Planning to visit Uganda for the first time and looking for a reliable car hire Uganda or Entebbe? Securing a rental car in Uganda marks the first step to achieving a successful road trip.
Renting a car in Uganda for self-drive can be challenging but with observation of tips or guidance from the expert, everything can go smoothly. Here, we have come up with essential car rental tips for first-time visitors to Uganda.
Essential car rental tips for first-time visitors to Uganda
Book the right car for your safari
Before you consider visiting Uganda for actual vacation, ensure that you have secured the right rental car that fits the kind of road trip you intend to undertake. Luckily, at Car Hire Entebbe, there are multiple rental car options to choose for your road trip.
We have comfortable and affordable 4×4 safari cars ranging from 4×4 Toyota Rav4, Toyota Land Cruiser TX/TZ, Land Cruiser, and Land Cruiser Prado.
Our comfortable 4×4 safari cars are perfect for wildlife tours in the parks. Consider hiring a 4WD vehicle for your epic tour in destinations such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo or Kidepo National Park.
They are also the best option for visitors interested in gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Visitors can also hire our classic economy rental cars. These are suitable for short Uganda tours in the cities or urban areas. Top cities to explore using economy rental saves you much time and money.
If you want to save on camping tour, still you are in the right place. We have rental cars fitted with rooftop tents suitable for camping road trips in Uganda. They include Land Cruiser with single rooftop tent or double rooftop tent.
Book a car with the right company
The car hire company you choose to book a rental car with matters a lot. With hundreds of car rental companies all available to provide the similar service, choosing the right one can be challenging as a first-time visitor.
Not to waste time, Car Hire Entebbe is one trusted car hire company to consider booking car rental services. Your Drive Uganda can be contacted online using the company’s active email address (info@carhireentebbe.com) or telephone contacts (+256704538374).
Book your rental car in advance
Waiting till the last minute to secure your rental car for a road trip is never good. Ensure that you have your rental car booked early enough and should be done at least 3 weeks or even months before the actual date of visiting Uganda for a vacation. Booking a rental car in advance comes with multiple benefits including enjoying some of the available discounted offers from your reliable car hire service provider. The beauty of renting cars in Uganda is that companies allow visitors to make deposits and the balance can be cleared later on arrival to the country.
Be sure of your pickup and drop-off locations
When booking a car for your road trip in Uganda, it is important to have a clear view of where you intend to pick your ride or where to drop it after a vacation. Companies like Your Drive Uganda does provide airport pickup and drop-off to visitors arriving at the Entebbe International Airport (EBB) and also to main cities or towns. Knowing where your pickup and drop-off location can save you the stress being first-time visiting a destination like Uganda.
Get to know more about local traffic laws
Being the first-time visiting Uganda, a lot is required including understanding the local traffic laws of the destination. This can guarantee you a smooth road trip in your destination Uganda. Among the many essential aspects to get familiar with when it comes to traffic laws and regulations include acceptable driving speed limit, putting on the seatbelts and more.
Inquire about hidden charges or costs
Be aware of hidden charges from certain companies. Consider having knowledge of any existing hidden charges to avoid being shocked on the last minute of booking your rental car. Be open and ask as many questions including costs for hiring additional driver, returning a car late, insurance, mileage limits, fuel policy and others.
Present relevant documents
When booking a rental car in Uganda, valid documents are essential. You should have a valid driver’s license from your home country/a copy of an international driving permit. A copy of these licenses can be required for you to be considered eligible to book a rental car in Uganda. Where you have no knowledge about the relevant documents for hiring a car, feel free to contact our team for assistance.
Inspect a rental car
Before you board to set off for your actual road trip to any part of Uganda, you should have conducted a thorough check or inspection of your rental car. Ensure that everything is functioning from brakes, lights, indicators, and others.
Roadside assistance
When visiting Uganda first-time, one of the things you should have idea include roadside assistance. The car rental company you intend to deal with should be offering this service to its clients. Luckily, roadside assistance is one of the things you are assured when on a road trip with a rental car from Your Drive Uganda.
Hire a driver
Not familiar with the routes/destinations? There is no need to worry if you aren’t familiar with the destinations in Uganda or routes leading there. You can hire a driver and a car together from Your Drive Uganda. By so doing, you can be saved from much time you could have wasted trying to find the right direction to destinations where your holiday is to be spent.
When to visit
Knowing when to visit Uganda for a vacation is essential not only for first-time visitors but also repeat travelers. Uganda experiences 2 seasons each year that is the dry and low/rainy season.
The dry season is the most reliable for game drives, chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking and other adventures. It usually starts from June to September and another phase runs from December to February.