Things to Check Before Hiring a Self-Drive Car in Uganda
Safety and having the right Car for the purpose you rented it is one of the important elements of a road trip. Most importantly, your Uganda car rental should be lawfully up-to-the-minute (have a minimum third-party insurance covering it, be registered with URA (Uganda Revenue Authority), and is roadworthy). Most Car Renters, because they are unaware or are in a rush tend to forget the key things while undertaking their self-drive tours and thus end up being disappointed or paying extra for their negligence or forgetfulness. It is important for travelers to have a checklist for the self-driving rental Car prior to making long trips for smoother journeys and unforgettable experiences. You wouldn’t want to experience unusual and unnatural disruptions along the way and for this reason, we bring you some of the important things you need to check before driving off with your self-drive Car;
Renting a Car from a credible and registered Car Rental Company
One of the most important checks you need to do is to ensure that the Car you plan on using for the self-drive tour has been rented from a credible and registered Car rental or Tour and Travel Company. This, you have to do even before making payments. The best way to do this is by going through the Company’s website, checking TripAdvisor or google reviews, checking the location of the Company and more easily getting experiences from any of your close friends, relatives, or colleagues who had used the Company’s services.
Check whether the required Rental Car documents are up-to-the-minute
Some of the crucial documentation to check before leaving for the self-drive trip include your valid driving License, the receipt for renting the Car, the Car rental Agreement, the Rental Car Authorization letter from the Company, the Registration certificate for the Rental Car, the rental car’s valid and up-to-date Insurance, and the Car’s fitness certificate. These important checks will ensure you have a smooth self-drive tour without interruption from traffic officers.
Make sure that the Car you are given is what you booked/or asked for
Based on the number of passengers the Rental car is intended to take, the trip demand for the Car, the purpose of the Car (safari/game drive, business meeting, airport transfer, wedding, or research studies), whether you are familiar with a particular Car for long-distance road trips or through remote areas, you might ask for a particular Car type/model. Make sure that what you get is what you asked for. Remember that different Car types have different prices and it is very important to first understand the Car rental Rates before finally choosing which one to hire. You wouldn’t want to pay a Land Cruiser V8 price for a Toyota Rav4. Another important advice to take is to use Diesel Cars because they are more pocket-friendly and therefore have a lesser effect on your road trip budget.
Properly check to ascertain whether there are any hidden charges
If you book your Rental Car in Uganda, you will notice that some Car Rental Companies will request for accidental insurance, security deposits and accidental damage fees which will most likely affect the final price of hiring the Car. For this reason, make sure that you are well acquainted with these charges that are likely to apply to the Car you are hiring. This is done by thoroughly reading and understanding the Car Rental Terms of Conditions to avoid any surprises.
Check the Car for any damages/scratches/dents
One of the mistakes that travelers do is leaving the Company premises before properly checking the Car. For this reason, before undertaking tour self-drive tour, take your time to thoroughly check the Car for any damages, dents or scratches and this should be backed by photos to avoid paying extra costs for damages you didn’t cause. Also, ensure that the wheel pressure. Clutches, lock sensors, brakes, oil levels and others are well checked and recorded. Not only will you save yourself from extra costs but also make your road trip smooth, safe and memorable.
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Rooftop Tent Car Rental in Uganda
We offer different type of cars on our fleet ranging from small SUV, vans and Bigger cars like land cruiser or jeeps. Not every car can fit the rooftop tents. There are specific cars which can accommodate it. These includes, land cruiser prados TX/TZ, Land cruiser V8, Land cruiser GX, safari land cruisers, Nissan patrols and etc.
We have different sizes of rooftop tents; those which can fit one person to 2 people. In case the number is bigger, some of cars like the land cruiser V8, GX and safari land cruisers can fit two rooftop tents which can accommodate up to 4 people each car.
Self-driving with a rooftop car rental in Uganda comes with many advantages; it reduces the cost of the trip as you will be sleeping on top of the car not in lodges. You can sleep anywhere as long as the place has the camping ground and security, Facilities like toilets and bathrooms have to be in place.
Clients purchase food from different supermarkets and food markets along the road. This means you are helping the local people directly and supporting them. Our rooftop tent comes with camping gear which includes, mattresses, table, chairs, gas cylinder, cooking utensils, cooler box (not electric ) electric ones come at extra fee.
Touring with rooftop car, will save you from booking prior some lodges and paying deposits, you can sleep at any destination you prefer, no worry of finding the lodges fully booked. Eating different type of food and preparing it by you is fun.
