Top 5 Rental Cars In Uganda
East Africa is the original safari homeland of Africa blessed with an endless list of attractions top of which is wildlife and culture not to mention the spectacular landscapes and enormous water bodies that for long have attracted thousands of tourists of all types from all corners of the world. The cities, national parks and other tourist sites require the best means of transport to get there whether private or public but as we have come to learn that renting a private car is a much more convenient and safe option than going for the unreliable public means.
Uganda is home to up to 10 national parks and multiple wildlife reserves and sanctuaries and when you these to Kampala city , Jinja and other popular tourist destination, you’ll find that there’s a lot to be explored but how to get there is always the first question that comes to the mind of a traveler. There are various companies where a tourist or local can rent a car in Uganda but you have to be careful and choose an agency with a good reputation, reliable rental cars & drivers , good past client reviews and most importantly one offering services at affordable rates , under favorable terms and conditions.
Car Rental Tanzania has been organizing guided and self drive trips in East Africa offering a wide range of car types include 4×4 station wagons, vans, luxury cars, mini buses, trucks as well as saloon cars for road trip around the city, outskirts and remote up-country destinations.
Our travel experts have been answering car rental inquiries of all types and can accurately say that the cars discussed below are the top 5 requested rental cars in Uganda without a doubt.
Toyota Rav4– This small compact SUV is on high demand by tourists searching for a budget self drive road trip. Coming in 2 and 4 door versions, the Rav4 can handle all types of terrain including off road park tracks. It has an air-conditioner with adequate cargo space in the rear ideal for couples or a group of four. You can rent a Rav4 in Uganda for prices ranging between US$ 45 per day to 65 per day for self drive depending on the location and number of days you will need services of the car.
Premio – The 3 box body configured saloon car is by far the cheapest car for hire in East Africa with prices ranging between US$ 35 to US$ 45 per day for self -drive excluding fuel. It can accommodate up to 4 people comfortable and is the perfect car to hire your business trip in Kampala city or any other district in Uganda but not a park as you risk destroying the car , getting stuck in a ditch or a breakdown in the middle of the park.
Land Cruiser Prado – This mid-sized 4×4 station wagon is another favorite for tourists planning to tour a park, do research or do some business in the city and upcountry. The land cruiser can accommodate up to 5 people comfortably with huge space for cargo in the rear and strong high standing wheels that can pass through even the roughest terrain in any Ugandan destination. Car rental prices range from US$ 80 to 100 per day including driver but no fuel.
Safari Van – The mid-sized van along with the safari land cruiser are the original safari cars in Uganda and rightly so given their 4×4 capabilities, spacious cargo and passenger space. The van can accommodate up to 8 people and has a pop-up roof ideal for sightseeing in the parks. If you are travelling as a small group and looking for the perfect car to accommodate you, then you should rent a safari van as it’s by far the best group vehicle suitable for group safaris, family road trips as well airport transfers.
4×4 Safari Land Cruiser – The customized Land cruiser has been the icon car for African safaris dating back to the 20th century when game viewing and hunting were first introduced to the Africa continent. The Safari land cruiser comes in two versions; 5-seater and an extended 8-seater cruiser with both featuring a pop-up roof, air-conditioner and spacious space for cargo in the rear as well roof top. This is one of the most expensive 4×4 cars for hire in Uganda with prices ranging from US$ 180 to 200 per day with driver, excluding fuel.
Have you been planning to visit Uganda for a park tour, business trip, family vacation or research and looking for the ideal cars, the above mentioned rental cars should be on your list. Otherwise it all goes down to how many people you are traveling with and what your budget is. To book or inquire about renting a car in Uganda
Why Choose Uganda For Your Self Drive In East Africa
South & East Africa have long been the best hubs for tourist searching for that ultimate African safari adventure that can mix both wildlife, culture, adventure and entertainment in one basket. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are the top 3 safari destinations in East Africa renowned for the diverse wildlife species, heterogeneous culture all that can visited comfortably given the political stability, good network and communication system to add to the welcoming locals.
There are various reasons to visit one of these safari destinations but here is why you should choose Uganda for your self drive safari in East Africa this season.
