How Solo Women can Travel Safely in Rwanda and Uganda
Although many countries worldwide have been putting concerted efforts to ensure safety for lone female Travelers, some still encounter challenges while traveling abroad. These challenges range from discrimination and sexual abuse among others.
Uganda and Rwanda are both in the Eastern part of Africa. Both countries register large numbers of tourists visiting the countries annually. This is due to the various interesting tourist attractions like primates tracking, mountain hiking, fishing, game drives, and cultural sites.
Changing the narrative around Uganda and Rwanda travel
When most people think about East Africa, images of wildlife safaris tend to dominate the conversation. However, Uganda and Rwanda are so much more than their iconic gorillas and savannahs. These countries are rich in culture, vibrant in color, and brimming with warm, welcoming people.
One thing that stands out is how often travelers overlook East Africa’s cultural diversity. In Uganda, from the bustling markets and traditional dances performed by the local communities, while on a Rwanda safari, you will be struck by the country’s breathtaking rolling hills and poignant stories of resilience.
For solo women travelers, Uganda and Rwanda offer not just beauty, but safety and accessibility. According to a study by the Solo Female Travelers Club, 86% of women who travel solo report feeling empowered and adventurous during their trips. Rwanda’s reputation for being one of Africa’s cleanest and safest countries only adds to its appeal.
Transport for solo female travelers in Uganda and Rwanda
Travelers in Uganda and Rwanda use cheap transport means like public commuter buses, taxis, and motorcycles. They use them to move around the cities and other places around the country. There are also more organized and convenient means of transportation. These include Uber, Taxify, SafeBoda, and others although they are more expensive. With all these options you can be sure to move freely and conveniently without any hurdles. In Kigali, buses operate a smart card system called Tap&Go.
If you want to save time, you can charter a flight from Entebbe and Kigali to different national parks and locations in the country. This saves you from many hours of driving, which you can use to do other tour activities. There are daily flights that you can charter.
Combine public transport for short trips with private transfers for longer, more remote destinations to strike the perfect balance between independence and comfort.
Ugandans and Rwandans are welcoming to travelers
One of the biggest surprises for travelers during their trips is just how warm and hospitable Ugandans and Rwandans are toward visitors especially solo travelers. From the moment you arrive, you are welcomed with kindness, whether it the locals’ offering directions in Kampala or a host in Musanze going out of their way to make you comfortable.
It’s a widely recognized trait. Research shows that travelers to Africa often report a sense of connection with locals. A study highlighted in the Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change found that solo women travelers feel particularly adventurous and satisfied in Africa because of the meaningful interactions they experience with local communities.
Be prepared for immigration and entry Requirements
Luckily, Uganda and Rwanda both offer relatively straightforward entry systems, especially for tourists. For travelers from Europe, Canada, or the U.S., the East African Tourist Visa is a game-changer. This single visa allows access to Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, saving time and money for those visiting multiple countries.
However, solo travelers have to double-check visa requirements before departure, as policies can change. Having digital and physical copies of your passport, visa, and travel insurance is a must. We also recommend keeping contact details for your country’s embassy in case of emergencies—a tip especially important for solo travelers.
Solo female traveler safety during Gorilla Trekking
The gorilla trekking sites in Uganda are very safe and secure for lone female travelers. In addition to that, you can only access the gorilla parks in the company of friendly Guides and Rangers. They’ll take you through the procedures and guidelines for gorilla trekking. They also accompany you to see the gorillas. Should you have some additional load to carry, there are standby porters. These will help you carry the luggage throughout the trek.
Solo female Travelers are free to dress up in any comfortable clothing of their choice while within the major cities of Uganda. However, should they decide to travel to the rural parts of the country or to the small towns, it’s always advisable that they dress up modestly. They should go with something not too tight and revealing since women dress more conservatively in those areas. It’s also a sign of respect for culture.
