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Driving in the Uganda wildlife park is very different from the normal areas, there are certain rules that have to be adhered to.

Uganda is ranked among the best safari destinations in Africa with over 10 national parks filled with some of the most iconic wildlife species in the world. A Uganda self drive safari through the national parks offer the tourists a chance to explore at their own pace and freedom.

Apart from Bwindi forest and Mgahinga, rest of the national parks in Uganda are easy to adventure with well defined game tracks , entrance and exit points that will definitely make your road trip a safe and exciting adventure. Below are some of the tips to follow when driving through the national parks on any safari.

Always drive slowly; this is one of the vital safety driving tips in Uganda which apply to all destinations and roads. All the parks in Uganda require you to drive at a speed of 40km per hour to avoid collisions with the animals or car flips.

The other good thing about driving slow is that you also get a chance to see variety of species which you could have missed when over speeding.

Always travel early; many safaris in Africa need you to get up so early as it gives you a chance to see early risers and other wildlife going to hibernate after a night’s hunt.

Uganda national parks all open gates art 7am and most lodges serve breakfast as early as 6 am to ensure you can get on the tracks by 7. When on a road safari, forget about walking up late, you have to get ready by 6 to see many wildlife species and if lucky, watch the sunrise from the fantastic park land scape.

Get a safari Guide; the guide will help you with direction inside the park since you don’t know the game tracks and best route to take, you will always find problems exploring any park if you don’t have a driver guide.

You might also not need anyone to drive you to the park but you will definitely hire one to take you around the park. UWA employs many experienced and well trained guides with adequate knowledge about the park routes, wildlife and accommodation hence you will be assured of a safe journey through the wild.

He will provide you with the information you need to know about the national park including the history, animal facts, and can help you out in case of a break down. The guide can be hired at $30 per day in the park.

Always avoid night game drives; driving through the park at night might seem like great but it’s so dangerous to venture. The game drives at night disturb the peace of mind of the wild animals resting in the night and chances of colliding with an animal are so high.

Kidepo and Ssemuliki national parks offer night game drives but only under the supervision of a trained game ranger.

Always keep on the track; always keep on the available game track when driving through the park to avoid accidents and unwanted fines.

The tracks in the park offer nice views of the wildlife and land scapes so there is no need to get off the road and enter the virgin land. It’s one of the most important park rules and should be followed with extreme caution to avoid any problems.

Remember to not blow the car horn; avoid the horn when inside the park as this can scare the animals away killing yours and other tourist chances of seeing wildlife animals which isn’t good.

In case another car distracts your view or your way, you just have to shout at them instead of blowing the horn.

Don’t litter inside the park; this is another vital tip not only because it’s a regulation but also because it’s a good environmental practice to preserve the park and also the animals living in it.

The used items like the bottles, paper bags and polythene bags among others should not be through outside of the car rather kept and dispose off at the lodge or outside the park.

Always remember to Fuel up; before you start any safari to any destination, it’s important to fuel up and carry extra cans of fuel. Visit the gas station before you hit the road and pay for a full tank to be assured of no interruption when in the park.

Getting stuck on a game track in the forest is a very scary adventure and also adds to your expenditure as you have to call police or Rental Company for a backup which is expensive.

Uganda is located in East Africa and is bordered by Kenya, Sudan, DRC, Tanzania and Rwanda. The country is famous throughout the world because of the presence of the presence of the huge Lake Victoria in its southern region.

Winston Churchill called it the pearl of Africa; the country offers some of the most breathtaking wildlife terrain in the world. Uganda’s most famous self drive tourist places include; Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga national park, kidepo national park, Murchison falls national park, queen Elizabeth national park, kibale national park, Ssese Island, and the Rwenzori mountain national park.

Below are some of the best places to be visited on self-drive safari in Uganda.

Kidepo Valley National Park; the park is located in north east Uganda. The park was opened in 1958 and is managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority.

The nearest town to the park is that of Moroto a t a distance of about two hundred and twenty Kilometers. The Park borders the country of South Sudan.

