Safety Tips For Self Drive Tours in Uganda
Self drive safaris are famously the most sought after experiences by travelers not only in Uganda but across East Africa. With our 4×4 wheel drives, self drive tours in Uganda are life time experiences that you must not miss out in life. There are countless car rental/hire agencies around Kampala for you to rent self drive car. You can also access the same services from other major towns such as Entebbe, Mbarara, Kabale and Jinja. This is one of the most amazing travel experiences but given challenging part of driving in Uganda roads, travelers need to be careful and that is why we bring to you the highlight of safety tips. We hope this will help you get the most exciting travel experience in life!
Below is a list of safety tips to help you have wonderful self drive safaris in Uganda.
Make sure that you check the car properly:
Before setting off for your safari, it is better for you cross check with the car’s tyres to ascertain if at all they are in better state to hit on Uganda’s roads and above all, have a spare tyre incase of any thing while on your way. Especially for distant journeys, at least 2 spare tyres are best suited for you. As well, you also inspect the cars water level, lights, oil, seats, wiper blades and any leakages. There is service tag that will help you know when the car was serviced.
Never drive at night:
Self drive safaris can be safely done on broad day light in Uganda given the fact that there are few street lights not only in Kampala but also across major towns. Avoid driving at night hours because dark areas you can be risking yourself with the renowned for robbers. At night, you may not also access any help in case of car breakdowns.
Make sure that you have your road map and GPS:
A safari can bore especially when you keep getting lost and that is why you need a road map or GPS to help you navigate through out Uganda’s corners. With your 4×4 car, you can access the road maps and GPS (Global Position System) without incurring any cost. If possible you can rent your GPS or come along with it!
Obey the traffic rules:
Traffic rules are there for you to observe and they are of significant value as they help safe guard you from any risks while on the road. Ensure that you read road signs and most importantly, never drink and drive, put on your seat belts and the other thing is remind the rest of your colleagues to also put on their belts tight.
Make a stop over and have some food or refuel the car:
By taking a break after some distant drive, is one way for you to refresh your mind, and then get some thing to eat and usually we encourage travelers to purchase enough supplies and fuel for the car. Make sure you refuel your tank around major towns otherwise you will be disappointed reaching in places where there are no fueling or gas stations. An example of protected areas in Uganda or any other destinations, it is rare for you to get fuel station, you have to travel when your tank is a bit full to help you navigate up to that time you return.
When you are feeling tired, you are not advised to drive:
While you are around the park or any destination and you are feeling tired, it is advisable to take a rest and where possible give your colleague to drive but that person must have a valid driving license.
Know the weather patterns:
Uganda’s weather patterns including other destinations keep fluctuating and therefore it is important that you try to regulate the speed of your car to suit the weather conditions. Especially if it happens to rain and given the fact that Uganda’s parks are located in remotest areas, the ground can be muddy and you have to drive slowly on potholes and others may not be passable but once you have a 4 by 4, you will be good to go! While driving on a highway, the maximum speed can be 80 kilometers per hour and 50 km while you approach the trading centre.
Mind about other road users:
You should bear in mind that roads in Uganda are narrow and pedestrians, boda-bodas, cyclists, students, and cattle keepers will also be there squeezing themselves along same the roads that you will be using.
Observe the park rules and regulations:
Since our interest is mostly dependent on national parks, you should therefore bear with the set rules and regulations of any conservation area where you take a safari. They are do’s and don’ts that every visitor to the park must follow. Some of these include don’t walk alone while in the national park, be inside the tent and never keep food stuffs in the tent because you can attract wild animals like lions and hyenas. For the rules and regulations that might break, the fine can be put on approximately shs.100000 for over speeding and $150 for off track driving in the national park. Other strict rule in the park is that travelers are not allowed to hoot anyhow since it is against conservation rules.
Mobile network coverage:
Most of Uganda’s destinations are remotely located and this means accessing good network is also hard. You are encouraged to come with satellite phones to help while in the remotest areas with network problems.
