Tips

How to Travel Like a Local in Uganda

When it comes to travel experiences, Uganda may not feature on the top list in the world the fact that most destinations have more to offer. However, a safari in Uganda lets you discover nearly all that Africa has to offer the world in one destination that is why it is best described as the ‘Pearl of Africa.’ Get the best of local travel experiences in Africa by embarking on Uganda safari this coming holiday and you won’t regret in life. Tired of mass tourism? Uganda is definitely the best destination you should consider a must-visit and you won’t regret in life.

A Uganda safari is the best for you to discover the natural endowments that make Uganda a leading safari destination in Africa. It has a lot more to offer the world ranging from its pristine national parks, wildlife reserves, mystical mountains, water bodies, rain-forests to unique culture.

Tips on how to enjoy local travel experiences in Uganda

Plan your trip early

Any successful tour is planned before. Planning is one essential step any traveler on Uganda tour should put into consideration whether it is local travel experience or the usual tours. The best way to have your trip well planned is simply getting in touch with our reservation team and let us plan your safari tour together. We are readily available 24/7 to ensure you have your travel dreams realized in the pearl of Africa.

Get a guide

A visit to a new destination can be challenging the fact that it involves interacting with new people you have never come across-which comes with language barrier. To be on safer side, finding an experienced ground tour guide is the best way to go. Uganda has several of well trained, experienced and professional tour guides to take you through any part of the country to enjoy your holiday at your comfort. For those of you on plan to embark on self-drive tour, the best is for you to have your GPS to direct you to your dream destination, google maps and any essential guide books.

Know what to eat and where

There is plenty to enjoy on Uganda tour but not all should be stomached. Know what you can eat and the place to do so. There are many good hotels, lodges and restaurants in and around towns for you to have something for the day or dinner. What we always advise our clients is avoid street food as much as you can. When choosing what to eat and where, the hygiene matters a lot. However, there are many dishes for you to try out-local and international.

Don’t take pictures anyhow

While a trip without photography can be boring, taking pictures in some areas is restricted. That is why you need to know where to do it and not to do it. However, for the most amazing pictures, ensure you have a good camera and if you plan to go for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest Reserve, Kyambura Gorge or any part of Uganda, ensure your camera doesn’t have a flashlight and if it does, please turn it off before taking pictures of these apes.

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Tips to Consider When Booking Airport Transfers in Uganda

Are you planning to travel to Uganda for the first time and you need someone to guide you around, you will definitely have to book any services of a car hire company in Uganda for a safe and comfortable road trip to your hotel or residence. Moving around Kampala city can be quite hectic given long traffic jam that holds up and the passengers crowded will do you bad especially you are not a usual visitor. You can decide to use public transportation since it even cheap but its unsafe and so uncomfortable plus the chances of getting where you are going takes time. However when you book an airport service prior to your arrival, you will be very assured of trusted and reliable service hence getting the treatment worth every penny.

Below are the 4 tips to follow to get the best service when looking for transportation to and from the airport.

1. Always book with the right agency; Once you are determined that you will need transportation from the airport, go online and look through the search engines and review the websites to determine which company can offer you an affordable airport transfer service. get to visit the company website and check out the prices, read through the past reviews from customers and find out the latest discounts and offers. The good sources of information include; Google, yahoo, trip advisor, and the safari guides.

2. Always book in advance; once you make a decision on which agency will be offering you their services and then proceed and book online as early as possible. When you are making your travel plans about where and when to travel, you should also include transportation from Entebbe International Airport to your hotel. Go online and search for a reputable company to book with and once your reservation is confirmed, you can either make a deposit or make full payments on arrival.

3. Always indicated flight details; when you send the inquiry, don’t forget to include your full flight details like passenger names, airways names, arrival and departure dates. This is very important as it allows the reservation team to pick you up and drop you off on time giving the superb customer care worth your money.

4. Include the type of rental car and price; the type of rental car to use depends on the number of people that will need transportation to and from Entebbe Airport. A coaster bus is more suitable for small groups of to 30 passengers while a Toyota Rav 4 is also comfortable for 2 to 3 passengers. The family of 6 can use a super custom. All companies offer price quotes based on one way transfer pick up or drop off and this covers driver and fuel.

