Uganda

alive

Hi,
Hoping to go to Uganda to see the Gorillas at some stage. Just wondering if anyone has done this and any advice you might have. I'll probably be going it alone so not sure if it's better to use an organiser like intrepid traveler or something like that. Would love to hear what other peoples experiences of this country are like.
Thanks.

K09

alive wrote: »

Hi,
Hoping to go to Uganda to see the Gorillas at some stage. Just wondering if anyone has done this and any advice you might have. I'll probably be going it alone so not sure if it's better to use an organiser like intrepid traveler or something like that. Would love to hear what other peoples experiences of this country are like.
Thanks.

Hi,
I waited until Rwanda to see the gorillas. Not sure if there is any difference. I'm sure Uganda is just as good.
If you decide on Rwanda book here... http://www.rwandatourism.com/primate.htm
I just turned up at the tourist office the day before and got a place for the following morning. I was lucky though as usually have to book well in advance.

In Uganda, it seems simple enough to book. Go to the tourist office in Kabale. There was also a guide who I met there who is recommended in the Lonely Planet. Cannot think of his name now but he was very helpful in general.
I went hiking in Bwindi National Park rather than visit the gorillas there.

At the time I did it the price was $350USD in Rwanda and this was going up so not sure what it is now.
It is expensive but most definitely worth it!! Amazing experience!

I just spent a week in total in Uganda. Didn't bother with safaris, etc there as was planning them for Tanzania. I was in Kenya for 2weeks before Uganda but was still a bit shocked to experience Kampala. The city is crazy and poverty is visible on most streets. A day or 2 is enough. And the main bus station is a hell of an experience!!

Let me know if you have any other questions.
Best of luck!!

p.s. I would recommend going alone rather than part of a tour. Much more freedom. But that's only my opinion. I met tour groups who had great fun.

alive

Thanks for your reply and advice. What did you think were the highlights of Uganda? Were you travelling alone? Would you recommend travelling alone in Africa or would you say it's safer to stick to a group? Sorry about the barrage of questions just haven't a clue where to start with planning this trip!

johnfás

I did the Gorilla's in Rwanda at Rhuengeri - absolutely amazing experience!!

I spent a month around Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. Although I passed right through Uganda from Kenya to Rwanda and then right back again I didn't do a huge amount there in terms of Safari etc. We did most of that in Kenya and Tanzania (Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Lake Nakuru). However, I did spend a day or so in Kampala because my girlfriend was working there as I travelled around. Didn't find a huge amount to see there. Also spent about 5 days at Jinja which was a fairly cool sort of place - lots of activities - Rafting, Bungee, Quad Biking etc and the opportunity to get involved in a charitable project for a couple of days if you are so inclined.

Civilian_Target

alive wrote: »

Thanks for your reply and advice. What did you think were the highlights of Uganda? Were you travelling alone? Would you recommend travelling alone in Africa or would you say it's safer to stick to a group? Sorry about the barrage of questions just haven't a clue where to start with planning this trip!

Have you travelled on your own before? I've done a month travelling solo in West Africa... it's definitely do-able but I wouldn't recommend it for first-timers, it's quite involved

alive

johnfás wrote: »

. Also spent about 5 days at Jinja which was a fairly cool sort of place - lots of activities - Rafting, Bungee, Quad Biking etc and the opportunity to get involved in a charitable project for a couple of days if you are so inclined.

Where abouts did you stay in Jinja? I saw a website (http://raftafrica.com/) that can organise trips and all that, seemed quite expensive though.. but maybe a nice place to stay in Jinja?

alive

Civilian_Target wrote: »

Have you travelled on your own before? I've done a month travelling solo in West Africa... it's definitely do-able but I wouldn't recommend it for first-timers, it's quite involved

Nope I've never really travelled alone before. Was just hoping to do two weeks in Uganda, tours seem quite expensive but might be the best option if it's gonna be more secure/less stressful!

johnfás

alive wrote: »

Where abouts did you stay in Jinja? I saw a website (http://raftafrica.com/) that can organise trips and all that, seemed quite expensive though.. but maybe a nice place to stay in Jinja?

Yea I camped at Nile River Explorers at their River Camp (the site you linked to) for about 5 days both on the way from Kenya to Rwanda and on the way back through again. Really wild nightlife there and if you go make sure to have a shower - most amazing shower you will ever have in your life! Basically one side of the shower is entirely open and overlooks the river from an elevation. Also the wood burner on top which is heating the water is cool. We did the rafting, the quadding and a day with Soft Power Education Project painting a few walls for them.

0verblood

Civilian_Target wrote: »

Have you travelled on your own before? I've done a month travelling solo in West Africa... it's definitely do-able but I wouldn't recommend it for first-timers, it's quite involved

Don't listen to Civilian_Target.

I flew into Kampala alone, I was a first timer - fresh from my tiny Irish village! If you're prepared it's ok. All you have to do is get a short taxi to the tourist hostel where you'll get to meet others like yourself, it's not as if there'll be people trying to stab you. Kampala is very safe, one of the safest cities in Africa.

I stayed in Uganda for 3 months. I also did the gorillas there. When are you planning to go?

alive

0verblood wrote: »

I stayed in Uganda for 3 months. I also did the gorillas there. When are you planning to go?

I'm not sure yet, maybe august. What time of year would you recommend? I know the lonely planet guide says any time outside of the rainy seasons is ok for trekking..

0verblood

Any time of year is grand. The rainy season is not how you imagine, you're not going to be swept away in a flood, it just simply rains every day. You'd wake up in the morning and know for a fact that it will rain in the evening sometime, unlike Ireland when the rain can pounce at any time.

I was in Uganda for the rainy seasons (there are two of them) and it's grand, although it can get quite mucky even in Kampala... especially around the unavoidable "taxi park" (one of my favorite experiences in Africa, it's absolute chaos!) which can turn into a bog, jumping over massive potholes of brown sludge.. but it's all part of the fun.

Also, there are more gorilla permits available around the end of the year. I called into the Uganda Wildlife Authority HQ in December 2009 on a friday, and got a permit for Sunday. It was just around the rainy season and the forest trek was grand, the only problem was my level of fitness, it really is a steep trek and you'd be in bits after it. It's tough enough that they even have a team of people ready to carry your fat ass up the mountain on a stretcher if need be.

alive

0verblood wrote: »

they even have a team of people ready to carry your fat ass up the mountain on a stretcher if need be.

haha! That's hilarious! So were you just touring around Africa? Not sure if it's a bit silly to go all the way to africa and just see the gorillas, would prob only get away with takin 2 weeks off work tho..

0verblood

Yeah I was touring around, I was there for 14 months exactly.