about 12 hours long.

6. Travel like a local. Most Ugandans travel by bus, with the postal service minibuses being the safest and most economical way to travel.

7. Rent a car if you have an international driver's license for a close-up view of the countryside.

Choose Your Lodging

8. To book accommodations, contact Tourism Uganda at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

9. Prepare to be surprised. Uganda has one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, and as a result, you'll find better accommodations than you perhaps expect.

10. Renew your credit card. If your card will expire within 90 days of your time in Uganda, it will most likely not be accepted for booking accommodations, eating in restaurants or even purchasing goods in stores.

11. Explore the mountains of Uganda with a full-service tour outfit. Accommodations will range from tents to comfortable bungalows depending on the time of year and the destination.

Be Familiar With Local Information

12. Visit Kampala before or after trips to rural areas to enjoy bustling nightlife, nice restaurants and even gambling in the local casinos.

Tips & Warnings

• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Drive on the left hand side of the road.
• Protect yourself against disease. When traveling in Uganda and throughout Africa, it is important to take precautions against diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and HIV. Uganda has a high rate of HIV infection, and other sexually transmitted infections are also common.
• Be cautious around areas where ethnic conflict makes it unsafe for visitors. Border areas between Rwanda and Congo are places of periodic unrest.