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Gorilla Trekking Tips For The Elderly

Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is not only for youths but also for elderly persons too. Let your age not be a hindering factor because it is very possible for the old to also take part in a trek to see mountain gorillas.

How gorilla safari for the old is planned

Get in touch with our reservation team and we shall arrange for you a gorilla safari in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.  Most tour operators can also plan for you a gorilla trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park as well as the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo. To enable everyone to have an enjoyable gorilla adventure in Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of Congo regardless of his or her age, there are set guidelines to observe. Very old tourists can embark on a short gorilla trek.

Talk to the tour operator before embarking on the actual trek

When planning a gorilla trip for the elderly, we make sure that if the old person can walk, our guides will explain it to Uganda Wildlife Authority management to ease the process of assigning him or her easier gorilla group to trek and also to enable park ranger guide to move at a pace favorable to him or her. Please do not shy out from telling the park ranger guide that he or she to slow down. You are therefore advised to talk to our reservationist in advance so that we explain it to park authorities earlier.

Hire sedan chairs/porter

In case of need for push or pull, there are porters at the park headquarters to give a hand of help although you need to hire one at $10-$20. Alternatively, you will be carried in sedan chairs for disabled persons. You will be carried by a group of 4 porters and this may cost you about $400.

Exercise before gorilla trek

Before embarking on a gorilla trek, make sure you do some physical fitness. This is to help you familiarize yourself with altitude so that you do not face challenges on the gorilla trek. Remember gorilla trekking is all about hiking through the dense vegetation and steep slope while in search of mountain gorillas. A trek to see mountain gorillas can take you about 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of mountain gorillas, the nature of the habitat, and your physical wellness.

Carry adequate drinking water and energy-giving snacks

Have adequate drinking water and energy-giving snacks to help keep strong and fit to make a complete trek. In your packing list, bottled water and snacks are some of the essential items not to miss out on.

In summary, gorilla trekking can also be perfectly done by elderly tourists on a safari in Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is not only for youths but also for elderly persons too. Let your age not be a hindering factor because it is very possible for the old to also take part in a trek to see mountain gorillas.

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Tips for foreigners: Renting a vehicle in Uganda?

Deciding to visit Uganda on a road trip and renting a car there can be one of the best ideas you will ever have and it will transform your vacation into a real adventure! Why is it a great choice to rent a car in Uganda? For starters, renting a vehicle in Uganda offers you the flexibility and freedom to organize your route, to stop along the way whenever you want to, and to take your time to admire the gorgeous landscapes at your own pace. Plus, there are many car rental options out there for all budgets! Meanwhile, below are some of the tips for foreigners wanting to rent a vehicle/car in Uganda.

1. Car rental prices in Uganda

As you may know, prices vary from company to company. One possible way of finding a deal is to compare rates individually for your specific dates. So, what are the average prices you should expect to pay when renting a car in Uganda? Remember that the price will highly depend on the type of car you choose, the rental period, and the season you are visiting – during the peak season of dry months, the prices tend to be higher than in the low season of rainy months. The average price for hiring a land cruiser in Uganda is US$ 60 and the average for a Rav4 is US$ 45.

All in all, as I said, it is always best to book as far in advance as possible! There are no cases of car rentals in Uganda being discounted closer to the date of rental. You definitely should not expect the price to drop if you are traveling in the high season – that is anywhere between June to August and December to February. The demand during these months is so high; the suppliers are not going to lower the prices, that’s for sure!

2. Things to consider when taking your car rental

Here are some of the questions you should be asking yourself before making a decision about the car type you want and its specifications:

Is your luggage going to fit? Think about how spacious the car is, how many people will be traveling in it, will all of you fit comfortably? Are you going to travel with the kids? Do you need a special kid’s seat? Are you going to bring your own child seat (you can do this and there is usually no extra charge from airlines for the seat)?

Does it have a GPS included? You can also bring your own GPS from home if you want to.

Are you going to travel to any other country as well? If yes, is cross-border travel allowed by your car rental company?

Is the car equipped with Spotify or other music options or is it radio only? The road is long, and even if radios are really good in Uganda, you will still want to listen to something different at some point and with no ads.

