The capital of Uganda, Kampala is located near the northern coast of Lake Victoria. The name of the city, founded in 1890, is derived from the word “impala” (a local species of antelope). Despite the fact that about a million people live in the city, Kampala remains an open, hospitable and safe city.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN KAMPALA
• The Uganda Museum, where, in addition to exhibits on history, culture and ethnography, there is a remarkable collection of musical instruments;
• The tomb of Kasubi, where the tombs of the rulers of ancient Buganda are located;
• Nommo Art Gallery;
• National Theater;
• Cathedrals of Rubaga and Namirembe;
• Uganda Parliament building;
• Go rafting;
• Go to safarion the upper reaches of the Nile, go on a gorilla safari to Bwindi National Park, visit Mburo National Park, which has hippos, zebras and crocodiles, or Ngamba Reserve on Lake Victoria where you can watch the habits of many chimpanzees.
TYPICAL COSTS WHEN TRAVELLING
Accommodation – Private rooms off center 71 USD per month
Private room in the center 117 USD per month
1 bedroom apartment in the center 96 USD per month
1 bedroom apartment in the center 164 USD per month
Food – On the streets in small eateries they sell delicious matoke – mashed green bananas in peanut sauce, the famous rolex, which is a pancake wrapped in cabbage and tomato omelettes and grilled white corn.
Gourmets should visit the restaurant The Lawns, which offers to taste dishes from local exotic game, Paradise, which specializes in Indian cuisine, and Pyramids, whose menu includes many fusion dishes, and Le Chateau Belgian Brasserie, which offers delicious Belgian food that will melt in your mouth.
Transportation – Minibuses in the city and the surrounding area are in mass. Each bus (or matatu in Ugandan), in addition to the driver, is also equipped with a navigator who loudly shouts the direction in which their vehicle is heading out the window. The cost of the trip is $.14 in the city and about $.27 in the suburbs and surroundings.
City taxis, which are easy to catch anywhere in the city center, are usually not equipped with meters, so bargain before the trip (the usual price of a trip around the city is $1.35).
Fans of adrenaline can try to move around the city on motorcycles (boda bodas). When you walk down the street, motorcyclists will constantly stop for a ride. Drivers interested as soon as possible to deliver you to their destination neglect absolutely all traffic rules. You can get to any place in the city in such a way for as low as $.41.
Suggested daily budget – accommodation costs per month varies between 71 and 115 USD,
transport is from 31 to 115 USD depending on the type, also take into consideration fun, excursions, and entertainments, and you will get the least monthly price of 370 USD that could reach a point of 640 USD in case you have chosen more expensive options.
MONEY SAVING TIPS
1 Get the menu of the day. You can dine at the budget restaurants Bhagwatt and Govindas, which are popular with the local Indian community, at Garden City food court, Fang Fang Chinese restaurant, continental restaurants, New York Kitchen and Just Kicking.
2 Go shopping at the market! Amazing entertainment in the city would be trips to local markets. Owino Market, located near the center of Kampala, is one of the largest in Africa. They sell almost everything, including souvenirs and local exotic products. Buganda Road is home to a handcraft market selling musical instruments, jewelry, batik, and wooden carved figurines; you can also order or buy clothes from local tailors.
3 Choose budget hotels. In budget hotels in Kampala, there are 2 room categories: self-contained rooms and non self-contained rooms. In the former, there are separate showers and toilets, fans and TVs. The average cost of self-contained rooms in Uganda starts from $8.
In national parks, accommodation is of two types – tent and cottage (banda). The latter are also self-contained and non self-contained.
4 Pay attention to the street cafes: In Kampala, the mass of street cafes, allowing for a snack in the range of $.20-3 (salad, burger or chicken with potatoes). A good choice of food in shopping centers is the best in Garden City. Another popular destination is Centenary Park, on the corner of Jinja Rd. and Yusuf Lule Rd., named after the 100th anniversary of Kampala. In the park you can find places of Japanese, Italian, Cuban cuisine, as well as meat restaurants.
ON THE SCENE?
Kampala is a very suitable city for entertainment, of course not Las Vegas and not Paris, but there is a flavor here.
The city has a casino, bars and nightclubs.
For those who like to hang out, there are clubs of the average European level with several floors and several dance floors.
The nightlife of Kampala does not fit into any framework. There are bars and clubs for every taste – from cheap eateries to spots with velvet sofas and air conditioning.
Everyone chooses entertainment based on wealth. The main thing that unites local party-goers is alcohol. They drink a lot, this is part of their culture. Statistics claim that this is the most drinking country in Africa.
Dancing is the second most popular entertainment after alcohol. Despite the fact that the society here is conservative and pious, at night they are exempt from prohibitions and dance to a mixture of afrobeat, dancehall, hits from hip hop to pop.