In conclusion, self drive safari can only be safe if the above tips are followed appropriately. If you are new in the country it is better that you consult further with your car hire agency to help you get more knowledge about driving in Uganda. Enjoy your self drive experiences. If you want to hire a car in Uganda, here are the car rental agencies the we trust are
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Experience the Local Culture on a Uganda Safari
With the wide diversity of tribes and cultures, tourists to Uganda can enjoy unforgettable cultural experiences. A cultural tour to this country takes you through some of Uganda’s interesting traditions and practices that can never be experienced in any other country in Africa. On your next Uganda Safari, you can spice up your tour by incorporating some of the best local cultural experiences into your journey plan.
This small East African country is endowed with both Centralized Monarchical Kingdoms and Chiefdoms of the pre-colonial times and even with the high rate of development and globalization, the cultural heritage in some Kingdoms has been maintained overtime hence tourists enjoy an authentic cultural experience. Kingdoms such as Bunyoro, Buganda, Busoga and Tooro are regaining their well established systems while the chiefdoms such as the Kooki and the Northern tribes such as the Acholi chiefdom have regained their status and working diligently to revive and maintain their lost glory.
The once powerful and significant kingdoms in Uganda that are now defunct such as Ankole Kingdom have not been restored yet also have wonderful sites of cultural and heritage significance such as the Nkokonjeru Royal Tombs are significant for unforgettable cultural experiences in the country.
Cultural safaris are very popular in Uganda because the East African country, referred as the pearl of Africa has numerous magnificent ancient historical sites that have always been at the heart of International archeology.
It is believed that the Bachwezi people were semi-gods due to their magical super powers displayed in spectacular powers and works that were shown during the excavation of earth works such as the Nkusi earth works, the underground Caves and tunnels such as the Akariza Ngumba K’ Kyabagyenyi as well as the popular long horned cattle that are undoubtedly kept by the Tutsi people of Rwanda and the Banyankole of Western Uganda.
Most interestingly, cultural tours in Uganda offer opportunities to explore some of the diverse cultures and traditions that range from the Northern Uganda tribes to the far Southern Uganda tribes that are divided by Lake Kyoga although the people are related by the interaction brought in by trade, intermarriages and working together.
The Northern tribes such as the Acholi and Langi tribes always dominate the region with the extension of the Pokot, Karamojongs and the Dodoth within the North-eastern Uganda, the Alur, Madi and Lugbara in North west (West Nile) have interesting cultures and traditions that will fascinate you during your cultural safaris in Uganda.
When you travel to eastern Uganda, you will encounter the Bagishu people who are known for the Imbalu Ceremony-Public circumcision of males as a way of transitioning from boyhood to manhood. Although illegal, you will also learn about the Sabiny who practice Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which will only give you an-sight of why it used to be carried out. The Basoga people with their Obwakyabazinga Monarchy together with Buganda Kingdom feature a number of wonderful heritage sites that include Wamala Royal Tombs, Kasubi Royal Tombs, Bulange Palace and Naggalabi Coronation Site among others. Kasubi Tombs is found within Kampala City and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.
The western region is a home to several Kingdoms that include Ankole, Tooro and Bunyoro although Ankole Kingdom has never been restored when the other Kingdoms in Uganda were revived. The Banyankole are known for their long-horned cattle, the Bakiga are known for their invigorating dances, inhabit and cultivate the steep hills of Kigezi and the Batwa, considered the former forest dwellers all offer interesting cultural encounters in Western and South-western Uganda. All these combine to make your cultural safari in Uganda unforgettable and worthwhile.
Therefore, Uganda is an important destination to enjoy cultural safaris due to the interesting traditions across the country. The eastern region is known for the Imbalu Ceremony of the Bagishu, the central is known for the Baganda Kingdom with numerous cultural sites such as the kasubi Tombs and the Naggalabi Coronation Site among others.
