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Tips for the perfect self drive car rental

While on vacation in a foreign country, it is everyone’s desire to drive in new cars: a car that commands elegance, class, comfort and respect.

It is only embarking on a self drive car rental in Uganda deal that can make your desires come true. This is the most evident and vivid way of driving yourself in very high end and posh car.

The tips of self drive car rental in Uganda are as not so complicated as manufacturing a vehicle its self. They are very simple tips to understand and comply with in order to acquire a self drive car rental and also have a good experience.

All one needs to do is hit the internet and search for good competent self drive car rental companies in Uganda and choose the one that best suits your needs. Make a good relationship with them through emailing them and also contacting them through the phone as their telephones are always displayed on the websites.

When you contact your preferred self drive car rental company then tell them about your needs then best on the needs they will know what to offer to you or come up with the best suggestion and advice that can suit your needs. This is normally done by outlining and explaining to you the available cars for your needs.

It is important to note that you are supposed to choose a car that can fit your needs and finances. For example if you are going for a family wildlife safari trip, it is advisable for you to choose a passenger van like super custom or safari van which have a four wheel drive and can accommodate all members of the family you intend to travel with. on other hand if you are solo traveler and making a Kampala city tour go for a compact car like a Toyota Premio or a crossover car like a RAV4 those two cars can best serve the latter purpose without draining your pockets.

Remember irrespective of the car that you select for yourself, you have to be responsible of it. There are some essential regulations and policies that you must keep in mind hiring a car and

When you get to the car hire agency premises or meet the car provider whether online or off, he/she will tell to issue you valid driving license and this is supposed in a comprehensive language that is acknowledge in Uganda that is English or French that can be accepted by some companies. The driving license is proof that you are able and eligible of driving a car. If you do not have one then you can hire a car with a driver. The car hire agencies have professional chauffeurs

You should always take note of the speed limit at which you are driving on the Uganda. You have to be very cautious while driving a rented car because you might end up paying much if an accident occurs by your fault. No insurance compensates for reckless driving. On Ugandan roads always keep a speed limit of 40-50 when driving on busy roads and 60-80 on highways.

Finally, you are supposed to return the car from selfdrive tour on the date and time promised otherwise you might bump into a premium fine for the late return of the vehicle.

Self drive tours in Uganda are one of the most exicting tours in Uganda and these tours can become more incredible when you go by the above tips on self drive car rentals in Uganda.

Visit Ngamba Island & Experience Exclusive Chimpanzee Watching

Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary is the best place to spend time watching chimpanzee as they play, interact with each other and even watch what you are doing, is undoubtedly one of the many fascinating experiences you can enjoy in Uganda. The thrill of knowing that by visiting them on Ngamba Island you are directly contributing to their well-being, overall conservation of the species and supporting the local community gives additional meaning to your Uganda safari.

Ngamba Island is part of the Koome group of islands located on Lake Victoria, 23km southwest of Entebbe, Uganda. It consists of approximately 100 acres, 95 of which are forested and for use by the chimpanzees. Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary was established in October 1998 and is currently home to 49 orphaned rescued chimpanzees.

Day trips

Feeding times from the visitor viewing platform are at 11:00am and 2:30pm. You can view either of them. You are advised to arrive at the island at least 1 hour before the feeding so that you listen to an informative talk by the sanctuary staff, enjoy the island’s beautiful views, natural wildlife, bird life and activities such as volleyball, swimming in the Lake, kayaking and island shopping.

Overnight

An excursion over or more days, staying in our exclusive permanent tented camp on the island is worth your time. Each of the four tents overlooks the lake from its raised, private wooden deck and accommodates two persons in comfort with full sized twin beds, en suite bathroom and solar lighting. Freshly prepared sumptuous meals are provided in either our covered, or open dining area beside the Lake. Meals very but we try to cater for all tastes. Drinks are available on cash sale basis including water, sodas, beers, wine and a selection of spirits.

As well as viewing the chimpanzees from the viewing platform, visitors have lots of time to enjoy the island’s other facilities. The early mornings are particularly memorable as the chimpanzees nosily wake up at sunrise, calling loudly to anyone who is listening. At sunset huge numbers of bats are often seen as they fly out of the forest and into the colour ful sunset.

