2 September, 2021
As the world prepares to travel again, here are some tips to help you travel more safely if Uganda is on your bucket list or should you find yourself with a need to travel to Uganda;
If you are traveling to Uganda, take steps before, during, and after travel to keep yourself and others from getting Covid-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Uganda is at a Level 1 alert, which is low level of Covid 19. This does not however mean that you are safe as a traveler and therefore all travelers to Uganda need to take note of this key Information, which includes; getting fully vaccinated before travel, wearing a mask, staying 6 centimeters from others, avoiding crowds, and washing their hands.
Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get the vaccines or medicines you may need. You should also make sure that you are up-to-date on all the usual vaccines before you travel. Some of these vaccines include; Chickenpox (Varicella), Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Flu (influenza), Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) and Polio.
CDC also recommends that travelers visiting Uganda take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Take this malaria preventative medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Consult with your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.
There are steps you need to take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. While vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Uganda, you need to watch your behaviors;
Eating unclean food and drinking unsafe water can cause travelers’ diarrhea and other diseases. Lessen your risk by maintaining safe food and water habits. Eat food that is prepared and served hot, Eat hard-cooked eggs, Eat fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled by yourself and Eat pasteurized dairy products.
Don’t eat food served at room temperature, food from street vendors, unless served hot and don’t eat raw or soft-cooked (runny) eggs.
Drink bottled water that is sealed, water that has been disinfected, carbonated drinks, hot coffee or tea and pasteurized milk. Avoid drinking tap or well water.
Bugs, including; mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, are likely to spread a number of diseases, many of which cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can decrease your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites, including; covering exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats. Use an appropriate insect repellent, stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms. Sleep under a bed net if the area where you are staying is exposed to the outdoors.
It is possible getting sick or injured during your trip and therefore, you might need health care. Days before your trip, work out a plan for how you will get health care during your trip. This plan is mainly significant for senior citizens, pregnant women, people with fundamental medical conditions, and people who will be traveling for more than 6 months.
Days before your trip, find out how you will get health care, considering that not all medical insurance plans cover international travel. Find out if you might need travel health or evacuation insurance. CDC advises that you prepare a card that identifies your blood type, any chronic illnesses you have, any medicines you are taking, and your allergies.
Travelers on business face different health risks from those on leisure. Find out what you can do to protect yourself if you are traveling to Uganda on a business trip. However, you don’t always know ahead of time when you will be going on a business trip. CDC therefore recommends that you; see a doctor at least a month before a trip. But should you be out of time, even a last-minute visit can be useful. Pack a travel health kit which should include first-aid supplies, any prescription medicines you take, and over-the-counter medicines including medicine for diarrhea.
Travelers on leisure may have time to be able to adjust to jet-lag naturally, but those on business frequently have to hit the ground running. CDC recommends you consider these tips to minimize jet-lag; if you have a few days before you leave, try to shift your sleep cycle a couple of hours earlier or later. Stay hydrated while you are traveling, avoid alcohol and caffeine and try to sleep on long flights. Pack a mild sedative in your carry-on-luggage, if you have trouble sleeping on planes.
So, are you ready for your trip to Uganda? Contact us. TRAFEKA creates the whole travel experience with a personal touch and concierge, and should you need anything extra or special security, transportation, personal guides, our travel consultants are here to help plan your memorable trip in Uganda – the Pearl of Africa.
