Bicycle Africa

Notes For Uganda Program

DAILY ITINERARY / MAPS

Uganda: Pearl of Africa (pdf format)
Uganda map: Southwest
Uganda map: Kampala
Uganda map: Equator north
Uganda map: Equator south

MONEY

Final payment for the land portion is due 60 days before the start of the trip. Payment may be made by money order, personal, certified, cashier's check or credit card. If fewer than six people register for the program there is a supplement of $100.  If this should turn out to be the case, the money is usually collected in cash at the beginning of the program.

Pocket money used during a two-week tour varies between individuals.  Most people use about $100 plus or minus $50.  Examples of expenses are lunch, drinks, postcards, postage, tips and laundry.  NOT INCLUDED in this estimate are souvenirs and transportation, lodging and meals before and after the tour, which may be significant ($20-$60 per day). Now bring twice what you think you will need.  You can bring any extra home. The best exchange rate is on crisp, new US$50 and $100 bills. You can change money at the airport but will get a better rate in Kampala.  In rural areas you need small denominations of local currency to make your purchases.

It is easiest to exchange money in the capital city.  If possible, at best, it can be a laborious process in other cities and towns.  It is generally difficult to change traveler's cheques (T/C) in East Africa.  A few select banks and big hotel in the capital cities are you best bet.  To cash T/Cs in Africa you sometimes need to show your "purchase record" receipts -- bring them, but pack them separately.  The exchange rate is generally slightly better for cash (large bills) than traveler’s cheques.  US$ and Euros cash generally exchange about equally well.  The usefulness of credit card is extremely limited.

AIR TRAVEL

The program begins and ends in Kampala. (You can store things at the hotel during the program.) The airport that serves Kampala is Entebbe.

You are responsible for making you own arrangements to Uganda and to the rendezvous point (instructions will be provided.)  The first organized activity is on the afternoon of "Day 1" when you will do a bicycle tour of Kampala.  If everyone is there in the morning this might start earlier in the day.  Some people like to arrive early to have more time to adjust.  No major organized activities are scheduled on the final day of the program as well. If people have extra time before their departing flight they often use this for souvenir shopping or to visit a last museum or monument.

Some airlines charge a hefty fee for bikes-as-baggage on international flights ($300 roundtrip) and some charge nothing, if you are otherwise within your baggage allowance.  You might want to take this into consideration when booking your flight.  Folding bikes, like Bike Friday's, that fit in suitcases, generally circumvent all of these hassles.  If you plan to take a stand alone intra-Africa flights bear in mind that the baggage allowance is by weight and generally much more restrictive than the allowance for flights that include a trans-Atlantic segment.

Regardless of how you arrange to get to Africa, please tell us the airline, flight, date and time of your arrival in Uganda.

IMMUNIZATIONS & HEALTH

Required: yellow fever if coming from or in transit through infected country, but recommended for all travelers for their protection. Recommended: routine immunizations (tetanus-diphtheria, polio, measles), typhoid, and hepatitis A. It is recommended, but not required, that you start your shots 6 weeks before departing. Consult your physician or travel clinic for your specific needs.

Malaria is a serious health concern. Please ask your travel clinic or physician about prophylactics for chloroquin-resistant malaria and follow their instructions.

PACKING LIST/EQUIPMENT ADDENDUM

Appendix A and the program packing list combined are good guides to what to bring.  Ignore the sections on "Camping Equipment," "Cooking Equipment," and "Group Equipment." 

• The items under “Village Housing, Economy Hotel & Hostel Equipment” are optional.
• We recommend that you bring a self-standing bed net / net tent.
• Sturdy mountain bikes are recommended. 
• Rental bikes are available from independent entrepreneur Nash Karanja, kanash29@yahoo.com, of Jinja. He has 21 or 24 speed, hard tail K2, Specialized, GT, Giant and Trek mountain bikes equipped with rear racks and water bottle cages.  The last price we received for multi-day rental was $15/day.  You need to arrange to get and return them to Jinja.  A second source of rental bikes is Charles Zirarema, czirarema@yahoo.com, of Kampala. He informs us that he has a variety of bikes, with rear racks and a water bottle cage, for about the same price. Please verify the details if you will be renting a bike from them.
• Bottled water is often available in the towns at the beginning and the end of the day, but you will need a backup. If you have a water filter or purifier, bring it. It will be put to good use.  This also allows you to avoid the expense, litter and high carbon footprint of bottled water.  Ibike supports minimizing the use of single-use plastic bottles.  Iodine and chlorine tablets are most useful in emergencies -- if you have a half-hour to wait and once a week at the most!  Don't rely on iodized water because you will poison yourself.  The three better choices are a filtering pumps, an ultraviolet light purifiers (search: SteriPen) or an oxidant purifiers (search MSR MIOX).  Filtering pumps tend to be the most versatile and labor intensive, including requiring the most maintenance.  The last two, hi-tech methods, require clear water, which is usually available on our programs, and use batteries -- which can be rechargeable.  The MIOX also need salt and adds a little taste to the water, which is mostly an issue if you start with a high mineral water that already has a taste. The UV pen is generally the effortless and fastest.  For more discussion on water treatment, see http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/water-treatment-backcountry.html.
• Generally, two 32 oz. (3/4 liter) water bottles alone are on the low side -- if you like a lot of water, and on a couple of predictably hot days, you will want additional capacity.  Some ways to reduce the amount of water you need to carry on your bike is drink like a camel overnight and in the morning (i.e. carry it inside), wear loose long sleeve clothing and/or be willing to use Coke and Fanta to replenish you liquids during the day -- these are the most available beverages in roadside kiosks.  Bottled water is available irregularly midday and has a higher carbon footprint.  AT BEST you can only count on bottled water at your destination.  A couple times you will probably need to rely on filtered or purified water.  The best strategy is to organize all your water needs for the next day the night before (you can top things off in the morning) and expect to be able to get only the occasional soft drink during the day.
• In the highlands it can be cold, damp and even rainy. Bring enough clothes to stay comfortably down to 50^oF.
• Because the milieu and activities on the trip won't be exactly routine, you might want to bring some things more familiar like a "treat-a-day" of high energy comfort food.
• The use of heart rate monitors is greatly discouraged! Most others don't want to hear about your heart rate, your maximum or average anything! If you need a heart rate monitor to enjoy yourself, take stock of your life -- you may have lost perspective.

INSURANCE

Personal health insurance, travel, evacuation and baggage insurance is strongly recommended.  Cycling and travel have inherent risks, and the world seems to be increasingly changeable.  Even the most conscientious behavior does not guarantee against illness or injury. Insurance mitigates the unforeseen.

Medical insurance is not always valid in foreign countries. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.

Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, the adequacy of coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, and whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to your home country can cost tens of thousands of dollars.  Some credit cards include travel insurance when you use them to purchase an airline ticket.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, "Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad," available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or auto-fax: 1-202-647-3000.