Care Giving Experiences

The unique experience offers you an amazing opportunity to spend time the chimpanzees. The caregiver experience is a 24-hour opportunity to be behind the scenes of the sanctuary and participate in the daily routine like preparing food, cleaning facilities, health checks and generally learning more about the efforts needed to take care of the chimpanzees.

The caregiver and Ngamba trail activities may only be included as part of the overnight excursion to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and they require advance booking. Care giving requires specific vaccinations and health requirements (more than the ones required for travel to Africa) that need to be fulfilled well in advance.

Other Activities

• Sunset
• Volunteering packages
• Students camping
• Retreats
• Boat rides
• Photography
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Community culture experience

Meeting / Departure point

All trips depart from Entebbe. Contact us for departure times. We meet at waterfront club in Entebbe town where safe parking is available and pre-trip briefing is conducted before proceeding on foot to the pier. Transport from your local hotel can be arranged in advance upon request.

Top Things to See on a Uganda Safari

Are you traveling to Uganda or are you thinking of going to Uganda? Don’t have a second thought just book a visa and get a ticket then travel to the country. You can never regret your visit to Uganda. This is land where love and nature were born and last free. Many people who have come to Uganda have had a lifetime experience and convince their compatriots to come and visit the pearl of Africa. This is why the number of tourist coming to Uganda is increasing at a rapid rate. Please don’t miss the glorious opportunity of visiting the pearl of Africa before you die.

These are some of the most popular activities and attractions you encounter when you visit the peaceful land of Uganda.

Uganda has a variety of wildlife which is very interesting and exciting to interact with like the lions elephants, giraffes, birds, zebras, monkeys, chimpanzees, the mountain gorillas which are the most visited animals in Uganda, the hyenas to mention. These are normally found in the remote areas of Uganda so visiting these animals makes you experience a natural and eco life from the food, air you breathe, shelter, animals and the people you encounter on the safari.

Here are some of the famous national game parks which are visited by tourists: Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo national, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Lake Mburo national park, rwenzori mountains national park, Mountain Elgon national park, Mgahinga national park, Kibale national park and Semliki national park. These parks are not monotonic in such way that they do not posses the same activities and animals. These all have various different animals and unique activities differing from each other. Visiting one does not guarantee you to encountering all wildlife and the related activities at a go. You have to visit one park at time to experience the real wildlife in Uganda. We can organize proper itineraries for visitors who wish to see specific wildlife of their interests.

Uganda has so many water bodies that make someone’s visit so fun and exciting. We have river Nile that transects from the central part of the country through the North West end of the country till the North Africa. It is the longest river in the world and possesses a lot of unique features that support tourism activities. For example the water falls that are used for rafting and some of its river tributes are used for boat ride where there are a lot of aquatic life and sport fishing can be done on these waters.
Uganda has many lakes like Lake Victoria which is the source of the Nile and this has lots of beaches from Jinja through Kampala to Entebbe and Masaka. These resorts are used for relaxing, picnic, partying, sightseeing and boat ride and some of them have exquisite accommodation facilities and serene climate around them.

There are also other lakes like lake Kyoga, Edward and George ,lake lake Mburo, lake Albert and lake Bunyonyi to mention but a few. These also have some interesting aquatic life interesting to watch and also have good resorts for example Lake Bunyonyi has the most exciting resort in the country with a very fantastic accommodation and eco environment. This has become the place to be for honeymooners and also holiday makers.

Uganda also posses many mountains but most visited ones are mountain rwenzori and Mt Elgon since they are the most popular one. These mountain have some exotic animals to see, and also used for camping, mountain cycling and climbing.

The climate of Uganda is worth to talk about i.e. the equatorial climate. It experiences sun and rain throughout the year. Many tourists come to feel this natural sun of Uganda. Uganda has very hospitable people that welcome other people from different worlds.
One should not also worry of how is going to travel to his/her preferred destination in Uganda as the country has drastically improved its road networks accessing these places and there are variety of cars to hire in Uganda to take you around these nature gifted places. There are well trusted car rental agencies in Uganda that can lead you safely on the roads.