In conclusion
Solo female Travelers can go ahead and plan their trips to any of the two countries of Uganda and Rwanda. They must be vigilant at all times about their surroundings and keep a low profile.
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Travel With Pop Up Roof Cars in Uganda
Uganda is a beautiful country with unique landscape and good people. When you travel in places like Kabale, Kisoro, you will see what some people call the Switzerland of Africa. On your road trip, when you drive to the East, mountain Elgon and sipi river area are so attractive. Extend your rental safari trip to the northern Uganda and appreciate nature and the rich culture of that place.
All the attractions in Uganda can be visited on car rental basis. It can be on self-drive, or car with a driver. Among the numerous attractions in the country, the country is blessed with many nationals’ parks with diversity of species. Some wildlife national parks include Murchison falls national parks, queen Elizabeth national park, Semuliki national park, and lake mburo national park. Those Parks involves game drive which is best done in the car with pop up roof.
Advantages of cars with pop up Roof
The pop-up roof car allows visitors to view wildlife properly, the visitors will stand have a wide view, take good photos among others.
The pop-up roof cars increase chances of spotting the elusive animals like leopards, and many others.
It gives a chance to visitors with out the window seat to enjoy wildlife properly and take good photos.
The car with pop up roof is fun and allows fresh air from outside. It’s very unique and visitors will follow in love with nature.
Points to note
Not all tourism attractions in Uganda need the car with rooftop tents, there are those which can be visited with any car. Like Bwindi, Kibale, Mgahinga, Mount Rwenzori, Mount Elgon National Parks, there some other destinations like Jinja, Kampala city tour, among others.
Not all cars have pop up roof, depending on the type of activities the visitors are interested in doing, this determines the kind of car. A visitor should be specific in the inquiry whether the car with pop up roof is preferred or not.
Some cars with pop up roofs can be hired on self-drive or with a driver. Cars like 4×4 safari land cruiser extended, need a driver, well as others like 4×4 Toyota land cruiser v8, 4×4 Toyota land cruiser Prado’s, among others can be hired on self-drive.
The pop-up roof is supposed to be used mostly in the game drive, in national parks or reserves. It is not advisable to put a pop-up roof when on highways.
Renting a car with pop up roofs from a reliable company is paramount. The car should be in good conditions to avoid problems on safari, the car should have good tyer, and 4×4 car is recommended
Destinations suitable to be visited with car and pop-up roof.
Uganda has many tourism destinations; some are national parks and others are not. Among the National parks, we have wildlife parks where game drives are done to see wildlife in their natural environment. When carrying out a game drive, a car with pop up roof is suitable. Here below are some of the wildlife parks in Uganda.
Murchison Falls National Park: It is known to have abundancy of wildlife; it is among the biggest parks in Uganda. Game drives in this park are so rewarding, behold animals like the big five, antelopes, Hyenas, and among other. A game drive with pop up roof car will give a wider view of the animals and other attractions in this park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park: It is strategically located in the western Uganda, near magical parks like Bwindi and Kibale national parks. The park also have wildlife to watch in the game drive. The pop-up roof car will give a chance to spot clearly Queen Elizabeth specials. Besides, game drive, the park has other activities like Boat cruise, birding among others.
Lake Mburo National Park: It is also located in the western Uganda; it is among the smallest parks in Uganda. It is also among parks which are loved by visitors on short term trips, like weekends, public holidays, short leaves and many more. A car with pop up roof, will enable visitors explore more in the park, some of the wildlife in this park include, Zebras, giraffes and many nocturnos which are seen in the night game drives.
Semliki National Park. It is found in Bundibugyo. The park is known for its two Natural hot springs and the wildlife, game drive is conducted in the Reserve and many animals can be sighted.