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Go on a Road Trip in Uganda
Two vehicles have become household names when it comes to hiring vehicles for any journey especially in visiting the various National parks in Uganda. These vehicles are none other than the Rav 4 and the 4×4 Land cruisers that are the best vehicles for self drive in Uganda and Rwanda. But the one million dollar question is what do these two vehicles have in common and what makes them every ones choice when it comes to chauffeuring tourists all over the country.
When you chose to drive the 4×4 Land cruisers across the undulating terrain and topography of Ugandan roads to the different national parks that are located very many miles away from the city with all roads linking them mostly in sorry state, you will not regret since it can endure all the hard times that you can encounter. This is a vehicle that can complete a journey of over 400 km a day without any disturbance. That means it drives you from Kampala to the gorilla tracking National park of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the western region of the country unlike the Rav 4 which can not go that far since it can not endure such hard times.
The Rav 4 has been designed specifically for not driving long distances; hence it is the perfect mode of transportation to challenge your inner rebel. You can expect periodic breakdowns which allows for ample interactions with the locals, frequent opportunities to run out of gas which allows for hour long visits with the staff at gas stations, and the Rav 4 is semi-open also allowing for spontaneous interactions with pedestrians or other motorists.
As mentioned, the 4×4 Land cruisers has a functioning Air Conditioner that makes the occupants life very conducive since they can adjust the kind of heat they want. When hired from self drive Uganda, a reputable car hiring company in Uganda I guarantee you that it will be in good conditions, well maintained with an insurance that covers only the vehicle excluding the occupants, a top up roof that can be lifted up in the park for easy viewing of animals during game drives be it at day or during night game drives in Semuliki national park. Yet this might not be the case with a Rav 4 which does not possess this top up roof so viewing is limited to only windows. The charming wiper is powered manually. And when I say manually, I mean the driver twists a knob located within the Rav 4 at the base of the window while driving.
Your top speed on a straight away depends on the driver when in a 4x4Land cruiser since it hits the road either manually or automatically. Which can as well make even short distances seems distant and distant locations seem short. This speed could easily drop and increase as the driver pleases twisting across the cork screw roads of the mountains we climbing since many Ugandan roads leave much to be desired. Asphalt covered roads are often asphalt-less. Deep potholes battle to shear off the front wheel of the Rav4. The law of the jungle rules Ugandan traffic. The biggest vehicle has the right of way. Giant lumbering Lorries and speeding buses brush smaller vehicles to the side. The narrow roads serve as a battle royale as pedestrian and animals wrestle with tractors and while buses and trucks lord over the scrum. It is not for the faint of the heart.
When travelling in the Rav 4, the route will allow you to see a vast subsection of Uganda. Did you know that yyou can also enjoy a <a href=”http://www.rwandaselfdrive.com”>self drive in Rwanda</a>, Kenya and Tanzania after your tour in Uganda? Don’t forget to explore a combination of several countries on a safari holiday though Africa. Book your self drive rental and hit the road on a trip of a lifetime on a self drive trip!
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Essential Items to Carry on a Uganda Self Drive Safari
A self drive safari is when a traveler hires a car and travels on his own around different tourism destinations in Uganda which comprises of national game parks, wildlife reserves and sanctuaries, historical and cultural sites, lakes and rivers as well as resorts. Traveling by yourself gives you the freedom to discover natural beauties in Uganda at large. As you are preparing for yourself drive safari in Uganda, below is the list of this to carry along with you.
Water and the oil lubricant; Uganda has a warm climate which means it receives some hot spells. when this happens , the traveler needs to have water for cooling up the engine in case it over heats and also the oil since the engine in case it over heats and also the oil since the engine uses lots of energy to run and thereby friction being too much inside, oil is needed for lubrication and reducing the friction.
The basic mechanic tools; these include Jake and the spanner, these tools help the traveler in situations of replacing the damaged tyre in case of any puncture. The spanner helps in tightening up of any loose part of the car.
