A few travel tips on what to take note of when planning a visit to Uganda will help make your stay here enjoyable. Well, the festive season is officially on and many people are travelling from a far to come to Uganda for a wild holiday. Uganda will be a life changing experience, no matter if you are coming for business, short term volunteer, or going on safari.

Visa fees for entry into Uganda are as follows:

• Single Entry Visa                  US$50
• Multiple Entry Visa              US$100
• East Africa Tourist Visa      US$100
• Government officials           No fee
• Diplomatic Visa                    No fee

Please note that all visa applications must be submitted online. Paper applications will not be processed and may result in delays.

There are quite a number of countries that are exempted from paying visa fees in Uganda. These include:

Angola
Eritrea
Malawi
Madagascar
Seychelles
Swaziland
Zambia
Comoros
Kenya
Mauritius
Zimbabwe
Botswana

Tanzania
Rwanda
Kenya
Burundi Antigua
Barbados
Fiji
Philippines
Grenada
Lesotho
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Ghana
Cyprus
Bahamas
Belize
Gambia
Jamaica
Malta
Singapore
St. Vincent-Tonga
Ireland
Libya

Uganda has a tropical climate with temperatures ranging from (21-25C / 70-75F), apart from the mountainous areas which are much cooler: like mountain Elgon, the Rwenzori region and South Western areas which are much cooler. The hottest months are from December to February. Evenings can however feel chilly even after the heat of the day with temperatures around 12-16C / 54-61F.

Most regions apart from the dry area in the North, experience heavy rain between March to May and  between October and November when road transport can become difficult in some parts of the country. The best time for trekking is during the dry seasons between January to February and June to September. Wildlife viewing is also best at the end of the dry seasons when most game are concentrated around water sources.

The local currency is Uganda Shillings (UGX). Notes are in denominations of 50,000/- , 20,000/- ,10,000/- , 5,000/- , 2,000/- and 1,000/-. Coins are in denominations of 500, 200 , 100 and 50/-.

Try not to accept very old and dirty notes as they may be rejected in some other places.

The US Dollar, Euro and Pound Sterling are all recognized currencies in Uganda and can be used for cash payments. Other international currencies may also be accepted in bigger towns though travelers may find a hard time using them in smaller towns.

Here is an estimate of the major currencies against the local currency.

1 US Dollar = UGX 3,700

1 Euro = UGX 4,200

1 Pound Sterling = UGX 5,700

Credit cards; American express, visa , master cards are accepted but not widely used. Some travel agencies, large hotels and shops in urban areas may accept them.
ATMS are widely spread in large towns.

Vaccinations against Yellow fever,Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis are sometimes advised. After road accidents, Malaria is the second largest concern for travelers visiting Uganda. Seek up-to date advice regarding anti-malarial medications prior to your trip. Take a good insect repellent and always avoid bites between dusk and dawn by always covering up.