More Things to Know

LANGUAGE: There are over 56 dialects spoken in Uganda which is a reflection of Uganda's multi-tribal society. English is the official language and most Ugandan's are able to communicate fluently in English. All media and business is in English and most Ugandans speak it fairly well. Swahili is the next most commonly understood language, followed by Luganda. Here are some common Swahili phrases:

English Phrase	Swahili	English Phrase	Swahili
Hello Thank you Thank you very much How many shillings? How much money? No Coffee	Jambo! Asante Asante sana Shilingi ngapi? Pesa ngapi? Hapana Kahawa	Yes Please Sorry Water Tea Beer Goodbye	Ndiyo Tafadhali Pole Maji Chai Pombe Kwaheri

TIME: Uganda is three hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime throughout most of the year. It is eight hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the USA most of the year, except during Daylight Savings Time (DST).

If it's 12 Noon in New York City:

	Jan	Feb	Mar*	Apr*	May	Jun
Uganda (all)	8 pm	8 pm	8 pm	8 pm	7 pm	7 pm
	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct*	Now	Dec
Uganda (all)	7 pm	7 pm	7 pm	7 pm	8 pm	8 pm

*DST in the USA is from the first Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October. Uganda does not operate DST.

VOLTAGE: The current is 240 AC and 50 cycle, therefore an adapter is needed. Plugs are square peg, three pin. Think twice about a hair dryer, which you hardly need because it is warm and you will wear a hat most of the time. Your tented camps and lodges rely on generators, turned off at night.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: U.S. Citizens should avoid crowds in large cities and street demonstrations and maintain a low profile. It is unwise to walk alone at night outside the immediate grounds of city hotels. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local authorities and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" provides useful information on personal security while traveling abroad. It is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical facilities in Uganda, including Kampala, are limited and not equipped to handle most emergencies, especially those requiring surgery. Outside Kampala, hospitals are scarce and offer only basic services. Equipment and medicines are often in short supply or unavailable. Travelers generally should carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines. A list of medical providers is available at the U.S. Embassy.

INTERNET LINKS: You may find some of the following web sites helpful in your search for more information on the destination, culture, history and general travel information on the areas visited on your program.
http://www.africaguide.com/country/uganda
http://www.natureuganda.org/default.htm
http://www.safariweb.com/uganda/index.htm
http://www.travel-guide.com/data/uga/uga.asp
http://www.government.go.ug/
http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/ugtoc.html
http://www.enteruganda.com
http://www.uwa.or.ug/
http://www.sftpwtg.com/data/uga/uga.htm
http://www.geographyiq.com/countries/ug/
http://www.visituganda.com
http://travel.state.gov/uganda.html
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ug.html http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/uganda/

For great information on using telephones and electronics worldwide, as well as many useful links to great travel information sites, go to http://kropla.com/. Particularly helpful is the "Useful Travel Links" section.

ECOTOURISM , FLORA AND FAUNA

"Ecotourism" is perhaps the most over-used and mis-used word in the travel industry. But what does it mean? The Ecotourism Society defines it as "responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people". A walk through the rainforest is not eco-tourism unless that particular walk somehow benefits that environment and the people who live there. A rafting trip is only eco-tourism if it raises awareness and funds to help protect the watershed.

7 Points to define Ecotourism:

Involves travel to natural destinations. These destinations are often remote areas, whether inhabited or uninhabited, and are usually under some kind of environmental protection at the national, international, communal or private level.
Minimizes Impact. Ecotourism strives to minimize the adverse affects of hotels, trails, and other infrastructure by using either recycled materials or available local building materials, renewable sources of energy, recycling and safe disposal of waste and garbage, and environmentally and culturally sensitive architectural design. Minimization of impact also requires that the numbers and mode of behavior of travelers be regulated to ensure limited damage to the ecosystem.
Builds environmental awareness. Ecotourism means education, for both travelers and residents of nearby communities. Essential to good ecotourism are well-trained, multilingual naturalist guides with skills in natural and cultural history, environmental interpretation, ethical principles and effective communication. Ecotourism projects should also help educate members of the surrounding community, schoolchildren and the broader public in the host country.
Provides direct financial benefits for conservation: Ecotourism helps raise funds for environmental protection, research and education through a variety of mechanisms, including park entrance fees, tour company, hotel, airline and airport taxes and voluntary contributions.
Provides financial benefits and empowerment for local people: National Parks and other conservation areas will only survive if there are "happy people" around their perimeters. The local community must be involved with and receive income and other tangible benefits (potable water, roads, health clinics, etc.) from the conservation area and it's tourist facilities.
Respects local culture: Ecotourism is not only "greener" but also less culturally intrusive and exploitative than conventional tourism. It strives to be culturally respectful and have a minimal effect on both the natural environment and the human population of a host country. Part of being a responsible ecotourist is learning beforehand about the local customs, respecting dress codes and other social norms and not intruding on the community unless either invited or as part of a well organized tour.
Supports human rights and democratic movements: Ecotourism demands a more holistic approach to travel, one in which participants strive to respect, learn about and benefit both the local environment and local communities.

