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Uganda |
Facts about country
| Capital | Kampala |
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Population |
22.8 Million |
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Main Languages |
English + Swahili + 30 Indigenous languages |
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Electricity |
2 Plug System 220 Volts 50Hz |
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Currency |
Uganda Shilling |
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Exchange Rate for US $ as of June 2001 |
1700 Z$ per 1 US$ |
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Safe to Drink Tap Water |
No |
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Size |
237000 sq km |
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Transport |
Train, bus, minibus, boat (ferry), 4WD vehicle is a benefit |
| Cash Machines (ATMS) | Only for local Banks |
| Credit Card Usage | Yes in Kampala |
| Religion | Christian + Muslim + Indigenous Religions |
| Measurement System | Metric System |
Recommended Budget per Day in US $
| Total Budget per Person | Accommodation | Meals | Transportation | Other |
| 20 $ | 3 $ (Camping) | 3 $ (Self) | 5$ | 9$ |
Main things to See (we give descriptions only on places we visited)
| Things to See | Visited | Brief Description | Recommend (10 is best 1 is don't bother) |
| Kampala | Y | City of contrasts. There is a very modern part and where most people live. It is the place to book your Gorilla tour with the Wildlife Authority Office. There is not too much otherwise to do here. | 6 |
| Bwindi National Park | Y | Home of the Gorillas and beautiful National Park. The Gorillas are amazing. One is allowed within 5 meters of them. The park is 330 sq km with an estimated population of 330 Mountain Gorillas. The park also contains other large mammals and primates. | 9 |
| Jinja | Y | Laid back town on Lake Victoria and the source of the Nile. Nearby are the Bujagali Falls where one can do white water rapids. | 7 |
| Kabale | Y | Kabale is a small town where you can do your food shopping, because you will probably be staying down at the lake. | 7 |
| Ruwenzori Mountains | N | Challenging Trekking in Uganda, also permits are very expensive (acoupleof hundred dollars). It was just opened in July 2001 again. | |
| Lake Albert | N | ||
| Ssese Islands | N | Camping on Lake Victoria | |
| Kibale Forest National Park | N | Chimpanzee Trekking | |
Popular activities and Tours (Being not included does not mean they do not exist)
| Hiking / Trekking | x |
| Scuba Diving | |
| Historical Sites | |
| Sightseeing tours | x |
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Ballooning |
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Bungy Jumping |
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Safaris |
x |
| Boat tours | x |
| Fishing | x |
| Horseback riding | |
| Canoeing | x |
| Camping | x |
| River Rafting | x |
| Sky Diving | |
| Abseiling | |
| Surfing | |
| Windsurfing | |
| Kayaking | x |
| Sailing | x |
| Mountain biking | |
| Rollerblading | |
| Motorbike | |
| Sand boarding | |
| Snorkeling | |
| Water Skiing | |
| Others / Gorilla Trekking | x |
Feeling and Opinions on Uganda
Uganda has a lot to offer. There are game parks with all the large mammals you want to see, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, beautiful lakes, white water rafting and more. We were really surprised with the possibilities available in Uganda. Transportation is once in a while limited and it can be tough traveling. At one point we had over 22 people in the back of a small pickup. The people are mostly really nice, get used to kids asking you for money and pens. The Gorilla trekking was our highlight of our Uganda stay and in the end we were satisfied the money was well spent.
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Maren & Kirk