Stay and well Safe by using your Common Sense on Safari.
Common Sense – The Rule of the Day on a Safari – Uganda will keep you safe on Safari.
.Common Sense on Safari is needed more than ever. The world of Travel has gone through some uncertain times. The COVID-19 pandemic has locked us in our homes for what seems to be an eternity. 2020 was the year that the world of Travel stood still. We have endured a year of lockdowns and restrictions of all kinds.
In 2021 the desire to travel is stronger than ever. For many distant Africa and its Pearl, Uganda is on the horizon.
After the pandemic, many might want to ignore cautions and the sound advice to the wind. Such thoughts leave out the most crucial ingredient for successful Travel, “Common Sense.”
More than ever, the rule of Travel is to bring a dose of Common Sense and don’t Leave Home without it. That has been and is our advice as you prepare for your Safari in Uganda.
Common Sense is not something we are born with but developed over time. It is a form of practical decision-making that allows us to see the consequences of our actions. Common Sense is what stops us from making mistakes that result in a bad outcome.
Based on our years of experience as a Ugandan Safari Tour Operator, we have put together some Common Sense Tips and Advice that you will find helpful in preparing you for your Safari in the Pearl of Africa.
6-Common Sense Tips for your Safari in Uganda
1. Know Before you Go
If I asked you what you know about Uganda, how would you answer? We have perceptions about a country, something that is certainly true when it comes to Uganda. Uganda as a tourism destination wrongly is not always seen in a favorable light. “It’s the place where Idi Amin comes from” is what one often hears if asked about the country.
Learn about Uganda before you hit the tarmac at Entebbe International Airport. Knowing about Uganda before going there enriches your time on Safari and lessens the culture shock.
Further, it would be best to find out what you can do and see while in Uganda. Most want to spend time with the Mountain Gorillas but know little else about the Pearl of Africa.
Our website is a great place to learn about Uganda. Like most visitors, you will exclaim as you return home, “Uganda was not like I thought it was. I cannot wait to return.
We suggest that you begin your research with our Uganda Travel Information page. There you will find answers to most of your questions.
2. Common Sense suggest to go on Safari Go with a Local
A Safari in Uganda is unlike a Holiday in Europe with its modern road system. Though things have greatly improved, the only four-lane highway you will find in Uganda is the Entebbe Expressway from Entebbe to Kampala.
The only way that you can focus on the Safari itself is by going with a local, seasoned, English speaking driver-guide. He is the one that takes the itinerary that you select and translates it into a fabulous one-of-a-kind experience.
You are with a local who grew up in Uganda. He grew up in Uganda and is a trained, seasoned, and professional tour guide. His or her insight into Ugandan culture, wildlife, primates is priceless and enriching.
Your focus can be on what you came for, the Wildlife, the Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and other primates, the incredible Scenery, the culture, and some of the Friendliest People in Africa – Hakuna – Matata, no worries, Style.
Like most of Africa, the best way to visit Uganda is by going with a local Tour Operator. It allows you to focus on your incredible experience rather than on the logistics of a safari. Besides, it the common-sense way to experience the Pearl of Africa.
3. Commons Sense tells us to visit the Doctor or a Travel Clinic:
It makes common sense to visit a travel clinic or a doctor specializing in tropical medicine. It is a reasonable precaution and part of staying healthy while on safari.
Be sure to renew your prescriptions that you will need while in Africa. It is suggested that you have a just-in-case copy of the prescription with you.
Yellow Fever vaccinations and the resulting certificate are required for you to enter Uganda. A malaria regimen is not required but an unwritten must for your safari. Additionally, a COVID-19 vaccination is simply a must for travelers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a great website that offers the most up-to-date information regarding vaccinations and shots needed or recommended.
We also recommend that you read our “Staying Well on Safari” page, where we cover topics such as traveler diarrhea, preventing insect bites, and avoiding drinking tap water.
4. Common Sense prods us to Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is often neglected since it means an additional expense. In the uncertain COVID-19 pandemic, it is another common-sense recommendation.
We suggest that you do not book your Safari in Uganda without it! That is the best advice that we can give you. 99% plus Safaris go without a hitch, without a problem. There are, however, those rare, unforeseen times where Health, family, work-related issues cause cancellation of your Safari.
Safari Travel Insurance – We do not sell Travel Insurance. We are a Safari Tour Operator and not an insurance broker. We do, however, know the value that proper Travel Insurance brings to our Clients.
Travel Insurance adds a cost to your Safari. The peace of mind and options that it gives you outweigh the cost factor by far. We believe that you need Travel Insurance for those unplanned moments, and we strongly suggest that you do not book a Safari without it.
Safari Travel Insurance – it adds a cost to your Safari, but you have peace of mind.
If you are on a Safari with us, we automatically cover with the AMREF-Flying Doctor air-evacuation insurance to Nairobi, Kenya, for treatment. Your insurance then takes care of any medical expenses. The good news is that we only had air-evac, one client, in over a decade.
5. Abide by the COVID-19 Protocols – Standard Operating Procedures
The excellent news about COVID-19 in Uganda is that you have less chance of contracting here than in your country. The COVID-19 pandemic impact has been relatively mild when compared to other countries.
That also includes other safari destinations in Africa. In April 2021, Uganda is the only country in East Africa that is not on the US State Department’s no travel list or the UK’s Red List. While Kenya sees its third lockdown, Uganda has opened up, including to tourists.
Uganda’s Tourism COVID-19 protocols are in place to protect you against becoming infected while on Safari. COVID-19 protective measures are also in place to protect Uganda’s great apes. They include the wearing of surgical masks during Gorilla tracking and the ten-meter distance rule.
Common sense Tourists will follow the COVID Standard Operating Procedures since they have been put into place to protect you and those around you. We adhere to them as a tour operators since we aim to provide a worry-free safari – Hakuna Matata Style.
We suggest that you read the COVID-19 Tourism Standard Operating Procedures and how they apply to you.
6. Use your Common Sense and Stay Safe on Safari
When you visit Uganda on a Safari, your safety and security are on everyone’s mind. Some tourists who have left their common sense at home do things here they would never do at home.
Instead of leaving your common sense at home, we suggest that you leave your expensive jewelry and watches at home.
There are other things like flashing cash which may get you unwanted attention that may lead to theft.
We like to say that the safest place is on a safari; however, it takes common sense cooperation from clients. One example is that on safari, movement on your own is limited. The reason is that you are in the wild, not a petting zoo. Your lodge is guarded by armed security, which is for your protection. You cannot and should not wander off on your own. The sounds of a lion or the trumpeting sound of an elephant are real, which means you could get attacked. Something that has never happened to one of our clients.
We will do our best to keep you safe, but we need your cooperation.
The same applies when on primate treks, hikes, nature walks, and climbs. The Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers are highly trained professionals whose aim is to keep you safe.
For more about safe safaris, we suggest that you read about “Staying safe in Uganda.”
