6 Reasons to Hire a Driver for your Road Trip
Hiring a Car with a driver during Uganda road trips is a perfect remedy for traveling comfortably and without stress. Are you planning a long road trip or planning an airport pick-up and drop-off? Then you will need a driver because there are many advantages of hiring a car with a driver. Picture the last time you got lost trying to access a certain remote destination or when you almost missed an important appointment in the City while trying to find a perfect parking space. Finding a suitable parking space is even more stressful in tourist spots. You wouldn’t want to go through the same stress and therefore having a driver will save you this stress.
Therefore, here are the reasons why you need a driver when hiring a car in Uganda;
Saves you the stress of finding a suitable parking space
Many drivers will agree that finding a perfect parking spot in tourist spots is a nightmare and since you are not the one driving, it won’t be your headache to go through that. It will be the work of your driver to take care of that, especially if you are running late on any activity.
Drivers know the right way to your different destinations
Any driver that Mum and Dad Uganda Tours assigns to you during your road trip is well-traveled throughout Uganda and hence knows the different routes to particular destinations, drive times, and attractions along the way. For this reason, be rest assured of getting to your final destination on time and without hassle.
Safety is guaranteed while on the road
Safety is everyone’s priority while on the road and this shouldn’t be compromised at whatever cost because of this, hiring a driver will reduce the risks of accidents. When you hire a Car with a driver, you will trust that it isn’t your fault when accidents happen (although such cases are minimal). The driver will be responsible for the accident since he is the one driving the Car and therefore to avoid such questions, simply hire a driver. However, you need to feel safe because all Mum and Dad Uganda Tours drivers are professional, highly skilled, and well-trained to drive different vehicles. This, we do make our clients at ease, comfortable and safe. Having well-trained drivers also minimizes the risks of road accidents during your road trips.
Makes your road trip more enjoyable
It’s indisputable that driving is a great and enjoyable experience until you get stuck in traffic. The stress associated with being stuck in traffic is what you wouldn’t want and since you are not the one driving, all that stress is released as you simply sit back and arrive at your final destination without the stress.
Peace of mind
Travelers tend to be more confident when they have someone (a local) with them when undertaking road trips, especially in the remotest areas of the country. In so doing, they know that if something was to happen, the driver would have their back. While no one bargains for such things to happen, they are sometimes inevitable, and being alone on the road makes you vulnerable but this worry is reduced with a driver by your side.
More time to enjoy beautiful scenery and different activities
Being behind the wheel means you don’t have the opportunity for photography or properly enjoy the activities like game drives since someone else will be driving. If you are the one driving, all the focus and attention will be on the road and vehicle, leaving no time and focus to take photos which are irresistible, given the extraordinary sceneries that Uganda offers.
Read MoreBest Vehicle for Adventurous Self-drive in Uganda
The better way of how self-drive in Uganda can be easy is by spotting that suitable charming vehicle take you around the country. There are variety of vehicle fleets choose from to enable the self-drive, the best recommendation is taking a 4×4 car rental which can cruise even in the most troubled roads. Among the best selections to consider include 4×4 Toyota Rav4 SUV, Toyota Land cruiser TX and TLX are available for relaxed budgets, Toyota V8, Land cruiser hard tops, Benz cross-country are available for deluxe travelers, however, these luxury vehicle sometimes are not available for self-drive only can be hired with their drivers.
Best time for self-drive in Uganda
Uganda is known to hold the best weather conditions throughout and can be visited all days. The only considerations is the global traveling trends which are the peak and low traveling seasons. The rainy seasons are experiences lower turn up of travelers in the country but also are challenging times of traveling especially due to unpredictable road conditions of the upcountry. But these are perfect times of renting a car at relaxed costs due to relaxed pressure due to low turn-up of travelers. The peak seasons of the packed influx of travelers, all travelers facilities tent to be fully in use and prices of transportation, accommodation and dinning tend to increase. These are mostly drier seasons the some regions hardly receive any rain, driving across is less challenging making self-drive considerations so easy. But if opting for a self-drive in Uganda this is very possible throughout the year.
Tips for driving on a self-drive in Africa
Legality considerations; must fulfill the legal procedures of being in the country. Before seating behind the wheels of your car rental must have at hand the driving permit, a valid visa and passport for foreign travelers, identifications card for nations. Having them at hand makes your self-drive very safe and easy without embarrassments.
Follow traffic rules; among these include the speed considerations, road signs, and having a valid driving permit. In Uganda we drive on the left and overlook the right, a driver must be 18 years and above. When driving in town and trading centers the speed doesn’t exceed 50km/hr on high ways 90km/hr and in National Parks is 40 km/hrs.
Driving hours: don’t ever drive beyond the recommended hours of 6am to 7pm. When caught with time get a close place for the overnight and drive again in the morning. This is purposely to ensure that one drive safely with the car rental especially when in the countryside.
Conclusion: Arguably self-drive in Uganda has become so easy due to various given factors including the ease of accessing a car rental for self-drive. The road network connections which has spread all over the country has enabled one driving throughout the country with or without any challenges. If opting to take on a self-handled trip in Uganda, the time is now to rent a car and take drive.
Read MorePros 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
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.
Top Things to Make Any Trip to Uganda a Raging success
Uganda is a country blessed by nature! Many travelers from different parts of the world have come to adventure through this great nation in East Africa. Located just astride the Equator, Uganda offers a lot of safari experiences for both leisure travelers and adventure seekers.
Before visiting Uganda, below are some things that will make your safari to Uganda a great success.
The Wildlife species
Going on a safari to Uganda is one of the main highlights on a trip to these parts and for good reasons. Uganda has got many different types of animals and you see almost everything in this region from lions to chimps to the buffaloes and more. Uganda protects some of the last remnant mountain gorillas left in the whole world. These great apes are a star attraction bringing thousands of tourists into Uganda. You can see the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Uganda is famous for gorilla trekking, an experience that will leave you breathless. Sitting amidst the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is a wildlife experience that you should not miss while in Uganda. You can book a gorilla safari in Uganda with one of the local tour operators listed on this website.
Scenery Viewing
The scenery is a great reason to visit Uganda. With the lush rain forests, highlands coming out from the earth’s crust and the shores of Lake Victoria, for an outdoor lover. This is one country where people come to get out and among the wilderness, either by going on hiking safaris in the highlands, on safari through national parks like Murchison falls, or boating on Lake Victoria and many more.
The safari activities
In case you have a short time in the country and you want to do as much as you can, consider a day trip from Kampala to Jinja, the source of the Nile. White water rafting is famous and also getting out of town on hiking trails, canoeing and Kayaking and many more. Don’t miss the hiking in the highlands and opportunities for camping. In case you like camping, consider a camping safari where you sleep intents, sometimes suspended from trees depending on the location.
Visit the Source of the Nile, Jinja
Jinja is a great location to get out of Uganda altogether, it’s connected by road to other major African cities like Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, Jinja is a hot destination for those kicking back in Uganda for a while as well as those who are looking to explore its neighbors.
There are many other national parks that are found in Uganda offer many safari activities as well as attractions. Some of these national parks include; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Semuliki , Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National park, Mount Elgon national park and Rwenzori national park.
In case you are in the mood for something different this summer, consider checking out Uganda. With so many great things to see and do, as well as the opportunity to go on some stunning safaris, Uganda is a hot destination at the moment, and for a good reason you need to visit it on any of your vacations.