Our rooftop tents are reliable and we check before delivering them to you. Some clients may have no knowledge on how the tent is mounted or spread on the car. We can train you before leaving for your trip, how it is supposed to be done.
Our rental company advises clients on different destinations they are going to visit and also incase a client wants a draft Itinerary our consultants can advise accordingly and give the information.
In case the group is bigger on a car hire trip, the option of hiring more than one car is possible and also we are very flexible in case the group members wants ground tents we offer them. Clients may decide to hire two cars with rooftop tents and then go with a rav4 with the ground tents.
In case of any information we are available and our consultants are very prompt with all the information of different destinations plus car hire, self-driving trip and etc.
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Self Drive Car Hire From Entebbe Airport
Entebbe has a lot to offer to tourist, these includes, different beaches, gardens, Ngamba Chimpanzee sanctuary, Mabamba wetland where you can see the shoe bill on a boat ride, different landing sites and many more.
Most agencies offer Uganda car rental from the airport to most prebooked clients. Some clients opt to first explore Entebbe area and then continue to different destinations on car hire. We have both big and small cars which fit even a family or group vacation.
Ngamba Island is accessed by a boat and the set off point is at the water front. The car can be packed at a hotel or any other safe place and then go and enjoy the eating sessions with the rescued chimpanzees in Ngamba. The forest is small so the natural food in the forest is not enough for the gentle apes therefore they are supplemented with food and fruits on different eating sessions.
After exploring Entebbe you can continue to other places or destinations like Jinja, Kidepo National park, Bwindi National park, Murchison falls, Lake Mburo national park and etc. On self-driving trips, the time spent on a place depend on you, the way you will fall in love with the place, Number of days you prefer to spend in Uganda, and how many destinations you want to cover.
Driving is fan and make sure you have enough gas before driving in different parks. You may want to do so many game drives and the gas can limit you. Some parks are far away from the gas stations so some clients has reserve jerycans with fuel to bail them out in case need arise. We provide empty Jerycans for our clients on request.
While driving, make sure you mind about the posters on road for speed, zebra crossing, schools, steep places, slippery roads and etc. Driving carefully is very important as you will not get tickets from the traffic officers on the roads.
Car hire gives freedom on which destination to start with and to end with and changing or editing your itinerary in mind is very easy. After visiting all other places upcountry, you can end with Kampala capital city. You can explore culture by visiting Buganda palace, Kasubi tomb, Buganda parliament. There are also other like Bahai Temple, Namugongo shrine, Uganda museum, Gaddaffi Moslem Mosque and so on.
After ending your self-driving safari, we can pick the car from the airport. On booking, you can provide the information of drop off place or the car or while still on safari, you can contact our reservationist and provide the information.
Dropping a car to different destinations is also possible, but you will have to provide for fuel and driver allowance to return it to office. The cost depends on where you prefer to drop the car.
Read MoreBest Cars to Hire for Group Tours in Uganda
Group Tours are generally exciting, but overwhelming as well because being on the road is slightly unpredictable. However, with proper planning, your group tour is likely to be memorable and worth the experience. While you need to arrange for the perfect transportation for the road trip, it should be large/spacious enough to comfortably accommodate every traveler in the group.
You will agree that there is no better way to bond and have maximum fun than taking a group tour with friends, sports trips, church members, family or work colleagues and these can be to any of the National Parks in Uganda, picnic spots and school tours. For your group tours in Uganda, Mum and Dad Safaris offers the best cars to hire and these include;
Coaster Buses
Coaster Buses are one of the top and best cars to hire for group tours in Uganda and are capable of accommodating between 20 and 30 visitors. It is perfect for Company retreats, school tours and sports trips. Most of them feature fridge boxes, ample space for cargo in the rear and ceiling, DVD/CD/MP3 players, comfortable seats with enough leg room and arm rests, air conditioner, in addition to having several windows that allow each traveler to take in breathtaking views of the surrounding areas.
Safari Minivans
The Safari minivans are mid-sized and also popular during group tours in Uganda. With seating capacity of 7-9 visitors, these vehicles also feature pop-up roofs that are perfect for wildlife and scenic viewing during your Uganda safari, as well as photography without necessarily opening the doors and moving out. Being spacious, visitors are likely to relish the comfort and stretching while napping.
Like most of the Rental Cars used during Mum and Dad safaris, our Safari Minivans are 4WD hence making it easier to drive through the rough terrains (rocky, muddy, slippery or hilly) without worrying about being stuck in the mud or potholes. There is also ample space for keeping your luggage, Camping gear and so much more.