Home to the mountain gorillas – You wont get chance to encounter the mountain gorillas if you are not in Uganda or Rwanda. Uganda is home to the largest population of the endangered mountain gorillas with half the world’s population found in Bwindi forest , a UNESCO heritage site and one of the oldest tropical forests in Africa. A self drive trip to Bwindi forest is a 6 hours adventure from Kampala city and only 1 hour if you are already in Kabale or Kisoro, the closest towns to the impenetrable forest.
Lots of adventure activities – Jinja town is regarded the adventure capital of East Africa and also home to the source of the Nile that offers a variety of exciting water sports you wont find any where in East Africa. White water rafting tops the lot but other activities include kayaking, bungee jumping, river surfing, jet boat rides plus land activities like bicycle tours, quad biking, horse back riding, nature walks all in Jinja. Other adventure trips in Uganda include mountain hiking mountain Rwenzori for 6 or 9 days, hikes to Mountain Elgon , rock climbing to mention but a few.
Diverse culture – Kenya and Tanzania may have up 10 ethnic tribes but Uganda is home to 20 tribes each with distinct traditions and norms making it the perfect spot for cultural enthusiasts. A self drive trip around Kampala city, Mbale, Mbarara, Karamoja, Jinja, Fort Portal , Soroti among other kingdom centres will give you an insight of the history of some of the top and well known Bantu and Luo ethnic tribes in Uganda. Buganda , Ankole, Gisu, Busoga, Toro kingdoms and the decentralised Itesots, Acholi and Karamojongs are offer the best cultural experience in East Africa, interact with the locals, indulge in their day to day activities, wear their traditional clothes, taste their cuisine and explore their most sacred places like the palace, royal tombs, inauguration spots, wedding places to mention but a few.
Peace & Security – When we talk about security in East Africa, Uganda is the first country that comes to mind. The organized police and armed forces make sure the city and neighboring towns are all safe for self drive whether night or day. If you plan on visiting a national park, just rest assured the Uganda Wildlife Authority guides will be looking over you as you enjoy the wildlife of Uganda. Though there might be some political wars here and there, tourists can always be assured they can get where ever they are going comfortably without any inconvenience.
If you plan on embarking on self drive safari in East Africa and still haven’t decided which country to visit, then you should consider Uganda based on the above 4 facts.
Why Choose A Land Cruiser Prado TX For Safari In East Africa
The Land Cruiser Prado is a 4×4 mid-sized vehicle manufatured by Toyota Motors, one of Japan’s leading automobile companies. This SUV is one of the most affordable cars for self drive in East Africa popularly hired for park safaris, business trips . research ventures as well family vacations. The Land cruiser can accommodate up to 5 people comfortably with adequate cargo space, air-conditioner and most importantly the high tyres that can handle even the toughest of terrain.
There are a variety of cars ideal for park safaris in East Africa but below are three reasons to choose the Land Cruiser prado over the other cars..
Room Size – If you plan on travelling as a group of 4 to 5 and want to seat comfortably during a road trip, then the land cruiser prado is the ideal car given it’s size and seating capacity. The comfortable seats coupled with adequate leg room with give the passengers a comfy ride to any destionation.
Cargo Space- Avoid getting squueezed with the luggage and just put everything in the boot . The land cruiser has spacious cargo space in rear and some are customized with a roof rack to offer you additional space for your luggage most especially for clients planning on camping adventure.
Good high tyres– To tranverse any national park or remote destination with poor roads, you will require a 4 x4 car with good high tyres that can pass through muddy roads, steep slopes and get out dictches with easy and all this is what the Land Cruiser prado offers giving you that uninterrupted road trip you deserve.
Planning to tour east Africa this season and searching for the ideal car to rent for self drive or with driver, then you should consider hiring a Land Cruiser prado given the comfort and affordability as explained above.
Why Hire A 4×4 Car For Road Trip In East Africa
Why Rent a 4wd Car Rental for Self drive in East Africa.
East Africa is a region filled with a diversity of attractions ranging from wildlife, culture, landscapes, water bodies all spread out across different corners of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania confined in strategic places within the cities and remote areas.
Getting to these destinations requires a person with vast driving experience and good knowledge about the region and attractions within , but the most important factor to consider is getting the right car for the job.