As for the car models available to rent in Uganda, you can pretty much choose anything you want. There is something for all budgets – from small economy cars to large luxurious models. To take note of, Uganda is a third-world country and don’t expect to find the latest models but the most promising part is that the cars are always in a better condition to finish up your trip successfully and on the other hand, if the car gets a problem, it can easily/quickly be fixed upcountry compared to the latest models which can only be fixed in Kampala.

3. Watch out for any possible extra fees!

ATTENTION: You have to be at least 20 years old AND have at least 12 months of driving experience in order to rent a car as a tourist in Uganda! Also, do not forget to make sure your driving license is valid.

Here are some fees you might want to watch out for:

Are there any additional driver fees? If you’re planning to go out on a trip with a driver-guide put it in mind that you will be the one to pay that driver-guide; therefore if you don’t have enough money it’s better to drive your trip yourself.

Any one-way drop-off fees? Some car hire companies allow one-way car rentals with no additional charge, but you should double-check if they charge extra beforehand.

Are there any hidden service taxes that you haven’t noticed? Is the mileage unlimited or is there a per km charge?!

Is there a premium location fee (in airports, for example)?

Most of the time airport rentals are more expensive as they need to pay airport fees for running their business there. It’s always better to rent your car from any of the country’s authorized rental companies, beforehand, rather than booking at the airport.

4. Which Car type to choose in Uganda?

Uganda has everything to offer for a car rental, so your choice will only be limited by your budget and will depend on the trip preferences that you have. The saloon cars will be perfect for city tours but if you’re planning to go visit some of the country’s hidden treasures in the National Parks, then you need to hire a powerful 4WD car like Land Cruiser. Most of the country’s national parks are nestled in remote areas where the road network is a little bit poor and needs strong cars.

5. Things to check before picking up your rental car

Here are the documents you should have with you to present to the car hire agent:

Yourself– you must be at least 20 years old.

Your driving license. Make sure it is valid with at least one year driving experience.

A child seat in case you are traveling with young kids. Usually, your rental company can provide it for an additional charge, but if you refuse it, then you are obliged to have your own child seat with you.

Rember to come with both the copy of your driving license and that of the passport.

And here are important things to check when you take the car;

After you check the car’s condition and note if it has any scratches, check that you have the car documents and valid car insurance. If there are any scratches – document them, take a picture of them and let the car hire assistant know about them. There is usually a special paper where he should mark all the scratches on the car.

NOTE: Try to get a written confirmation AFTER you return the car where it states that the car has been checked and they confirm there was no damage made. I know that some car rental companies can charge you afterward for some small damages that they did not see before (and that could not have been done by you).

Another to check is the fuel. You talk about the fuel policy that is convenient for you before taking the car for a trip.

6. Driving in Uganda

Driving in Uganda is done on the left-hand side of the road. The road signs are pretty similar to the ones that are found all over the world. Here are some general rules that are quite common everywhere in the world, but it doesn’t hurt to repeat them one more time:

Everyone in the car must have a seat belt on.

The use of mobile phones is forbidden for the driver unless he/she has a hands-free device.

Any young child should be secured in a forward-facing child seat.

Below are some rules that not everyone knows;

The speed is measured in km/h and you drive on the left side.

Here are the general speed limits (which can vary insignificantly) – in most cities the limit is 80 km/h and 100 km/h on some highways.

Don’t go off-road – most insurance companies will not cover the damage if you drive on a non-asphalt road. That is a violation of the rental agreement, so they will have the full right to refuse to cover any damage you cause.

7 The best time for a road trip to Uganda

The best time to visit Uganda is anywhere from June to late August and then December to February. This period is great because all the activities are most fascinating during this time as the weather be warm. But this is also the highest season, so prices are the highest too.

Other Important tips on renting a car in Uganda

Do not forget to let your car rental company know you are going to do cross-border travel though, as they need to know this in order to arrange the perfect documents for border crossing.

As already mentioned above, a one-way rental is possible, though not easy and not cheap in most cases. So you should call the office in advance to double-check this!

Meanwhile, beautiful Uganda is any road tripper’s dream – it offers terrific scenery and an overall unforgettable adventure! Even if you are better off using public transportation and walking in cities, there is no way to enjoy this spectacular destination without a car, especially if you are going to visit some remote areas (any National Parks, smaller cities, etc.) And, overall, it is much faster and much more comfortable to have your own means of transportation and to travel at your own pace!