Safari Land Cruisers
This 4WD Safari vehicle is another wonderful option for group tours in Uganda and are manufacture by Toyota, one of Japan’s top automobile manufacturers. It has a seating capacity of 8 passengers who comfortably sit and enjoy leg room. More still, land cruisers feature spacious cargo space in the rear, air-conditioner, pop-up roof that make it possible to enjoy game drives as well as scenic viewing, freezer box and MP3/DVD/CD Player.
The Super Custom Vans
Super custom Vans are also wonderful option to hire for group tours in Uganda and usually come with a number of features that include adjustable windows that visitors can open (when need be) to let in fresh air as well as air conditioner. They have seating capacity of up to 8 passengers, yet have enough leg room as well as slid roof that are ideal for game drives or letting in sunshine.
The seats are also comfortable and adjustable, with bottle holders in addition to freezer boxes for keeping drinks chilled, MP3 Player and many others. Besides game viewing, the super custom vans are ideal for City excursions and airport transfers.
Besides the coaster buses, Safari land cruisers, super custom Vans and Safari minivans, Mum and Dad Uganda Tours also offers a wide range of cars for smaller group tours and they include Toyota Rav 4 with a seating capacity of 2-4 passengers, the Toyota Ipsum and Noah among others. Our Vehicles are affordable and range between $40 and $150 per day, without fuel and a driver. Given the high demand, advance booking is recommended for travelers, to avoid last-minute disappointments.
Read More3 Major Transport Means to Access Uganda Parks
Depending on the long-distance involved to access Uganda’s national parks, many travelers would love to know the top means of transport to use. The pearl of Africa has ten national parks, about 13 wildlife reserves, and numerous cultural and historical sites for tourism. However, most of these tourist sites are far from Kampala and Entebbe, the two starting bases for almost every tour in Uganda.
The nearest national park to access from Kampala or Entebbe is Lake Mburo National Park which is situated about 235 kilometers west of the two cities. It takes about 4 hours and a half by road travel for tourists to reach it.
Nonetheless, the long-distance involved to reach Uganda’s national parks is never a problem for tourists because of the great development of the transport system in the country. Uganda has a good road network, all highways leading to the remote areas where the parks are found are asphalt. For those who have limited time on their safari or need convenience and comfort, numerous airstrips are strategically established in the towns or areas close to the national parks.
Due to the remoteness of Uganda’s national parks, many tourists request the most convenient means of transport to reach them. Based on tourism statistics in Uganda, there are three means of transport frequently used by tourists to travel to the various tourist destinations in the country.
Car rental
Car hire is the most popular mode of transport used by tourists visiting national parks in Uganda. Car hire services are regarded as cost-effective, safe, convenient, and relatively fast and the aforementioned attributes are what the tourists look for when choosing a means of transport to tour around. Car rental in Uganda comes with two options which include hiring a car with a driver and self drive. Car hire with a driver is the option used for classic Uganda conducted by tour companies. The drivers hired are seasoned tour guides who have vast experience and information about the road routes, the locations of the parks, and the wildlife within them. The drivers are the custodians of the safari trip, they assist the tourists with lodge check-in, navigating and driving to the tourist destinations and tour guiding on game drives, and other activities.
Self drive is the new trend in the country. Travelers have become brave enough and are driving themselves to tourist places. All they do now is rent a car from a reputable company and take on the mantle of being their own driver guides around Uganda. Self drive in Uganda provides the freedom and independence to be in control of your itinerary. Though self-guided tours are adventurous and fun, travelers are cautioned to be vigilant and careful. They need to follow tips like not driving at night, adhering to the traffic rules, and traveling to only safe places.
Public means
The public means are available leading to the towns close to the national parks. The public means are in form of buses and taxis (passenger vans). The buses which are usually 60-seat vehicles are the main means of transport in Uganda for long-distance travel. The Matatu or vans are used for short-distance travel but a few take long routes as far as Mbale, Fort Portal, Mbarara, and Gulu.
If you wish to use public means to access Uganda’s national park, buses are recommended because they are safer and cheaper than taxis. You don’t have to worry about how and where to book the bus services. You have to simply visit their stations in Kampala. Various routes have varied stations situated in different areas in the city center. Note: some bus routes have scheduled times while others have frequent commutations, as soon as one bus leaves the other is ready for boarding.