The first Aid box; this is a must to have with the first aid tools as these help the travelers in treating themselves in case of any minor injuries while driving. The box should have some basic medic items like the bandage, blade, methanol spirit, cotton, plasters, and the pain killers.
Fire extinguisher; this is very vital since you never know what might happen on the way, you might find a fire outbreak in the car and you will need to put it out.
The Insurance cover; the rental company should have comprehensive insurance that covers the damages for the third party damages as well as the physical damages of the rental car.
Below are the personal items to carry for the self drive safari in Uganda that will make your trip not only exciting but also memorable.
Get enough clothes; as you go for the self drive safari in Uganda, you should carry enough clothes for the trip as sometimes you might not get time for laundry. There is laundry services at the lodges but come with a fee. You should carry light clothes due to the hot climate of Uganda but these shouldn’t be so skimpy in order to respect the culture of Uganda. Remember to carry a coat for the cold weather in the evening and a rain jacket in case it rains. Carry sun glasses and hut for the sunny days.
Drinking water and snacks; self-driving involves moving for long distances and most places that lead to national park or other tourism destinations are remote whereby finding a decent snack or drinking water is a challenge. It’s good for the traveler to carry some snacks and drinking water to get rid of the minor anger and dehydration while driving before the main meal sessions reach. Drinking water is so important to avoid dehydration that may be caused by the hot climate of Uganda.
The insect repellent and jellies; the country is a tropical country which harbors very many insect so you have to carry the insect repellent to avoid insect bites and for jelly, it’s used to control and protect your skin from sun burns.
Identity Card and the driving permit; one should always carry a driving permit when driving in Uganda to avoid criminal offences. There are always traffic officers alongside the roads checking for valid driving licenses. It’s vital to carry an identity card which may be a national identity card or passport so that you easily identify yourself.
An emergency number and Mobile phone; carry a cell phone for easy communication with the car rental company in case of any problem or with family to know about your safety in Uganda. Have an emergency numbers for the police and also for the health centers.
GPS (Grind position system device); the traveler’s map and the baby seat in case you are traveling with a young one. The GPS and the maps help in identifying the bearings and the routes that lead to the tourism destinations you are intending to tour. These should be well updated.
The Medication; it’s vital for everyone to carry some basic medications like the pain killers and orals. You should also be immunized against yellow fever its best if you get agreed malaria tablets.
Always carry extra money; even though you might have prepaid your car rental, accommodation and tourism activities fees, you are supposed to carry extra money to take care for other needs and emergencies.
The personal travel insurance; when you are traveling, it’s also important for one to acquire travel insurance to protect her/ him from any unforeseen disasters that may happen. For instance in case one gets an accident, the insurance will always be there to cover for his/her treatment bills.
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How to Pack for a Road Trip in Uganda
A road trip safari on a self-drive is one of the best options one should go for; as it gives you an opportunity to enjoy more due to the freedom it give you. You are free to drive at your own pace and stop at any area of interest without any one stopping you. However one can hire a car on a chauffeur, all chooses are good but what matters most is to go on a safari and come back when satisfied. With Uganda self drive, you are guaranteed both choices depending on your interest and we have a variety of car fleet that can meet your satisfaction and we do hire them at a friendly price. They have enough space for luggage, with air conditioner. To drive and came back when satisfied is attributed to very many factors, more of it and more important is how to pack for your road trip depending to the number of people you are traveling with. Below are some of the rules that make packing easier.
Backup Kit
Don’t forget to pack using items like mobile phone and a charger is a must pack, make sure that its well packed before you start off with your drive, a phone is very important as in case of anything you have to communicate back to the car hire company. Other useful emergency items include a first-aid kit, warning triangle, torch, and jump leads, if you have children a plastic bag, tissues are also necessary. If these are packed well your road trip will be a memorable one.
