Valediction the pretexts of Uganda posturing as the pearl of Africa, where all in Africa are wrapped just in this small interior of East Africa. Considering a self-drive in Uganda within the country remains as another thrilling alternative which used currently by many travelers in exploring what this gifted nation has at hand to offer.

Among the man empowering traveling tip is leaving out for a new destination and make explore in your own style. Renting a car for a self-drive offers a lot of freedom and limits stress while on your safari to Uganda, and have not to worry when. Just need to decide on when to travel, which exact touristic destination and which kind of car rental should you use.

This traveling alternative has become so common with solo and group travelers who either aim at exploring the country on their own style or want to save some dollars in their pockets. Self-drive is more concerned about the comfort that the traveler wishing to experience at any offering budget of the travelers. What’s more appealing is for any client getting the service which worthy their money irrespective of how much it can be.

Spotting for the best car rental for self-drive in Uganda

In Uganda there various car rental company that can facilitate your self-drive road trip around the country, and these companies have varieties of vehicles available for hire for various purposes. Ranging from as cheaper as 40$ for budget travelers to about US$250 for luxury travelers. Among the car hire fleets available for self-drive include; Toyota RAV4, Prado Land cruiser TX and V8 and extended.

Getting any of your desired fleet, one has to browse through the endless list of car hire companies at your convenient time. Seated on your computer or with your phone place your inquiry with specification of which vehicle you may need for service. Online booking for car rental is reliable and convenient in Uganda, using websites you remain able to have that still fleet you may need, than bumping into the office of companies.

What is needed to hire a car for self-drive?

For car rentals agencies to let you with their vehicle it’s not a hard journey trail rather one must present legal documentations for the car rentals to let them take the vehicle. Documentation to possess include a valid driving license, no driving license no driving on road and a driver must be at the age of 18 and beyond. Presenting your identification documents in the likes of passports for foreign travelers and identity cards for nationals.

Things to carry for a self-drive in Uganda

Whenever opting to take on a self-drive in Uganda, it’s advisable to note some of the things not to miss on the list of extras to carry to take with a car rental. Here are the list of few thing to include on a self-drive in Uganda; driving permits, have a spare tire, Gps to help in location and route finding, tourist guide map, first aid kit. Also identification documents must always be at hand whenever seated on the steering ID, passport foreigners, visa (tourist visa, visitor’s visa, working visa) respectively. This will always aid to avoid any inconveniences on your self-drive adventure.

Why a self-drive in Uganda?

Self-drive is reliable

After securing that charming car rental fleet then their nothing limiting you. The reliability stands to focus on the capability of the vehicle, but also the embarrassments are limited as one stands to handle everything by themselves.

Cheaper

A decision to rent a car and go for an adventure on a self-drive in Uganda is cheaper. Most of the costs here are bypassed which makes it affordable by even travelers of considerate budget. A self-drive adventure attracts less costs as some travelers even forego lodges costs and go camping gears. Just in the last years many travelers have resorted to unlimited style of traveling by adopting to renting a car and drive their own ways. At a smaller costs of At least US$45 one can be able to rent a 4×4 car and cruise across the country.

Privacy and freedom

After securing the car rental and embark on the journey there is that unlimited joy of privacy and freedom one hold. On a self-drive in Uganda one has the freedom of deciding where to drive, finding your own routes to drive through. It’s something every traveler would hope for, don’t hesitate renting a car and find your own paths of driving.

Avoiding Mosquito Bites and Malaria on Safari in Uganda

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa filled with incredible tourist destination with abundant wildlife and different primate species among other attractions. Many travelers visit the country to take gorilla tours to Bwindi Forest as well s wildlife safaris to Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park. Mosquitoes are in many parts of East African countries and below are some of the preventive measures on how to avoid mosquito bites and also preventing malaria infections.

