Dubbed the “Pearl of Africa”, Uganda has for long been known as a
“Paradise on Earth” with numerous wildlife species (more than 100 species) including the critically endangered mountain gorillas, the Chimpanzees, Big five animals and over 1061 bird species, large water bodies as well as breathtaking landscapes that make the country worth exploring during safari. With all these wonderful attractions across the country, you would wish to hire a comfortable car so as to explore the beauty of the entire country but there are some important things you ought to know and understand before you even consider hiring a car in Uganda;
The type of car you are planning to hire
Once you have determined which part of the country you wish to visit and the attractions to explore, the next question you would ask is “what type of car do you consider hiring for the safari? This usually depends on a number of factors that include the number of people you are traveling with and also the destination you plan to visit. If for instance you are planning to explore a particular National Park or on a research project, it would be a good decision to hire a coaster bus, safari land cruiser or even a mini-van because they have the ability to handle different terrains of the National Parks. If you are planning to go on a special event such as video shoot, wedding, anniversary, birthday party or any other event that needs you to hire a luxury car, then the Mercedes, Limousine, vintage and stylish sports cars are the perfect choices for that.
The car hire company and its reputation
It is important to search and get more information about the company so that you don’t fall prey to fraud or being cheated by unreliable companies thus you have to search for reviews from past tourists through platforms like Twitter, TripAdvisor and Facebook. Not only that, check and verify the office addresses, contacts as well as the prices per car so that you are acquainted with the terms and conditions before making the final decision of hiring the car. Therefore, always check for reviews of the Company to ascertain the reputation before hiring the car.
The payment options
After determining the type of car you wish to hire and finding out more about the company including its reputation, you should be inquiring about the payments options and terms. In most cases, companies accept cash options or online (Pesapal and Express pay) in full or deposits depending on the days agreed upon as well as the number of days you will be hiring the car.
Traffic rules
Just like any other country, Uganda also has traffic rules that control all road users. Before you even think of hiring a car for your self drive safari, you need to first learn more about the traffic rules in Uganda. For instance, you need to note that while in Uganda, you have to drive left of the road, avoid over speeding, must have a valid driving permit/license (Foreigners can have International drivers license) and don’t forget to strap your seat belts which applies to every country.
Safety precautions
Safety precautions are important for your own safety and those of other road users. Therefore, make sure you avoid over speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited, drive on the right side of the road, always close the doors and windows when leaving your car to avoid falling prey to thieves and avoid driving at night because its very risky.
Entrance and parking fees within destinations
Are you planning to visit any of the 10 National Parks in Uganda? Then you have to know about the Park entrance fees for tourists and vehicles in advance. UWA Charges standard rates that include saloon cars being charged $50 for foreign tourists, Shs 20,000 for East Africa Residents, Mini-buses charged $100 for foreign, Shs 30,000 East Africa, Pick-Ups and 4WD cars are at $150 for foreign tourists and Shs 30,000 for East African residents, Buses are charged $150 for foreign tourists and Shs 150,000, School buses are at Shs 50,000 and finally Tour company vehicles ate charged $100 for foreigners and Shs 30,000 for East African residents. Entrance fees for tourists are $40 for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents and Shs 15,000 for east African residents (Adults). Some Parks such as Kibale Forest, Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks don’t charge for Park entrance fees because they are included in the price of gorilla or Chimpanzee tracking permits.
