Uganda Safari

Uganda Responsible Safari Travel Guide: Everything To Know

We urge our customers to travel responsibly and with consideration. Here is our advice for safe travel to Uganda: Focus East Africa Tours supports responsible tourism in Uganda because we feel it is our duty to protect the environment for future generations of travelers as well as the people and animals that call Africa home.

Focus East Africa Tours has taken thousands of children, families, and people from all walks of life to Uganda over the years. The partner communities in Uganda that we have worked with for years and who have shared their lives and their hearts with them have welcomed them with open arms. Due to this, tourists can now have a completely new perspective on Uganda, its people, and the joys and struggles they face every day. Promoting responsible tourism in Uganda is our main objective.

Our Uganda responsible travel policy focuses on the mindset that we and our clients adopt as well as the decisions that we make when traveling in order to benefit the local Ugandan population and its culture. Each of our Uganda safari tours benefits the environment and the local communities in addition to being exciting and informative.

 We work to lessen the detrimental effects of tourism on the local natural and cultural environments in order to preserve the distinctiveness of Uganda’s fragile remote areas and small communities. We want to give our visitors the chance to discover and experience Uganda’s culture, wildlife, and breathtaking landscapes in a safe, responsible manner. We design vacations for our clients so that responsible tourism to Uganda benefits the local communities there.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY:

Our tours are designed by taking into account the following environmental principles in order to ensure responsible tourism in Uganda:

Use a variety of local transportation options instead of renting a car, such as local buses and other forms of public transportation when appropriate, to maximize interaction with the community.

Inspect and maintain our vehicles so they run as efficiently as possible, limiting the production of carbon emissions while ensuring the safety and comfort of our customers.

By using fewer plastic bags, plates, bottles, and other items, waste and pollution can be reduced.

Choose modest Ugandan inns and guesthouses that rely on solar energy for their energy.

Clients receive instructions on how to reduce the overall impact of tourists on the nation they are visiting, including how to conserve electricity and steer clear of purchasing animal products, among other things.

On tours and in our administrative offices, recycle, repair, and reuse as much as you can;

Reduce water and electricity waste. Local services and resources may be under pressure from tourism, which may result in fewer supplies for residents. We educate our clients on regional concerns, such as the accessibility of hot water, the scarcity of water in a specific location, and the design and capabilities of regional plumbing.

In order to preserve and protect fragile ecosystems, wildlife, and natural habitats, there are rules that must be followed. For example, all trash must be disposed of. Many of our tours include chances to go on safari and see local wildlife in Ugandan national parks. While these outings can be advantageous for both the animals and the locals who depend on them for a living, they must follow strict animal welfare guidelines to prevent animal exploitation.

ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITY:

We encourage our customers to purchase goods made locally. We also suggest that they purchase crafts and other gifts from neighborhood shops, which stand as magnificent monuments.

By using locally owned lodging, hiring Ugandans as expert guides, working with regional operators and suppliers, purchasing food from locally owned stores, and dining at bars and restaurants, we make sure that local economies profit from our business. By doing this, we give our visitors a real understanding of a nation and its people, in addition to investing in local communities.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:

When possible, we try to stay in locally owned hotels and lodges in Uganda and deal with locally owned, managed, and staffed ground agents. The ground agents pay their employees a fair wage and offer ongoing training to support their professional growth. By doing this, all wages paid to the staff as a result of our partnership stay in the local area and are used however the community sees fit.

For the benefit of both locals and tourists, we strive to create authentic experiences on our trips so that visitors to Uganda and other places we travel can learn about the communities and cultures they encounter. In order to foster mutual respect between cultures and create a more enriching experience for both tourists and locals, we strongly encourage all visitors to observe local customs and religious beliefs.

GUIDELINES FOR INTERACTING WITH WILDLIFE, WHETHER AT NATIONAL PARKS OR RESERVES

Travel to Uganda’s national parks and wildlife refuges can have a positive economic impact because entrance fees help to maintain and conserve the region’s plant and animal species. Visitors also benefit from the area’s educational opportunities and leave with a greater understanding of the value of conservation.

• Maintain speed limits, stay in the designated lanes, and only take the truck off-road in an emergency.
• Avoid harming the local flora and fauna because it can take years for them to recover.
• Observe the recommendations of local guides regarding proper behavior.
• Follow your local expert guide’s instructions to keep a legal distance from animals, especially when on a gorilla tracking tour.
• Don’t feed the animals because doing so could lead to their stress, illness, and obesity.
• Avoid touching the animals because you run the risk of spreading disease to yourself as well as to the animals.
• To avoid upsetting animals, approach them quietly, cautiously, and slowly. However, avoid approaching nesting or breeding sites, as this can be stressful for both parents and young.
• Get a long-range lens camera so you can capture unguarded images of the animal acting naturally.
• When taking pictures, turn off the flash, and at night, stay away from lighting up an animal’s face or eyes directly.
• Don’t patronize establishments that profit from the entertainment of animals.
• Avoid using whole animals, like butterflies, or animal parts, like teeth.
• Even though it sounds adventurous, stay away from wild animal or game meat on restaurant menus.

GUIDELINES FOR VISITING HISTORIC SITES:

Many of our tours in Uganda give you the chance to visit historic locations like UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the entrance fees we charge go toward helping to preserve and restore these special locations.

• Respect signage
• Only take pictures, and even if others have already done so, leave no trash or graffiti behind.
• Don’t try to bring any rocks, stones, or other mementos from the place home.
• Avoid buying such things from sellers because doing so might encourage the continued destruction of nearby points of interest.

According to us, creating responsible operations is a procedure rather than a single action. Therefore, we would appreciate any feedback that could help us establish ourselves more firmly in this regard. If you have any suggestions for improving our policy or have any questions about our Uganda Responsible Tourism Policy, please get in touch with us.