Uganda

6/9 day Gorilla Trek Other Tours on Gorilla-Trek Optional Sides & Departure Dates Visa Information Means of Transport Tour Terms & Conditions BOOK THIS TOUR NOW

Accommodation general - all accommodation and transfers should be paid locally, not to the AFTours office. The rates advertised below are subject to change at a moment's notice and must be used as a guide only.

Accommodation - Trips departing from Kampala, Uganda

We depart from The Red Chilli Hideaway Nakawa, Kampala, Uganda Tel: +256 (0)414 223903. Mobile: +256 (0)772 509150 www.redchillihideaway.com/index.htm If you would like to stay at the Red Chilli, please book on line through the link.

Seeing the Gorillas and Gorilla permits - We see the gorillas in either; Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo. The gorilla permits are payable on the spot and can only be paid in US dollars cash. The cost of the permit is: $500 payable to the park authorities. There is also a small charge to get up to the gorilla viewing area. The price of the gorilla permits can change without notice. Seeing the gorillas may involve you having to get extra visas on the borders, this changes with each trip and with the country we see them.

Pre Departure Information

Included in the trip price & Local Payment - The tour cost and local payment includes transport in a fully equipped expedition vehicle, road taxes and tolls, services of the driver-leader, use of camping and cooking equipment, campsite fees, entrance to gameparks as specified, and two meals a day while on the truck. So in towns or places where the vehicle will be parked up, although the kitchen will be available for you to cook with, food during this time will not come out of the Local Payment. Generally at lunchtimes we eat at small cafes or restaurants where you can try cheap and tasty local food. If no local food is available we eat on the truck.

Local Payment - Payable in £ Pounds Sterling cash but you can pay in $US dollars or Euros cash at the current cross exchange rate on date of departure, check with the driver for the rate. Please pay this to the driver on departure. Travellers cheques, cards or other forms of payment are not accepted.

Not included in the trip price and local payment - The price does not include flights, visas, side trips, lunches and meals out. There are a number of optional side trips that you can choose from and pay for on the route.

Deposit and balance & Insurance - Please be aware that once you are booked, your deposit and balance (within two months of trip departure) is non refundable. Insure yourself when you book for the full duration of the trip and your whole time away.

Buying your Flight - when you buy your flight don't go just on price alone, check conditions and flexibility. Take into consideration that you may be buying your flight well ahead of time and the nature of your trip you are doing. It may be worthwhile paying more to have a flexible flight with a better airline that flies frequently to your destination.

Return Flight - Although it is our intention to finish the trip on the finishing date, in case of delays en route you should allow a couple days at the end of the trip before you fly out.

Visas - Please see the Visa page

Insurance - You must be insured against personal accident, medical expenses and repatriation expenses. We only carry passengers on the understanding that, in most African countries through which we travel no passenger or vehicle liability is available whatsoever. You should take out insurance when you pay your deposit for the tour or for flights so that you are insured against cancellation (for medical or family reasons, for example). Bring your policy with you. Be aware if you travel without insurance and you need to get home urgently due to ill health or family problems, you or those responsible for you could incur bills running into many thousands. The medical coverage is the most important part of the insurance policy, loss of belongings less so. For insurance it is best to search online - there are some good online insurance companies catering for US, Canadian and European residents.

Inoculations - You have to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever and will need an International Vaccination Certificate to prove this when we cross borders. It is also advisable to be vaccinated against Typhoid; Rabies; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Tetanus; Polio and Meningitis.

If possible start your vaccinations two months, but as late as two weeks before departure. Your GP can also inoculate but may take a while to get to get the vaccine in. Medical centre with their own travel educated Doctors can supply up-to-date medical advice and also administer vaccinations.

Malaria - The risk of contracting malaria in the areas we visit is high. You should be aware that malaria tablets offer only partial protection against malaria and that you should couple taking the tablets with mosquito bite avoidance. The malarial mosquitoes come out at night that is from the beginning of sunset onwards, so from this time you should cover up in long sleeves, jeans or track suit pants plus socks - mosquitoes tend to bite around the feet and ankles. You must also use insect repellent containing Deet, bring some you will need it. The use of repellents and covering up can be as effective as the use of tablets, so by coupling both methods of protection together you should be malaria free. Whatever type of prophylactic you choose to use you should try a sample of it well before you go as adverse reactions can occur. This often happens with the Larium or Mephloquine type of drug. When you get to Africa buy a can of fly/bug repellant to clear your tent of mosquitoes and bugs before you go to bed.

Medical Kits - We carry First Aid kits on board for emergency use only. However, the crew is not entitled to recommend or prescribe any medicine. We advise a health check with your GP and Dentist before you start your journey, and that you carry your own medical kit with you.

Your Electrical Equipment – Mobiles, Cameras, Laptops - In most camps you can charge from the mains, so bring a travel adaptor plug, as outlet power points are of different types. Most countries run on 220 or 240 volt current. To increase your battery time get a spare battery. You can charge off the truck if you have a 24 volt in-car charger but charging from the vehicle will reduce the life of your batteries.

