A self-drive is one of the best ways to explore Uganda. There are a number of benefits associated with a self-driving vacation. In this case, many travelers have opted to rent a 4×4 car and drive on their own.
A self-driving trip in a foreign land is a bit overwhelming, as everything appears fresh at first sight. Though information has helped pre-equipment travelers understand destinations, lacking firsthand information is undeniably a challenge.
Well, with greater travel expectations, we bring you some of the helpful information one must have when planning to drive in Uganda. Just keep in mind that self-driving in Uganda is very possible. Rent the 4×4 customized vehicles for self-driving with all the car accessories your trip may demand.
Booking a car rental for self-driving
The first task when planning a self-driving vacation, particularly in Uganda, is deciding which car to cruise with. There may be a wider range of car rentals, but studying the purpose and getting a suitable car is a great reward.
The process of hiring a car for self-driving is much easier in Uganda. There are various car rental agencies that offer almost the same services.
Preferably, many of the travelers use websites to book their self-drive rental in Uganda. After reading an article like you’re doing, click here to book.
Others use the analog style of going to the office; this may work but is risky with spaces and not having a car ready. Always book prior to your vacation date; this enables you to find a suitable rental. This is the easiest way to reserve a car rental in Uganda.
Are car rentals available for self-driving in Uganda?
When opting for a self-drive holiday in the Pearl of Africa, there are several car selections to use. The car selection comes with the kind of affordability, class, and mode of comfort one would wish for, as well as the kind of trip.
Most of the car rental companies offer safari-customized rentals that can drive to all terrains in the country.
In economy class, there is a 4×4 Rav4, a Toyota Land Cruiser TZ or TX, and a Safari van. These fleets can accommodate from 1 to a maximum of 5 passengers at the most affordable rates. Then you also must know that only customized rentals from car rental agencies are fit to cruise you through.
The 4×4 land cruisers VX, GX, Nissan Patrol, and Land Rover are perfect selections for mid-range rentals. It accommodates about 5 passengers, drives comfortably, and cruises through all the landscapes of the country.
The 4×4 Land Cruiser V8 and Safari Land Cruiser/Land Cruiser 70 series are luxurious rentals that can cruise with extreme comfort. The land safari land cruisers are customized to do African game drives with a pop-up roof, and others are stretched vehicles that can accommodate up to seven passengers.
What to take on a self-drive with a 4×4 rental
The 4×4 rentals customized for safaris are multipurpose. Hire a self-drive car with camping gear when planning a camping trip. For camping safaris, there is either ground or rooftop camping, which is possible only for customized rental. When you hire a car with a camping supplement, it comes with all the camping gear. An electric fridge can be had with all your rental suggestions, and you can rent a car without a camping tent but with an electric fridge. Travel maps, and hiring GPS for path location. And you can as well hire a self-drive car with a pop-up for game viewing. The idea is perfect, especially when opting to drive on a scenic game drive to watch several species of wildlife, especially in Savannah Parks.
The best time for self-driving in Uganda
The perfect weather that blows across boundaries makes Uganda a destination to drive to all year. Uganda’s weather restricts dangerous earth shakers, disastrous rain and wind, snow, and unstoppable rain. Thunderstorms, lightning, and earthquakes are not severe.
Uganda experiences a moderate climate that includes both rainy and sunny weather conditions. With a 4×4 car, hit the road and drive to your preferred destination anytime of the year.
However, one should notice that Uganda’s roads to almost all top destinations are unpaved. In times of rain, roads tend to be slippery with potholes, and in dry weather, unpaved roads can be filled with gravel, stony, and very dusty.
When opting for self-driving, you must ensure that you have a stronger 4×4 cruiser that can maneuver in all weather conditions. The 4×4 car rental for self-drives, especially for safaris, is customized, which enables unlimited driving.
The sunny and dry months in Uganda start from December to February and return from June to August. And the rainy or wet months also start from March to May, then return from September to November.
