Things to see in Uganda besides Mountain Gorillas

The mountain gorillas are highly endangered species that can only be viewed in three countries on the planet that are Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. They are very interesting animals that attract tourists from various parts of the world. In general, Gorilla Tours are the most popular Safaris in Uganda and Rwanda mainly for Mountain gorillas that are the leading tourist attractions in Uganda (Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga National parks and Rwanda (Volcanoes national park) in Rwanda.

However, it does not mean that they are the only wildlife species the two countries can offer. There are other major untamed mammals that can highly interest a tourist on a wildlife safari include:

The Tree-Climbing Lions

They are located in the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park located in western Uganda. Most lions are typical of staying in lowlands doing what they are best at – hunting and then relaxing in the savanna grasses after a big catch however the ones in Queen Elizabeth national park relax in the tree branches which very un common among lions.
During your Uganda Safari experience, should not make a mistake of leaving the country before visiting the Ishasha sector to see the king of the jungle hanging in tree branches.
Queen Elizabeth national park can be accessed en route to Bwindi impenetrable national park on the Kampala- Mbarara Bushenyi highway.

Golden Monkeys

These can also be viewed in the jungles of Bwindi, Mgahinga, Nyungwe, and volcanoes in Uganda and Rwanda. They live in groups ranging from10 to 30 and mainly feed on leaves and wild fruits. They are called golden monkeys because they have a golden patch on their skin. Tourists on gorilla’s safaris in any of the forests have high chances of viewing these primates however those who strictly want to only trek them are free to do so.

Forest Elephants

In the rain forests of Bwindi impenetrable national park and Kibale forest national park is one of the largest mammal specie with the largest brains-the forest elephants. They spend most of their time feeding and can eat up to 270 kilograms a day. A well-grown forest elephant weighs about 12,000 kilograms with a life span between 55-70 years.
Forest elephants are very sensitive and dangerous animals that mainly feed on plant leaves and grass. Though they are rarely seen on wildlife safaris in the forests, they are very interesting species that can give a tourist a wonderful experience.

L’Hoest Monkeys

These are some of the unique primate species one should definitely not miss seeing while on an African safari in Uganda and Rwanda. They can be found in the forests of Bwindi impenetrable forest, Kibale forest national park and Nyungwe forest. They are easily differentiated from other primates by their orange eyes and white beards.
These forest dwellers usually feed on leaves, wild fruits, mushrooms and other edibles that the jungle provides.
They also live in groups and can be seen by tourists on wildlife safaris especially those going for gorilla tracking.

The Hippopotamus

This mammal is unique because it can survive both on land and water. The hippos are the third largest land animals and they mainly feed on grass but spend most of their time in water.
Hippos are very dangerous animals capable of killing and actually they kill humans more than lions do. They usually reproduce and give birth in water. A fully-grown hippo has a life span between 40 to 50 years. In Uganda, they can be best seen in the waters of the Kazinga channel that connects lake Edward and lake George.

Chimpanzees

These are closest human being relatives with about 98%DNA similar to humans. They live in the equatorial rain forests of Kibale forest national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest in Uganda as well as in Nyungwe forest and volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Just like human beings, the chimpanzees greatly take care of their young ones and also live in groups of their close families and relatives. In groups ranging from 10 to 50, the chimpanzees keep exploring the rain forests looking for food. They mainly feed on wild fruits, bamboo shoots, leaves and plants. Most of the chimpanzee groups in Uganda and Rwanda are habituated and can therefore be visited by tourists however only 8 tourists are allowed to visit a given group a day in order to minimize change and disease transmission from human beings to the animals.

The Giant Forest Hog

This is the largest pig that lives in the African wilderness. Forest hogs are sometimes referred to as wild pigs; they are black and have a hairy skin. A forest hog is a very adoptive animal that means that it can easily cope up with a new environment.
A fully-grown hog can have about 600 kilograms however sadly, humans hunt them for food and their numbers are constantly decreasing. These incredible animals can be viewed both in Uganda and Rwanda.

Tips for Fuel Efficiency on a Road Trip in Uganda

Thinking about how best you can save on fuel while on a road trip? Each year, fuel prices keep rising leaving many wondering how best they save the little they have for other things while on road trip. It does matter how fuel efficient your Uganda car rental is but what is important is for you to find out how best you can save some cash at the fuel station. These days the rate for fuel is causing alarm among travelers/drivers and it is one most frustrating factor.