Sedans and luxury cars are ideal for tours around the city and the outskirts but road trips to national parks and other remote destinations require you hire a 4×4 car in East Africa given it’s capabilities and features that will guarantee you get where you are going comfortably and most importantly arrive in time. Popular 4×4 cars for hire in East Africa include the safari Land cruiser, Safari van , Rav4, Coaster bus, Land cruiser Prado, Nissan patrol among others.
Below are some reasons why you should rent a 4×4 car if you plan on doing a safari in East Africa this season and looking for that perfect car-
Handle tough terrain– 4×4 cars are by far the best safari cars for hire in East Africa and the adaptability to all kinds of road gives these cars an added advantage. The high standing strong tyres are built to handle muddy, stony and slippery surfaces so you can be assured you wont have any problem along the way.
4 Wheel Drive – the 4 wheel drive mechanism offers a car extra power along all wheel axles giving the car extra shaft that will come in handy on steep slopes, muddy ground or when you land into a road ditch. Just activate 4 wheel drive and you are good to go.
Cargo space – Most sedans and luxury cars are not customized to handle huge luggage and that’s where a 4×4 car comes in to the rescue, with adequate space for cargo in the rear and in some cases extra space on the roof rack, you wont have to worry about getting squeezed with your cargo along the road trip to Uganda, Rwanda or Kenya.
Passenger comfort – We all want to travel as comfortable as possible , leg room, air-conditioning, refreshments and entertainment all play a big role in making this a possibility. When you opt for 4×4 car hire in East Africa, expect to get all these as these cars have adjustable comfortable seats with air-conditioner, freezer box and CD/DVD/MP3 player plus FM radio transmission so you wont dread sitting through those long miles.
Customized features – Among all the categories of cars in East Africa, none matches the stand out interior and exterior features a 4×4 possesses. Some come with a pop-up roof (ideal for game drives), extra cargo rack on roof top, freezer box and some come with a full camping gear compartment for adventure tourists that love that out-door night experience.
So before you make the final decision of traveling to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya or Tanzania for a safari , business or leisure holiday, you should consider hiring a 4×4 rental car with a trusted car rental agency in East Africa.
8 Recommended Self drive Destinations in Tanzania
Tanzania is one of the top prime safari destinations in Africa. Loads of visitors come to this East African country to experience its wilderness, nonchalant islands and beaches and unique culture. It is an ideal place for nature enthusiasts because of its spontaneous and unprecedented wildlife species and natural physical features that run from one corner of the country to the other.
Due to its immeasurable natural attractions and destinations, it would take a visitor to explore and enjoy Tanzania for almost a year. With time not being the best ally of most people/visitors in this day and age generation, here are the 10 must-visit places on your trip to Tanzania for the short time you might have of your daily routine.
Serengeti national park
This is one of the most touristic natural biodiversity places in Tanzania. One would say, it is the place to be for visitors who wish to explore and enjoy nature at its best. It is famously known for its natural phenomenon of the great migration of millions of wildebeests from its central plains to the north and as far as Masai Mara in Kenya forth and back. The Migration of the Wildebeest is regarded as one of the natural wonders of the world. The Migration of these ungulates is the largest movement of animals ever experienced in the world. Serengeti National park is also a popular big five destination. It has one of the highest concentration of lions in the world and the other big four (leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes) are in huge numbers. Other big mammals are also seen on a game viewing session in Serengeti for example the elands, zebras, giraffes etcetera. The savannah park is also a bird paradise with a whooping number of over 500 species recorded within its lashing vegetation.
Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
This is part of the great Serengeti conservation area located in the west of Arusha. Its centrepiece is the Ngorongoro crater, the largest inactive and intact volcanic caldera in the world. With so much life around the volcanic area, Ngorongoro records an endless list of wildlife species that are encountered on a game drive for example lions, elands, African buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, hyenas and bird species like grey crowned crane and silver checked hornbill. Ngorongoro is one of the most scenic places in the world as it is painted with green rolling hills. This conservation area is also known to be one of the oldest human settlement areas in the world. The oldest human remains to ever be discovered were found at Olduvai Gorge, a place within Ngorongoro.