Should know that due to global climate change patterns, these weather conditions are not consistent like before. The dry weather can persist for months beyond what was expected, and the rainy seasons mimic the same.
Sometimes it rains beyond measure. When intending to drive when it’s raining, it’s a good idea to wait until it’s stopped and continue with your journey. The heavy rain sometimes erodes bridges in the countryside and causes floods in urban areas and sloping places.
It’s a perfect idea to notice the weather conditions during which you’re planning to take your self-drive vacation. But it remains safe to drive throughout the year in Uganda.
Suggested Self-Driving Routes in Uganda
For safari purposes, Uganda has mainly four safari circuit routes. All safaris in Uganda take these routes, and they can even turn out to be a single summarized route. The four driving routes lead to all the top tourist destinations in Uganda. Though we are discussing the most famous tourist destinations, there are several en-route considerations to encounter on the same routes.
And these routes are:
Northeastern Route
It begins in Kampala and travels to Jinja to experience the Nile’s source. The route continues eastwards to Mbale, with the major attractions being Mt. Elgon National Park and its accompaniments, like Sipi Falls, Cultural routes, and Nyero rock painting.
Then we can take you to the incredible and isolated Pian-Upe Game Reserve, one of the most rewarding wild reserves in Uganda, and its companion, Bokora-Matheniko Game Reserve. The route continues to Uganda’s remotest tourist destination, which is very rewarding, and also adds Murchison Falls National Park to Kampala, or it can continue to the western region.
Northwestern Route
This driving route starts in Kampala and rolls to Murchison Falls National Park. One of the most rewarding routes is one that can cover at least 70% of the parks in Uganda.
Then, through the northwest, you can also cover parks like Kibale National Park, Semuliki, Rwenzori, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. However, taking this driving route can continue to expose other major tourist destinations like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
Western Route
The western route still embarks from Kampala, then drives to western Uganda, with the city reached being Fort Portal. The major destinations here include Kabale National Park, Semuliki National Park, Mt. Rwenzori NP, and Queen Elizabeth NP.
Though the western driving route is always combined with the southwestern route to include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park,
Southwestern Route
Like the northwestern route, the southwest is another amazing route and one of the most rewarding. The tourist destinations on this route start with Lake Mburo National Park and continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Not like other routes, the returning route reconnects to the first route in Mbarara City when considering taking this amazing route.
Top things to do when self-driving in Uganda
Game drives
Uganda’s major adventure activity is done in all savannah parks and reserves. Game drives always reward you with the major sights of the safari. On the game, driving through the savannah woods, expect to encounter some of the Big Five games in every park.
Several wildlife species and many other activities can be done to complement the game drive. Game drives are done in all the savannah parks in Uganda.
Gorilla trekking
Africa’s highlight of the rest of the continent’s adventures The activity is limited to only Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which host the endemic forests for these IUNC-recorded endangered species. Gorilla trekking is an amazing adventure where trekkers roll into the thick, impenetrable jungle and start searching for the gorillas.
Uganda has two gorilla trekking parks: Bwindi Impenetrable NP and Mghainga Gorilla NP. All gorillas ready for trekking are fully habituated for a close-up encounter. It’s well documented that Uganda’s two national parks accommodate over half of the gorillas in the wild.
Chimpanzee tracking
Uganda offers the best chimpanzee tracking experience. There are about 5,000 chimpanzees in different tropical forests in Uganda. Kibale National Park is the major chimpanzee tracking forest in the East African region. Chimpanzees here are fully habituated for such a close-up encounter, which is very rare in the rest of the chimpanzee tracking destinations on the continent. Other places to track chimpanzees in Uganda include Kyambura Gorge and Budongo Forest.
Cultural visits
Uganda is another ethnically blessed nation; there are over 50 ethnic groups that have varying histories and practices. Some of these people have displayed their cultural practices to the world, and tourists wishing to explore more can do so. On the way to all these tourist destinations, there are demonstration cultural communities to display all about their culture. Driving to such places contributes to the welfare and development of such people.