Going to Uganda is one of the most amazing decisions one can ever take and never gets regrets because Uganda has a well organized tourism system for the visitors and also it loves and welcomes visitors.

Guide to Self Driving in Uganda

It’s really sometimes not easy to do a self drive safari when in strange country this applies to both Africans who go to foreign countries and the reverse is true. In most cases many avoid diving themselves in a country they don’t know very well and the traffic roles in that particular country. However you can still go for a self drive in Uganda if you’re a careful driver.

Things to Know

You can drive in Uganda using a foreign driving license for up to 3 three months after which you will need to get a Uganda driving license from the Uganda Revenue Authority or an international driving permit.

Since Uganda is one of the gifted nations in the world with very many interesting things waiting for you to discover when on a Uganda safari, perhaps in a self drive vehicle, national parks and games with a abundant wildlife, plants and various species of birds, mountain hiking activities, lakes and rivers which provide memorable activities like fishing and rafting on the longest river Nile indeed the self drive adventure is worth it, explore the pearl of Africa as it’s sometimes referred to as. When you are in a self drive car service with us, we will offer you a friendly price that will fit your budget and in fact you won’t fail to have a breathtaking safari. Considering many activities that you may enjoy on yourself drive safari /car rental the following below is the list among others.

Upon your arrival at Entebbe international airport, that’s when you will be handled yourself drive car however this depends on what we agreed upon you can rent a car with a drive or self drive. You may decide to first visit the botanical gardens in Entebbe upon your arrival date then after set off from Entebbe to Kampala which is about 40kms around an hour drive to Kampala Uganda’s capital and its largest city, however you should not that Entebbe highway is a very busy road with very many traffic jams so some patience is needed.

When you arrive in Kampala there very many things which you can do, (Kampala city tour) visit the Uganda Museum to get more information about the history of Uganda, visit the Ba’hai temple, why not also the Kasubi Tombs where over 4 kings of Buganda where buried, it’s a respectful place most especially to the Baganda tribe who contributes the highest percentage of the Ugandan population over 15%. You can also decide to visit the Makerere art Gallery, the Uganda martyrs shrine at Namugongo where over 22 Uganda martyrs where burnt arrive for failure to renounce their religion on the orders of Kabaka (king) Mwanga , other places include craft village and local markets. With a self drive car you can’t fail to visit all these places and all of these places are within 15 kilometers drive from the capital city Kampala.

From Kampala set off to the south western part of Uganda a gifted place with very many attractions and it’s not less congested with traffic jam like in Kampala, you will have a stopover at the equator crossing for photography and snacks, from here you will continue to Uganda national park and the nearest park Lake Mburo national park with spectacular wildlife. A car rental is worth it as there is no means from the main road to the park. You will enjoy game drives for an opportunity to come across several species of animals like impala, buffaloes, zebra, elephant, worth the list is endless. Boat cruise is also rewarding with several species of animals like schools of hippos and birds, enjoy horse riding and a natural walk at the park

Still with your rental car in Uganda you can connect to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with rolling hills of kibale up to the park to have a memorable experience. the park activities including the most done activity that’s gorilla tracking, you will park your car at the park headquarter and then after briefing at the park headquarters embark on a search for our close relatives, possibly the activity is unpredictable it can go from 1-8 hours depending on where they spent their last night from, so a reasonable degree of fitness is needed , and you are required to go with tracking gears such as sturdy pair of walking shoes , long sleeved shirts bottled water since tracking is done in the forest expect a lot of difficult in the forest like muddy and stinging plants. You can decide to enjoy other activities at the park like canoe ride on Lake Mutanda or on Lake Bunyonyi the second deepest lake in Africa after lake Tanganyika, enjoy the batwa cultural experience, this is a group of people whose men grow up to 4inc they will entertain you through their cultural songs and dance and they will also explain to you how they have managed to live in the area for over 500 years. All these places can be reachable with a courtesy of our car rental.

