Wildlife safari rules in Uganda: Wildlife safari rules in Uganda are the different guidelines put in place to be followed during wildlife viewing at different destinations around the country.
These rules and regulations help to protect both the wildlife and tourists during their wildlife safaris around Uganda which can be done in destinations such as the ten national parks found in different parts of the country.
The rules are to be followed during the different activities which involve tourists seeing wildlife species during safaris and these activities include game drives and guided nature walks among others which can be done during the year.
Wildlife which can be seen during safaris in Uganda include elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, hippos, impalas, waterbucks, bushbucks, kudu, dik dik, hyenas, warthogs, cheetahs, Uganda kobs, jackals among others.
Rules and regulations are set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and they include the following;
1.Keeping a safe distance from the animals
Tourists during their wildlife safaris are encouraged to keep a safe distance when exploring the habitats of the animals. This is because getting close to the animals can be unsafe and also crowd the wildlife species which is risky.
During game drives in search of the different wildlife species, guides driving the safari vehicles are discouraged from overcrowding the animals when they are spotted in the wild. Driving close to the animals can also scare the wildlife species which makes other tourists miss the chance to spot the wildlife species.
2.Not feeding the animals
Another rule that tourists are required to follow during their wildlife safaris is to avoid feeding the animals.
This rule protects the animals because feeding them can disrupt their natural feeding habits or risk making the wildlife sick.
3.Not chasing the animals
During a wildlife safari experience, tourists are discouraged from chasing the animals if they are to come close to the humans.
This rule is put in place to ensure that wildlife species get their right of way which they are entitled to in their natural habitat.
4.Avoiding noise
Tourists are discouraged from making noise during the search for the wildlife species during safaris because the noise scares them away.
This rule also ensures that tourists avoid disturbing other tourists on safari in the same destination. Hooting at the animals is also not allowed during safaris in Uganda.
5.Avoiding sudden movements
Making sudden movements during wildlife safari activities such as guided nature walks in the presence of the animals also scares them away and tourists are discouraged from doing so.
6.Littering is prohibited
Another rule tourists are encouraged to follow during wildlife safaris in Uganda is that they are discouraged from littering.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority also puts in place different places for rubbish disposal to discourage tourists from littering and to ensure the rubbish is properly disposed of. Throwing rubbish in the right places keeps the animals safe because they can easily eat the rubbish unknowingly which is a threat to the animals.
7.Staying in the safari vehicle
Because of the unpredictable nature of the wildlife species, tourists are encouraged to stay in their safari vehicles during wildlife safaris.
For purposes of easily seeing the wildlife during safaris, tourists are encouraged to use 4×4 safari vehicles with open roofs so they can watch the animals safely. When visiting the national parks in Uganda, there are designated places where tourists can safely leave their vehicles and safely enjoy views of their surroundings.
8.Driving off the designated tracks is prohibited
During game drives, driving off designated roads for safaris is prohibited and can also be fined. This is because tourists can easily get lost in the vast national parks during the search for the wildlife species.
Following this rule helps to promote conservation in the national parks.
9.Driving within the speed limit
When driving around the national parks, tourist vehicles are expected to follow the speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour.
This helps to protect the animals from being knocked down by the vehicles as a result of over speeding.
10.No pets are allowed
During wildlife safaris, tourists are not permitted to bring their pets to the national parks around Uganda. This is because the behavior of the pets in the presence of other wild animals may not be safe.
11.Following the opening times of the national parks
Tourists are also encouraged to visit the national park during opening times which is 07:00 am to 07:00 pm.
Keeping receipts for the park entrance fees for the national parks is also important during wildlife tours in Uganda. The receipts are inspected by the park authorities and are valid for 24 hours upon entering the national parks.
Picking things from the national parks such as flowers is also discouraged during wildlife safaris in Uganda.
For primate safaris in Uganda in destinations such as Bwindi national park and Mgahiga national park known for mountain gorillas and Kibale forest national park which is home to chimpanzees, the rules to follow include the following;
12.Minimum age of 15 years
Individuals below the age of 15 years are not allowed to visit gorillas in Uganda and the age limit for visiting chimpanzees is 12 years of age.
13.Maximum of 8 people
The number of people allowed to spend time with gorillas in Uganda is 8 people visiting a gorilla group each day.
14.Keeping a distance of about 7 meters from the gorillas
Tourists are encouraged to keep a distance of about 7 meters from the mountain gorillas during tours in Uganda to avoid making the gorillas sick.
15.No use of flash photography
During gorilla trekking tours in Uganda, tourists are discouraged from using flash photography to record the gorillas as this scares them away.
16.Spending 1 hour with the gorillas
Only 1 hour is the amount of time which tourists are allowed to spend with the gorillas after finding them in their natural habitat.
Eating near the primates including chimpanzees and gorillas is also prohibited during tours in Uganda.
In summary, this article entails information about wildlife safari rules in Uganda