To major rivers; the Kidepo River and the Narus River both flow through the park. Game viewing is one of the most famous attractions for tourists in the park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park; the park covers an area of 1978 sq km and its located in Uganda’s western side; the gigantic park covers Kasese, Kamwenge, Bushenyi and Rukungiri districts of Uganda.

The park is just 370km from Kampala. The national park was opened to tourists in 1954 and has been named after Queen Elizabeth 11.

The park is home to 95 different species of mammals and more than 500 bird species. The park is manged by Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Kasubi Tombs; These tombs are the burial site of the 4 kings of Buganda and are located in Kampala known to be UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2010 many of the building were destroyed by a fire. However, the Government is committed to restoring the tombs as soon as possible for tourists. The place was an impotant tourism destination.

Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria; these are groups of eighty four Islands in Lake Victoria. The Islands are divided into two visible groups, the Bugala group and the Koome group.

The bantu people occupy these islands. Tourism industry is rapidly growing on these islands with more and more infrastructure being developed. The islands are among the top best tourist places in Uganda.

Kampala City; this is the largest city in Uganda. People are very friendly and it’s a very peaceful city. You will get to see tourists walking around in the city even in the early hours of the day.

Some of the places that you must tour while in the city are The Uganda Museum, the Nommo Art Gallery, the National Theatre, The Rubaga and Namirembe Cathedrals, The Gaddafi National Mosque, the Wamala Tombs, the Bahai Temple and the building of the Parliament of Uganda. Owino market and Nakasero markets are two of the main markets of the city; both of which are always bustling with tourists.

Lake Mburo National Park; the famous tourism spot of Uganda, the park is located in the western side of the country in Kirugura district. The national park is at a distance of 300km from the city of Mbarara.

The park has got more than 300 bird species and has a huge variety of animals like the impala, zebras and the wild buffaloes. There are many luxury tented camps that are inside the park for tourists who tour the park.

Lake Victoria; this is Africa’s Lake and largest tropical lake with an area of close to 70000 sqkm. It’s the second largest fresh water lake in the world besides North America’s Lake Superior.

The lake falls in the territory of three countries with 45 % of its area under the control of Uganda. The Lake is a tourist magnet and one of the best tourist places in Uganda.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park; this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Rwenzori mountains in southwest Uganda. The national park is famous for its amazing plant lie. It’s filled with waterfalls, many small lakes and glaciers. Eco tourism is rapidly increasing in the park.

Murchison Falls National Park; the park is known as the Kabarega National park located in north western Uganda. The national park is well known for its amazing wildlife despite being ravaged by poachers.

The park is home to four of the big five animals including the elephants, lions, and the leopards. The park was also home to Rhinos but they became extinct due to poaching and hunting during the sixties and the seventies.

However Rhinos are again being bred to be introduced in the park. Other animals that are present in the park include Hippopotamus, Giraffes, Antelopes, Uganda Kob, Hartebeest and Oribi.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; this is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the top best tourist places in Uganda, its located in south western Uganda. The national park is one of the richest ecosystems anywhere in the world with many different species of birds and mammals.

The park has got 200 different species of butterflies, colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and many birds. The park lies in a remote area and traveling to the area is hard task because of the poor condition of the roads. Despite this thousands of tourists visit the park annually that being because of the unique Gorilla tracking facility provided by the park.

When renting a car for a self drive safari in uganda, there are some additional tools to get in order to enhance your journey. Some traveler solicit for them while others do not but all in all these tools are very vital for a self drive safari especially in a country you are unfamiliar of like Uganda

Below are the 6 supplementary rental car tools for any self drive safari in Uganda;

Camping gears; whether you are on a budget, like the outdoors, or just don’t want to have to book your accommodation ahead of time, self drive safaris with a set of camping gear in the back of the car gives you a great sense of flexibility. The main camping equipments include; folding foam mattresses, blanket or sleeping bags, camping chairs, table, cool box, storage box, gas tank & burner, plastic cups, plates and cups, pots, frying pans, knife and the cutlery set, cork screw, strainer, coffee percolator, cutting board, washing line and pegs, dish washing set, headlights, solar table lamp.