Still you can transfer from Bwind impenetrable national park to Queen Elizabeth national park which is a drive of just about 70km. This is one of Uganda most bio-diversity parks as it hoses a very big number of wildlife. When at queen Elizabeth national park you can enjoy very many activities including game drives to watch very many species of animals including various species of antelopes, buffaloes, elephant, lion and leopard just to mention but a few, still you will also enjoy a boat drive along the Kazinga channel that connects lakes kyoga and Edward. Among many other optional activities which you can enjoy at the park, how do you see watch the tree climbing lions at the famous part of the park Ishasha sector of the park. And with our 4×4 vehicle you can still connect to Kibale forest national park to track chimpanzee or to enjoy a habituation experience. To connect to Kibale from queen is about 130kms, on your day of chimpanzee tracking you need to drive up to the park headquarters /Kanyancu to receive a short briefing about the dos and don’ts while with chimps before 8am.

With yourself drive car, you can still connect to Murchison falls national park Uganda’s largest national park located in the north western part of Uganda. You will fast drive up to the top of the fall where the mighty rive Nile crosses plunge 45m creating the dramatic Murchison falls it is a very fantastic view. You will also enjoy other park activities like game drive for opportunity to see different species of animals like giraffe, elephant, buffaloes, various species of antelopes, and elephant among other, also a boat cruise at the Nile River is also rewarding with various species of animals like hippo, crocodile and several species of birds include the rare shoebill

With your car rental either chuffer or self driven you can still reach the far northern part of Uganda the remote areas of Uganda to Kidepo valley national park. Transport in this region is difficult but with yourself drive car you can’t fail to get there. Visit the cultural Karamojong villager to learn more about the African culture, they will entertain you through their cultural dance and music, and they will explain to you how they have managed to live in the area and you can visit many interesting areas in the north region of Uganda. Indeed much can be seen on a Uganda safari with your car rental service, you can reach every corner of the country. We have a variety of cars for hire just book with us a car and enjoy many interesting activities for a memorable experience on your safari.

Most Popular Uganda National Parks

Many travelers look for safaris in Uganda. However travelers wonder about the best safari parks where they can enjoy an unforgettable adventure! There are ten national parks in Uganda and here are the five most popular parks to visit in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular national park in Uganda. Located in western Uganda, this UNESCO world heritage site is a sanctuary for almost half of the remaining population of the endangered mountain gorillas.

Kibale Forest National Park

Many tourists travel to the Kibale forest a national park in Uganda mostly loveed for its primates. Regarded as a tropical rain forest, the area is blessed with diverse wild life. Lots of primates exist in the wilderness with chimpanzee as the main source of attraction. Vervet monkeys and the olive baboon can be found in the natural ambience attracting the tourists from all over the world. Dense vegetation and the thick canopy make it an enticing option for the visitors who are able to hear the sweet and intriguing sound of the chimpanzees all over the forest.

Kidepo National Park

Located in an inaccessible terrain, the Kidepo valley national park is very popular but the visitors are unable to reach, due to the hostile terrain. It is quite far away from the capital, a total of around 800 km for the tourists, however majority of travelers prefer to visit by air to save time.

If one is looking for a hotel, Apoka lodge could be the answer because it is amazingly constructed and equipped with modern amenities including climate control options. People can view cheetah, Buffaloes and the amazing elephants in their natural habitat accompanied by striped hyenas as well.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

This is the best savanna national park to visit in Uganda.

Murchison Falls National Park

The Uganda game reserves are very famous due to the presence of the bamboo villages and the large crater lakes formed because of the old volcanic formation. Wetlands accompanied by the Mabamba swamp and Budongo forest are the chief attractions of the country. Watching the Majestic lions feasting on wilder beast is a magical site cherished by the people arriving in the national parks.

Travelers can also relish the presence of the glacier near the equator with the dense jungles as the back drop. Golden monkey considered to be one of the endangered varieties is also found in Uganda and people can track them through the rocky forests.

Karimojong Warrior Dancers Wow Uganda Martyrs’ Pilgrims

This year’s annual martyrs celebrations on 3rd June were led by  Bishop Giussepe Filippi of Kotido located  North Eastern Uganda. He was accompanied by the diocesan choir and a troupe of Karimojong warriors donned in traditional garb in a gallantry of hymn, dance and worship to the delight of Pilgrims.

