COVID-19 Standard Operating procedures SOps for Tourism in Uganda

COVID-19 Standard Operating procedures SOps for Tourism in Uganda

Briefing of tourists

All tourism activities in Uganda starts with a briefing of the tourists regarding the activities they are about to undertake, with the new normal of travel under COVID-19 (coronavirus)  all briefings of tourists and other visitors will be done at one selected briefing areas with COVID-19 prevention measures as provided by the government of Uganda with Ministry of Health. Below are the COVID-19 Standard Operating procedures SOps for Tourism in Uganda, everyone visiting Uganda must follow the following measures  

Standard Operating procedures (Sops) for Tourism activities and Services?

1.  At Uganda Wildlife Authority Headquarters in Kampala, the reservations office will provide a tent to serve as a waiting area for all clients, it will be arranged in the way of observing social distancing and the tent and chairs will be disinfected twice a day.
2. The reservations office at Uganda Wildlife Authority will ensure a smooth flow of visitors which means that the services will be offered on a First come first serve basses with the enforcement of all other guidelines like social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks, etc.
3.  Uganda Wildlife Authority will also provide hand washing/sanitization facilities at the office’s gates and at all entrances of national parks and wildlife reserves of Uganda.
4. All tourists/visitors must have their own masks which means tourists/visitors with masks will not be allowed to enter any  of Uganda protected areas
5. The Uganda Wildlife Authority staff on duty will sensitize the tourists on the general Ministry of Health approved COVID-19 Standard Operating procedures as well as those approved by Uganda Wildlife Authority.
6. All the guidelines above will be displayed clearly at all different information centers for more specific information contact us or check on the Uganda Wildlife Authority website.
7. There is no handling cash so all payment must be done using credit cards and online payment options only.

COVID-19 Standard Operating procedures SOPs for Tourism in Uganda & for Accessing National Parks of Uganda

1. All tourists and other visitors will be required to put on a mask, hand washing, and sanitization before accessing any of the Uganda national parks and wildlife reserves.
2. Uganda Wildlife Authority staff will use non-contact infrared thermometers to screen the body temperature of all people at the entrance of all Uganda protected areas.
3. Any of the tourists or any other person whose body temperature will be above 37.5 degrees Celsius on the scanner will be denied entry into the Uganda national parks and he/she will be reported to the medical teams from the Uganda Ministry of Health for other medical checks.
4. All tourists coming from outside Uganda will be required to prove that they have tested negative for COVID-19 72 hours before arrival in order to be allowed to enter any of Uganda’s national park
5. In and outside the national parks, all the common areas like service desks, waiting areas, park offices, and toilets will be disinfected at least three times.
6.  All Uganda Wildlife Authority staff, researchers, tourists, and other categories of visitors, visiting Uganda national parks will at all times wear the recommended masks by Government.
7. Remember that all tourists and researchers have to bring their own masks which means that Uganda Wildlife Authority will not provide masks at the park entrance.
8. All tourists and other visitors coming to Uganda for primates safari in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park, Mgahinga Gorilla National park, Kibale forest national park, Kyambura gorge Wildlife Reserve, Budongo forest, and Kalinzu forest, tourists and visitors will be required to wear N95 masks or other cloth masks with filters.

COVID-19 Standard Operating procedures (SOPs) for Tourist Vehicles and Boats Entering Uganda national Parks

1.  All saloon car/vehicles will not be permitted to carry out game drives activities in any of the Ugandan national parks during this COVID-19 pandemic period but the standard operating procedures and guidelines keep changing from time to time as advised by the Government of Uganda under the Ministry of Health
2. There will be social distancing of one free vacant seat between any two occupants in every tourist’s vehicle.
3. All tour companies/operators and tour guides will disinfect their tourist vehicles regularly at list three times a day.
4. All tour companies/operators will provide their tour guide/drivers with an alcohol-based rub/hand sanitizer to be kept in the vehicle at all the time.
5. All Uganda Wildlife Authority-owned tourists’ vehicles will be disinfected and washed every day before use daily.
6. All other measures must be enforced inside and outside tourists’ vehicles like hand washing social distancing and the use of masks.
7. All tourist vehicles including Buses and minibusses will only be allowed to carry half capacity as recommended by the Ministry of Health
8. Also, all Private boats and launches in the national parks will have to carry half capacity occupancy.

COVID-19 Standard Operating procedures (SOPs) for Gorilla, Chimpanzee, and Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda?

1. Before the briefing about the gorilla, chimpanzee and golden monkey trekking start all tourists, park rangers, and Uganda Wildlife Authority will have to first sanitize their hands and put on their masks.
2. Because of the side effects of wearing masks for long periods at high altitudes of Bwindi forest national park and in Mgahinga gorilla national park, so tourists will have frequent stopovers during the trekking to give them time to (get) breathe fresh air.
3. During these stopovers and during trekking social distancing will be strictly enforced by ranger guides.
4. All the rules and regulations have been in the place will remain
5.  Masks will be worn at all times but as I said above due to the side effects high altitudes during primates trekking in Africa so when the tourists tired can inform the ranger guide who will find a safe and secure place to have a stopover
6. All the briefing and debriefing which is usually done entering the forest for gorilla, chimpanzee, or golden monkey trekking, the briefing will be done in small groups of eight (8) tourists after they have been assigned gorilla families to trek.
7. All Uganda Wildlife Authority staff and tourists will have to observe the rules and regulations of primates trekking in Uganda.
8. Only a maximum of eight (8) tourists will be allowed to trek each gorilla family per day.
9. Only a maximum of six (6) tourists are allowed to trek each chimpanzee family in the morning and in the afternoon.
10.  Ranger/guides will ensure there is social distancing among the tourists while in the forest trekking any of the primates.

COVID-19 Standard Operating procedures SOps for Tourism in Uganda & for Accommodation, Restaurants in Uganda?

All accommodation and restaurants inside the national park owned by Uganda Wildlife Authority will be run in a manner that provides a safe environment for both staff and tourists as per COVID-19 guidelines and measures by the Ministry of Tourism and Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Wildlife Authority COVID-19 task force will enforce and implementation of the guidelines including the following

1. To ensure that the breakfast, dining rooms and bars are observing social distancing, hand washing, sanitising and other hygiene measures

2. To ensure that the housekeeping and cleaning are done more than once in A day to emphasis on disinfecting in the rooms, tables in the bar, restaurants, and others on different surfaces.
3. To ensure the high level of hygiene measure, social distancing and handwashing, and at all the accommodation sites in and out of national parks.
4. To ensure that in all accommodation sites have the necessary equipment and medical kits are provided
5. There will be body temperature checking for everyone at the entry point of all accommodation facilities
6. NB for the detailed information about COVID-19 Standard Operating procedures, SOps for Tourism in Uganda contact us we will provide you with all the information you need at no cost