Travelers
Passengers should sit in the right position that they feel very comfortable, those who are sick should be able to sit at the window to see out of the windscreen, and for any passage sited in front- should be allowed to do so and should not forget to tie a seat belt, so sitting in the right position will give you a chance to travel safer.
Baggage
The luggage packed is determined by the capacity of the car. Always endeavor to put the heavy items as far forward and as close to the floor in the cargo area as possible. Don’t over load the car you may end up damaging it. Avoid loading stuff up to the ceiling that you cannot even see out of the back window, you may end up not seeing from behind. Anything you think very important on your trip don’t leave it out like a jacket, bag, among many others should be stored within easy reach to avoid wasting time looking for them.
Pack DVDS and CDS, music or movies that will entertain you along the road trip to keep you not bored and you will not realize the long distance covered. However most of the hired cars have music but you may be interested in your music, so bring music that will not bore you on your safari, however make sure that everyone knows how to share.
Fuel/gas
Before starting your road trip make sure that your car is well fueled to enable you drive for a distance calculated. In most of the remote parts of the country, it’s very hard to find petrol stations something that will give you herd time once your car get out of fuel. Ask the car hire agency to advice you on the amount of fuel you should use before setting off to your destination. It pains a lot if your car gets stuck on the road due to shortage of fuel in an area where there is no petrol station. This will ruin your safari.
If possible pack your food/snacks especially if you are going to drive for a long journey to avoid eating in un trusted restaurants or shopping for junk food. Pack your fruits, snacks, or you can decide to prepare a panic lunch if possible to avoid unhealthy meals along the road. Although very many restaurants are situated on many big towns along the road you can buy from there if you’ve not packed your food.
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Common Car Rental Traps to Avoid in Uganda
Of recent developments, It’s a normal practice and yes as you really know that car rental agreements are as common today in Uganda due to most of the tourists and visitors being foreign visitors to Uganda, as buying an air ticket and remember how really badly the airline treat you whenever your booking offline by undermining customers rights daily.
These problems as well for some reason are often happening in the car rental industry in Uganda go unnoticed. The main reason as to why most people fall victims of the car hire trap is for basically being first time car renters which this makes them a little bit ignorant of the procedures and tricks of renting a car in Uganda. Most of the car rental customers sometimes appear careless and don’t mind about most important things and this ends up costing them through loss compensation and ends losing business trust among the car rental companies in Uganda.
Remarkably, some independent flexible travelers renting cars in Uganda have frightening stories to tell; about how their car rental resulting in severe financial loses. In Uganda, it’s the same story. Others remember being turned away from the car collection or giving point, without the car that they supposedly have booked many weeks earlier.
It is obvious that some incoming car rental companies in Uganda will try to give you “something” to drive off that may not be exactly the same as what you booked by telling you that your booking can not be realized. We have run out of cars in your preferred class. Please accept our apologies, and agree to a car that is available.”
Seriously you may end up taking up a car that may not fit in preferences and ends up complicating your vacation or tour by repeated breakdowns leading to multiple inconveniences. Worse still, the reception staff may not even say “Sorry!” With the pay the service desk clerks receive, little doubts, they don’t feel very enthusiastic about their customers.
They will give you a car that has numerous dents and scratches, only to demand that you pay for the paint job, to rectify the damages that you haven’t done. Unless, you have checked the vehicle thoroughly, before signing the rental agreement which is something you should really do before taking on your car rental in Uganda and a habit practiced by some quack car rental agencies in Uganda.
Actually, another common trap in car renting service is to give you the keys to the car that is not road worthy. If the engine stalls somewhere 100 miles from the car yard, you’ll have to engage an expensive towing service, normally not covered under the car rental agreement with smaller car rental agencies. On some occasions, you may even be blamed for causing the breakdown, and asked to contribute to the repair costs. If you think in advance, you can reduce chance of any of the above happening to you, and enjoy the time spent behind the wheel of a great car, for a greater reason avoid very cheap and too attractive rates from car rental agencies.