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is the highest natural feature on the African continent located in the north of Tanzania on the borders of Kenya. It is a dormant volcano with three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. Kibo is the largest of all the three ranges and has the highest peak Uhuru standing at the height of 5,895 m and this makes Kilimanjaro the fourth highest mountain in the world. It has diminishing glacier peaks which makes it a scenic feature to watch from far and near. Kilimanjaro Mountain is a national park its self with lots of biodiversities to protect and treasure. It has a few large mammals in its perch for example elephants and buffaloes are occasionally seen, other wildlife species within are mongoose, sunbirds, warthogs, dik-diks, bushbucks and chameleons. Though it has some unique wildlife to encounter, Kilimanjaro is majorly sought after for its hiking expeditions. The travellers visit this elevated site to hike up to the top of its snow-capped ranges. Its peaks are very breathtaking spots to reach, hikers tend to enjoy a panoramic view of Tanzania and other neighbouring countries at large.
Lake Manyara National Park
This Picturesque area of nature is located in the southwest of Arusha. It is dominated by Lake Manyara, the popular natural phenomenon in the area and the rift valley. Lake Manyara is alkaline in a closed basin with no outflows, only fed by underground streams, rivers and springs whose waters are fetched from Ngorongoro highlands. It is the seventh-largest lake in the country. Lake Manyara is a salty water body, draws a reasonable number of bird species that are attractive to the tourists of the park. Lake Manyara is regarded as an important bird area with over 2 million birds of different species visiting the area. Some of them include flamingos, black-winged stilt, yellow-billed stork, Pied Avocet, great white pelican, Caspian plover and many more. Lake Manyara has a rare fish species Oreochromis amphimelas and also catfish and tilapia exist in the water inflow areas where the salt is less. Within the park plains, there are herbivores seen like gazelle, impala, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, buffalos and so forth. These are migratory animals from the nearby habitat Tarangire national park.
Tarangire National Park
A two hour’s drive south away from the popular city of Arusha there lies Tarangire the sixth largest national wildlife reserve in Tanzania. The most popular centrepiece of this great natural biodiversity is the Tarangire River where the park’s name was derived from. The Tarangire river acts as the main source of water during the dry season to various wild animals in the northern circuit of the country which is purely dominated by different natural habitats. In the months of June- November where Tanzania experiences a great dry spell, there is a huge migration of different animals from other biodiversities to Tarangire national park for greener pastures and water from the river. Animal species like zebra, wildebeest and cape buffaloes migrate around the river areas for survival. The park is also home to waterbuck, giraffes, gazelle, baboons, vervet monkeys, dik-dik, impala, elands and predators like leopards, lions, cheetahs and wild dogs. It is also a bird haven with over 550 species recorded in its perch. The Tarangire national park is more of a season game habitat as most animals are hugely present in the area during the dry season of June-November. A game drive and bird watching expeditions in the dry months are always memorable!
Gombe National Park
Far detached from the northern safari circuit, situated in the western region, Kigoma on the eastern hills of Lake Tanganyika margins, Gombe national park is unique biodiversity in all sense. Its vegetation comprises of tropical rainforest, grasslands and woodland making it an ideal home for African primate species like chimpanzees, red colobus, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and olive baboons. It also has snake species, a variety of birds, bush pigs and irregular leopards and hippos.
Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular tourism activity in the park, the chimpanzees are one of the akin relatives of mankind and their theatrical antics in the wild are mindboggling. A date with the chimpanzee in these wonderful habitats is a lifetime experience!
Selous Game Reserve
Less toured than the northern safari circuit destination, Selous game reserve is located in the southern hemisphere of Tanzania. The park was named after a game hunter and early nature conservationist Freddick Selous. The park is mainly covered by miombo woodlands, acacia, wetlands and savannah grassland hence being a comfortable home for the common African game like black rhinos, lion, elephants, Masai giraffes, plains zebras, wild dogs, bush elephants. It is held the Rufiji river which verifies the presences of Nile crocodiles, hippos and a mammoth of aquatic bird species. Selous Game reserve is a popular area for game hunting safaris.
Is it Safe to Travel to Tanzania Africa?