To get to the station, you can ask locals around the city center by informing them of the route you wish to take and you will be directed to the station. Or take a boda boda, the riders are more or less city tour guides, they know each and each corner of the city, they simply lead to the bus station.
The public means normally drop travelers to the nearby towns to the national parks and then take a boda boda or a local special hire to access the park premises. For instance, if you wish to go to Murchison falls national park, you will board a bus to Masindi town. Upon reaching Masindi, you will get a special hire (normally an old saloon car driven by a freelance driver) which will take you to the park premises.
Chartered/scheduled flights
For travelers who have limited time on their safari and are of affluent background, chartered flights to the airstrips within or close to the game parks are available from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip in Wakiso district.
The recommended airstrips within or close to the national parks include Pakuba/Chobe Airstrips for Murchison falls national park, Mbarara Airstrip for Lake Mburo national park, Apoka Airstrip for Kidepo National Park, Mweya/Kasese/kihihi for Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kisoro/Kihihi airstrips for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. When tourists arrive at the airstrips, ground transport arranged by their tour operators is always present to transfer them to their actual destination which is normally the lodge.
The charter flights to Uganda’s National parks are managed and operated by Aero Link. A tourist can directly contact them or indirectly reach out to them through the local tour operator to book a flight. AeroLink own a fleet of light airplanes with a carrying capacity of five people that fly to Uganda parks.
Tourists are advised to plan their travel considering the daily schedule time for the flights and booking of the flight must be done in advance, especially in the high season of travel in Uganda.
The above 3 explained means of transport are the most frequently used by tourists to travel to the game parks. However, car hire and charter flights are more convenient and recommended.
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How to Plan an Affordable Self Drive Safari in Uganda
Self-drive safaris in Uganda are bucket list dream for most solo travelers on African safari holiday but require adequate planning to make them more pocket friendly. Whereas others opt for guided safaris, Uganda is also best to discover on self-drive tour. With our wide-range of self-drive safari cars, solo travelers are never left stranded. Besides, our experienced experts have crafted several of tailor-made packages all suited within solo travelers’ needs.
Reserve early
Let your budget not limit your travel dreams. To embark on self-drive in Uganda at affordable rate, make sure you have booked your trip early. Most accommodation facilities tend to reduce on the rates for the accommodation and you can be one of the beneficiaries. It also helps you secure your dream self-drive safari car and have everything done early.
Know when to visit
Choose your season that you plan to embark on solo trip. Depending on your budget, the low season is preferably the best for budget travelers. During the low season, fewer visitors travel and higher chances are that most accommodation facilities are forced to cut down on their rates.
Get in touch with our safari experts
A well-planned self-drive tour involves combining ideas and so contacting our reservation team for assistance is very key. Get in touch with our reservation team and let us plan your trip together. Note, not all lodges give allowances to solo travelers and that is why we exist to do the rest of the groundwork.
Inform our experts
Make sure you let our experts early about your travel preferences so that they can make a package for you. The essential information required from is if you wish to dine alone-the choice does matter, do you wish to join the scheduled departure safari with a group or entirely independent, reason for your travel-wildlife, birding, mountain gorillas or golden monkey tracking; whom do you plan to travel with-children or friends and the accommodation type.
Choose budget accommodation
Depending on the destination you plan to visit on solo/self-drive tour, Uganda consists of various budget accommodation options. They are pocket friendly and everyone is covered. You can also choose to camp/rent one of our rooftop cars and save a lot more or spend a night in a budget safari lodge or hotel.
Choose the best car
Make your self-drive tour in Uganda absolute by booking our classic budget self-drive safari cars. Our self-drive safari rental cars to book include 4×4 Toyota Rav4-you can opt for automatic or manual transmission (rent one at $45), our Rav4 rental cars are compact and comfortable for your self-drive tour in Uganda; Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Hiace, Super Custom or Toyota Land Cruiser roof top tent. All our self-drive rental cars are well serviced and maintained-ever in better mechanical conditions for you to hit the road comfortably.
In summary, get in touch with our reservation team and let us have your self-drive safari holiday planned within your travel desires. We are available 24/7.
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5 Best Uganda Cultural Tourism Sites
Would you like to explore Uganda’s cultural sites? Here are the best five places to visit in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.