You may end up thinking that big car rental companies in Uganda actually have issues with their services and you opt for small car rental companies hoping that you will be provided with good service where you will end up being disappointed. Some fly-by-night operators set out to scam innocent victims, who put too much faith in the integrity of small business owners.
Read MoreCMK Babies Home is Now Open
Mothers who are finishing their maternity leave in Kawempe division and the surrounding areas have all reasons to smile after an innovative lady opened up a professional babies’ home in Kyebando Nsooba.
Diet
CMK babies’ home takes care of babies from those of months up to those of three years. It is professionally run with recommended diet that include, Milk, Eggs, fruits, soy porridge, Weetabix
The Environment
The clean and homely environment equipped with a variety of babies and infants play toys is manned by home mothers trained to take care of children with a maxim of nurses who are obliged to look after patients the same way a mother takes care of her baby.
Working Hours
The home starts receiving babies as early as 6:00am till 6:30pm at reasonably affordable fees. Mothers who do not use private cars are encouraged to bring their children and hand them over to waiting care taker mothers at Nyanzi road off Nsooba- Kanyanya road just after Jericho Church (from Gayaza direction). This means there won’t be necessity of alighting out of a taxi. This means even mothers who come from as far as Kasangati- Gayaza can still take advantage of this home.
Contacts
Nyanzi road, first corner off Nsooba – Kanyanya road, if one is coming from Kanyanya- Gayaza, branch off from Gayaza road on the left at the point the road from Bwayise touches Gayaza road, drive until you reach the last bend as you approach Nsooba – Kanyanya tarmac road.
Watsapp: +256 708 500 640
Phone: +256 786 364 710
Read MoreWorld’s Smallest Church in Uganda
Nested on top of Biku Hill within Nebbi district in North-western Uganda dwells the outstanding wonder like never encountered before in Uganda. This magical attraction is the World’s smallest Church that stands at a height of 8 feet and width of about 2.5 meters. This mind-blowing attraction is not only known for its beauty but its exceptionalism because in normal circumstances, churches accommodate more than 100 people but this wonderful small church accommodates only three people that include two congregation members and a priest. It is widely known by the locals for its healing powers which is why most people always dream and strive to climb the Biku Hill in a lifetime.
It is believed to have existed from 1996 when a Korean Pastor known as “Song” in partnership with the retired Archbishop of Church of Uganda-His Lordship Henry Luke Orombi constructed this jaw-dropping structure which has in the past years drawn several locals and tourists to Nebbi in Northern Uganda. This Church was established with an aim of spiritual healing for the locals and indeed the church allows people to encounter God in a special way. There are currently nine prayer points on Biku Hill that enable the people to praise, pray and meditate on the word of God.
The first prayer point is found on top of the Hill and has a very big cross, the second point is just opposite the first prayer point and is a Lilliputian structure built in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ and has 12 windows in the western and eastern side that depicts the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ and is exactly where the Pilgrims always pray for several things most importantly for the neighboring countries like Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan and Rwanda for spiritual and physical peace and revival.
Prayer point number two rewards tourists with the eye-popping panoramic views of the fascinating Namrwodho waterfalls which is known to be a habitat to the elusive shoebill stork that doesn’t miss in the must-see list of birds on a Ugandan Safari.
The third prayer point is established in the Map of Africa and has two magnificent entrances. It also has ten windows that show the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament of the Bible. This Prayer point was dedicated for praying for all the African countries, mostly the African countries
Prayer point four, five and six are positioned with a large serene garden, with prayer point number four crafted in a format of a Heart showing the Love of Jesus Christ with a cross made of thirty three stone showing the 33 years of Jesus Christ. Prayer point five is a shape of an arrow head that shows the energetic youth speed whereas prayer point 6 features 66 windows that signify the 66 books of the Bible, and 39 of the windows are at the back because they show the 39 books of the Old Testament while the 27 windows show the 27 books in the New Testament. The Point features three wonderful doors crafted in a structure of a man standing that shows people who are well equipped with the Word of God. Prayer point six was made in the shape of al alter which depicts the living testimony that the church is a living offering to the mission of Jesus Christ whereas the rough stones on the cross show that Christians are living stones.
