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
