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.

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.