Tanzania well known for its peculiar wildlife habitats, culture and breathtaking beaches in the Indian ocean, it is a place where different vacationers get their greatest pleasures and adventures. Though visited by about 1.5 million tourists throughout the year, there are always would-be travellers who ask questions about its safety. We can say Tanzania is a safe country to travel to since there minimal alarming safety and security threatening incidents that happen to its visitors. However, like any place with people around, there are some mysteries that occur which dent the safety and security of travellers. Though these can be avoided when safety precautions are taken by the travellers themselves.
What guarantees safe travel in Tanzania?
There is no major security threatening incident that has happened in Tanzania over a long period of time apart from the 1998 bombing of the US embassy that claimed 11 lives. Tanzania is one of the most politically stable countries in Africa. It is the most democratic country on the continent, it has been changing presidents from time to time.
Its security department is strong and competent. Tanzania has a strong and combative police department that keeps law and order in the country. It curbs down criminals every now and then. The police also offer the local people and travellers security in case they feel their lives is in danger. The Judiciary system is also sound. People are always given a fair judgement. More to that, the tourist sites like the game reserve are well protected from any insecurities which may arouse. The security personnel are visibly seen loitering and surveying around these tourism destinations to protect both the animals and the tourists.
There are lots of credible tour operators in Tanzania to organise safari trips for travellers. What more safety do you need on the trip when you have a local handler who knows everything about the destination. These local tour operators arrange for the visitors, tourism destinations to go to, transport to use and accommodation to stay. They ensure that every travel item, they book for the traveller is safe and secure.
Health service establishments like hospitals, clinics and pharmacies are all over the country. Any illness that may attack a visitor while on a trip, it can be attended to. The health facilities in Tanzania are well equipped, they treat communicable and non-communicable disease, underlying illnesses and also injuries.
Tanzania has financial institutions that offer electronic transfer services. In addition, the tourism facilities like lodges, tour operators and national parks offer cashless services whereby a traveller can make a payment through his/her visa or credit card. With the limitation of cash usage, the travellers avoid theft which is one of safety threatening incidents.
The people of Tanzania are very hospitable and friendly. They welcome their visitors and always provide help to them when need be. With the hospitality conveyed to the travellers by the locals, they always feel safe to travel around Tanzania.
What threatens safety travel in Tanzania?
Tanzania lies in the tropics, there are lots of insect-infested diseases which are life-threatening. These diseases include malaria caused by mosquitos, yellow fever caused by tsetse flies and Bilharzia got from the waters of the sea.
We all know that there is a global pandemic (Covid-19) looming around. Tanzania at first had been rebellious of adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOPS) advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Henceforth becoming a risky area of catching the coronavirus. However, they have come to terms that covid-19 is real and are now obliging to the SOPs
Petty theft like scamming and duping, pickpocketing and snatching of valuables from people is rampant in the urban cities of Tanzania like Dodoma, Dar Es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Zanzibar.
There is also discrimination of LGBTI people. Homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania. The government and the locals are totally against it. Once caught in the act, you are sentenced to jail for 30 years. If known by extremists in the local communities, you can be mobbed or excommunicated from their society.
Safety tips for Visitors in Tanzania
Get all the medical aid before travelling to Tanzania. Get vaccinated for Covid-19 and yellow fever. The traveller must also carry anti Malaria tablets. In the case of the underlying sickness, go to the personal doctor to check if travelling to Tanzania is possible without weakening you. Medication that regulates the illness must also be carried and taken as prescribed.
While taking a walk around towns and cities, ensure that you’re simple. Don’t move with your valuable like watches, jewellery, neckless. For money and cell phone get a waist perch to keep them safe while walking.
Avoid travelling at night and alone. Some times travellers are a target to perpetual thieves around Tanzania.
Always book with a tour operator for your trip to avoid being taken advantage of by people you meet around. Normally the tour operator gives the traveller a safari driver to take him/her around Tanzania.
Best Time to Go on a Self Drive Safari to Tanzania
Self Drive in Tanzania: Best Time to Hire 4×4 Car in Tanzania.
As amidst of covid 19, Self-drive safaris in East Africa are at the peak since it allows implementation of social distance which is a key measure to control the spread of covid in Tanzania.
