Gratuities Guidelines :
Tipping is entirely at your own discretion, and need only be done once, at the end of your stay. Regional (Botswana, Namibia, Zambia & Zimbabwe*) • Guide, Specialist Guide & Butler – We recommend about USD 20.00 per guest per day. • Mokoro Poler – We recommend about USD 7.00 per guest per day. • The General Safari Camp/Lodge Staff – We recommend about USD 20.00 per guest per day. This will be distributed equally amongst all the staff and may be placed either in the communal tipping box, left in an envelope with Management, or settled by credit card* on departure. • Massage Therapist – We recommend about USD 5.00 per treatment. • Transfer Driver – We recommend about USD 10.00 per guest per movement. • Porterage – We recommend about USD 5.00 per guest per movement. * Please note that Zimbabwe does not offer credit card facilities anywhere in the country. However, debit card transactions are accepted as funds are deducted from the account immediately. If you are travelling to Zimbabwe, we suggest that you carry small denominations of US Dollars for ease of transactions.
Regional (Rwanda/Uganda) • Professional Guides/Local Tour Leaders – We recommend USD 20.00 per person, per day. • Drivers/Guides – We recommend USD 10.00 per person, per day. • Transfer only Drivers – We recommend about USD 3.00 to USD 5.00 per group, per transfer. • The General Safari Camp/Lodge Staff – We recommend about USD 15.00 per guest, per day. This will be distributed equally amongst all the staff and may be left in an envelope with Management, or can be settled by credit card on departure. • Gorilla Trekking Guide/s – We recommend USD 15.00 per person, per trek (usually there are two guides and it is standard practice to tip after each trek). • Gorilla Trekking Trackers – We recommend USD 10.00 per person, per day for the group of trackers. • Porters on Gorilla Trekking – We recommend USD 5.00 per porter, per day (this is optional – wage paid for porter to their association). • Hiking/Trekking Guides – We recommend USD 10.00 per person, per day. • Baggage Porters – We recommend USD 2.00 per person, per movement at hotels and airports. At Bisate and at Magashi, guests may leave said gratuity in an envelope with Camp/Lodge Management. • Massage Therapists – We recommend including any gratuity, per treatment, in the total gratuity for the camp/lodge staff. This cash amount may be left in an envelope or settled by credit card with Camp/Lodge Management on departure. • Meals in Restaurants & Hotels – 10% of the bill which is customary on meal accounts if you are satisfied with the service. We do recommend making use of this service with the porters, as not only are they extremely helpful, they know the terrain like no other. Not only assisting with any bags, they provide a hand on the slippery slopes or steep parts of the trails. In addition, it is a way of giving back to the community as porters are organised via a cooperative and contribute to job creation, so that even more people benefit from the National Park. Porters are available at the start of each hike and do not need to be pre-booked, however, we would recommend including it in the service so that guests know it is already taken care of when they arrive at the starting point. 17 We recommend tipping your driver/guide/porter/tracker directly. For the general camp/lodge staff and massage therapists, gratuities in cash may be left in an envelope or settled by credit card with Camp/Lodge Management for further distribution.
Regional (Tanzania/Kenya ) • Note that in Tanzania these may vary slightly: • Private Guides (who host guests for the full duration of the safari, from start to end – i.e. not in camp guides for daily activities) – We recommend about USD 10.00 to USD 20.00 per guest per day. • Spotters are mandatory on night game drives – We recommend about USD 3.00 to USD 5.00 per guest per activity. • Rangers, as employed by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), are mandatory on both night game drives and nature walks – We recommend about USD 3.00 to USD 5.00 per guest per activity.
South Africa • Transfer Driver – We recommend about ZAR 100.00 per movement. • Driver and/or Guide on Sightseeing Excursions – For touring, half day or full day, we recommend about ZAR 200.00 per day. • Porterage – We recommend about ZAR 25.00 per bag. • Safari Guide/Tracker at Game Lodges – We recommend about ZAR 200.00 per day for the guide and ZAR 100.00 per day for the tracker. • Hotel/Guest House/Game Lodge General Staff – We recommend about ZAR 50.00 per day for the staff, i.e., housekeeping, etc. • Private Butler – We recommend about ZAR 75.00 per day. • Train/Rail Services – We recommend about ZAR 100.00 per day for cabin attendants and about ZAR 75.00 per day for the dining car servers. Restaurants & Hotels • 10% – 15% is customary on meal accounts if guests are satisfied with the service.
Generally speaking, gratuities can be paid in cash (local or foreign currency, i.e. US Dollars, EURO, and/or GBP) or alternatively, depending on the establishment, by credit card. We would like to emphasize that tipping is definitely not a requirement and should be offered only by choice, dependent on the service received
Uganda, or the ‘Pearl of Africa’, as it was famously dubbed by Winston Churchill, is characterised by relatively dry and flat savanna in the north, with verdant mountains in the West, and vast dense and remarkably lush forests in the central region. The nation is home to an astonishingly diverse range of African wildlife including the highly endangered mountain gorilla which can be found in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. A popular spot for wildlife watching is Queen Elizabeth National Park, which hosts four of the Big Five, a flock of flamboyant flamingos and the rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. Outdoor enthusiasts can get their adrenaline fix with plenty of whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking, quad biking and horse riding facilities on offer. Add to this some friendly locals, a burgeoning cultural scene, and a capital city full of lively bars, clubs and restaurants, and it is easy to see why Uganda has gained itself a reputation as 'Africa's friendliest country'.
