The ideal of having fun on the road trip will all depend on your planning and organization of the trip. Self-driving will always take you to most prominent places that you may want to visit including national parks of Africa for game drives, bird watching, boat cruise, primate trekking among others.
It’s full of joy when you get a Ugandan rental car, selecting the travel routes especially those that you have not taken before and maybe you could have watched their documentaries on you tube. Any 4×4 Car Rental from a trusted company can do for you wonders by taking you through the most remote routes in the countryside. The whole thing of driving in Africa is that you decide where to go, what to do, when to travel and one of the most inspiring countries to go on a self-drive is Uganda the pearl of Africa.
However, there is a lot to put in mind as you book your flight to Uganda to embark on self-driving with a car rental.
Safety on self-drive safari.
Driving in Uganda is similar to most of other African countries especially on those busy streets that are full of busy vendors and buyers and also the pedestrians that keep crossing from any sides of the road and others on the boda bodas. This requires you to be very care full while driving because if not you many cause accidents which leads to fines or imprisonment. You are advised to be alert and every time and use you side mirrors.
Also street packing inevitable especially when you need to rush out to get some money or have something to eat or for any shopping activities prior to the road trip. So always remember that street packing is charged and check receipt before leaving the parking area to avoid premium fines which could inconvenience your travels.
Always mind about your safety and the belongings in the car, leaves windows up especially when driving in the city centers and also remember to lock doors while moving out. Do not bring out the cameras for photography especially when you are in places you are not certain about. Always avoid chaotic places more so during politics which may lead to damage of the car.
Observe the road trip rules.
Uganda is a democratic country that is governed by rules and regulations at all levels and must be observed, offenders are always brought to book. Self-driving in Uganda is controlled by rules where by all individuals eligible to drive are supposed to have a valid driving permit/license and must follow traffic laws. For example driving with a fixed sit belt is a must, keeping in your lane especially around traffic lights and during rush hours. Do not over take unless you have to, observe the road signs and do not drink and drive.
Self-driving in national parks requires you to be extra careful, understanding animal behavior and observing the speed limit in the parks. Drivers are restricted to 40km/hr in the national parks. Always give way to animals as they are given first priority in the park and do not go off tracking during the game drives which serves you penalties.
Prepare for your drive.
Driving in Africa is a bit tricky especially if you are used to your countries driving policies, for the fact that Uganda was colonized by the British you have to keep left. This is such a hard tusk for travelers from Latin America, United States of American and other French colonies that drive from the right lane. You need to pay attention while driving in Uganda.
You need to hire a comfortable and reliable car especially if you are going to self-drive up country because there are challenging roads depending on the destination you are going to compared to driving in the city. In this case there is need for well serviced 4×4 cars depending on your budget.
If you take this into consideration with a complete general plan, everything will be ok especially if you seek information from car rental companies, friends or family about your destination. They can as well help you in planning and organizing for your self-driving travel to have a successful trip.
Prepare enough supplies.
After coming up with a proper constructive road trip program for yourself drive with car rental, consider to start arrangements of what to travel with. Food and water are essential necessities for long safari destinations. Most Ugandan national parks are so dry in the summer season and very far from each other so food and water must come in hand.
It is also important to carry fuel incase you need to refill the car in the middle of no where especially in the wilderness. Petro stations are mostly in the city centers and near by towns but not in the wilderness.
To make great memories and unforgettable experiences on your self-drive safari, you need to carry a camera, extra batteries, memory card as most of Ugandan safaris are about photography. A phone with a great camera can also do a great work on your safari.
Watch out for the wildlife.
Respecting the wild animals in their natural habitats or territory is very casual in case you are doing a game drive by yourself. Wildlife react differently depending on the atmospheres in the national parks, so it is advisable to view them by keeping distance and keeping silence with motor engines to avoid stressing them.
Travelers should always stay on the tracks demarcated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority while on self-drive. One you go off track without authorization you are fined. There are warning signs in the middle and at the entry points of each tracks so make sure you read then carefully so that you do not destroy nature. Respecting mother nature while on a self-drive safari is important in Uganda.
Use GPS instead of google maps.
Try and find out if the car you are renting has GPS, if possible, find one with GPS because it synchronizes quicker than the phones using google maps. It makes it easy for real time location of places. It is better to use the GPS alternative especially for the beginners in self-drive of car rental than the traditional maps. Benefits of renting a car for self-drive in Uganda.