Travel in Uganda

The ground transport sector is behind the times: Many bus and train companies operate without a modern ticketing or operations system, sometimes tracking sales on spreadsheets and often forcing customers to carry paper tickets. 

In Bududa, a lush yet landslide-prone district of eastern Uganda, Mary Butsina and a growing number of other women farmers are building their livelihoods around coffee. “I’m supporting all of my 10 children with it,” says the 36-year-old, holding a red bucket, Mount Elgon looming behind her.

Already valued at an estimated $185 billion, the worldwide ecotourism segment is expected to exceed $374 billion in global impact within the decade.

Royal Caribbean already operates the world’s largest cruise ship—Wonder of the Seas—but next January it will break that record with Icon of the Seas, which boasts 2,805 staterooms (including more than 1,800 with balconies) and 179 suites. Nearly 1,200 feet long, Icon of the Seas has 20 decks and features a 55-foot-waterfall, multiple pools and waterparks and a “chill island” and a “thrill island”—depending on a passenger’s vibe.

Looking for little ways to be a more sustainable traveler in 2018? You might want to take a look at your go-to hotel’s bathroom soap.

We’ve all waited in a cramped airport for hours because of a lengthy layover. But what if you could ditch the busy terminal to stretch your legs on an African safari? Kenya Airways is making that fantasy a reality by offering passengers a free safari during stopovers in Nairobi.

When the legendary host of Jeopardy! passed away on November 8, 2020, the world honored Trebek’s showmanship, philanthropy, and vast reserves of knowledge. But the travel community mourned one of their own.

Good news and bad news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as the agency has taken six countries off of their “do not travel” list. Gabon, South Korea, Spain, Czech Republic, Faroe Islands, and Uganda were all deemed as doing well enough in the pandemic to be moved down to the CDC’s Level 3 ranking (COVID-19 High).

‘Safari’ traditionally means journey in Swahili, but the word now describes the ultimate bucket-list trip to discover Africa’s wondrous wildlife. Yet today, that wildlife seems increasingly vulnerable, so how do you ensure your safari will be both safe and ethically sound?

Whether it’s a friendly face at check in or a taxi driver who’s full of useful tips, nothing beats getting a warm welcome on your travels – and our interactions with local people have a huge impact on how we view countries as a whole. We asked our Facebook and Twitter followers to share where they’ve found the most hospitable places around the world. Here’s what they said.

Encircled by verdant wooded hills that teem with wildlife, water tumbles down through the chain of terraced pools, waterfalls and cascades that make up the Edenic landscape of Plitvice Lakes National Park. Built up over thousands of years, natural barriers of travertine separate the sixteen cool, flat, turquoise lakes and provide dams for the rushing water to plunge over.

What is it that draws us to extreme travel? Is it the adrenaline rush from a soaring bungee jump, the fulfilling feeling upon reaching the peak of a mountain or a well-deserved gratification as you complete another mile along an arduous hike?

Welcome to the Rough Guide to 2020! From up-and-coming destinations to old favourites with a new reason to visit, this guide has our pick of the best places to travel in 2020.

Rwanda is emerging as a top wildlife destination, not least for visitors looking to see gorillas in their natural habitat. The country is home to hundreds of mountain gorillas that move between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the rainforests of the Virunga Mountains. New luxury lodges are opening up in the area, making it easier than ever to get a glimpse of these kings of the jungle.

An Italian white truffle topped with edible silver, or a caviar-infused doughnut lathered in foie gras from a champion mother goose can only mean one thing: the so-extravagant-it’s-silly food concept. Forget the ludicrous cronut or the breakfast mutation known as the waffogato – a combination of waffle-shaped ice cream with maple syrup espresso. If you couldn’t give a hoot about hype, flavour or cost, here’s our rundown of the dinners you don’t really need but will be dying to try.

I’m an Aussie girl and have been living and working in Uganda for the past fifteen years. Apart from my “regular” day job, I’m also a freelance photographer.

“For magnificence, for variety of form and colour, for profusion of brilliant life… Uganda is truly the pearl of Africa.” – My African Journey, Winston Churchill, 1908

When it comes to travel, it’s true to say that timing is (almost) everything. Whether you want to maximise your chance of seeing that special natural phenomenon, or minimise your chance of running into the wrong weather, you’ll want schedule your trip accordingly.

Not sure where to go this summer? Read our run-down of the best places to visit in June to help you make up your mind. You'll be hard pushed to choose from festival-packed city breaks, unforgettable midsummer celebrations, and bucket list safaris. And that's just the half of it. Chances are, there'll also be a Rough Guide to help you make the most of your trip.