Hi ..... if you are planning a missions
trip to the Watoto in Uganda
.. here are some sample fares for you to work
on for your group's needs, and some popular questions answered. After you
have read through this, feel free to call us to clarify.
* We arrange many groups to travel to
Entebbe from all over Australia. We currently do not make any local
arrangements in Uganda, but only to get you to Entebbe, the airport 1 hour
from the capital - Kampala.
* For government warnings, security, and
consular information -
click here
* Visa information correct as at
1st April 2007
* Australians need a visa for Uganda,
which can be obtained on arrival for U$30 for a single entry (U$20 for full
time students) or U$80 for a multi entry visa for 6 months, or U$160 for a
multi entry for one year. Yellow Fever inoculations are currently
required for travel to Uganda, in advance of your arrival in Uganda. the
following countries have the same rulings: Hong Kong, China, Philippines,
Indonesia, Thailand, Indian, German, French, UK, Israeli, NZ, PNG, South
African, USA, Canada, Malaysian.
The following nationals do not need a
visa for up to a 6 months stay: Ireland, Fiji, Mauritius, Zimbabwean,
Singapore.
* Travel insurance options can be
obtained from our travel insurance page (click here)
.......
* Here are some fare suggestions valid
for groups up to 25, with slight reductions possible for larger groups.
1) Fly Emirates from Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney or Perth, from February
to the start of November for A$2899 - A$2949 per person with tax/fuel
levies. November- January - usually paying A$200 more ....... Dubai is
the natural stopover port for this trip (see
Dubai Tourism ) if flying from Sydney, one can choose to stopover in
Bangkok also. (Tourism
Thailand) If flying from Melbourne or Brisbane, then one can choose a
Singapore stopover also (Singapore
Tourism). Emirates is a fine carrier, with daily departures. check
out our frequent flyer page for programs that relate to Emirates.
2)
One can usually fly from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane
on Malaysia Airlines to Kuala Lumpur, with same day connections on Emirates
to Entebbe via Dubai. depending on the season, rates can be as low as
A$2169 including taxes and fuel levies per adult. Your stopover
opportunities on this one are at Dubai and also Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia Tourism)
there are excellent stopover rates at hotels here for Malaysia Airlines
passengers ... and eating and getting around are very cheap in Malaysia.
Best to budget on A$2299, and if we can get it cheaper for your dates, we
will let you know. School holiday periods likely to be A$2499
Emirates flights
to/from Entebbe transit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia both ways ... however, You may
stopover there too if you desire. If you would like to visit Kenya too, for
their game parks, easy access to Mt Kilimanjaro etc, then you can make your
own way over there, and pick up Emirates double daily flights out of
Nairobi, home .. or ... perhaps the following fares may be best for you
.......
 
3)
Using Thai or Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines or Jetstar to
Bangkok from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide or Cairns
.... connecting then to Kenya Airways' non-stop to Nairobi (avoiding the
longer haul through Dubai with Emirates) and immediate connection onto
Entebbe. Same route back .. and one can stop in Kenya in either direction,
for no extra airfare, and also stop in Bangkok, and possibly Singapore or
Kuala Lumpur also !!! (
Kenya Tourism)
Rates on this
option, depending on the specials out are in the A$2200 - A$2500 range with
tax/fuel levies
4) One can fly
from Melbourne or Sydney or Perth to Nairobi via Mauritius then connect onto
Entebbe .. note - these are once or twice weekly flights, currently Tuesdays
from Melb/Sydney, and Tue/Fridays from Perth ... you generally need 2 nights
each way in Mauritius at your own expense .. the base fares are A$2390 with
taxes/levies and a bit cheaper from Perth. (Mauritius
Tourism)
5) Heading to
Uganda via Johannesburg with Qantas and South African Airways, with
mandatory stops there both ways due to airline schedules (via Perth -
flights connect from May 2007 !) - approx A$2790 in the low season with
taxes/levies .. or using Singapore Airlines via Johannesburg, means only 1
night needed in Johannesburg - A$2300 plus A$500ish taxes/levies.
6) Ethiopian
airlines offers daily same day connections from Melb/Sydney, and almost
daily from Brisbane and Perth via Bangkok and Addis .. fares start at A$2136
with tax/levies ! good connections on the way back too - no overnight
stops. This fare often applies over the usually expensive high season in
December and January too
Round
world tickets ... it is quite likely that someone in your group may want to
come back via Europe/USA/Canada/a pacific island ....or via another African
city .... round worlds start at A$2999 + about A$700ish taxes and fuel
levies .... if one just wants one European city and Entebbe, then depending
on the season and duration, A$2300 - A$3000 plus A$600 taxes and fuel levies
using Emirates mainly (or using KLM's thrice weekly flights via Amsterdam
to Entebbe - from A$2690 all up approx.
Procedures from here ....
If you have a list of potential names, we
can block off seats with a A$200 overall deposit, deductible off your final
payment, generally 5-6 weeks prior to departure.
If you would like to make a group booking
with NO names, which means that you advise names 6 weeks before you go, and
can move people in/out of your group with no problems, until tickets are
issued .. then generally airlines will want a A$110 - A$200 deposit per seat
blocked off, deductible off your balance, usually due 5 weeks prior to
departure.
When promoting the group package to your
church or youth group, we suggest budgeting for MORE than the
fares/taxes/stopover/insurance/ground costs in Uganda, as anything can and
will happen .. then if you end up getting everything for LESS than what you
have promoted, then you can either refund the participants, or make a
donation to Watoto etc .. it is MUCH nicer to receive a refund back, than to
have to ask for MORE money toward the end ........
We await your questions, clarifications,
and bookings ...................
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