Below are some of the tips to help you save on fuel

Plan your journey

For those who have driven cars for long before, you realize that driving a vehicle that has been just parked for a few hours its engine can be cold and it can use much fuel for the first 5 miles. To save on fuel costs, you need to find a way of cutting down the number of road trips you make each day. Most importantly, you can make one round road trip other than having many sort trips. When the engine is warm, it does work at its efficient rate while series of cold starts come will high fuel consumption rate although the total mileage can be same.

Schedule regular maintenance

For those of you with cars, it is important that you have a maintenance schedule for your cars. Whether your car is fuel efficient or new, by ensuring proper car maintenance, you won’t incur costs on issues that bring about poor fuel economy for instance old spark plugs, dirty air filters or low fluid levels and others. By ensuring that the car is in its better mechanical conditions, improves its fuel consumption rate.

Slow down

The faster you set off, the more aerodynamic drag is applied to your car and when this occurs, the end result is high fuel consumption. An example is when you drive at a speed of about 75 miles per hour on a highway; you can lose about 15% more fuel than if you reduced the speed to about 62mph. This won’t only save your wallet but also one safer way for everyone on board. You therefore need to slow down in the highest gear however, whereas there is a favorable speed, in most cases the road conditions and gradients may not allow you to do that speed and the best is for you to adjust your driving depending on the nature of the route.

Use cruise control

By the time you embark on a road trip, perhaps you should have made some calculation on fuel consumption and also attempted to live within your means. By opting to set the vehicle’s cruise control forces it to maintain a constant speed that doesn’t burn that much gas. This means whether you are setting off on highway to work or road trip, you get opportunity to save your wallet at end of the day. The cruise control is also believed to use more fuel especially when it is used all the time. However, it is helpful in fuel saving when it is on constant flat surface.

Do not buy premium gasoline

Unless the vehicle has a high performance engine which needs a higher octane rating, normally 91 or more, premium gasoline will not make a change in how a car runs. Avoid spending on costly gasoline in case it is of no use to you. However, if there is any sign of it to be used then do it.

Make sure that the car roof is clear

By securing things on the roof comes with additional storage capacity while traveling though it also increases the aerodynamic drag thus rendering the engine to work harder and hurting the fuel economy.

Maintain momentum

You need to keep your car moving however, this may depend on the traffic conditions and what is taking place on the road ahead. But by slowing down and having to accelerate again leads to high fuel consumption.

Lose your cool

If there is no use of air conditioner at a moment then do not put on because this takes much of the engine power and hence increase fuel consumption rate.

Uganda Online Car Rental Tips and Guides

Hiring a rental car in Uganda is an ideal way of traveling in the country.

Whether you are going for a short self-drive wildlife safari in Uganda or a longer Ugandan vacation, we make it easy for you to hire any type of vehicle.

Uganda’s online car rental option is the order of the day for visitors and Travellers in Uganda.

The increase in business travel and the need for short-term transportation for family trips has made the use of the Internet for booking car rentals an important aspect of travel planning.

Companies like Omega  Car Rental Uganda and Car Rental Uganda have extensive car rental booking sections on their web sites, allowing consumers to book most types of cars for a relatively low price up to a day in advance.

However, there are a few important tips for those who are new to booking car rentals on line to remember before diving in.

An important point is regarding the rental cost of the car, which is usually different from just the cost of driving the car.

The final price will always include everything from the fuel costs to insurance monies.

Availing temporary auto insurance is a wise thing to do in case you do not have any other general car insurance.

This can be done during the course of the booking. There are additional charges that include local and federal taxes, following the state you are in. But most car rental companies do offer prices with no hidden charges.

Usually, the price that is advertised is not actually what you end up paying… There are additional charges that creep up.

Another important consideration in booking car rental online is what type of vehicle is best suited for the consumer. Ranging from economy to passenger vans, car rental web sites offer a wide range of options.

Remember to take account of the number of passengers, cargo and other factors, because it’s best to reserve a car with the next highest capacity.

So, if you have four passengers and three large pieces of large luggage to take along, you should opt for a five-seater with the capacity for four large luggage pieces.

One of the most important thing to take note of is, a 4×4 car is a must to have a safe a stress free road trip.

Pros of Ground camping on self-guided safaris in Uganda

There are various ways you can enjoy an adventure trip to Uganda. These can range from; a normal pre-planned Safari package with a tour company to back packing, self-drive safaris as well as outdoor camping.

However, camping is becoming popular and considered one of the cheapest ways one can feel the closer touch to the natural gifts of fauna and flora that the ‘pearl of Africa’ offers. Camping is much popular in wildlife parks of Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls among others as well as forest reserves.

It isn’t a must that to get a memorable camping experience, you have to contact a travel agent to organize for you a fully packaged trip. There are other various ways such as planning yourself a self-guided trip either alone or with family and may be friends. The best way here however would be hiring a vehicle for self-drive as well as the necessary camping gear.