This year attendance hit the one million mark with President Yoweri Museveni being the chief Pilgrim. Also in attendance was Maria Nyerere widow of the founding Father of The Republic of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

The President committed government support to the development of the martyrs’ shrines into tourism attractions. This will add impetus to efforts by the Uganda Tourism Board  in promoting religious tourism  that  began with a martyr’s charity walk  dubbed ‘in the Footsteps of The Uganda Martyrs the previous day.

Pilgrims came from as far as Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda,Kenya, the United States of America and Nigeria.

Over 45 martyrs were burnt alive in 1886 on the orders of the reigning Kabaka (king) of Buganda following growing dissent in the kings court from the new converts to Christianity at the height of colonial struggle.

Festivities will be held in the same venue on the 18th October to commemorate Golden Jubilee since the canonization of the Catholic martyrs by Pope Paul VI.This  shall coincide with the commemoration of the martyrdom of  lesser known martyrs  Jildo Irwa and Daudi Okello  from Acholiland in Northern Uganda who were martyred almost 25  years  later in Paimol.

Uganda Discounts Gorilla Permits

The management of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has launched a Gorilla tracking promotion to enable potential visitors enjoy the same gorilla experience at subsidized rates. According to a statement from the Executive Director, Dr. Andrew Seguya, the following promotional prices will apply for visitors wishing to track gorillas within the months April and May 2015.

Foreign Non Residents will pay US $ 350 for a permit instead of US$600, Foreign Residents US$300 instead of US $500 and East Africans will part with UGX150,000 instead of UGX250,000.

Dr. Seguya says in a statement that the promotion is aimed at giving back to UWA’s esteemed customers. The promotion which is open to all tour operators and partners will be guided by the following guidelines. The promotional period will run for the months of April and May 2015.

This applies to unsold permits for this period and does not include prepayments before announcement of this promotion.

Payment for all gorilla permits under the promotional rates shall only be done at the Reservations office at UWA Headquarters in Kampala only. No promotional permits will be sold at the park .Permits offered for sale under these promotional arrangements will be paid for in full (100% of value) at the time of booking. The acceptable payment methods are cash or direct bank transfers. There will be no cash refunds, reschedules, cancellations and transfers allowed on promotion permits. Promotional permits will be marked “”Promotional Permit””

Uganda is a home to more than half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas.Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in South western Uganda are host to the mountain gorillas which live in organised social groups.

For further information and to reserver your permit please call reservations on +256 414355 403 or email reservations@ugandawildlife.org

Wilderness safari activities in Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo valley national park harbours a great diversity of animal species than other parks in Uganda. These include carnivores, ungulates, and primates. The Uganda safari package take takes you to Kidepo National Park offers high chances of viewing tree climbing lions that always sits on sauces trees along Narus valley or on the rock just as you enter the Apoka Park Headquarter. Right from Apoka Rest Camp other animals that can be seen include elephants, leopards, bush duikers, jackals, bush bucks, bush pigs, kavirondo bush babies, buffaloes and much more.

Birding The Park boasts of an extensive avifauna. 465 species have been recorded Birds of particular interest include the ostrich and the Kori bustard which are principally associated with arid regions. The park also has outstanding numbers of birds of prey. In this category, 58 species of birds that have been recorded. Amongst these 14 are believed to be endemic to Kidepo and the Karamoja region.

Hiking and Scenery viewing

Hiking can be carried out on Lamoj Mountains just a few kilometers from the Park Headquarters.

Cultural Performance

During safaris in Kidepo valley national park, tours to the local communities in the neighboring villages can also be arranged. The local community near the park stages cultural dances and performances. Traditional dances such as the Emuya of the Naporre and Nyangia, Larakaraka and Apiti dances of the Acholi are worthy to see and participate into.

Nature Walk and cultural visits to the Karimajong Manyatta (homesteads) where you will probably see kraals belonging to local communities, traditional costume, stools, spears headdress, knives, bows and arrows and jewelry among others are also interesting and worthy to take during a safari holiday in this park.