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What to Pack on Ugandan Safari

What to pack for a Ugandan Safari

Just like shoes can determine a dayโ€™s worth peace of mind, mood and confidence, what you pack for your African/ Uganda safari will determine how much you will enjoy yourself. Imagine the plight of realizing you did not carry a camera charger or extra batteries for it miles deep in the wild. Tales and memories that grow distant with age and time will be all you are left with after that trip. We zero it down to this list of the top 10 things to carry for your Uganda Safari as a guide on what to pack to avoid such inconveniences or worse.

1.ย ย ย ย ย  SAFARI FRIENDLY CLOTHES

Africa is a diverse continent in terms of her people and biodiversity which two factors guide one on what to pack for a Safari. Your comfort is paramount while choosing what to wear for a safari subject to a few things. These include the culture of the country you have chosen to visit, the activities you plan to engage in on safari, the weather and vegetation. On your Uganda safari does not necessarily entail a head to toe khaki ensemble.Your clothes should have colors that blend in with your environment such as brown, khaki, olive green and other dull colors because the bright colors scare animals away, blue and black colors tend to attract mosquitoes and tsetse flies. In choosing fabric, go for that which is not easily stained, easy to hand wash and dry faster. For the ladies, a sports bra will be ideal because of the bumpiness of the rides. On a gorilla trekking or forest walk long sleeved shirts, gloves, long trousers and socks to protect against insect bites and a rain poncho will do. Uganda is not entirely sunny or hot and the morning and evenings can get quite chilly. Wearing layers to remove or add as the weather changes is ideal. A light weight water proof jacket that can be squashed into your day pack is handy too.

2.ย ย ย ย ย  SHOES FIT FOR SAFARI

Light weight hiking shoes, comfortable walking shoes for nature walks or hikes and sandals for the evenings at the lodge or camp are suitable. Activities like gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking may require tougher shoes because you get deep into the forests thus hiking boots come in handy. In all this, consider waterproof shoes made of material that is easy to wash without getting drenched as well as hard rubber soles such that they are not easily penetrated by thorns.

3.ย ย ย ย ย  SUN PROTECTION GEAR

Heat and Sunshine are Africaโ€™s most renowned attributes yet the chilly mornings and nights on a game drive may momentarily make you forget how much you sweated at noon. Beyond the layered clothing to adapt to the weather changes in a day, there are other items you ought to pack to ease your response to the weather and its change. Sunscreen: the heat can get brutal so you are better off preventing the discomfort arising from the scorching heat. A wide brimmed safari hat; one with a cord so it does not get blown off as you ride through the wild and one large enough to cover not just your head but neck too. Sunglasses; the rays and wind on the game drives can be harsh on your eyes. Moisture drops for your eyes are complimentary to the sunglasses, the discomfort that the sun has not caused, the wind may do and this is where the drops come in. Moisturizer and lip balm are worthwhile items to carry along for your Uganda Safari. ย 

4.ย  ย  ย  SAFARI GADGETS OR EQUIPMENT

These are handy devices and gadgets that you will need on safari to capture precious sights and sounds in a photo or video or to help you see farther than your eyes can reach. A camera, its charger, extra battery, memory card and binoculars are a priority under this category. In addition in Uganda you will need the 3 pin UK style adapters but you are better off carrying a convertible adaptor to make your charging easy while at the camp or lodge. For night walks or caving expeditions, a flashlight or headlamp are essential items.

5.ย ย ย ย ย  TOILETRIES

Lodges and hotels provide some toiletries as well as laundry services but it is ideal that you have your own in case you decide to camp far from the luxury of the safari lodge. Some of the items to carry are wet wipes whose essence is to cleanse your face or body of the dust that accumulates from the game drives before you get a full-blown shower. For the women, pack tampons because they are hard to find and may only be chanced upon in the cities far from the forest or hills you will be hiking through. Toothpaste, a toothbrush and shower shorts to carry your soap to the bathroom at a camp should not be left behind.

6.ย ย ย ย ย  DAY PACK

A day pack should be one bag that carries a dayโ€™s worth of supplies. This may include packed lunch, a rain poncho, a journal in a Ziploc bag to prevent it from getting damp or wet and a few toiletries like sanitizer, a flashlight and wipes. Be careful not to pack too much to weigh you down on your journey!

7.ย ย ย ย ย  DOCUMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

A passport, tickets, travel insurance documents, safari itinerary, cash in foreign currency, necessary vaccines like yellow fever vaccine, locks for your luggage and alternative form of identification in case of passport loss. You will need these items for your safari to Uganda and Rwanda.

8.ย  ย  ย  THE MEDICAL KITย 

This item is inclusive of some medications that would make your adventure more convenient by preventing or dealing with any unforeseen aches and pains or treat those you already had before your safari. Insect repellent, a first aid kit with bandages, cotton, antiseptic and all; anti-malaria meds, preventive medication for diarrhea, stomach and headaches, pain killers, your prescription medicines and treatment for any chronic illnesses can constitute this kit.

9.ย ย ย ย ย  ITEMS TO SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES

This is not mandatory but worth considering as you prepare to travel to Africa. If your safari itinerary includes community based activities, an item or two could change a life of a community member. From a t-shirt, to a book for a school going child, your gesture will be welcome and a means of giving back to the community that has hosted you during your safari.

10.ย  ย  ย  ย MOBILE PHONE, IPAD OR TABLET

Most of the lodges you will visit have WIFI in the lounge area. In case you are the kind that likes to upload your experiences on social media on the go โ€“ then these items will be of great use to you as you look to keep people at home informed on your journeys. You can choose to roam or buy a local sim card but this requires that your mobile phone should be unlocked.