Car Rental Tanzania has decided to develop a complete guide regarding when is the best time to self-drive in Tanzania on safari.
The best time to go on a safari in Tanzania is still a debatable agenda among travellers. There are always different opinions when this subject comes into the corridors of wanderers. Visitors tend to have different tastes and preferences of time to travel. The two seasons or climatic times experienced by Tanzania (dry and wet periods) always bring different prepositions to the itinerants hence bringing an endless debate of the best time to visit the Bongo land.
To set the record straight Tanzania is visited throughout the year. The Tanzania safari is viable all year round because the wildlife and other attractions are always available in the national parks or other natural habitats regardless of the season. With the aforementioned analogy, the travel experts and tour operators came up with a unanimous decision that any time is the best time to go on a safari to Tanzania.
Though we shall look at the two different seasons of the year experienced in Tanzania and the fruits or merits they avail while on a safari
The Dry Season
The dry season in Tanzania consists of the months of January- Mid March, June- mid-October and December. These are the months of the year where there are minimal rains around the country and the temperatures are relatively high. These months are regarded as the peak season of the travel industry in Tanzania. These are times when visitors flock to the different national parks and other tourism destinations of this tropical country. Below are the merits of visiting Tanzania in this period of time.
In the dry months, the skies and the days seem brighter than ever in Tanzania thus making it easy for the visitors to clear sight the different wildlife species that pace and loiter around in the various savannah parks of the country. The dry climate is the dream time for the photographers. The pictures really come out well during these times.
Tanzania engages in sustainable tourism which calls for ecology consciousness whereby everything in the different game parks is left in the natural form from the habitats of the animals to the tracks or roads that lead to them. Therefore, with the roads/tracks being gravel in the different national parks, in the dry months is when they are dry and very passable. The roads being passable and accessible makes the traveller’s safari more convenient and less risky.
The dry season is when the greatest spectacle of the safari Tanzania is encountered. The great migration of the wildebeest through the plains and cross the streams of Serengeti to Masai Mara happens in the months of January- March and July- October. July- October, is when millions of wildebeests migrate from the central part of the park to the northern plains and as far as Masai Mara. This tends to draw lots of amazing scenes for the travellers. The experience of watching innumerable wildebeests moving altogether is breathtaking and more to that predators like lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs are seen tussling it out with these angulates as they are the easiest prey at the time. In the months of January- March, the wildebeests travel back to the central Serengeti and the aforementioned scenes happen again.
The dry season is when most people go for safaris in Tanzania. July- October and December are the months when most people in the western world get their vacations away from work and hence many coming to Tanzania for safari holidays. For travellers who are social and want to meet new people, these are the best times to travel to this African country.
Wet Season
Trends have changed in the travel world, the wet months of the year in Tanzania used to receive a low turn up of visitors. However, nowadays we see a mammoth of travellers engaging in safari tours in the different tourism destinations around the country. The wet months in Tanzania are Mid March-May and Mid October- November. Visitors have reasons as to why they travel within these times and why they refer to them as the best times to do a safari in Tanzania.
For starters, during the wet time of the year, the pastures in the different national parks in Tanzania are so green, the animals seem to be everywhere and healthier. The availability of wildlife species around every corner of the parks and their good looks make a Tanzania safari a remarkable one.
Customary, the wet months are regarded as the low season of the tourism industry in Tanzania and this calls for the decrease in the prices of the different tour items. In these times the safari packages in Tanzania tend to be cheaper compared to the dry months. The visitor saves some money during the wet months of the year on the Tanzania safari.
For travellers who enjoy privacy and seclusion, the wet months are the best time to do a safari in Tanzania. These are times when the parks, safari lodges and restaurants are less crowded. The traveller is able to enjoy his/her safari independently without fighting for space and this brings great peace of mind. What better way visitors enjoy safari expeditions than having peace of mind.
As we wind up, there is no certified best time to do a safari in Tanzania. All the seasons have their merits. It is within the traveller’s discretion to choose the best time to do a Tanzania safari. Tanzania welcomes visitors to its safari destinations at any time of the year and they are guaranteed nonstop excitement and exploration.