Prayer point seven is a round structure that is shaped in form of a globe and is found at the back of the towering rock with an open-ended Cave at its bottom of which one is supposed to crawl from one end to another to have a glimpse at the suffering that Jesus Christ endured and tourists who visit the site have to crawl for five minutes through the dark mysterious cave.
Prayer point number eight is the most spectacular because contains the World’s smallest Church-known as the Bethel Church that has twelve (12) windows at the entrance depicting the 12 stones found on Aaron’s breastplate that is the twelve tribes of all saints. The ceiling of the Church has seven beams that show the seven rainbow colors that demonstrate the covenant of God-never to destroy the World with floods after the time of Noah and the eastern window rewards tourists with the views of the Cross that is positioned on the highest Peak on prayer point one. This view offers the visiting Christians with a chance to always look up to Christ Jesus. Regardless of the detail and beautiful appearance, it took only 79 bags of Cement and was built with an intention of lasting more than five Centuries before the foundation is weakened.
The last remaining opposite point was made in the shape of a womb along with the prime chapel that is large enough to accommodate over 400 pilgrims hence you will relish a breathtaking encounter during a safari in Uganda.
Read MoreSave More on Uganda Car Rental
Many people approach Car Rental as a lowest-price-possible contest rather than to concentrate on the value of the deal they eventually would get, in terms of what type of car, whether it has air conditioning and automatic gear shifting functionalities as well as the type of service they are buying.
The fact is, Car Rental in both developed and developing countries has now become a very competitive activity yet rates differences for comparable quality and services are relatively small, sometimes as small as $10 to $20 in developed countries and $45 to $120 in developing African countries like Uganda where cars are scarce. On our recent travel to Uganda, we tried out our look and looked for the best deals on car rental in Uganda and indeed am now acquainted with more ways on how to get the best and save on your next trip. After contacting various car rental agencies, we zeroed down with CarRentalUganda.com, a well established agency and here are the tips on how to how to save on your next trip;
- Use the internet – It is advisable to book your rental car early enough on most parts of Africa. The quick way to start on your process is by using Google and look out for possible car rental agencies. Though most car rental agencies are offline we had luck and we found out about 10 agencies and they really offered great deals.
- Look out for discount coupons – this is hard! we only found CarHireUganda.com to be with coupons that can be used to save a few dollars from 1 – 5. Remember these are many beers that you can save. You can find the coupons here http://www.carhireuganda.com/specials.html
- Buy Gas from major urban areas – It is is advised to buy plenty of gas in urban areas. The more you travel into remote areas, the more expensive prices you will find at the gas stations.
- Unlimited Mileage – Always ask your agents whether they can get you a car on unlimited mileage. This will help you save more if compared with limited mileage.
- Make sure that you get a fully inclusive price for your rental car. In Uganda most agencies, their rental fees are all inclusive except fuel. Always look out for that deal! Remember your rental price may not include drop charges for remote destinations and gasoline.
- Avoid Late Returns – Like everywhere else, in Africa you should also get ready to pay the late return charges in case you returned the car late after the agreed upon time.
Nobody likes to pay higher prices more than supposed to do, thus you are recommended to first shop around, browse the internet and check the various rates available at different car hire companies, or even Internet at comparison sites can simplify the task. Make sure you compare apples to apples and not apples to pears.
Read MoreMeet the Gorillas & Chimpanzees in Uganda
As far as tourism is concerned, whenever one hears Uganda, what comes in any foreigners mind is the primate excursions that are always carried out in this country. And not only that, but what also rings a bell to them is the gorilla tracking as well as chimpanzee trekking. However, there are distinctive features that separate these two primates in the way they are tracked and how best one can prepare for both to have an ultimate experience.
