What budget to travel Uganda? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Uganda?

Museums, shrines, historic sites, palaces and places of worship. Entrance fees range from 10 to 35,000 Ush. Nearly 100% of the shrines and places of worship scattered across Uganda are freely accessible, but there are an infinitesimal number of exceptions, such as the Namugongo Shrine (pilgrims are exempt from entrance fees) and the Great Mosque in Kampala (guided tour subject to a fee).

Parks and reserves managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This guide deals exclusively with entry fees forForeign Non Residents. Expatriates and East Africans benefit from lower rates. Children under 15 receive a discount. For those traveling with an agency, these fees are normally included in the price.

- Murchison Falls: US$45 for 24 hours (US$25 for children aged 5 to 15).

- Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Bwindi, Mgahinga, Kibale, Kidepo: US$40 for 24 hours (US$20 per child).

- Semuliki, Rwenzori, Mount Elgon, Toro-Semliki, Katonga and Pian Upe: US$35 for 24 hours (US$5 per child).

- Other reserves: US$ 10 for 24 hours.

For Murchison Falls Park, you will need to add a 24-hour entry fee of 10,000 Ush for a vehicle registered in Uganda and 10 US$ for a vehicle registered abroad. You'll also need to add US$30 per person for a cruise on the Nile or the Kazinga Channel, US$30 per vehicle to hire the services of a park guide for a day safari (not compulsory), US$50 per person for a night nature walk, US$250 per person (entrance fee included) for chimpanzee tracking at Kibale (US$100 at Kyambura; entrance fee not included)... In short, quite a budget! Gorilla permits cost US$800 (including entrance to Bwindi or Mgahinga parks). The UWA website (ugandawildlife.org) is very well designed and regularly updates its prices.

Good deals. In addition to the clever trick of sleeping on the edge of the parks (which saves you a lot of money and gives you a good chance, if not the certainty, of observing wildlife across the boundaries of the protected areas...), you can also try your hand at chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu forest (US$ 50) and birdwatching in the Bigodi swamps (US$ 40) or on the Royal Mile (Budongo forest).

uS$80 to climb one of the three volcanoes in Mgahinga National Park, US$140 for rafting on the Nile, a minimum of US$155 to climb Mount Elgon, US$1,345 to US$1,480 to climb Margherita Peak (Rwenzori massif)... Getting around Uganda can be expensive. But it's possible to keep fit without breaking the bank! Without spending a penny, you can swim safely in lakes Nabugabo, Bunyonyi and Mutanda, hike almost the entire country, ride mountain bikes on the country's many trails and run here and there. If you feel like it, try your hand at jogging in the heights of the Kapchorwa district, the homeland of Stephen Kiprotich, marathon winner at the 2012 London Olympics, and Joshua Cheptegei, gold medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 10,000-metre race, with a new Olympic record of 26 minutes and 43.14 seconds!

What budget to eat Uganda?

The price range for sustenance starts at around 2,000 Ush (US$ 0.5) and ends at around 130,000 Ush (US$ 35). Eating local dishes in markets, pork joints and small restaurants, you should expect to pay between 2,000 and 25,000 Ush for a full meal... For fine dining in upscale establishments, expect to pay between 25,000 and 50,000 Ush for a main course. Takeaway sales and home delivery, mainly provided by Jumia Food (www.jumia.ug), are offered by a significant number of Kampala restaurants. In the provinces, to a much lesser degree, only the towns of Jinja and Entebbe have followed the capital's lead in these services.

What is the budget for accommodation Uganda?

In small, sometimes noisy hotels, expect to pay around 40,000 Ush (US$11) for a clean, fully-equipped room. Below 40,000 Ush, comfort and hygiene are more random (although there are some excellent surprises...); above that, amenities are more numerous and more functional (although there are some unpleasant surprises...). Whatever your budget, desires and itinerary, you'll find a wide range of accommodation in Uganda, from budget campsites (from US$4 per person) and backpackers (an average of US$20 for a dormitory bed) to racy, expensive lodges (up to US$1,500 per person in high season) and boutique hotels. With very few exceptions, only the top establishments accept credit cards. Last but not least, many hotels apply a surcharge during the high season (June to August and December to February) and on non-working holidays.

Travel budget Uganda and cost of living

Budget. Beware: Uganda is a rather expensive country if you want to take advantage of all the activities on offer, especially if you want to visit the mountain gorillas and go on safari in the national parks, which almost always requires the services of an agency or car rental company. If there are two of you, you can expect to pay around €2,500 to €3,000 for 10 days all-inclusive (gorilla permits, rental car, lodge accommodation, park entrance fees, etc.). But for those who prefer to meet local people and enjoy the scenery, using local transport and camping, the cost can be kept to a minimum.

Low budget: around €25 to €30 per day per person in camping or dormitory accommodation, including local meals and miscellaneous expenses.

Medium budget: from €50 to €80 per day per person in a double room with meals in tourist restaurants and miscellaneous expenses.

Big budget: from €200 per day for nights in top-of-the-range lodges and establishments, as well as per day on safari with an agency.

Tipping. A small tip is always welcome. Be careful, however, not to tip too large sums, as this can depreciate the value of the work. For example, you could give 1,000 Ush to the person helping you with your luggage or to a guard. In tourist restaurants, if the tip is not included and you are satisfied with the service, you can leave up to 10% of the bill. In lodges on safari, if you want to thank your guide or staff, wait until the end of your stay. On organized tours, driver-guides are often poorly paid, so tips represent a large part of their income. Offering a meal from time to time and leaving an envelope at the end of the trip (between US$5 and US$10 per day) is also an option. In hotels, you can leave a sum to be divided among the staff in a kitty often set up for this purpose at reception.