Packing List For A Safari in Uganda

Uganda is one of the most naturally beautiful countries in Africa. The country offers Travelers a wide range of amazing travel experiences that range from historically rich cultural tours, gorillas, chimpanzees, the big 5 among other amazing travel activities. Travelers in Uganda also have the privilege of visiting the source of the world’s longest river.

The river Nile is located in Jinja City, which is also known as East Africa’s adrenaline capital. Travelers to Jinja get the opportunity to enjoy fun filled activities like bungee jumping, white water rafting, tubing the Nile, kayaking, horse riding and Quad biking among other fun activities. There are so many things to do in Uganda that cannot be covered in detail here. You might want to find out why Uganda is referred to as the “Pearl of Africa“. Young Travelers should read about Student tours in Uganda or how to plan road trips in Uganda.

What then must Travelers pack for this amazing travel destination? What should you pack for a safari in Africa? Before we go on to that, it is vital that Travelers know that Uganda is a generally warm country all year round. The heavy rains come between March to May and September to October. Travelers need to pack the important things for their trip and not over pack or else they could exceed the weight requirements for international fights. We can now discuss the items that Travelers need to pack for their safari in Uganda:

Packing List for a Safari in Uganda including Clothes

Valid travel documents: This should be the very first item to pack because without them, you could be denied entry into the country. Make sure to pack your valid passport, travel visas, air tickets, a yellow fever vaccination certificate and a comprehensive travel insurance policy with emergency contact details. Among your travel documents should include your financial cards/credit cards and some cash to enable you do small purchases like souvenirs or give tips where necessary. You are encouraged to never pack your travel documents in your main luggage/bag to avoid incidences of losing them in case your luggage went missing. Instead carry you documents in a separate bag that you carry on you everywhere.

Travel Clothes: Consider durability and utmost comfort when thinking about which clothes to pack. Ensure that you pack clothes that are free and breathable in neutral colors like khaki, beige or related colors. Don’t choose neon colors as they could attract light loving insects. The best clothes for your safari should include free walking trousers, light long sleeved shirts/blouses, light T-shirts and shorts. Pack decent non-revealing clothes to use when visiting remote areas of the country and religious places of worship such as the Uganda National Mosque or culture centers like the Kabaka’s palace among others. You also need to pack swimming costumes to use while visiting beaches or when swimming at the hotel. Although Uganda’s weather is usually warm during the day, it’s vital that you pack some rain jackets because rains can be unpredictable in some parts of the country. A light sweater, warm hat and a multipurpose scarf will be very important for the early morning and night chills.

Foot wear: Travelers need to pack the right kind of shoes for their trip to Uganda. A light weighted closed walking shoes is ideal for walking in the jungles during nature walks and gorilla trekking.  You also need to pack simple open shoes for use around your place of stay, around the swimming pool, in beaches and while taking an evening stroll/walk. When you plan to go on hiking expeditions like gorilla trekking and mountaineering experiences, you will need to pack strong waterproof hiking boots and socks. Avoid heavy boots and high heeled shoes as it will only make you uncomfortable. You can read more from a separate article about the packing list for gorilla trekking.

Travel Gadgets: Travelers need to pack along items that will enable them capture everlasting memories of their trips in both images and videos. A Traveler will need digital cameras with additional storage space/SD card, digital camcorders to help record your videos for upload on YouTube or other social media platforms. It’s also important that you pack binoculars that enable both day and night vision to help you catch spectacular views even from a distance. Don’t forget head torches to use especially in the night during game drives and in dark places. Carry some spare batteries/dry cells for gadgets that are battery powered. Other devices like headphones, ear plugs, audio books, adapters and plugs among others will also be of very great importance to you during your safari.

Sun Protection Items: Travelers need to pack items like sunscreen to protect their skin against sunshine. Pack a hat with a string that holds the chin to prevent it from falling off when it gets windy. Pack sun glasses to help protect your eyes from sun, dust and wind. Do not forget your lip balm as it will help moisture your lips and prevent it from cracking.

Personal Items: Travelers need to pack toiletries like sanitary wears, wet wipes, creams, shampoos, deodorants and other personal grooming items because your hotel of stay may not provide them all. Also remember to pack an Eco-friendly insect repellent to use during the nights when mosquitoes are busiest. Insect repellents will also prevent bites or bugs during nature walks. Other personal items that will be ideal for your trip are fishing equipment for Anglers, personal camping gear, a hammock to laze around in during your free/rest time in the camp or beach. Don’t forget to pack your favorite snacks and a diary to document your travel experiences.

Communication Devices: Travelers need to pack their laptops and smart phones to enable them communicate constantly with the people back home. A Traveler needs to carry along emergency contacts on a paper for use in case you lose your phone or in case of emergencies.

Medications: It is important to pack some emergency medications and first aid kit to use when you get minor scratches from walking in the forests, sunburn, muscle aches from strenuous activities like mountain hiking and gorillas trekking. Malaria could also be a challenge to some people during the safari and for that reason emergency anti-malarial treatments will be a necessity in a tropical country like Uganda. Above all, make sure to get prescriptions from your doctor so that you can replace your medications with ease should they get lost or destroyed.

Travel Bag: The appropriate bag for Travelers to use is a simple duffel bag that can carry all your things. A simple light back pack or a fanny bag is very important when going on game drives, gorilla trekking and other outdoor adventures. The bag helps to carry your travel equipment, snacks, sweater/scarfs and other personal items.

Charity Items: Travelers who are interested in charitable works while in Uganda can go ahead to pack some items for donations to communities of their choice. The best items to donate include clothes, shoes and scholastic materials. The scholastic materials to think about include note books, children’s story books, colored pencils and school bags among other items.

To conclude, Travelers need to dress casual for their trips and nothing fancy. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry and carrying lots of cash especially when touring the urban centers of the country as you could be a target of pick pocketing and robbery. Remember simplicity and comfort should be your goal while packing for your trip to Uganda.