Have a great road trip in Uganda!

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How to Book Uganda Car Rental

This is among the mutual questions asked my very many people hoping to hire self-drive cars in Uganda.  . However, hiring a car in Uganda for 2020-2021 is something very easy especially if you book a car with us at 4x4ugandacarrentals.com. Consider below some of the ways you can get your car for either self-drive or with a driver in Uganda with a lot of ease.

• Sending an Inquiry: Go to our contact us form and fill in the form after press the send button, after receiving the massage, our reservation team will get back to you shortly not less than 10 hours with the best car hire offer. In the massage you are reminded to include what you need, what you ask for is what we offer, although we normally do advise our clients before we offer the service. We have a team ready waiting to answer your emails on time.
• Calling us Direct on our cell phone. You can hire a car from us in Uganda 2021 by simply dialing us on our office number +256776641554. Once we receive a call, we respond immediately and advise you accordingly on the best car fleet available in stock based on your travel plans and interest. You can book with us your fleet direct on a phone call and we reserve car a desired dates of travel either on self-drive or with a driver
• Whatsapp: We don’t have any problem, if you find that WhatsApp is the best way to reach us for your car hire fleet booking you are kindly welcome, and your massage will be replied immediately for 2021 car rental Uganda deal. You can whatsapp us on +256776641554. We shall then get back to you immediately with our discounted 2020-2021rates.

In a nutshell, if you are searching for the best car rental company in Uganda to give you the finest and discounted 2021 Uganda car rental offers contact us we will offer you the best and meet your come true. Fill in the Form below and rent a car in Uganda

 

Is it possible to Cross Boarders with a Rental Car in Uganda?

Hiring cars on self-drives has become very popular here in Uganda for a period of now 2 years and many travelers who prefer this method navigating. It’s understandable that not every person owns a vehicle, but that’s why 4×4 Uganda Car Rentals come into existence, so that nobody should be left behind and denied a chance to travel even if he/she is going to cross border.

In most of the time, many traveler prefer traveling up-country or even cross boarders by road. So every person has a reason why they rent a car. Many people are asking themselves whether it’s possible to hire a car and cross borders to another country, the answer is yes! Charges always differ and many companies charges differently in case one is going to cross borders. These fees are meant to cover cross border insurances fees, regional surcharges for crossing the border. The added fees are meant also to cover the extra insurance needed when you are driving in two the county. However sometimes you may find when the all charges included in the total costs for hiring the vehicle at once.

The car hire company can even advise you on where to buy the insurance needed to drive in any country you intend to travel to for the safety of your trip in the east African country.  You are always advised to tell the car hire company about the country you are interested to travel in, so that they can advise you accordingly about the applicable fee to pay for the insurance plus necessary documentation needed and if also interested, you can be advised about the accommodation options available.

It is also advisable to share with your Uganda car rental company about your itinerary when booking the vehicle to assist you get the right information about what you have to do before crossing to another country. The car hire agency will avail you with the right document if he/she declare the right border they plan to use with the rental car to cross the country. it should be noted that if you get any problem with the car rental company without the awareness of the car rental company you will be stopping the insurance. And once you get an accident or stealing or damaging the vehicle in another country, you are entitled to pay the agency with your own pockets.

The car hire agency will ask you in advance your travel plans before they confirm the booking in order to give them enough time to process for you all information required and also to enlighten you about any fees and also process for you all the information required and all the paperwork you may need to take with you when crossing borders.  So tell the company you are going to hire from that you are going to cross borders to another country with your rental vehicle.

Though some companies allow their vehicles to cross borders to any country in Africa, there are some car rental companies which do not allow their vehicles to cross borders especially to some countries with political conflicts like south Sudan, Democratic republic of Congo, Somalia among others.

Don’t meander around this festive season, in case you want to hire a self-drive car and you want to cross border either for business, vacation, leisurely tour or for adventure, and you are still looking for ideal provider to get around, simply contact us at https://www.4x4ugandacarrentals.com, we are at your disposal.