RESPECTING WILDLIFE

The wild animals are not like those found in theme parks - they are not tame.
Many safari camps are unfenced and dangerous animals can (and do!) wander through the camps. Many of the animals and reptiles you will see are potentially dangerous. Attacks by wild animals are rare. However, there are no guarantees that such incidents will not occur.
Please listen to the lodge and camp staff and guides. The safety precautions need to be taken seriously, and strictly adhered to.
Don't go wandering off on your own without a guide - even to your rooms/tents. After retiring to your rooms/tents at night, don't leave them.
Observe animals silently and with a minimum of disturbance to their natural activities. Loud talking on treks and game drives can frighten the animals away.
Never attempt to attract an animal's attention. Don't imitate animal sounds, clap your hands, pound the vehicle or throw objects.
Please respect your driver-guide's judgment about proximity to wildlife. Don't insist that he take the vehicle closer so you can get a better photograph. A vehicle driven too close can hinder a hunt or cause animals to abandon a hard-earned meal.
At Classic Escapes, we respect wildlife and are committed to the preservation of the national parks. Off-road driving is strictly prohibited. Please do not encourage your driver to drive off-road where it is not allowed simply to get a good photo, as the damage to the environment might be irreparable.
Litter tossed on the ground can choke or poison animals and birds and is unsightly.
Never attempt to feed or approach any wild animal on foot. This is especially important near lodges or in campsites where animals may have become accustomed to human visitors.
Refrain from smoking on game drives. The dry African bush ignites very easily, and a flash fire can kill animals.

GORILLA CODE OF CONDUCT:

A maximum number of six visitors may visit a group of habituated gorillas in a day. This minimizes behavioral disturbance to the gorillas and the risk of their exposure to human-borne diseases.
DO NOT leave rubbish in the park. Whatever you bring into the forest should be carried back out with you.
You will be taken to where the guides observed the gorillas the day before. From there you will follow the gorilla's trail to find them. Look out for the gorilla's nesting sites along the way.
A 15 foot distance should try to be observed at all times from the gorillas. This is to protect them from catching human diseases.
You must stay in tight group when you are near the gorillas.
Keep your voices down at all times. However, it is OK to ask the guide questions.
Do not eat or drink while you are near the gorillas. Eating or drinking inevitably will increase the risk of food/drink morsels/droplets falling, which could increase the risk of transmission of diseases.
Sometimes the gorillas charge. Follow the guides example (crouch down slowly, do not look the gorillas directly in the eyes and wait for the animals to pass). Do not try and take pictures and do not attempt to run away. Running away will increase the risk.
Flash photography is not permitted! When taking pictures move about slowly and carefully.
Do not touch the gorillas. They are wild animals.
The maximum time you can spend with the gorillas is one hour per day. However, if the gorillas become agitated or nervous, the guide will finish the visit early.
After the visit keep your voices down until you are 650 feet from the gorillas.

FLORA: Uganda is a country of exceptional diversity. It lies at the overlap between tropical East African savannah and the West African rainforest zones. Seven of Africa's 18 plant kingdoms are represented in Uganda, which is more than any other country on the continent. The tropical rain forests of western Uganda have unique flora and fauna, some of which are endangered species. As part of the emphasis on eco-tourism and in response to increasing demand from tourists, new nature trails have been developed in virtually every protected area. These trails offer an unhurried way of exploring the wilderness and getting near to nature. The wide range of ecosystems in Uganda have provided habitats for many unusual plants and flowers. From the high snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori, to the lush green hills and wetlands and the arid lands of the Karamoja, Uganda is covered with wonderful and colorful flora. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest alone has afromontane forest with a dense under storey of fern, vines, shrubs. About 324 tree species have been recorded here, 10 of which occur nowhere else in Uganda.

FAUNA: The official list of Uganda's mammals is 343 species; 133 of these can be classified as large mammals. In the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest lives half the world's population of highly endangered mountain gorillas. The Kibale equatorial rainforest contains the highest concentration of primates in the world, including about 500 chimpanzees. Cats are represented by lion, leopard, cheetah and caracal. Small mammals comprise 94 bat species, 70 rats and mice, 33 shrews and otters, 8 gerbils, 4 elephant shrews and 1 golden mole. With 1,008 bird species recorded within its borders, Uganda is a birdwatcher's paradise. It has almost half the species known on the African continent and over 10% of those on record throughout the entire world. This is partly due to its location as a transitory point between the East African savannah, the West African rainforest and the semi-desert of the north. Uganda's equatorial location, combined with the altitude and great variety of terrain types provide an overwhelming array of opportunities for keen birders. The Queen Elizabeth National Park alone has over 550 avian species. Uganda's special attraction for birdwatchers is that it offers easy access to bird-rich habitats, which is difficult elsewhere.