| Author | Topic: Uganda - any tips? |
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| Ellie_F | Posted by Ellie_F on 14 January 2009 - 9:58pm. |
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Hi all, My friend and I are planning a trip to Uganda in March and I was just wondering if anyone has been there and has any good tips? Cheers Ellie :-) |
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| Caren | Uganda is an amazing Posted by Caren on 31 January 2009 - 8:31am. |
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Uganda is an amazing country. One of my favourites in Africa. I found the people very friendly, woth a wonderful heart. Obviously there is alot of poverty but take an open mind, and you will have a total blast It's a fantastic place. What are you doing there, are you volunteering or just backpacking around, visiting the Gorillas? Anyway take care you will have an amazing time, such a wonderful country, i'm so envious. |
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| bethroundtheworld | Tips! Posted by bethroundtheworld on 8 February 2009 - 11:49am. |
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I grew up in Uganda. It is a really amazing place, super jealous that you get to go. I hope these tips will help! Do not drink the tap water anywhere. Always have a supply of boiled, purified,or bottled water. It is considered rude for women to show their knees. I would suggest using a wrap skirt to cover up if your clothes are too short. Take malaria pills and always sleep under a mosquito net. Most places have them in back if they’re not on the bed, but if not, buy one cheaply at a local market. It’s a worthwhile investment. Malaria mosquitos only come out between 6PM and 6AM and they love ankles and water. If you are going to be outside at night, wear repellant and, if possible, long sleeves and pants. Do not eat food straight from the street vendors or you will get worms. Fruit and veggies should be bleached. Stay away from grassy areas and wear closed-toed shoes if you can’t see your feet to avoid being bitten by a snake. NEVER drive over a snake. Be careful of ants. Do not give money to the beggars (especially the orphans with “forms” - these are fake!), offer to buy them food or soap or something useful like that instead. I do not recommend going on a boda-boda (taxi-motorcycle) because they can be quite dangerous. Matatus (mini-van busses) may be the safer way to go, but watch out for pick-pockets! (Private taxi’s are the safest transportation and are reasonably cheap, but don’t let them rip you off! They will try to if you are white.) If you can, learn the local words for the currency so you don’t get the tourist English price. To avoid getting Biharzia, do not swim in still water unless far offshore. If you hear a gun shot, duck below window level. Police are not the good guys. They will push and plead until you give them a bribe, even if you’ve done nothing wrong. Be careful. Be prepared for hole-in-the-ground toilets with no toilet paper. This is the standard washroom, although many places in the cities have western-style toilets and you may be able to avoid them completely depending on your travel style. Kasubi tombs, the Source of the Nile, The Entebbe Wildlife Sanctuary, Queen Elizabeth Park, Murchison Falls, Bugugali Falls, Mabira Forest, any other forest, The Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Bunyoni (May I recomment Bushara Island), and the Craft Village/Market (downtown Kampala) are great tourist destinations. Across the street from the craft village is a great restaurant called the Chaat House that serves Sugar Cane Juice and amazing ethnic cooking from the local Asian community. The local staple foods include Posho (thick, cream-of-wheat-style millet), Matoke and g-nut sauce (potato-like green plaintian bananas steamed with a peanut-buttery sauce on top made from the localground nuts), sweet potatoes, cassava (I think this is also called Taro) and many tropical fruits. Meats include chicken, goat, beef and fish. The Tilapia is amazing. I hope this helps. Have a wonderful trip! I know you will fall in love with the country as soon as you get there! BethP. |
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| Ellie_F | Cheers Posted by Ellie_F on 13 February 2009 - 4:29pm. |
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Thanks ever so much for the advice. Heading off on March 7th. Can't wait :-D |
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| breakdance_nothearts | Have fun Posted by breakdance_nothearts on 3 March 2009 - 4:42pm. |
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Hi Ellie I couldnt agree more with Beth Uganda is a lovely country,i grew up there and i miss most of the things we got up to growing up Take care with what she told you, especially the water issue,only drink boiled water and watch out for the mosquitos for Malaria Unless you are desperate, do not get on a bodaboda..the matatus are sightly over loaded too, but maybe a little 'safer' Dont leave until you've been to Jinja, its got the source of the Nile, and you can white water raft there Have fun gal :-) |
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