Mobile Phone - It will work abroad if you have roam facility enabled on a dual band phone. Coverage is generally good. Although convenient for outgoing calls, incoming calls can cost a lot. An option is to buy a local number in each country we go through and  use that for to keep in contact with home.

Time Zones - East & Southern Africa are on the same time up to 3 hours ahead of GMT.

Language - English is the predominant administrative language and Swahili is the spoken extensively in East Africa.

Security in General - There is a lockable safe bolted onto the floor of the truck for your money belts; however, we take no responsibility for such or for any belongings. If you lose your passport or travellers cheques it is not always possible for the expedition to wait for you. So when you’re off the truck wear a money belt that fits under your shirt. Do not wear a bum bag around your waist, or a money belt that hangs from your neck. In certain problem areas a passenger roster will be drawn up to guard the vehicle during the day. Don’t take items of value that are not essential for your journey, ie. jewellery.

Spending Money - For side trips and visas you need US$ cash. Not having enough US$ cash is normally the biggest spending money problem people face on the trip. The dilemma been that though cash is easiest you risk losing your money with no chance of getting it back.

For general spending £10 - £30 a day is a good start excluding side trips. Depending on how much you drink, eat out and the souvenirs you buy. The best way to bring your money for of ease of exchange and safety is 1/3 cash in US$, 1/3 Travellers cheques in either US$ or Pounds sterling and 1/3 in money on your credit card.

Credit cards - bring at least two credit/debit cards as one might be rejected by the cash machine. Tell your bank before you travel to stop them blocking your card. In East and Southern Africa ATM machines are available about every three days - ATM machines only pay out local currency.

Visa credit and debit cards are better than MasterCard/American Express/ Maestro/Cirrus for acceptability.

Money Gram and Western Union - If you’re concerned about carrying cash and knowing the pain travelers cheques are to cash get someone to MoneyGram or Western Union funds to you as you travel on your trips. On their websites are the locations of their offices in Africa.

MoneyGram International -  moneygram.com or Western Union - westernunion.com

On most borders you can change excess left over currency for the next country's money.

Side trips & optional excursions - Are paid for on the spot. Please see the separate page - Side Trips & Extras

Maps - It's good to have your own map to follow the trip as you go. In Africa use the Michelin 955 of Africa, central and south.

Washing - Most of the time you can wash every day and at camp sites you can do your laundry or often have it done for you quite cheaply.

E-mail - Can be collected three times a week to every week or two (some campsites have facilities).

Drinking Water - Though we have drinking water on the truck to ensure you good health we advise you drink bottled water which is cheap and readily available.

Camping - Tents are provided and all have sewn in floors and mosquito netting. You will need to bring with you a sleeping bag, sleep sheet, foam roll mat or airbed. Get a mosquito net in Africa if you want to sleep outside of your tent, these are quite cheap.

All campsites have good ablution facilities & bars, and some have restaurants, shops and internet facilities. Also, about half the campsites we visit offer the facility to upgrade to hut or cabin accommodation for an extra charge.

Camping equipment – if you start your trip in Nairobi or South Africa you can buy most of the camping gear you need; sleeping bag, sleeping mats etc, at the local department stores.

Discman/iPods/MP3's & CD's - An amplifier is provided in the rear of the truck for you to plug your Discmans/i-Pods into. Although the amp is powered off the truck, your Discman/iPod isn't, so bring along extra batteries.

Photography - African authorities require that tourists do not take pictures of airports, railway stations or military installations. We are often in areas where locals are not used to being photographed and we ask you to show them every respect and courtesy.

Accommodation at the end of the trip - Accommodation at the end of the trip - There are numerous cheap backpacker hostels so no need to book. Your driver can help with this.

Suggested list of clothing and equipment - The less you take the less you have to pack, wash, lug home and you'll always pick up extras along the way. You'll be travelling in the heat and camping in the cool, so bring clothes for all climates, rough stuff is best. The best type of carrier is a rucksack (with an internal frame) or a kit bag.

• Sleeping bag & sleeping mat
• Medical kit - Bring your own simple kit
• Re-hydration sachets available from any chemist
• Insect repellent containing Deet e.g. Jungle Juice
• Sun cream
• Headache tablets
• Plasters
• Malaria tablets
• Toiletries - You can buy most basic toiletries easily in Africa
• Toothbrush and toothpaste, dental floss
• Soap in a container & razors
• Towel & shampoo
• Tampons/condoms; enough for the trip
• Clothes
• Socks
• Shirts
• Jeans/long trousers
• Underwear
• Sweatshirt/jumper
• Shorts, T-shirts, swimsuit
• Skirt
• Sandals/flip flops/jandals/thongs
• Walking shoes
• Small day-pack or bag to carry your daily items
• Hat and sunglasses
• Camera (in a protective case), spare batteries and all the film you think necessary>
• Money belt or pouch to hold your passport
• Vaccination book
• Travellers cheques
• Books, personal CD player and CD's
• Torch & spare batteries
• Water bottle at least 1.5 litres, any old water bottle is fine and these are available in most shops on the way