• Anti-malaria Tablets: While on your trip, your advised to carry anti malaria drugs and its better if you see your doctor at home so that he may advise on the best malarial drugs to carry while on your trip. Malarone, Mefloquine or Lariam are some of the anti-malarial drugs however Malarone is very expensive but more effective and Mefloquine is the best to those who may have side effects.
• Use Mosquito Repellants: you’re also recommended to come along with some excellent mosquito repellents such as Cutter, remember to check the label, its expiry date and also make sure it contains at least 20% DEET. RID is one of the best repellent from Australia because it works on both tsetse flies and mosquitoes, Remember, you should apply the spray in the evening or at night.
• Use of mosquito Nets: Most of the accommodations in and outside national parks provide mosquito nets, therefore no need of carrying a mosquito net while on the trip. However, you may bring mosquito sprays such as Doom that may assist in repelling the mosquitoes. In most luxury accommodations, sprays such as doom are provided and its best to apply them before going for dinner. You may also use Citronella Candle, available in most supermarkets in Uganda
• Wear Trousers and Long Sleeved Shirts in the evening and in the dark: It is well known that mosquitoes are mostly active in the night so we advise you to put on long sleeved shirts and trousers in the evening and at night along with the application of sprays and insect repellents.
• Avoid taking Much sugar: Mosquitoes prefer people with high sugar content in their blood and they are able to smell the sweat of someone with high sugar content in blood. While on a safari, your advised to take little sugar or foods with little sugar so as to avoid mosquito bites.
• Turn off Unnecessary lights: Most insects are attracted by light of which mosquitoes are inclusive, therefore you’re advised to switch off the unnecessary lights rather than staying on and attract more insects.
• Avoid Using perfumes and Deodorants: One way of avoiding insects/ mosquitoes is by avoiding the use of deodorants, perfumes and after shave products because their smells attract mosquitoes. This will ensure a safe stay and also have an enjoyable adventurous safari.

300-500 million malarial cases are registered in the world per year of which it is a serious menace in Uganda. A few Ugandan residents can afford malarial preventive measures such as sleeping under mosquito nets. It is only the female mosquito (Anopheles mosquito) that sucks blood from humans and therefore transmitting malaria in Humans. Most people usually say that mosquitoes transmit HIV which is a myth because HIV cannot survive in a mosquito body.

Uganda is undoubtedly one of the most preferred travel destinations in Africa. It boasts itself as a home to diverse wildlife and a boiling pot of cultures. Each year, thousands of travelers confine in Uganda, the pearl of Africa to discover its natural treasures on self-drive or guided safari.

Generally, Uganda is an adventure packed travel destination worth exploring but firstly, how you get around does matter a lot. We have a wide selection of rental cars but there are some amazing things you should know if you plan to hire a car in Uganda in 2021.

Here are important things you should know about renting a car in Uganda in 2021

Book with a reputable and trusted car hire company

Yes, there are hundreds of car hire agencies allover Uganda and East Africa but most important, better to deal with a reputable and trusted one. Not all car rental companies are reliable, honest and there is no reliable ground car hire agency like us. We have been in car hire service for a test of time and never have we disappointed our clients.

Find the right rental car

Like there are hundreds of car hire companies countrywide offering the same service, finding the right rental car also becomes a little challenging. But we are here to guide you in your search and find the right rental car suitable for your Uganda safaris. Our fleet of rental cars are available in different categories ranging from 4×4 Toyota Rav4, Safari Vans, Super Customs, Mini Vans, Sedan cars, Safari Land Cruisers, Toyota Prado TX, TZ, GX to Coaster buses and many more. When choosing a suitable rental car, bear in mind the number of people you plan to get on a Uganda safari trip with. Also, consider the car’s capability to tackle the terrain of particular destination you plan to visit.

Observe the set traffic rules and regulations

The traffic rules and regulations in Uganda may not be tough like it is back in your home country but don’t take them for granted. Failure to observe the stipulated traffic laws on Uganda safari may land you into the hands of traffic police. Read and understand the road signs, observe the speed limits, avoid overtaking, put on your seat belt while on a road trip, have a valid driving permit/passport.

Entrance and parking fees

Entrance to Uganda safari parks requires holiday makers to pay a fee of about $20. This excludes visitors on chimpanzee trekking safari in Kibale Forest National Park, gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. To have access to local attractions in Uganda in 2021 especially the national museum, Kabaka’s Lake, Uganda martyrs’ shrine at Namugongo, you require $10. These are some of the significant factors that you should put into consideration when planning for a Uganda safari holiday 2021. Book both your Uganda safari and rental cars with us and have the best of your holiday.