GPS; this tool will help you with direction and finding of different routes to different tourist destinations. This can be hired at a cost or you can use your smart phone to locate different destinations in Uganda.

Child car seats; this applies only when you have a child or kids that might need them. It can be hired at a cost from the car hire company; it’s always important that your child has the safest journey possible when you choose a rental car. Different companies offer range of child safety seats that are suitable for babies and children at all rental car locations. In case the seat is mandatory, the counter will advise you at the time of rental.

Strollers; Save yourself the hassle and extra expense that comes with packing your own stroller or renting one from a theme park; instead, conveniently add   one to your rental when you pick up your car! Our strollers are lightweight, collapse for easy storage, and sanitized after every rental. Ask one of our rental agents for more details when you arrive at the location.

The accessories; these are items that help you in day today life, like the charger. in case you don’t have it, there are accessories and much more available at the rental companies; you can buy a wall charger, car charger, USB cords, head phones, battery packs and phone holders upon your arrival at the rental offices.

The Spare tyre; the hired car rental must have a spare tyre in case of a break down. You must also have some know of changing a tyre because you might experience a breakdown in a far area without any assistance nearby.

Once you opt for a safari in Uganda, there are many ways of enjoying your holiday. Many tourists or visitors come to Uganda specifically to enjoy the Ugandan wildlife with chances to see wide range of wild animals as well as beautiful natural scenic areas.

Both foreign and local tourists choose to use different means of accessing their areas of interest and most of them hire vehicle rental companies.

However, not all car hire services are professional and some are not actually licensed.  A good car rental company in Uganda understands some customers have got limited budgets.

These companies seek to provide reliable airport transfers from Entebbe to your final destination at competitive rates. In case you have got an important meeting you need to attend, a car professional company will be able to facilitate a corporate Benz, prado or a Toyota Rav 4 to get you to your destination.

1. Car hire services help a great deal in transporting customers to and from the airport. They are recommended for their high quality services.

   Some of the services offered by car hire companies include the airport transfers and sightseeing tours. Therefore you can make use of these services regardless of your travel needs. Below are reasons why you should book professional car hire services while in Uganda.

2. Car hire services help to avoid the queues; the car hire companies in Uganda offer fantastic experiences by picking customers up from Entebbe airport.

   When you choose an airport transfer, you will not have to waste time queuing for a ride in a local tax, the same way you do with taxis. The airport transfer can pick you up from your home or a designated location that is not far from your home or office, which goes a long way in decreasing traffic hassle. More so, you are guaranteed to get to the airport or to your destination on time.

3. Car hire services give first class service offerings; the car rental companies in Uganda are recommended for corporate, because they help a business to actualize transfers, conference transfers, meetings and other organizational needs.

   More so, car rental companies come handy in providing sightseeing safaris in different parts of the country

4. The car rental services in Uganda give reliable services; these drivers are committed to providing excellent customer experiences. When you are choosing car hire companies, it’s vital to find a company that will provide evidence of having been in the business for many years.

   A company with experience understands the challenges in the industry and is well able to contend with them. Therefore, you are sure of convenient travel with the provider’s impeccable vehicles. Meaning you can simply relax and enjoy the luxury after a long flight.

5. With car hire services in Uganda, you have a wide range of car hire options; most car hire agencies provide many kinds and models of vehicles to visitors giving them several options to select the best choice which suits with in their travel interest and the budget.

   Owning to this, the travelers can save themselves from being stranded with one vehicle and with dissatisfied travel journeys. For the visitors who plan their family tours in Uganda, instead of squeezing yourselves in small cars they can instead opt for a bigger sized safari vehicle that can accommodate all the family members at once.

6. Never maintain the costs; hiring out a car will help you save you from wearing out your own car while on business safari in Uganda and this will reduce the cost of maintenance and repairs in case you opted for your own car.

