FAQs

Volunteering with Hapa Resources comes at NO COST. However, you are required to undertake fundraising efforts in support of your volunteer project/program during your placement in Uganda. Personal costs very often cover in-country expenses like daily meals, accommodation, internet access, in-country transportation and some excursions.

A member of our team will be at hand to provide you with pre-arrival virtual orientation sessions ahead of your trip. Keep in mind that if you are traveling to Uganda for the first time, you will want to be up to date on all of your vaccinations. 

Uganda requires travelers have their Yellow Fever Vaccination and will ask for proof of vaccination upon arrival at Entebbe Airport. In addition, don’t forget to work with your doctor to receive an anti-malarial medication, which you should take consistently while in-country. Further details at the International-Travel-Country-Information for Uganda.

VISA/Permit Application

Visiting the Pearl of Africa for business, volunteer work or Pleasure has never been easier. Choose Uganda as your next holiday destination and experience true African hospitality. To start your application process, visit Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control to access UGANDA E-IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.

Your volunteer itinerary will likely be packed with daily activities in the community, evening activities alongside other volunteers, and perhaps even some weekend excursions and getaways. But if you are looking for more to do while in Uganda, there is so much you can do for a memorable experience!

Uganda has a very diverse culture, landscape, flora, and fauna.

Time off to the various National Parks and theme destinations. A safari at Murchison Falls would be an ideal experiencing an African safari. Kayaking along the Nile River through Muchison waterfalls would make for a great adventure while Hiking at Sipi  falls in Eastern Uganda provides for scenic views and great memories of the wild. How about a day trip to Jinja, only a few hours drive to the East of Kampala! This offers adventure activities like bungee jumping, white water raft, or kayak on the Nile River. While back in Kampala, Ndere Center’s cultural evenings make for a good immersion in everything traditional in terms of local music.
There is no shortage of places for you to go and have all the fun and here is a snipet of some attractions.

• Game and bird viewing:

This is the most popular tourist activity in Uganda. Wild animals like lions, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, elephants are common in Uganda’s ten national parks. Uganda is one of only ten countries where it is possible to visit endangered gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are Uganda’s prime tourist attraction. The vast majority of these are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with a few others in Mgahinga National Park, both in southwestern Uganda. Take a trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to the tree climbing lions. This is a unique phenomenon. There have only been rare similar sightings of this in Lake Manyara National Park of Tanzania.

• Boating and water sports:

With a prime location in the Great Lakes region, Uganda has a variety of water bodies that are popular spots for tourism. White water rafting and kayaking are popular activities on the rapids near the source of the Nile at Jinja.

Boating, which is commonly done on Lake Victoria, Lake Mburo, Lake Bunyonyi, Kazinga Channel, and River Nile is a perfect way of exploring the buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles and a wide variety of bird species that inhabit the banks of these water bodies. Sport fishing is another favorite tourist activity. Fish like the Nile perch, and tilapia can be caught in designated areas of Lake Mburo and the banks of the Nile. Canoeing can also be done at Lake Bunyonyi.

• Hiking and mountain climbing

There are many opportunities for mountain climbing, hiking and nature walks. The Rwenzori Mountains, which are found at the border with the DRC, include the snowcapped Margherita Peak (5109 m), the highest Mountain Range in Africa and also one of the highest peaks. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park also includes three peaks, Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Muhavura, the highest peak in the national park. Mount Elgon, located in Eastern Uganda, can be used for hiking and climbing, and also has one of the largest calderas in the world.

Hapa Resources has options for you depending on your project community. We can arrange for a homestay with a Ugandan host family partially or throughout your project. This family will open its home to you and provide a safe space for you rest and recuperate after long days spent helping people.

Not only will your host family make sure you feel safe, comfortable and well-fed,they will also provide an excellent opportunity for cultural exchange and immersion. You will get to live like a local, get a feel of the local language and discover the Ugandan way of life.

Another alternative is a short-term rented apartment that can either be single or shared according to preference. These are located in communities that are accessible to public transport, markets and shops. They are also assessed to offer the best security for volunteers, with caution.

We are more than happy to accommodate groups on our projects. So, if you are a small group, just let us know on your application form that you are joining with friends so that we make provisions for a group experience. 

Yes. Many of our volunteers choose to fundraise and we support them in the process in any way we can, although you certainly don’t have to. For your convenience, we have put together a detailed Volunteer Fundraising Guide that will provide you with ideas and advice on how to proceed.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss our projects in more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you would like to speak to us, call us on +256 706 151 155 or join our WhatsApp group for instant communication.

The next step is either to contact us for more information or, if you’ve definitely decided what you want to do, apply using the application form.