The Royal Tombs at Kasubi
These royal tombs are located on the outskirts of Kampala. The tombs lie approximately 5 kilometers from the city center that is Kampala city on Kasubi hill. This site is a very important cultural site among the Buganda tradition. It has been gazetted as one of the UNESCO heritage places. Up to the present, there are four (5) kings of Buganda who have been buried here. These are King Ssunna 11 who was buried in 1884, King Muteesa who lived from 1835 to 1884, King Mwanga from 1867 to 1903 though he died in exile on the Seychelles Islands. Daudi Chwa 11 lived from 1896 to 1939 and the last king to be buried here was Sir Edward Muteesa 11 (1924-1969). The significant location of the largest kingdom of Buganda takes a dome-like shape and if you visit the site, you will be required to pay some money.
For the past centuries, the ancient Ganda cultures have been performed at this site and the site holds numerous historical treasures within the Buganda kingdom. It is one of the most visited places visited by tourists taking safari holidays in Uganda. The site has been constructed reconstructed today with modern structures under the new Katikiro called Peter Charles Mayiga who is working under the current kingship of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi. The Katikiro has been vigorous in soliciting funds to reconstruct these tombs. Not only has he built these tombs but also many other places within the kingdom
Ssezibwa Falls
Sezibwa falls stand as the heritage site in Buganda. The people in this culture have attached this site as a place where they obtain blessings from. Following the local legend given at the site, Sezibwa and Bwanda rivers were born as twins from a woman who was known as Nakkungu Tebatuusa. Bwanda river has strategically flowed towards the mother’s village through the Sezibwa river cut its own path and flowed west. In so doing it passed a number of obstacles that were so difficult. For the Sezibwa, the name was driven from a local phrase called Ssezibwa Kkubo and this meant, no obstacles can stop me from moving along.
This place is full of nature trails most especially for those who are nature lovers. Along the river, there are hikes that will offer you the opportunity for hiking in case you are interested in this activity. There is a forest surrounding the heritage site while it is muddy in some areas. Because of this, therefore, you will be advised to wear good hiking shoes which will guarantee you a good hiking opportunity when you are at the site. This cultural heritage site has also got a number of bird species. Indeed it has been a much-loved spot where you will view a number of bird species. This site also hosts a number of animals that will offer you an opportunity for wildlife viewing. The most notable species of animals found at this heritage site include; the bush and the red-tailed monkeys. These will be readily available when you visit this heritage site. To carry good memories back to your country, you can take some photos of these animals.
Namugongo Shrine
Every year on June, 3rd, many believers from the catholic, Anglican and Muslim do frequent the martyrs’ shrine at Namugongo. These martyrs’ shrines are a vital attraction in Ugandan history. In this place, twenty-two (22) catholic Christian converts were brutally executed following the orders which were given by Kabaka Mwanga 11. This was in the year 1886. He ordered a degree to kill all these Christians who were against the doctrines of the king. This site is a vital tourism site and was erected by the Roman Catholic Church Christians and the Church of Uganda, and annually pilgrimages are made to this place. Other converts who were killed included; Anglicans and Moslems.
The Karambi Tombs
The Karambi tombs are located in the town of Fort portal which is found in Kabarole town. They are strategically found along Kasese road which is about 5 kilometers from the town of Kasese town. These sites are burial places for Kasagama and Rukidi III and are historically important to the Kingdom of Toro.
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Hiring a Car Uganda: Important Things to Know
Hiring a car in Uganda has never been an easy task. Website advertisements on the internet are full of good promising car rental deals and they usually give a flat price that ranges from US$20 to US$200 in accordance with the size of the car. However, normally the car hire agencies do not elaborate on the hidden charges or other expenses that are included in the whole package of the car hire services. The prices of car hire vary from country to country so when you are coming to Uganda, expect different prices charged for the different cars.
However it is of you best interest to find/ make a research on Uganda car rentals before you rent a car in Uganda. It is best for you to keep tabs on all the fees that you are going to encounter at your car rental experience in Uganda.
Since our may goal is to let help out on any issue concerning car rentals Uganda. We came up with the fees that you must know about car hire services in Uganda:
Many car hire companies in Uganda ask for a safety deposit fees at the first attempt you hire a car. There is always an amount of money; you as a client have to leave behind with the car hire company for safety reasons depending on the size of the car. This money is refundable in case nothing goes wrong while driving a car in Uganda.
The general car rental fees: this is the actually money charged for hiring a car in Uganda. This is charged by all car rental agencies in Uganda. It is the money you pay to acquire a certain type of a car.