   Some vehicle rental agencies hire out cars with comprehensive insurance and this means that any big damages that come due to road accidents can be covered.

7. By hiring a vehicle in Uganda, you have a chance of driving a new brand car; this gives you a chance to drive that latest model that you don’t need t to buy in order to drive it.

   There are many new models of vehicles that you might not buy but can hire and take a safari. You save a lot of more money and time allow you meet your travel interest whether for business or safari trip.

8. With hiring a car in Uganda, you are assured of free break down services. In case of a break down or minor accident on the road, there is no need for traveler to doubt or worry about anything as car company  covers this.

   The company can send a mechanic or replacement and you still continue to the destination of your choice at no additional costs unlike your own car that you might park in case of a break down.

9. With car hire services in Uganda, you are able to rent a car with a driver; the client can hire a vehicle with or without a driver. In case you feel like visiting new places that you are no familiar with, a driver can be hired as well a pocket friendly price and you will have the most comfortable and convenient safari in Uganda.

   The drivers are aware of the routes that where most of the national parks in Uganda are located and they are also aware of the shortest routes to follow as well as which places to make stopovers.

10. More so, the other benefit is that car rental services come with additional equipments like GPS and there are some special offers that are given to clients in most cases. Renting a car in Uganda comes with many benefits to the travelers and this helps them enjoy their safaris in the country.

The national parks in Uganda  are nature based and so are their roads. this calls for a 4×4 rental car to be the best vehicle to drive in these areas.

The 4×4 wheel drive is a system in which the car operates simultaneously to improve traction and handling. Even though it’s possible for a car to have continuous AWD capabilities, it’s far more common for one pair of wheels to engage only when sensors detect that the other pair has begun to slip. There are many reasons why a 4×4 vehicle is used to visit national parks in Uganda, some of these include;

The off road driving; when you are in an uneven terrain, most probably you have to face the potholes, boulders on your way. The best way to pass them is a 4×4 vehicle as it will give more traction to overcome them. More so, it allows you to reach otherwise the unreachable landscapes in the countryside.

Safety; with the 4×4 vehicle, the ride height is more than the normal vehicle. So you can also avail higher visibility over the oncoming difficulties like sudden steeps and slopes.

You can also have extra space; since 4×4 vehicles come with extra inner space that makes the traveling with extra passengers and gears much easier as compared to normal vehicles.

The 4×4 vehicle has better performance and is made for the off road environment which offers increased traction and stability. It also offers you a better and secure driving experience with an added advantage of extra space. The 4WD improves traction in dangerous driving conditions like snow, ice, rocks and other scenarios that can make control difficult. By engaging both sets of wheels, traction and control improves. The additional weight contributes to better grip on the road.

The 4WD vehicles may also be more likely to drive on surfaces with reduced traction. However, since rotation is divided amongst four wheels rather than two, each wheel receives half the twisting of a 2WD vehicle, reducing the potential for wheel slip.

4WD is fuel efficient, the primary disadvantage of AWD vehicle is its cost. The drive train and related equipment necessary to providing both continuous and intermittent AWD is complex and so expensive, often needing sensors and computers that are not necessary on two or four wheel Drive vehicles. The cost increases the initial market value of the vehicle and can also affect the cost of repairs. More so to these costs, AWD systems require more fuel to power the additional wheels and are less fuel efficient than comparable two wheel drive vehicles.

It breaks braking distance and collision avoidance; Even though the weight of AWD vehicles improves their handling, it also increases the distance they require to stop and cannot turn, there can be a collision than with a lighter car. Under similar circumstance, but ones in which an accident can be avoided by turning; AWD vehicles offer superior collision avoidance than similar vehicles with less effective handling and turning capabilities.

The main things the travelers should know and avoid for a great Uganda self drive safari. Car hire companies have been arranging self drive holiday trips in Uganda for over 10 years; this means that we are keen when it comes to self drive in Uganda. But you can get too much of a good thing. Below are the tips about what to avoid on a self drive safari in Uganda.