Where they are both found in Uganda;
Chimpanzees in Uganda are located in different places but habituated chimpanzees only exist in Kibale National Park located in western Uganda, Kyambura Gorge located in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu forest located closer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park located in Northern Uganda. We also have orphaned chimpanzees in Ngamba Island which is approximately 23 km in Lake Victoria and can be accessed by boats.
On the other hand, habituated gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. According to the 2013 mountain gorilla census, it was discovered that Bwindi Impenetrable National park has almost half the number of mountain gorillas in the whole while the other population of gorillas are in the Virunga Ranges shared between Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic republic of Congo. Today Bwindi is one of the most popular parks for gorilla safaris on the African continent.
Gorilla and chimp trekking experience compared
When compared, gorilla tracking is a more organized activity both in Uganda and Rwanda and chances of seeing gorillas is above 90%. This is because gorillas live in families each headed by a dominant silver back. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the activity is so organized in such a way that early in the morning, there is an advanced team that goes to the forest to look for where the gorillas would have slept and once they find them, then they communicate to the park head quarters to inform the guides where gorillas are. It’s from here that tourists plus their guide will start the trek to look for gorillas starting from where they slept the previous night until they find them. Once they have found them, they are given one hour to observe and take photographs.
Chimpanzee trekking on the other hand is not as organized as gorilla trekking and chances are high in Kibale National Park and Budongo forest to other places such as Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu forest. The same process of having an advanced team applies to chimps but chimpanzees on the other hand live in communities of around 100 individuals or more and during the day, these communities breakup into small parties to reduce on food competition. Each party is therefore tracked by 6 people. Once you have found the chimpanzees, you are allowed only one hour to view and photograph them.
Family composition
A family of habituated gorillas is trekked by a maximum of 8 people in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga while Chimpanzee parties in Kibale National Park is restricted to only 6 people. While a habituated gorilla family can only be seen by a maximum of 8 people PER DAY, chimpanzee parties are trekked twice in a day (morning and afternoon). Taking a close look at chimp trekking in Kibale National Park, a maximum of 18 people do trek chimps both in the morning and in the afternoon. It is arranged in such a way that each chimpanzee party is trekked by 6 people thus 3 parties for 18 people. The fact that chimpanzees keep on breaking into small parties and regrouping, at a given point, you might find yourselves trekking the same party (18 people) they can join together. This tends to cause confusion amongst tourists if not briefed very well. This sometimes leads to congestion and kills the whole Eco- experience as expected by clients. Mountain gorillas tend to be on ground in most cases and depending on the height of the vegetation, they are better seen compared to chimpanzees which are in most cases up in the trees (Not all the time though as so many people have found them on ground).
What to pack for gorilla or chimp trekking
Both gorilla and chimp trekking requires one to have hiking boots, garden gloves, long sleeved trousers and shirts, rain jackets, sun glasses, huts, a hiking stick and some energy giving foods to give you that extra strength when needed. You might not need a porter for chimp trekking in Kibale but we highly recommend one for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your gorilla trek.
Gorilla and Chimp permits
In Uganda, you require a permit to either trek gorillas or chimpanzees. Gorilla tracking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park costs USD600.00 which normally goes down from that in low seasons (Feb-may) to the tune of USD350.00. enabling you to save USD150.00. The above includes trekking gorillas, a guide for the trek and park entrance fees. Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda vary according to where you will be trekking them. In Kibale, a permit is USD150 while in Kyambura is at USD50.00 per person and includes guide, park entrance and viewing chimps.
Distances compared
Gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi and Mgahinga and they are approximately 8-9 hours from Kampala while driving and it also depends on which side of Bwindi you are going to. If you are flying, then it might take you around about one and half hours to Bwindi or Kisoro. Kibale National Park is about 5-6 hours from Kampala; Kyambura Gorge is approximately 7-8 hours drive from Kampala while Budongo is also approximately 5-6 hours drive to northern Uganda.
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