Some car hire companies in Uganda also charge contract fees. These fees are normally used to cover the administrative cost the car provider incurs while transacting car hire business with the client. that is the costs the car provider generates when the client ask of his/her to delivery or collect the vehicle at a certain point which is not within the proximity of the car hire agency area’s and time of operation. For example if the client wants the car to be delivered to him in the wee hours of the night and also delivering or collecting it in the remote areas and out of the borders of Uganda like Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania Burundi and The DR. Congo.
Furthermore, they are also cross border fees in car rental business. These are normally taxes charged on the car hire that is operating in two different states for example if you are going to cross the car from Uganda to Rwanda. You are obliged to pay the taxes that are levied by the authorities along the borders of Uganda Rwanda.
Some car hire agencies also charge extra mileage fees. These are fees that are apportioned to you when you cover extra kilometers as opposed to the ones in the car hire agreement. However, this is an unpopular fee that is dying out. Most car hire companies have a adopted the unlimited mileage policy where the client can drive as many kilometers as he/she can as long as he/she is driving within the destination he stipulated in the contract with the car hire provider.
There are also extra driver fees. These are rare fees charged by car hire companies on the clients on a self drive trip Uganda when they are more than one person who is going to drive the car hired on their expedition in Uganda.
Collision damage waiver fees: these are insurance fees paid by the client to may should that he/she is covered against any damages that can happened to the car in case of an accident. Here the client becomes less liable to the damages that occur to the car while driving it.
Fuel refilling fees: these are normally charged to client after his/her journey to make up for the fuel used when the car was delivered to him/her to kick start the journey. In case the client brings back the car with the same amount of fuel then he/she does not pay the fuel refilling fees.
You must also know about early return fees which are normally charged to client when he/she fails to return the car on the date and time that he/she proposed to. These are normally considered more of fines because these car hires are always in operation in case of any delay of the car arrival then they are missing out business of which the client has to make it up for his/her delay.
When looking for a good car hire in Uganda, always ask the reservation about the above fees before you do business with them. The reservation should be able to tell you all the fees charged by their car hire company because different companies in Uganda have different fees on car hire services.
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5 Great Places to Enjoy Nature Walks in Uganda
Do you love nature? Uganda is incredibly the loveliest destination for you discover the best nature walk experiences. Small as it is, but it is the most endowed country in Africa with the most magnificent tropical rain forests that offer authentic African experiences on nature walks. For ecotourists, visiting Uganda is worthy for you to explore the untouched forest reserves in Uganda as you catch a glimpse of Africa’s biodiversity. They include the following:
Mabira Forest:
This lies 54 kilometers from Kampala and 20 kilometers from Jinja and its trails are majorly located along Jinja – Kampala highway. Mabira forest center is located along the boundary of Najjembe village about 500 meters north. The tourism project this spectacular forest started in 1995 with a view of promoting sustainable revenue from the forest by creating an educational resource and recreational resource for Ugandans and other residents. There are various extensive trails that have been set for tourists experiences in the forest. There is a 25 kilometer bike trail that connects the forest to the surrounding sugar and tea plantations. The popular activities that tourists participate in the forest include nature walks, birding, cycle trails, mountain biking and others can choose to relax in the while enjoying the picnic lunch at the forest centre.
Budongo Forest:
This remarkable forest lies in Northwestern Uganda just 3-4 hours as you travel to Murchison Falls National Park for your wildlife safaris. For those who are interested in nature walk experiences in this incredible forest, there are several nature trails within the forest which provides tourists opportunity to explore numerous Apes like chimpanzees, red and black colobus, monkeys and others. There are also several tree species that are of significance to scientists and researchers. As well, tourists can enjoy several forest birds like white thighed horn bill together with puvel’s illadopsis species. Budongo is the largest forest reserve that offers tourists opportunity to explore its mahogany and iron forest trees in only two sectors of Kaniyo padidi and Busingiro ecotourism site which is the main tourist site in the forest.
Mpanga Forest Reserve:
For eco-tourists, Mpanga Forest Reserve can be the best place for you to realize your dreams. It is located 37 kilometers from the city western Uganda. For those traveling for gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi, Mpanga forest is an added opportunity for you to enjoy nature walk experiences. There are many trails that have been set for you to explore incredible bird species, monkeys as well as other spectacular forest species.