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Tips to Consider When Booking Airport Transfers in Uganda
Are you planning to travel to Uganda for the first time and you need someone to guide you around, you will definitely have to book any services of a car hire company in Uganda for a safe and comfortable road trip to your hotel or residence. Moving around Kampala city can be quite hectic given long traffic jam that holds up and the passengers crowded will do you bad especially you are not a usual visitor. You can decide to use public transportation since it even cheap but its unsafe and so uncomfortable plus the chances of getting where you are going takes time. However when you book an airport service prior to your arrival, you will be very assured of trusted and reliable service hence getting the treatment worth every penny.
Below are the 4 tips to follow to get the best service when looking for transportation to and from the airport.
1. Always book with the right agency; Once you are determined that you will need transportation from the airport, go online and look through the search engines and review the websites to determine which company can offer you an affordable airport transfer service. get to visit the company website and check out the prices, read through the past reviews from customers and find out the latest discounts and offers. The good sources of information include; Google, yahoo, trip advisor, and the safari guides.
2. Always book in advance; once you make a decision on which agency will be offering you their services and then proceed and book online as early as possible. When you are making your travel plans about where and when to travel, you should also include transportation from Entebbe International Airport to your hotel. Go online and search for a reputable company to book with and once your reservation is confirmed, you can either make a deposit or make full payments on arrival.
3. Always indicated flight details; when you send the inquiry, don’t forget to include your full flight details like passenger names, airways names, arrival and departure dates. This is very important as it allows the reservation team to pick you up and drop you off on time giving the superb customer care worth your money.
4. Include the type of rental car and price; the type of rental car to use depends on the number of people that will need transportation to and from Entebbe Airport. A coaster bus is more suitable for small groups of to 30 passengers while a Toyota Rav 4 is also comfortable for 2 to 3 passengers. The family of 6 can use a super custom. All companies offer price quotes based on one way transfer pick up or drop off and this covers driver and fuel.
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Waterfalls To Explore In Uganda
The waterfalls in Uganda -no destination beats Uganda when it comes to natural beauty. From stunning landscapes, savanna, and lush tropical forests to waterfalls, Uganda is naturally blessed. Here are some of the spectacular waterfalls in Uganda;
Murchison Falls
Murchison Falls lies in the heart of Murchison Falls National Park, Northwestern Uganda. It is set between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert. Murchison Falls is Uganda’s natural wonder and while at the top, you can hear its powerful roar at a distance. The Murchison waterfall squeezes itself into a narrow gorge measuring 8m and later plunges about 43 meters before it flows to Lake Albert.
While on the Murchison Falls tour, the possible activities to indulge in include whitewater rafting, boat tours (to the base of the falls or delta), sport fishing, and hiking to the top of the falls. Other activities include chimpanzee tracking in Budongo (Kaniyo-Pabidi forest), game drives, hot air balloon tours, nature walks, bird watching, and more.
The Sipi Falls
The Sipi waterfalls consist of 3 scenic waterfalls and they originate from the Sipi River on the slopes of Mt. Elgon. The Sipi Falls is located in Kapchorwa district, Eastern Uganda, and they are observed as they cascade downslope from Elgon Mountain. They are found at an elevation of 1775 meters, and they vary in height of 85 meters, to 75m, and 100m.
A guided hike to the Sipi Falls includes walking through local communities, farmland and the rocky foothills. The round-hiking tour takes about 3 hours and you will experience Uganda’s natural beauty. The three Sipi Falls derive their name from the Sep, a medicinal wild banana tree that commonly grows in this area.
Aruu Falls
Aruu Falls are found along the Gulu-Kitgum highway 47 km from the city center of Gulu and 57 km off from Kitgum. These are some of the little-known waterfalls in Uganda and yet they feature among the charming natural wonders in the pearl of Africa. For guests on Uganda safaris to Kidepo Valley Park and Murchison Falls NP, it is possible to connect to Aruu Falls for a tour and in case you aren’t on a hurry, you will also embark on swimming, rock climbing and guided nature/community walks. There are Six charming waterfalls that make up the Aruu Falls.