Entry Requirements
Uganda Eases Covid Entry Requirements 19 April 2023
Travelling to Uganda has just been made easy with the adjustments of the COVID 19 entry requirements as travelers are no longer required to show proof of their vaccination status or test results upon arrival at the airport or boarder points. However those departing are advised to be aware of the entry requirements at the final destination they are heading to.
Upon arrival, passengers are subjected to temperature checks and screening for other infectious diseases by the Port Health Authorities and if you are found exceeding the normal body temperature or display symptoms of COVID 19, you may be requested to take a test.
UGANDA VISAS
Your passport must have a minimum of at least two full clear pages for visas and stamps and be valid for more than 6 months from the date of entry into Uganda.
Most passports need a single-entry visa (cost US$55).
Visas cannot be obtained on arrival. You must apply and pay for them online at least two weeks before your arrival.
You are required to upload clear copies of your current passport, yellow fever certificate and a passport photo.
The online form will ask for your contact in Uganda:
G&C Tours (U) Ltd +256 (0) 772 721 479
Please take note of the following important information:
1. The earliest time a person can apply for a tourist visa is 3 months prior to arrival.
2. The number of days applied for start counting from the day of the visa approval in the system and the person has to enter Uganda within that time or forfeit their visa and payment.
3. We advise that everyone applies for a 3 month visa as this gives the traveller 90 days from time of visa approval to enter the country. Please be sure that this time period fits into your travel plans to Uganda.
4. If a traveller applies for a visa of 7/10/14 etc days then they get the related number of days to enter the country before their visa is forfeited. I.e. if you apply for a 7 day visa and it gets approved on the 1st May 2023 then you have to enter Uganda before the 8th May otherwise the visa will be forfeited.
5. Once Applications are automatically cancelled in the system after the time period has elapsed, they cannot be recovered or reinstated and the visa payment is lost. The traveller would need reapply for a new visa and make payment again.
Only Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted for visa payments. Once payment is made, the system will process your application and send you a barcoded email. Print out this email and bring it with you to Uganda. Upon arrival you should present the barcoded email to the immigration officer, who will scan the barcode, take your finger prints and photo and place a visa in your passport.
The following nationalities do not require a visa to enter Uganda: all nationalities from East African countries (Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi), all nationalities from COMESA countries (Angola, Eritrea, Malawi, Madagascar, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia, Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Zimbabwe), and passport holders from OTHERS (Antigua, Barbados, Fiji, Grenada, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, The Grenadines, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Bahamas, Belize, Gambia, Jamaica, Malta, Singapore, St. Vincent-Tonga and Ireland).
Please do always check the latest visa requirements and procedures, as well as health requirements, at time of client's travel
Banking and Currency
Currency
Local currency: Ugandan Shilling
Symbol: USh
ISO code: UGX
Subunit: Cent
Banknotes: 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 shillings
Coins: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, and 500 shillings
Banking
Card Transactions: Yes
ATMs: Yes
Mastercard: Yes
Visa: Yes
American Express: Limited acceptance
Diner’s club: Limited acceptance
Banking Hours:
Weekdays: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Weekends: Limited hours in some locations
Public Holidays: Yes (limited hours)
Foreign exchange services: Yes
Travel, Transport and Getting Around
Air:
Main airlines: Uganda Airlines
International Airports: Entebbe International Airport
Domestic Airports: Various
Road:
Driving on the: Left
Tar roads: Yes
Gravel roads: Yes
Valid International Driver's License needed: Yes
Car hire available: Yes
Taxis: Yes
E-hailing services: Yes
Bus:
Inter-city bus services: Yes
Local city bus networks: Yes
Rail:
Railway system: Limited
Subway System: No
Water:
Ferries: Limited
Water taxis: Yes
Leisure cruises: No
Food, Drink and Cuisine Advice
Food and water safety:
Can you drink the tap water: No
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes
Ice: No
Meat: Yes
Street food: Yes
Local cuisine: Ugandan cuisine reflects a mix of indigenous tribes and foreign influences. Staple foods include Matooke (cooked green bananas), Posho (maize meal), and Rice. Common dishes are Luwombo (steamed stew), Rolex (chapati with eggs and vegetables), and Nyama Choma (grilled meat). Ugandan cuisine is rich in flavor with a variety of spices and herbs.
Drinks: Notable local drinks include Waragi (banana gin), Tonto (local beer), and Malwa (fermented beverage).
Tipping: Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated, typically 5-10%.
Climate and Weather
Annual rainfall: Varies by region, averaging around 1200 mm
Average temperature: 23°C
Summer:
Average highs: 27°C
Average lows: 16°C
Winter:
Average highs: 26°C
Average lows: 15°C
Best time to visit: The best time to visit Uganda is during the dry seasons, from June to August and December to February, when the weather is cooler and ideal for wildlife viewing and outdoor activities.
Internet Availability
Internet cafes: Limited
Accommodation options: Yes
Restaurants: Yes
Cafes: Yes
Shopping malls: Yes
Public parks: Yes
Libraries: Yes
Clothing and Dress Recommendations
Spring and Summer
Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes
Lightweight warm clothes: Yes
Winter and Autumn
Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Recommended
Heavyweight clothing and boots: No
General
Umbrella and raincoat: Yes
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: Yes
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes
Walking shoes: Yes
Casual: Yes
Smart-casual attire: Yes
Internet Availability
Internet cafes: Limited
Accommodation options: Yes
Restaurants: Yes
Cafes: Yes
Shopping malls: Yes
Public parks: Yes
Libraries: Yes
Electricity and Plug Standards
Plug Type: Type G
Voltage (V): 240
Frequency Hertz (Hz): 50
*Travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances.
