Uganda is well known to be one the top countries who managed the covid pandemic extremely well. The government is still maintaining several domestic measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Good news is that both domestic and international travel has resumed so well with guidelines that are almost similar with everywhere else in the world.
What you need to know before travelling to Uganda in relation to covid protocols:
Upon arrival, all travelers are required to provide a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test taken not more than 120 hours before arrival.
Children aged three years and below have been exempted from the test requirement as long as their accompanying parents and/or adults have valid negative test certificates.
Additionally, all arriving passengers will be screened at the port of entry (Entebbe airport and all borders). Travelers displaying symptoms will be placed in isolation while a test is conducted.
If travelers test positive for covid-19 (even if asymptomatic) while in Uganda or on arrival, they will be treated as indicated in the National Covid-19 management guidelines until they have fully recovered at their own cost. Adventure consults encourages all travelers to have international Travel insurance.
Visitors exiting Uganda will be required to provide a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test taken not more than 120 hours before departure.
Where to test from;
As of 15th March 2021, tests can be done at a few labs in Entebbe and Kampala. Adventure consults can however make special arrangements with lab technicians attached to any of the reliable labs to meet clients at any place in Uganda, collect samples and take them back to the lab for testing. We have done the same for our wonderful groups. This is and will be at an extra cost depending on location, so please get in touch with us for details – sales@adventureconsults.com.
Covid testing costs in Uganda:
- Standard cost; USD 65 and get results within 24 hours or slightly before.
- Rapid test; USD 150 and get results within 6 – 10 hours.
Adventure consults recommends an extra night in Entebbe or Kampala before your exit flight to enable you have tests taken without rushing.
Check-in time for international flights at Entebbe international airport has been adjusted to 4 hours in advance.
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) established procedures to be followed by all visiting tourists and Adventure consults’ clients and staff have tested them. These include among others;
- Hand washing/sanitation facilities are provided at protected areas.
- Tourists are expected to have their own masks. The masks shall cover the nose and mouth at all times when in use correctly and consistently as prescribed by Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
- At all Information centres in the various Protected Areas and the neighbouring urban areas, the respective Chief Wardens/Wardens in Charge shall ensure that social distancing and appropriate hygiene guidelines are strictly enforced whilst serving clients.
- In addition to prior guidelines for research activities, all researchers coming into the protected areas or close proximity of wild animals must wear clean clothing and disinfected footwear prior to going to the field for data collection. Every researcher must carry into the field a hand sanitizer. This also applies to those who will participate in Adventure Consults’ Gorilla Habituation Experience & Chimpanzee Habituation Experience.
- The distance of not less than 7 meters from the primates has been extended to at least 10 meters at all times and will be reinforced by the rangers in the field while still allowing enjoyable viewing of this prized tourism product. This will be in addition to the mandatory wearing of N95 masks or surgical masks or double-layered cloth masks with filters by anyone coming within 10 meters of primates.
- Briefing and debriefing are now being done in smaller groups of eight (08) tourists after they have been assigned gorilla families for tracking.
- During the trek to the primates, especially in the high altitudes, the rangers and guides have been trained to allow for frequent breaks in order to give time to everyone to breathe fresh air.
- UWA also requires that before the gorilla and chimpanzee viewing commences, all people in the group shall sanitize their hands again.
- For other products like the game drives, the regular park rules in place shall apply although the capacity for tourist vehicles will be limited to 6 occupants. Our driver-guide shall continuously and where practical remind our guests about and reinforce the COVID prevention guidelines.
- Together with our partners in offering accommodation, we are ensuring social distancing, hand washing, and respiratory hygiene measures at all the accommodation sites. This is in addition to a heightened emphasis on all technical and maintenance services such as dishwashing and laundry equipment, dispensers being regularly checked, cleaned, and are serviceable.
- The restaurants, breakfast and dining rooms, and bars are also observing reinforced social distancing and hygiene measures.
- All our partners are sticking to the regular housekeeping and cleaning, with emphasis on disinfecting the different surfaces more regularly.
As a company, we are emphasizing basic health precautions, especially frequent hand-washing with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. We are also encouraging all our guests to practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (including covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue and maintaining distance from others). All our staff and guides have been trained on basic COVID-19 prevention practices and are ready to help at all times.
Learning from how quickly evolving the situation around this viral respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus was in 2020, and still is; we recommend that you stay in touch with an Adventure Consults Travel Consultant for all regular travel updates – sales@adventureconsults.com