Ssezibwa Falls
Ssezibwa Falls is found in Mukono district, East of Kampala about 32km away and they are accessible en route to Jinja. These are some of the most charming waterfalls in Uganda and they are 17m high. They are located at the Ssezibwa River, and they are a cultural treasure in the Buganda Kingdom/among the Baganda.
Itanda Falls
Itanda Waterfalls comprise of a series of rapids and they are located in Jinja, a renowned adrenaline capital of East Africa. This is where adventure lovers can enjoy whitewater rafting, river surfing, kayaking, and more. Itanda is found close to Rippon Falls and it remains a key spot for white water rafting.
Kisizi Waterfalls
Lying in Rukungiri district, Western Uganda, Kisizi waterfalls is set between the lush Queen Elizabeth N/P and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Its water plunges from the Kyabamba River 27 meters high cliff down to a deep gorge. Zip lining over the forest can be done here, plus birding, nature walks and more.
Wanale Falls
Located 6km from Mbale town, Wanale Falls is a thin stream of water plunging 2000m down from a sharp rocky cliff face.
Karuma Falls
Karuma waterfalls are found on the Victoria Nile on the Kampala-Gulu highway. This is where the Karuma power station is located, and this natural wonder forms part of the vast Murchison Falls National Park in Northwestern Uganda.
Miriadua Falls
Miriadua waterfalls are located on River Oluffe and accessible 20km on the Arua-Koboko route. From Arua city, these waterfalls are reachable within 20 minute’s drive and they are found in the Maracha district.
Read More5 Best Activities to Do on a Self-drive Safari in Uganda’s National Park
Uganda’s national parks are one of the best natural habitats you can ever visit on your holiday. These amazing natural places are endowed with lots of fauna. The experience becomes more enthralling when you make the exploration on your own in what is commonly known as a self drive safari. Self drive safaris are trailblazing because of the liberty they offer to travel around the pearl of Africa at your pace.
You simply have to rent a car in Uganda from a renowned company and hit the road to the countryside without the guidance of the driver. The rental companies are doing such a great job of providing well-conditioned 4×4 vehicles that are making it easy for tourists to have a safe and triumphant road trip. There are minor car issues faced while driving but the supporting and mechanical teams of the rental agencies swiftly solve them and the travelers can continue with their road trip.
Away from the fear of the car getting issues, there are lots of beauties to experience on the road. Before you reach the national parks, you are amazed by the outstanding landscapes, organic foods, fruits, and friendly people.
As you escape Kampala, you witness interesting landforms fleeced with sheer greenery which is food for the eyes, the soothing fresh air coming from all angle corners is something to cherish. During a road drive, there are busy trading centers along the highways that act as stopovers for buying refreshments and body stretching.
The opportunity avails to mix and mingle with the cordial people of Uganda while buying refreshments and craft items at the stopover points. The popular refreshments and foods to enjoy are the Muchomo (roasted meat or chicken), gonja (roasted plantain), maize, pineapple, sweet bananas, mangoes, mineral water, and ice-cold coca cola.
With the attractions experienced on the way, travelers reach the national parks without feeling the long-distance lag and boredom. At the national park, there are lots of activities to do to epitomize the self drive safari in Uganda. Most of these activities are nature-based and adventurous, they require one to be well prepared both mentally and physically and also have the right safari gear. The items in the safari gear should include trekking shoes, safari clothes, rain jacket, binoculars, camera, insect repellent, hat/cap, sunglasses, sun jelly, toilettes, and first aid kitty.