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How to enjoy Luxury Uganda Trips at low prices

When most people envision traveling, they picture something easy and relaxing with cocktails and picture perfect scenery. Yet, before you envision all this, there has to be a plan and a budget. Although you have to remember that you do not need a big budget to go for luxurious trips, here is how.

Cheap destinations
Yes, it is a thing. You can actually find so many travel destinations that will not drain your savings. When you go through Google, a number of countries in Africa and islands on the Pacific and Atlantic oceans have lodgings that can go for as low as $50.

Discounted packages
Before you jump on everything, try scouting the internet for discounted packages that are always popping on travel websites. These packages usually have lower rates that cater to transportation, food, accommodation, and activities — meaning you will pay once and relax your way through the holiday.

To fly or not to
It is not a must that when you are travelling across borders you should take a flight. Did you know that instead of spending over $300 on flight to and from one of the neighbouring countries, you could just take a bus that will cost you as low as $60? Mind you, lately, bus companies have luxurious coaches with enough leg room, WiFi, and charging pots.

Peak season
It might seem like everyone is travelling during this season but it is the best time to travel since almost every hotel has a huge campaign they are pushing to fill up rooms. You will find good hotels with a 50% discount for a room you could barely afford before that.

Drive yourself
It can be quite tiring when you have to drive from Kampala to Mbale on your own; but if you plan to switch with a passenger, it can be a fun road trip. Driving your own car saves you money used to hire a driver or even a van when moving with a big group. Use this money to book a spa day because you deserve it.

Travel campaigns
Since 2015, there have been more than five major travel campaigns initiated online by companies and individuals. An example would be Experience Africa, Ug Travel Month, and Intimania where you pay a minimal amount of Sh250,000 and spend a weekend away. The trips always involve a big group of people headed to places like national parks for a weekend and most of them sleep in tents. The amount paid usually caters for everything — music, food, accommodation and alcohol.

Bed & Breakfast
You do not have to sleep in an expensive hotel to get a feel of luxury. Thanks to technology, you can now stay in a beautiful and less costly place called a B&B. They are usually rooms in someone’s home that are rented out and you can search online for many of them in your travel destination.

Budget airlines
A number of airlines offer cheap flights across the African continent that can go as low as $200. You can look through travel advisors and booking websites to compare and contrast some of the prices before you rush to book.

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Uganda Camping Equipment and How to Find Them

Uganda Camping Equipment and How to Find Them

If you plan to have an outdoor camping next season, then try finding the best of Uganda camping equipment to carry with for the utmost comfortable camping experience.

Outdoor camping in Uganda has gained much popularity over years so as to change from your day to day busy life.

Some days out away from hectic schedules provide much excitement and recreation options than any other holiday plan.

The Uganda camping equipment, required will depend on the location you have chosen to camp in. Since the camping places chosen are varied so are the camping accessories that are required for particular needs.

Most outdoor camping equipment accessories come in the shape of camping tents, camping stoves, camping clothing, hiking boots, utensils,chairs, tables etc. Some people like to camp in the plains, some in the mountain areas, some in fields and some in woods.

So as to enjoy the fun and excitement completely, it’s important to carry camping stuff that you will require during your camp stay. There are some hikers and campers who love to camp and discover the most extreme parts of the world. Therefore, the camping requirements differ from one person to another.

Before starting for any camping outdoor, you must buy the things that you will require.

So was to find the best camping equipment, it is better to find a cheap camping equipment dealer and order the stuff you want to carry along.

The light weight tents, portable camping stoves, handy weightless chairs, disposable utensils, sleeping bags,hiking boots, light fabric weightless clothes and other camping accessories can be bought online at the most discount rates.

It is good to carry camping equipment that is too light to so as to give you much freedom while trekking and hiking.

Many types of camping equipment are not cheap to buy and can be afforded only when you have a large budget. On the other hand, if you have a small budget, you can opt to renting. The activity of out door camping has been growing along side with car hire in Uganda. So for all those who would like to hire camping equipment on the road trips, the best is ti hire for the car rental companies.

Renting camping equipment is a good option depending upon how often you go for camping. Otherwise if you are a camping freak then, having a stock of your own camping gear is worth. For those who want rooftop tent camping, the best option is renting.

Have a great camping experience this season by keeping all your camping requirements toned up.

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