Always avoid too much driving; frequently people plan to drive way too far in one day. Sometime they plan a hectic trip which has them driving too far and way too often. This doesn’t mean that it’s not possible, this becomes more tiring and you should avoid it when on a self drive safari in Uganda. Always have more stops in the towns so as to know the region you are in and relax since it’s a vacation.

Choosing an unsuitable rental car because it’s cheaper; there is a standard entry car which is a sedan. This is a Toyota Corolla or similar. It’s good for tar roads and easy trips. however in case you are planning to do a self drive safari vacation in Uganda, you are advised to hire a 4×4 safari vehicle like the Toyota Rav 4, Toyota land cruiser, and safari land cruiser best for all kinds of terrain. Mostly in the rainfall months, we recommend a 4×4 for extra peace of mind.

Being more adventurous than you should be, or are happy with; Most of Ugandan roads are now tarmac but we there are also gravel back roads, most especially in the safari areas. The gravel roads vary from being pretty good, but still much more tiring to drive than the tarmac roads. In case you haven’t had much experience of driving on gravel roads, don’t be too ambitious but they offer an excellent African massage as you drive through these bumpy roads. In case you break down in a remote area, assistance may not be able to get to you right away. They will need to bring a replacement vehicle from the nearest depot which could take a few hours. You also need to be comfortable changing a wheel. You also need to travel with food or water in case you get stranded for a few hours.

Not knowing where you are going; in case you are planning more adventures self drive holiday or safari in Uganda, you need to be more prepared. The GPS coverage on your rental car might not work in remote areas, or it may be distinctly suspect. You therefore need to have good roads atlas or directions and know exactly where you are going. We would argue, of course, that having the assistance of a tour operator is invaluable here. They can assist you with driving distances and specific directions to your overnight stay. They can also give you tips about the journey. Also don’t over rely on the GPS, always ask the locals for the right directions.

Driving after dark time; this means that we plan our self drive safaris in Uganda so that you get to your overnight stop by late afternoon. Driving after dark is not only risky but also takes more time on the road, this leads to longer driving times as you drive much more slowly on the unfamiliar roads at night. Sometimes you find it harder to find the hotel as road signs or land marks are not so clearly visible. in case you realize that you will be arriving late, it’s always a good idea to ring. Inform the hotel on what time to expect you and where you are now.

In Uganda you drive on the left, you get stopped by the traffic officers and you can buy lots of fresh fruits and roasted meat along the road. A self drive holiday in Uganda is a truly beautiful and unique adventure. Car hiring in Uganda is not a scary or complicated adventure but it does require some foresight and there are some things you should take into account when planning a safari.

The unreliable public transport is something that is part of the course in Uganda, Car hiring in Uganda is a good way to ensure that your holiday is smooth and to guarantee that you get to see the sights that you want to see when you want to see. There are a few basic tips, some universal, when choosing to take part in a holiday involving car hire in Uganda.

From the beginning and before you start to believe that the roads have been taken over by policemen; the police officers are just everywhere and in places you least expect them that where they lay their ambush. Car hire companies are represented in most of the towns in Uganda whereby you can pick your rental car up at one center or airport and then drop it off at a different location.

The Ugandan authorities will accept the valid driver’s license as long as it includes a photo and is printed in English. Car hire in Uganda may require you to produce an international driver’s license before they allow you to rent a car in Uganda. It’s important that you check with your travel agent or car hire agent before you depart.

The petrol stations are not self service and the attendant will normally offer to check your oil and water plus cleaning your wind screen but our rental cars are fully serviced, no need for checking oil, these can be offered some commission of 1 to 5 dollars.

The speed limits and distances are also signs posted in kilometers are the speedometers in the car hire are well known for the well maintaining of road network. Distances between the towns can be vast though so plan your trip carefully, keep an eye on your petrol gauge and don’t pass up an opportunity to fill up.

The self drive safaris in Uganda are incredibly rewarding and with some foresight and planning it will create amazing memories. It’s vital that you speak to your travel agent and carefully your car hire.