Kibale Forest reserve:
This is one of the most incredible tropical rain forests with spectacular biodiversity. It forms the magnificent Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda. It is a renowned park with the biggest population of endangered chimpanzees together with threatened red colobus monkey and unique L’Hoests monkeys. It is credited for its 13 primate species that are all ingrained within its jungles including the black and white colobus monkeys, blue and grey checked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, bush babies and pottos. There are also more than 325 bird species which includes yellow spotted nicator, yellow rumped tinker bird, little green bull, breasted pitta, the African pitta and black bee eater. There are also numerous magnificent mammals like elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, duikers and bats. For those who will be keen enough, they can sight at forest reptiles and amphibians and various beautiful butterflies. There are more than 250 tree species and over 1500 chimpanzees. Your nature will start at Kanyanchu visitor center.
In conclusion, Uganda is rich in forest reserves that offer tourists opportunity to explore the country’s untouched forest species. These forest reserves are the main habitats for various forest species that are worthy exploring while in a safari in Uganda. Enjoy your nature walks in Uganda’s dense forests.
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See the Tree Climbing Lions in Ishasha
Planning to travel to Uganda and you are wildlife enthusiast include game drive for sightings of the big cats as one of the most anticipated take away. However, the increasing population densities and lifestyles around national parks and protected areas have continued to exert a lot of pressure on wild game, especially the big cats.
Visitors who yearn to get up close to wild African fauna, a safari trip is a rewarding adventure to see lions in the northern area such as Kasenyi plains. Normally on wildlife game drive in the northern area lions can be spotted, especially on the early morning game drives here. Tree climbing lions is one of the must do activities while in Uganda. Uganda is unique with its Gorillas, Chimpanzees, countless of Birds species and the Tree Climbing Lions are another one of the unique features that make Uganda the Pearl of Africa. Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the best place to see tree climbing lions in Africa.
Ishasha sector
The Ishasha sector is notably recognized for its resident Tree climbing lions that are an exceptional attraction and one among the highlights on all safaris taken within Queen Elizabeth National park. In the southern section of this park, the Lions are now and again spotted hanging on branches of huge fig trees whereas the Uganda Kob (which is the major food to these lions) grazes in the plains of the Ishasha sector.
The Ishasha sector is located near the fur most south-western rim of Queen Elizabeth National Park which is not only the most well liked park but also the most traveled to national park within Uganda. The landscape in this section of the magnificent park is considerably different from that found in other parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Ishasha Sector within Queen Elizabeth National Park is habitat to the internationally renowned tree-climbing lions which are actually unique to this very place. The males of these exceptional lions have black manes.
When looking for the big cats, study the body language of prey species such as giraffes and zebras. If they are all staring fixedly in one direction they might have spotted a lion in the grass; and if you see one lion, look again. There could be more around.
The Ishasha climbing lions are very scarce in the whole of Africa but on your safari combining Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you will at least take one game drive alongside the Ishasha Plains, the lions can be found there in the fig trees and if lucky. Besides lions you will view countless of antelopes, herds of buffaloes, huge elephants and if lucky you can spot a leopard and many more wildlife.
At least once in a lifetime everyone has that precious right to encounter something special out of the world, that experience that will make them wish they could take it with them at home and make their families and friends feel the same way, such a great feeling that will always stay on their hearts.
Read MoreHow to Save Gas on a Self Drive in Uganda
Usually searching and finding a great deal on Uganda car hire is an easy way, just getting into the google search engine and type any of your preferred key words like car rental Uganda, car hire Uganda or self drive in Uganda. whichever your purpose maybe, Google will bring you number of many car rental agencies and you will easily connect with them until you are behind the wheels for your trip. But the real question lies on getting a good deal and on how much you save on the gas.
Many of the car rental agencies usually give out SUV cars and at max the Toyota land cruisers or maybe the vans for the self drive. The (RAV 4) Recreational Active vehicles are the most common self drive cars offered for self drive. These cars hold a 60litre tank which full tank will take you about 650-700kms depending on the nature of driving and terrain. To make a good deal out of your car rental as far as gas is concerned, some things have to be noted and followed before you set off for your adventure/trip.
Tank fill up. If you intend to travel many mile or kilometers in and around Uganda, its always advisable to fill up tank at any petro station you come across. Keeping the tank full gives you the clear distance coverage to wherever you go. During acceleration with few gas, the engine struggles with the few remaining gas to get it going and there by consuming a lot.
Filling up at approved fuel stations. Fuel stations around the country have different prices displayed on the sales boards. Usually fuel stations in towns and cities seem to be cheaper than upcountry stations. It is advisable to fill up at each town you come across. The difference in the 100ug sh or more in the prices per litre will save you a big on the fuel budget.
