Frequently
Asked
Questions
Safety & Local Intel
Dr. Harryson Kiganda will be our professional guide and constant companion from the moment we land in Africa to the moment we leave. His decades of experience as a tour guide include much more than being able to identify hundreds of species of birds and explain the origin of the geographic escarpments and river courses: he is constantly aware of every aspect of his client's interactions with the flora, the fauna, the people, the culture, the price tags, the hoodlums, and the well-meaning folk who just want their children to have something to eat before going to sleep tonight. His situational awareness is a gift, and his gut is spot on. If he says, "close the windows," we close the windows. If he says, "wait a bit," we stop in our tracks. If he puts on insect repellent, everyone in the group better slather up. His local experience in all of Uganda and reaching to Rwanda, Tanzania, the DRC, and Kenya make him an invaluable asset to anticipating and overseeing every situation and location we will find ourselves in. Dr. Harryson assists with mobility, protection of goods and persons, advice on cultural interactions, timing our travel to perfection, and an ever-ready litany of information on any requested topic. Once client said to Bridget, "Dr. Harryson is always 'on' ... before we came I thought you were overselling him, but he outperformed even the high bar you set for him." ​If you appreciate watching a craftsman work, be prepared to find awe in Dr. Harryson's moment-to-moment politeness and dedication to the safety, comfort, and positive experience of every member of the group. I require generous tips from every member of the group on a daily basis (these are pre-paid to me and included in the cost of the trip.) Dr. Harryson absolutely makes the experience for us, and I look forward to the relationships that will be cultivated between you and him on our trip.
Rules for Philanthropy
I thought about titling this section "guidelines for philanthropy," but it's just not strong enough. There are rules, and everyone is expected to follow them. We will not be causing harm by practicing outdated or detrimental methods of philanthropy. Please be ready to listen, ask questions, and agree to follow directions from Bridget and your local guides regarding philanthropy practices. Thank you for respecting the people enough to honor their dignity and counter the harmful practices that have been ingrained in the post-colonial decades. You join an intrepid and progressive group in combating the harm caused by uneducated "helping." ​ All philanthropic plans must be approved by Bridget a minimum of four weeks prior to travel.
LGBTQI+ Concerns
I love LGBTQI+ persons! Unfortunately, Ugandan law will have anyone suspected of supporting LGBTQI+ persons promptly imprisoned or killed. There are many LGBTQI+ persons in Uganda. They suffer in silence and fear. All Ugandans are expected to be mandatory reporters. Before and after the trip I welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue and answer any questions I can. While traveling in Uganda, there will be no visual cues of support for the community and no discussion of the matter. Please be extremely cautious.
Driver & Vehicle
Micheal Mugaya is our highly competent driver as well as a certified vehicle mechanic. He has abundant experience driving various types of tourist and commercial vehicles. He will rent a vehicle for us based on group size and preferences, and keep it in tip-top shape throughout the entire trip.
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How much is all this going to cost? What's included?The basic eleven-night trip is about $6,000 per person when all is said and done, excluding your philanthropy donations and souvenirs. This allows approximately $2,000 for your flight and approximately $500 for immunizations, travel insurance (policy must include medical evacuation), and your Ugandan tourist visa. The remaining $3500 will be deposited to Bridget. Bridget will tailor your trip experience however you like, and the cost will be tailored with it. Entering additional parks and/or adding additional days and experiences to the trip will impact the price. Here's what's covered.
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Can I plan my own agenda items?Absolutely share all your ideas and hopes with Bridget. She will help get everything into the itinerary in the most effective and efficient manner. If the travel group has contacts and plans, Bridget would like to be apprised of activities and contacts, but does not need to manage the event.
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Where will our group be staying?Bridget will work with you to plan accommodations. Typically, stays include the Ndere Cultural Center, Ziwa Rhino and Whildlife Ranch, and Hoima Cultural Lodges. Other accommodations will be scheduled as needed, and in keeping with your preferences.
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What souvenirs will be available?Clothing, decor, knick knacks, stationary, jewelry, etc. Additionally, Bridget takes her groups to visit Joseph, a wood carver who does custom work. You can order carved boxes, wall plaques, animals, and more. There will soon be a link to a page showing Joseph's work with prices. He charges very reasonable prices - generous tipping is recommended.
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Can my group do a mission trip with Bridget?Church-sponsored mission groups with specific goals are welcome to travel with Bridget. She will accommodate your plans and structure the trip to facilitate any specific location or activity requests.
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What's the best time to visit Uganda?Plan your trip during the dry seasons: from June to August or from December to February.
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What's the food like? How much does it cost?A wide variety of delicious American, Indian, Asian, Latin, and Ugandan foods are available regularly. Many restaurants will cater to those with food allergies. The quantity and quality of fruits and juices available knows no bounds. If your group is interested in fine dining, experiences can be added to the itinerary upon request.
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What tips should I be prepared to pay?Handing out tips is an excellent way to contribute to the local economy and directly help the people of Uganda who are in need. Tips are such an important part of our visit that they're included in your deposit. Upon arrival, Bridget will provide a stack of tip bills (5,000 shillings) to each member of the group. Each 5,000 shilling note is worth less than $1.50 USD, and doubles the daily income for the recipient in most cases. Also included with the cost of your trip are mandatory tips for the guide and driver, which Bridget will pay. Any additional tips you wish to provide to Ugandans who serve you in some way are appropriate and appreciated. *No money may be handed out to anyone unless they have provided goods or a service to you. Handing out money can be exceptionally harmful. Please ask Bridget if you see someone in Uganda that you would like to help.