Uganda has increasingly become a vacation place for many people worldwide. Uganda is a whole new complexion in the game of travel because it has some unique wildlife species a tourist can never find elsewhere.

Though Uganda has much to encounter, little of it is known by travelers thus making it a very difficult destination to lure a tourist into. The aforementioned problem has crippled Uganda and it is why it is receiving fewer tourists as opposed to its tourism potential.

If you are a tour operator out there, here are some of the tips you can use to attract tourists into a Uganda wildlife trip.

Consider exhibiting at trade shows

The exhibition of products is a universal business marketing tool and one of the most effective methods. Having person-to-person contact can make a client understand what you are trying to sell and later might turn into a real customer. There are very many tourism exhibition shows that are held around the world for example ITB Berlin, the New York Times Travel show, the World travel lifestyle expo, and the international tourism and travel show to mention but a few. These shows make you meet so many powerful entities and personnel who may get interested in Uganda wildlife trips.

Give your website a worldwide reach

A website is one of the most popular channels to reach tourists who wish to travel around the world. The world has gone digital, most things are done through technology. Physical markets have declined and now online markets are gaining momentum. Most people prefer to buy stuff online over other means. So as a tour operator make sure that you design a website with enticing Uganda wildlife trip packages and also affordable and great-looking safari car rentals in Uganda and also optimize it so whereby it can rank well in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo which are recognized worldwide.

Keep track of online reviews

Since most of your work and market is online, customers send their grievances on the internet. It is better for you to join online tourism platforms like Trip Advisor, lonely planet, and Google where you can ascertain what travelers want from the tour operators so that you can make some adjustments to make it better. You should also answer promptly if the client asks a question through online platforms.

Do more eco-tourism

Environment conservation and preservation are on everyone’s agenda nowadays. Many people in the world have gone eco due to diverse effects. travelers want to associate more with nature because it is rare to find in this sophisticated world. therefore, you should tell would-be travelers more about natural attractions such as national parks, lakes, rivers, mountains, and cultural communities.  

 With the above marketing tools, more tourists can be attracted to Uganda, a land gifted by nature.

Before one hiring a car in Uganda or rwanda from any car agent of company, there are certain things he/she should consider to ensure that he gets the best services. It’s embarrassing to spend your money on services that are below standard and not worth the money. This is why maximum cautiousness is required when selecting where to get a car from. In this case let’s look at Uganda and Rwanda because it’s where car hire is developing rapidly. Below are some of the things one should look at;-

Credibility;

This is so important especially when it’s the first time for someone to book with a specific company. I know this is difficult to determine my tourists when just booking online but there are some measures one can use to prove this like checking if the company is listed on the various tourism platforms like the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Reading through the reviews given by different clients that have used that company on the various tourism portals is important. If a company has excellent genuine reviews then its credibility is perfect and you can go on and book with it.

Experience;

Experience companies always offer the best services and therefore one should put that in mind while selecting a company to use. Experience normally comes with the number of years a company has been in a particular business. While selecting a company to book a car from, it’s important to check how many years it has been renting out cars to people. The least number of years one should consider is 8 years. Companies that have just started lack the necessary exposure and experience so they won’t guarantee a tourist the best services for their money.

Office location;

Some people ignore this factor but is important. Since tourists book their safaris online and they choose companies to travel with from far away in their countries, there is great chance of dealing with a thief. Some people open up websites with the sake of taking advantage of tourists who want to visit Uganda or Rwanda. Some even pretend to be car hiring companies yet in actual sense they don’t exist and their company is not registered. Its therefore important for someone to determine whether the people he/she is dealing with have a physical office which is well know. This is for security purposes so that if anything happens a client has to know where to go and claim his/her money.

Conditions of the cars;

Since safety is key while travelling, it’s a good practice to always select those companies that have good vehicles which do not put the lives of clients in danger. Since cars have to be serviced regularly, tourists should ensure that they go with those that take the initiative to service their cars. Old vehicles are not to se while on a safari and therefore only those companies that use new cars are worth traveling with.

There are other factors to consider but those listed above are the most important especially for security and safety reasons. Always book with the best car hire agents for a real adventure.