Acceleration. The nature of driving will determine the amount of gas consumed. Always consider average acceleration that wont leave your car rental struggling for the gas fueled up. The average acceleration will take you an average distance at an average gas consumption. Over acceleration actually leaves your car overworked and using unnecessary gas. This will make a good deal for your car rental on self drive adventure trip.
Air condition. Switching on the air condition actually increases the work load for the engine. The more the engine is loaded, the more energy it requires to keep it running. Therefore the gas consumption will increase equivalently. It is recommended to use the air condition where necessary like in dusty places and turn it off when clear. A little mirrors down will give you a more comfortability and still save you lots of gas.
Luggage.A very recommendable idea to avoid carrying a lot of luggage in the car boot.The more the vehicle is packed up, the more the gas it uses. Pack what is necessary and if you are going for a camping trip, avoid stocking up lots of food in the car and buy in the markets and groceries anywhere around the country. This all will make your self drive gas saving a deal.
Rack. Avoiding a car rack on top of your car rental vehicle is a good idea to save gas on your trip. The car rack on your vehicle exerts a lot of pressure and drags the car down. That in turn creates more frictional pull between the tyres and the road. A more resistance in movement is created and this requires more acceleration to maintain the speed. This in all increases the gas consumption. So doing away with the rack will do you a great deal with gas consumption.
Engine check. Most of the cars bought in Uganda and hired out by many car rental agencies for self drive are usually used cars bought from japan. They are in good working conditions and almost look new. It is however to keep a check on the engine every morning, the engine oil and water levels in the radiator. When the water levels are down, the car works a lot on gas energy and this requires lots of gas. Low water and engine oil levels could make the car to heat up and that’s more gas consumption.
Tyre pressure. It is a very recommended idea to always check the tyre pressure of your car rental. Usually balancing 40-45 front and behind respectively, will create an average friction for easy acceleration. The less the pressure in the car tires, the more friction on the ground and the more the gravitational pull.So checking and keeping the pressure averagely will give you a good deal with your gas budget.
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Cars to Rent for Safari in Uganda
While going for a safari to either Uganda, one needs to choose which sort of car he/she needs to utilize. As a common practice, visitors make this inquiry when they ask for their safaris to Uganda and we go on and explain to them. It’s generally a better practice to settle on your own decision so you can have the best experience on the safari with no hustles caused by the car agent. Selecting the type of car rental company to use relies on the type of tourism activity you are going to do and the number of individuals you are going with. In some cases customers book small cars from us yet they are many in number. We generally encourage them to go for bigger cars like vans which can accommodate their number. It’s better to travel with a bigger car when many to avoid being squeezed and also to have the best moments full of adventures. Small vehicles like Coronas and small Benz’s are appropriate to use if customers are 2 or 3 however not more than that as it would mean that you will have to squeeze yourselves.
The distance to be traveled and the destination that you need to go to is additionally essential while selecting the type of car to use on a safari. In the event that you realize that you are going for longer distances and to spots which have undulating typologies and slopes, then the best car to use is that with a 4×4 wheel drive framework. This is on account those 4×4 vehicles can penetrate through sloppy roads and slopes with no issue and without getting stuck. Once in a while people settle on wrong decisions and they go with cars which are not full time 4×4 and they end up getting stuck in muddy roads constraining them to employ another towing car to remove them from the mud. This is terrible as it prompts increment in the costs. The best way to stay away from this is by contracting a 4×4 wheel drive car from 4X4 Uganda Car Hire which can’t easily get stuck in such conditions.
It ought to be noticed that Uganda has some spots with terrible roads and this is regular in national parks particularly in Queen Elizabeth National Park where there are wild animals to be seen. Such parks require 4×4 vehicles for a game drive experience. Safari vehicles like 4×4 land cruisers with a popup rooftop are the best car to use for an effective amusement drive. In case one needs to go for town running (driving around the town) then he/she can book these different cars which have no 4×4 framework since roads in all urban centers in both Uganda and Rwanda are in great conditions and a tourist on a self drive should not expect any trouble with them.
When you book with us we generally ask you what you plan to use the car for and we give you advice regarding the type of car suitable for such purpose. A few customers appear to be entangled and overlook our advice since they think streets in Uganda and Rwanda resemble those in their nations of origin and they end up committing errors which are regrettable. Furthermore, toward the end of their safari they lament why they overlooked our recommendation.
Taking everything into account, you ought to dependably put at the top of the priority list two component before selecting which kind of car to use and that is;- the destination you are going to and the number of individuals you are going with.
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