Back to the main motive of this article, let’s look at the 5 best activities to do on a self drive safari in Uganda;
Safari game drive
Viewing wild animals in their default setting is the most popular activity done by tourists in Uganda. It involves moving by 4×4 vehicle around the savannah park on demarcated tracks searching and watching common mammals such as lions, elephants, giraffes, elands, leopards, buffaloes, warthogs, zebras, oribis, reedbucks, and bushbucks to mention but a few. The safari game drives in Uganda are conducted at Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. These savannah parks sit on loads of acres of land, it takes about 3 days to comprehensively explore any of them. However, game drives take 4-5 hours and tourists are taken to the high animals breeding places to get the best out of the experience. There are two options for safari game drive, the guided game drive where a game ranger is hired to lead the search for the animals, and the self-game drive which involves searching the animals in the savannah grasslands on your own as a tourist. Although you might be on a self drive safari in Uganda, we advise hiring a park ranger to lead you through your game drive expedition. Park rangers provide insightful, informative, and guaranteed game viewing experiences since they know the park inside out.
Primate trekking
Uganda is home to numerous primate species and this is one of the reasons why the country is making big strides in the tourism world. A mammoth of travelers visits different forest parks to observe and enjoy the primates in their natural settings. Uganda has over 15 types of primates but the standout ones are the mountain gorillas and the chimpanzees. Both gorillas and chimpanzees belong to the same classification as man, they have a more advanced brain compared to other animals. They show compassion for one another and also have the ability to use the surrounding environment as tools to help them in their daily routine. Tourists come to Uganda to meet these intriguing and shrewd apes and hang out with them at close range, a rare experience to get in other parts of the world. The gorillas are tracked in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mghahiga national parks while the chimpanzees are observed in Kibale National Park, Kyambura gorge, Budongo forest, and Kaniyo Pabidi. Of the two trekking experiences, the gorilla trekking is the most captivating one because gorillas are slow and terrestrial animals. Travelers get more intimate with them compared to the chimpanzees which are arboreal and agile.
Nature walks
Uganda’s national parks can be explored on foot and this is the best way to explore these natural habitats beyond the common wildlife. nature walks are majorly done in eco forest areas such as Bwindi impenetrable forest, Kibale forest, Mabira forest, Maramagambo forest, Mgahinga forest, Budongo forest, Kyambura gorge, and many more. They are rarely conducted in open savannah grasslands. Nature walks offers that feel of being close to nature as you can touch and feel the flora, and encounter water streams, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and insects. Within these forests, there are established trails that are taken by tourists to experience the different attractions the eco area has to offer on foot.
Bird watching
With a third of the total species of birds in the world, Uganda is truly a bird haven. Birds are always hovering in the clear heavens of Uganda everywhere but there are some gazetted places to enjoy a comprehensive bird sighting. The birds in Uganda are mainly found in wetlands and forests such as Mabamba swamps, botanical gardens, Kyambura gorge, Bwindi impenetrable forest, Kibale forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and many more. The iconic bird to find in the aforementioned areas include shoebills, crown cranes, great blue turaco, regal sunbird, egrets, handsome francolin, and so on. birding is such an extensive activity; tourists spend over 3 days in a certain destination to get the best out of the experience. Hiring a bird guide is advised and a good camera and binoculars should come in handy.
Boat rides
The national parks of Uganda consist of a plethora of physical features, some of these are the waterbodies making boat riding a viable activity. The popular national parks offering exhilarating launch trips are queen Elizabeth national with the Kazinga channel, Lake Mburo National Park with Lake Mburo, and Murchison Falls national park with the River Nile. A boat ride on one of the water bodies in the parks exposes tourists to countless marine species including birds, hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, and fish species.
If you wish to take a self drive in Uganda on your next holiday, ensure to put one or more of the above-mentioned activities on your bucket list. You will have a great time, an experience you will always remember for a lifetime!
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6 Popular Kinds of Accommodation in Uganda
Due to the growing number of tourists inflow in Uganda, there is rapid accommodation facility development going on to match up the number of visitors and also make their stay comfortable and magical. One can hardly move a kilometer in the urban areas of Uganda minus finding an accommodation establishment. There is also a wealth of them in different tourist sites. The accommodation facilities differ in the purposes they serve to their guests and also in the classes of people they host. This is done to meet all the demands and needs of different people with different travel purposes and walks of life. All that the visitor has to do is to seek a booking agent and advise him/her on the best accommodation facility to stay at while on a safari in Uganda.