A number of Uganda Car hire companies also do camping equipment rentals. However, before choosing a car to hire, you have two decide on which mode of camping you would prefer on either ground or car top.

With Ground camping, you hire a car of your choice for instance a Rav 4, Land cruiser or Safari Van and camping gear separately. This mainly comes with a ground tent that is pitched to the ground plus other stuff required for camping such as Cooking gas, cooking utensils, cutlery, tables and chairs, bedding among others.

On the other hand, Car top camping requires hiring a vehicle option with a car top/ roof top tent. This also comes with the same other camping equipment.

Rooftop camping is gradually becoming popular in Uganda of recent

With both options, the only difference is in the style of the tent and many have different opinions on which form could be better than the other. Though Roof top camping is gradually becoming popular in Uganda, here are some of the reasons why many visitors to the country still stick to the ordinary ground camping option on camping trips.

Advantages of Ground Tents over Car top tents

• The ground tent can be better in times when you want to set up for instance a week long camp in the same place and then use your car to go for excursions. This is because you can’t set up your roof top tent and drive away. You have to pull down the tent each time. It also becomes hard if you need to leave something in your campsite to hold your spot since you will be moving with all your essentials along with the vehicle.

Therefore, if you want to set up a tent for several days and move the car in the meantime, a ground tent would be better.

• To some point though minimal, the roof top tent would negatively affect the driving of the vehicle mostly on roads in poor conditions as it raises your center of gravity. This may affect some driving instances such as in high-speed cornering.
• Price of renting a rooftop tent vehicle is a bit higher than that of hiring separate vehicle with camping gear. Taking the same example of a Land cruiser TX or TZ, when it comes with a rooftop tent, it can be hired at around $85 per day whereas renting it with separate camping gear can be at around $75 ($65 for the vehicle and $10 for camping gear). It is also possible to hire a smaller cheaper car such as a Rav4 with camping gear.
• Ground tents can take any number of people at the same time as compared to the car top that are limited. Most Car top tents available in Uganda cannot take more than 5 people; i.e the tent capacity of the Single tented Land cruiser only takes two people while the double roof tented cannot accommodate more than five. With ground tents, you can get any size you want right from the single to one that can accommodate 8 people or more.

5 Natural Wonders of Uganda

The pearl of Africa is an amazing destination for each one who is interested in natural attractions. It is a destination where visitors experience one of the seven wonders of nature as well as one of the most unique encounters with wildlife. Uganda is full of nature and wildlife attractions, however the question is what are the nature wonders of Uganda? Here are some of Uganda’s wonders that you should not miss while planning an itinerary;

Mountain Gorillas

Mountain gorillas is one of the nature wonders of the pearl of Africa, at the same time it is the major attraction of Uganda. Mountain gorillas measures 98% of their genetic material with humans. Uganda host half of the population of mountain gorillas in the world. They are confined to Mgahinga gorilla and bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Gorilla trekking in Uganda offers you unforgettable experience. No safari can be complete in Uganda without the experiencing this particular nature wonder at least once.

The Mighty River Nile

River Nile is a natural beauty on its own but there is no mistaking that to see the mighty river forces its way through a 7 meter gap in the rocks and fall in 43 meters. At the top of Murchison falls the water violently thunder past crashing and surging, blowing a fine mist high into the sky filled with rainbows. The sight from a boat below also gives a sensational view of the majestic falls.

The Rwenzori Mountains

Mountain Rwenzori; awe inspiring is perhaps an understatement when describing the beauty of this world class hiking and mountaineering destination. Mountain Rwenzori was described by one enthralled visitor as heaven’s garden. May be the gods hide this profusion of color up in the cloud so that only those who dare might reach up and share its secrets. Mountain Stanley is the highest peak on the Rwenzori ranges and it is 5209 meters above sea level. It is followed by Alexandria Speke among others.

The Valley of Kidepo

Kidepo valley national park is found in the right corner of Uganda and it is apparently the most isolated national park but still stands out to be one of the best unexplored places each wildlife viewer can ever visit in Uganda. Kidepo valley national park is undoubtedly among the best wilderness areas in Africa, accommodating a couple of extinct species of wildlife that cannot be seen anywhere in Uganda parks and it is right at the core of a savannah landscape right next to a few mountainous bodies. Apart from the unique wildlife safari experience, kidepo valley is a great spot for a cultural trail especially to those who would like to see the karamojongs, Acholis plus other great tribes. The other exciting tourism Activities in the wilderness of this park include nature walks, birding and hiking. This park is a true gem with huge abundance in wildlife and it remains a true rendition of tourism in Uganda but remains unknown to many.  Currently kidepo valley national park hosts over 75 mammal species and 470 bird species and all these fall in the prime game viewing location and it is found in the northeastern Uganda and the journey is about 510km by road from Kampala.  Kidepo valley national park was named the third best national park in Africa and this park is definitely a must visit for any traveler to Uganda.