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What about Medical and Travel Insurance?Bridget requires proof of travel insurance for every person traveling with her. Insurance must include medical coverage and medical evacuation. There are many reputable travel insurance companies. You can do an internet search to find and compare prices and coverage. If needed, Bridget can help with the selection process. Some credit cards provide coverage - you will need to provide Bridget with proof of coverage for medical care and medical evacuation if you are using coverage provided by your credit card.
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Can I drink the water in Uganda?Nope. Don't brush your teeth with it; don't even get in in your mouth while showering. You can wash your hands with it, but should avoid touching your face to prevent germs entering your body. Bridget will provide ample bottled drinking water for the whole group every day of the trip. Swimming in a chlorinated pool at a hotel is fine. Bridget and the local guide will advise whenever caution is needed for fresh fruits and vegetables. Most places we visit will have food that is safe to consume.
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What about the State Department's Uganda Travel Advisory?While there are legitimate concerns for travel to any location, Uganda requires a special set of protections to be in place to travel as safely as possible. While some of these involve simple awareness on the part of the travelers, the US State Department recommends having access to networks of local persons for the best intel and fastest updates on situations that can impact travelers. At Travel with Bridge, we are fortunate to have Dr. Harryson as our guide. His network of friends and coworkers spans four decades and five countries. He is quick-witted and uses his knowledge of peoples, areas, and customs to quickly build new relationships and to prevent problems from developing. His situational awareness is excellent at all times. The US Uganda Travel Advisory provides 19 recommendations for those who choose to travel to Uganda, and we will be following all 19 of these recommendations.
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What immunizations do I need?Yellow fever is a required immunization. You will contact your personal physician or your local health department to schedule an appointment to receive the shot. For those who are over 60 years of age, the vaccine is optional. For those over 70 years of age, you must have a doctor's note to receive the vaccine, otherwise you are exempt.
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Is it really safe to see wild animals on foot?Yes and no. There are two or three groups of animals we can see on foot, and these are entirely safe. The animals have had humans present with them every daylight hour (or in some cases, day and night) from the time they were born. Humans being around is completely normal for the rhinos, chimpanzees, and the mountain gorillas we track. They have had guards with them constantly, and tourists visit them once or more every day. The animals have dedicated guards who protect their interests, and the humans (you) have dedicated guides who watch and protect you as visitors in the animals' space. Our group will listen to and follow the guide's instructions. Other wild animals who are not habituated to humans, or animal owners who allow humans to approach dangerously close, are not safe. Never approach any wild animal without guidance from a trained guide in a reputable sanctuary.
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What resources do you recommend for learning about Uganda before my group goes?"Uganda: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture" by Ian Clarke Disney's "Queen of Katwe" Bridget is putting together a document on how to avoid philanthropic harm. It will be mandatory reading for travelers. Once it's ready it will be posted here.
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What do I pack for a trip to Africa?Binoculars. And no hiking boots unless your group is doing an actual hike up the Rwenzori.* Bridget will provide her personal packing list to provide her perspective on items of import, and she will answer all the group's questions leading up to the trip. *Women in Uganda wear nice flats everywhere. Bridget takes one pair of closed-toe sandals and one pair of wellies. She recommends the same for all group members.
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Do I need a visa to visit Uganda? How do I get it?You are required to purchase a tourism visa to enter Uganda. The cost is $51.50. The application process is online, straightforward, and it usually takes less than 24 hours to be granted the visa. The primary issues with applying for your visa relate to date format and picture size. Bridget will adjust all your required pictures for you if needed, and help you get the date formats correct. Detailed instructions are available.
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How does our group adjust to the new time zone?Great question; I want your tips too : ) Bridget has a recommended protocol that she tries to follow - and when you travel with her you will see her break it. She tries to follow the destination time zone from the moment she gets on the plane: awake when the sun is up in Uganda and sleeping when it's dark there. With a day and a half of travel time before even setting foot in the country, travelers will have done a significant amount of the work by the time they arrive.
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When will I get my itinerary?After sufficient discussion with Bridget and having received her express permission to purchase airline tickets, you may purchase the tickets. Bridget will then need about a week to come up with your overarching itinerary and begin setting plans. When you receive a copy of the itinerary, it will have the caveat, "This will change." That caveat applies until the day you set foot back in the United States and are no longer with Travel with Bridge. The itinerary in Uganda must have a certain quantity of fluency in order to be effective. Bridget will do her best to plan things to a 't,' then will do her best to accommodate all the changes encountered during the trip.
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How do I make payments to Bridget? What do the payments cover?The preferred method of payment is Zelle. If you prefer another payment method, Bridget will work with you. A payment schedule will be set up, with your input. A typical schedule using Bridget's twelve-night itinerary - and if airline tickets are purchased 8 months in advance - is $500 per person per month. For example: In October you purchase airline tickets with a travel date in June. Your trip includes 12 nights in Uganda. From Nov-May you'll deposit $500 per month per person to Bridget, totaling $3500/person. Here's what's covered.
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When do I buy airplane tickets?After communicating with Bridget about your trip, she will let you know when it is time to purchase flights. If desired, Bridget will work with you to help you choose the flight. Ideally you coordinate flights with Bridget so you arrive in Uganda on the same flight.
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What gifts and philanthropic items can or should I bring?Please consult with Bridget on all philanthropic purchases and plans. When traveling with Bridget, she will take you to the villages and homes of many people. It is very important to have gifts to present to the hosts. New-looking clothes and shoes, beautiful fabrics for the women, and quality candles are all well-received. Group members should be extremely conscious of bringing plastic into Uganda. Most plastic trash is burned on a daily basis, releasing harmful chemicals into the air. Please use paper and twine for packaging whenever possible instead of plastic bags/containers. Repackage items before travel to avoid leaving any plastic waste in Uganda. If you pack it in, Bridget will have you pack it out.