We listed down some of the 6 popular kinds of accommodation facilities a visitor is like to stay while in Uganda
Hotels
A hotel is normally an accommodation establishment with more than 10 stay rooms with a restaurant, bar, gym, and a swimming pool. In most cases, a hotel must be a stoled building. Uganda has more than 300 hotels across the country and these are normally located in major cities like Kampala, Jinja, Mbale, Mbarara, Wakiso, Gulu, and Masaka. Uganda has all classes of hotels from five stars to one-star hotels. The five-star hotels include Serena hotel Kampala, Sheraton Hotel Kampala, Pearl of Africa hotel, Protea hotel Kampala, and Muyonyo Speke resort hotel. The hotels in Uganda offer both continental and African dishes and most of the personnel that work in the hotels speak English. The payment at the hotel is done by cash or electronic transfer. The currencies popularly accepted are Uganda shillings and US dollars.
Lodges
Lodges are more of rural hotels that have fewer rooms and also offer fewer services to the hotel. The lodges in Uganda are popularly located in the national park regions. These are also classified into three categories that are to say the high-end lodges, mid-range lodges, and budget lodges. These lodges vary in their appearances and the services they offer to their clients. Most lodges in Uganda are eco-lodges- meaning that their structures are nature-based and also their operations adhere to conservation and preservation of the natural environment. The lodges in Uganda are evenly established around the different national parks of Uganda. Most of these lodges have a bar and restaurant and most of the time, they offer rates with the meals also attached. These are some of the popular lodges in Uganda; Mweya Safari Lodge, Paraa safari lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Red Chilli, Pakuba lodge, Gorilla mist camp, Mahogany springs, Gorilla safari lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Silverback lodge, Ndali lodge, Bush lodge, Simba safari lodge and so forth.
Motels
The motels are accommodation structures normally found along highways. These accommodation facilities target long-distance travelers. There are some destinations that are so far and require people to make a night stop somewhere to have a rest. The motel is always a lifesaver for long-distance travellers. The motels only offer bedding services to their clients nothing else. They are established for travelers to get rid of the long-distance travel fatigue and probably take a shower and then get back to the road. A traveler is more likely to find these establishments on the highways from one city to another.
Apartments
Apartments are away from homes. They are more of a set-up home, fully furnished with all the equipment one may need in a home. Normally in the apartments, there is a living room, kitchen, and bedrooms. The apartment is meant for a long stay and family travel. At the apartment, the visitors do the cooking for themselves. It might have a bar and a swimming pool on a rare occasion. The apartments in Uganda are usually found in modernized towns that could host upscale people for a long time.
Guesthouses
Guesthouses are private homes turned into sleeping establishments for visitors. Guesthouses are located in hideouts and a passerby may not know that it is an accommodation establishment. The guesthouses offer bed and breakfast to their visitors. The guesthouses are found in tourist compelling areas like Entebbe, Kampala, Jinja, Ntinda, Bukoto, Muyenga, and also in town centers of different districts across Uganda that host tourists like kabala, Mbarara, Fort Portal, Gulu, Lira, Masindi, Kisoro to mention but a few.
Rental Homes
These are some new accommodation facilities. Due to the changing trends of the world, people are trying to come up with something new on the market to make the traveler’s life easy. Some people hire out their homes to visitors for a stay. The visitor owns the home for a reserved period of time. The rental homes are mainly booked online. There is a world popular online booking agent called “Airbnb”. This makes a visitor rent a home in the different parts of the world and Uganda is one of their area of jurisdiction. People put up their homes for rent on this site. The onus is always on the visitor to choose the home that suits his/her needs and budget.
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