Kibale Forest

Kibale national park is nick named as the primate capital of Africa and it is called so because of the high population of primate that are found in this park. It offers both chimpanzee tracking and chimpanzee habituation experience. The chimpanzee tracking, travelers trek the chimpanzee to where they have settled in the forest however the tracking in Kibale is fun because travelers get to view other animals and other primates along the way. And the moment the guests find the chimpanzee, they spend only one hour of viewing before u head back. Kibale is the best destination for primate safaris not only in Uganda but also in Africa. Apart from chimpanzees, Kibale national park also provides shelter to about twelve primates.

It is worth remembering that while Uganda’s natural scenic and wildlife wonders may be what draws visitors to this beautiful country in the first place, it’s the warmth and hospitality of the people of Uganda that brings them back for a second or even third visit.

Why Hire Land Cruisers for Uganda Wildlife Safaris

Are you planning to spend your safari holiday in Uganda? Are you planning to go for wildlife safari to any of Uganda’s remotest national parks but you do not know which car to use? Are you looking for the most comfortable safari car in Uganda? Most of Uganda’s destinations are largely popular for their exceptional wildlife safari experiences. Obtaining this life time experience requires the most comfortable land cruiser and other safari cars to help you realize your dreams in any of the 10 diverse national parks. There are several Land cruisers and safari car types in Uganda, most of them are used daily for game viewing safaris. Where as safari min Vans are ideal for a safari trip, supplementing on the Rav4 cars, a safari Land cruiser is perfect for your whole planned safari holiday. You can rent it on self drive in Uganda or you can opt for a guided tour so that you can maximise your safari experience.

Our unbeatable fleets range from a 4WD Toyota Land cruiser that accommodates 1 to 3 visitors, a 4WD full sized Toyota land cruiser that takes about 3 to 5 travelers,  4WD Extended Toyota land cruiser which accommodates 6 to 7 people and Toyota super custom van which fits for two to seven people.  A Land cruiser is a true outback 4WD car that comes with an assortment of amenities for the best of visitor’s safari tour. It is well built with adjustment seats which offer amazing comfort to all visitors and with good size to accommodate children car seats if you wish to travel with toddlers.

Below are some of the key reasons why the safari Land cruisers remain as the more exceptional safari cars than others.

4WD Safari Vehicle

Most of Uganda’s wildlife destinations are found in the remotest areas where the road network is not up to date. This means that, visitors will require a strong and stable vehicle to help them navigate through the terrain and all seasons. The Land cruiser safari car is absolute 4 by 4 vehicle and its lower base is raised to provide the under part machines great safety in case of rocky areas. There is no need to be scared about being stuck in the muddy areas especially in wet season/failing to get through the steep slopes. Land cruiser is therefore one of the super car to help you navigate through difficult moments. When it comes to safaris, most travelers would wish to take 4 by 4 vehicles as compared to normal 2WD cars.

Seating space and capacity

The safari Land cruiser, come in various types; there are those which accommodate six people and 8 seating capacity together with the driver. The car comes with the most comfortable cushioned individual seats each with a window view. All windows can slide and this means you don’t have to be scared on how to take clear photos while in safari, unlike other safari vehicles which have limited or even none sliding windows. All seats can simply be adjusted to comfortable positions and you will have adequate space for the legs.

Popup and rare view

Safari Land cruisers have a roof popup that provides amazing views of wildlife from the rare view. Most of the safari cars have only the sun roof that can be comfortable for more than four travelers but with a pop up roof, even five people are in position to sight wildlife at the same time and others usually choose to sit at the top and photograph. This offers visitors the most fascinating experiences during game viewing in the park.

It has best car amenities and cargo space

The safari Land cruiser is made with an electric fridge and this means that visitors have no worries of not getting cold drinks while in the safari trip; it also contains an inverter system for charging phones and ipads, reference books on wildlife species and varied destinations. There is no need to leave your things behind the safari land cruiser contains adequate space for all that you wish to carry.

In conclusion, Safari Land cruisers are the most comfortable cars that anyone who plans to take wildlife safari in Uganda’s remotest national park. They offer the most fascinating experiences since they come with pop up or open roof to allow visitors have spectacular sightings at incredible wildlife species. They are also fitted in such away that they are able to navigate through sub standard roads in Uganda.