 

Our final tips to you are; to leave room for keepsakes or souvenirs by packing less and reducing the weight of your luggage by packing in a duffel bag as opposed to a suit case with wheels. Packing for a safari can be cumbersome but doing so early enough could be the beginning of a great adventure!

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Customer Reviews

Ngoni Safaris Uganda

Customer Reviews

Michael T 06/June/2021

TripAdvisor
Above & Beyond
Review of: 3-Day Gorillas trekking and Batwa Experience
Sedrick went above and beyond to accomodate our request for an itinerary alteration due to our compressed time in Uganda. He also compeltely took care of scheduling our covid 19 testing and drove us to the site on arrival.

Our driver/guide Ben was also outstanding!

**We highly recommend using a porter during gorilla trekking as their are some complex parts to the trail/terrain. This also benefits the local people by providing them work.**

David 24/June/2021

TripAdvisor
Seeing Lots of Animals and Uganda
The schedule suited my time in Uganda exactly and was a great opportunity to view some of the top wildlife and natural wonders of the country. Lodgings range from mid-range to near upscale and are in beautiful locations. Food is good and ample. My driver, Stanley, was expert at spotting wildlife and, very importantly on the Ugandan roads, a careful and skilled driver. You see various parts of the country on this tour, and due to distances, be aware you'll spend quite a few hours on the road. One thing they might add is an itinerary going into more detail ahead of time on each day's activity and suggested things to bring. I was concerned about the needed COVID test for return home, but they took care of arranging that, and it turned out successfully. Overall the tour was a real highlight and is highly recommended.

Justo Nov 18, 2019

Safaribookings
I went on an 11 day safari visiting Kampala, Jinja, Lake Mburo NP, Bwindi NP, Queen Elizabeth NP and Kibale NP. Communications with Ngoni were prompt and easy from the start. As soon as I made my booking, Sedrick contacted me through WhatsApp and guided me through the rest of the process. Leading up to the tour he made sure I was well-prepared to begin. He was always very clear and friendly. Service was exceptional. I had the pleasure of going on this safari with three members of Ngoni's staff - Sedrick, Nelson and Joel. These guys made my comfort their priority from the moment we met. Whether it was checking if I was okay with the accommodations or making sure I always had a bottle of water, I always felt like I was being well taken care of. Nelson is an excellent guide. His knowledge about the flora and fauna of Uganda was extensive, always able to answer any questions I had and was eager to teach - it's obvious that he has a great love for his country and it's environment and is eager to share this love with his clients. My experience with Ngoni and Uganda surpassed all expectations I had. Absolutely amazing, and thanks to the guys at Ngoni it feels like a new home - can't wait to come back and visit. Webale, brothers!

Stephany Aug 13, 2019

https://www.safaribookings.com/operator/t17733
Sedrick was unique and stood out from the rest in the high quality communication he provided since the first inquiry. He called me to provide information about the itinerary and see if I had any questions even before booking the tour. We communicated through WhatsApp for any other questions that came to mind after that call. After picking me up from the airport, he and Pilot (additional tour guide) provided plenty of information about the country to give me some context and we started our long drive to the impenetrable forest. The food was delicious with many options; the accommodation was very clean with exceptional service; and the transportation from Entebbe to Bwindi park was very comfortable (although long). As a solo female traveler, both tour guides (Sedrick and Pilot) did an exceptional job at enduring I accomplished everything intended to in Uganda, and always made me feel safe. I highly recommend to book your safari with this company because the quality and professionalism will not let you down.

Shakira Dec 14, 2018

Ngoni safaris uganda is the best tour operator in Uganda. A few weeks back we traveled to Bwindi impenetrable with sedrick to explore the beauty that is Uganda. This company took care of us . with most comfortable car , Great guide .We highly recommend it to the next travelers

Winnie Dec 19, 2018

https://www.safaribookings.com/operator/t17733
I was going on a gorilla safari with my friend and this was going to be the first ever safari for the both of us. Luckily, the communication with the office was super easy and we got answers to all of the questions we needed. The driver / guide (Sedrick) was very professional and funny and made our time very pleasant. Also, he had a proper knowledge of the local area close to the Mgahinga national park and he promptly spoke some 7 languages which we thought was super positive. The safari was surely the highlight of out East African trip!

Ritah Jan 2, 2019

https://www.safaribookings.com/operator/t17733
My Team and I did a five day trip, including Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls and Kidepo. It was truly an incredible experience. Our guide, Sedrick, was knowledgeable, skilled in driving in some challenging settings and just plain fun to hang out with for five days. The lodging was perfect, especially Savannah Lodge. The tents and beds were high quality. The views were spectacular. Meals were delicious and varied. I recommend Ngoni safaris Uganda with all my heart and soul!

Pilot May 28, 2019

https://www.safaribookings.com/operator/t17733
Our six days trip was amazing. The driver/guide had an incredible knowledge of animal and bird-life and are so interesting to talk to. His driving skills through lashing rain and massive puddles was admirable! The cooks managed to produce varied and delicious meals from the kitchen, which we ate both at accommodation or roadside when we were travelling from one place to another . At all times we felt safe and well-looked after. All in all, an incredible experience, due not only to the abundance of wildlife we were lucky enough to see, but also to the great efforts put to have our Safari a better one . The safari was full of fun. Traveling with ngoni safaris is my life time memorable experience and I highly recommend it to travellers who would love to visit uganda or EastAfrica for holidays, vacations or Adventure.. Even five stars are too small .