Table of Contents
Introduction
My Uganda travels were part the East Africa tour. It was the second stop after an amazing stay in Rwanda. And wow, this country doesn’t hold back. The food! Oh, I will talk about the food! Travelling to Uganda is vibrant, raw, and full of life in the best way. I was surprised to see how beautiful and green it was.
From adrenaline-filled adventures in Jinja (yes, I touched the Nile!) to tasting street food legends like the iconic Rolex, every moment felt alive. Whether we were cruising on Lake Victoria or exploring Kampala’s local food joints, Uganda offered a whole different flavour of East Africa. This post is your Uganda Travel Guide. It will give you best of both worlds: what to eat and experience in The Pearl of Africa.
Before your Uganda travels, you will want to sort out your visa process. Here is a quick and easy guide on how to do this – Uganda Tourist Visa: An Easy 6 Step-by-Step Guide
About Uganda
Uganda has been formally known as the pearl of Africa. The country is a unique blend of natural wonders, cultural diversity, and warm hospitality, making it a captivating destination for travellers seeking adventure and cultural immersion in the heart of Africa.
Uganda Entry Requirements
If you’re travelling to Uganda, British, American, and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa before entry. The process is not as straightforward as I would expect, so here’s a deep, step-by-step breakdown to help you apply with ease.
Before you apply for your visa you will need the following:
- A passport (with 6+ months validity)
- Yellow Fever certificate
- Return/onward flight confirmation
- Passport photo
- $50 USD for the visa fee
- Access to a printer
1. Apply online (don’t get scammed!)
- Start by visiting the official Uganda e-visa website here https://visas.immigration.go.ug
- Avoid third-party sites that might overcharge or delay your application. Always use the official Ugandan immigration portal.
2. Choose the right visa
Click on “Visa or Permit Application” and choose:
- Visa
- Tourism
- Single Entry Visa (this one lets you stay up to 90 days)
If you are planning to visit Rwanda or Kenya too? You can apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa, which lets you travel between all three countries on one visa! Please note you will have to apply for the country you are going to be in first! So if you’re going to be in Kenya first apply from that country first!
3. Prepare your documents
You’ll need to upload digital copies of the following:
- Your passport (must be valid for at least 6 months)
- Yellow Fever Certificate (mandatory for entry)
- Your return or onward flight confirmation
- A passport-style photo
- Hotel booking or Uganda travel itinerary
Tip: The upload limit is around 250-500KB per file, so you may need to resize your documents before uploading. Use free sites like ilovepdf.com or resizeimage.net to compress them if needed. I used Canva to resize my documents.
4. Fill out the form + pay the fee
Now fill in your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport. Upload the documents, double-check everything, then proceed to payment.
- The tourist visa costs $50 USD
- You’ll pay securely online via credit or debit card
You’ll get an email confirming your payment. Take a screenshot of this in case you need it later.
5. Wait for approval
Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll normally hear back within 2–5 working days (though it can sometimes take a little longer). If you don’t receive anything it might be worth messaging them directly on X via @DCICUg. They are pretty responsive and very helpful.
Once everything is completed you’ll receive:
- Your visa approval letter (PDF)
- A barcode or confirmation document
6. Print everything!
Please print at least two copies of your:
- Visa approval letter
- Payment receipt
- Yellow Fever certificate (and any other docs you uploaded)
You’ll need these when you arrive trust me because you don’t want to be like me and not have anything printed. If this helped, let me know in the comments or tag me @mybreakingviews if you found it useful!
What to eat in Uganda
The Ugandan cuisine includes staples like starchy foods, meats, vegetables, and fruits. I thoroughly enjoyed the food in Uganda, my favourite being posho (made from maize flour) with tilapia fish. I loved the Rolex, not the watch. LOL! A Rolex in Uganda is a popular street food made by rolling chapati around eggs and vegetables.
Where To Stay in Uganda
We stayed in three hotels:
They all offered different types of experiences, but had friendly staff and good food. You can also look at hotels in the map below for the key activities like the Murchison Falls National Park and the Game Drive.
A 5-day Uganda Travel Itinerary
- The first stop was Fort Portal City: You can stop at the Hot Springs Restaurant for lunch and then view the hot springs. In the evening, you can stay at the Nyaika Hotel.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park: Once you cross the border to Uganda, you can head to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Murchison Falls National Park: This was the trip’s highlight for me. It was booked with the tour guide, but you can book a tour here. I recommend staying at Murchison Falls Bamboo Village.
- Murchison Falls Game Drive with a boat cruise: You can book this 4-hour tour the following day – book here. I thoroughly enjoyed the boat cruise, and the game drive included lions, hippos, elephants and more.
- Arrive in Entebbe and have dinner at your hotel. I had talipa fish with fried plantain (I asked for it to be spicy). You can 2 Friends Beach Hotel.
Helpful Resources for Your Uganda Travels
- My Instagram page has detailed reels and guides for your Uganda travels. I share tips on travelling to Africa here.
- Before going travelling to Uganda, I recommend visiting the Foreign Advice Page for U.K. travellers. Check if you need visas here.
- Get travel insurance for Uganda. I recommend that anyone travelling should have travel insurance, which you can get via SafetyWing here.
- Book with Viator or Get Your Guide if you want specific tours for your Uganda travels. I did this for my Cooking Class on the last day.
- I used Airlo, an e-SIM card, for data. You can purchase it here and use the code ADEBOL5279.
Conclusion: Uganda Travel Guide
My Uganda travel were amazing. I think I gained almost two stones just eating the local Ugandan food. The country has a little bit of everything: nature, history, adrenaline, and seriously good food. Would I go back? Absolutely. I feel that the trip to Uganda I did was super rushed. I need to go back and explore more deeper one day maybe on another East African tour.
If you’re after a trip that keeps you on your toes while also feeding your soul (and your stomach), Uganda is the one. I left with full memories, a full belly, and a lot of love for this underrated gem. If you’re visiting Uganda, make sure to also check out Zanzibar. The food scene is a different type of world wonder – honestly. And if you are planning an East African Tour then check out A East Africa Food Travel Guide: Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.
If this post inspired you to explore Uganda, then subscribe to the blog so you never miss an update. Want more travel tips? Visit the Travel Resources where I have a number of freebies for you.
Speak soon,
MBV x
