Self drive Uganda tips for first time visitors in 2024/25
Uganda has become a popular hub for travelers seeking to discover the country’s hidden gems. From visiting the source of Nile river in Jinja, Sipi falls, the remote Kidepo Valley National Park, to Murchison Falls National Park to see the world’s most powerful waterfall, Queen Elizabeth National park to see the tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector of the park, and then to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to see mountain gorillas as they roam freely in the dense rainforest.
There’s a lot more you will be able to discover on your self drive Uganda roadtrip but to get the best out of your roadtrip especially if it’s your first time visiting the pearl of Africa, we have put together the key tips you need to follow for a memorable experience. These do include;
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Is driving yourself in Uganda safe?
Safety has always been a major concern for travelers visiting Uganda for their first time but when it comes to driving to the various parts of the country, Uganda remains one of the easiest and safest places. The road network connecting to the different national parks are improved over the years with a number of them tarmacked and some with murram. On the various roads, the road signs are properly labeled for ease navigation.
Apart from the main towns like Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja and more, the rest are sparsely populated which does reduce the risk of accidents. We assure you that as long as you adhere to local and traffic guidelines, you will be safe throughout your roadtrip.
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Do I really need a 4×4 while self driving in Uganda?
This does depend on where you would like to drive to while in the country. For travelers planning to visit specifically national parks like Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park or more, you will need to have hired a 4WD to get you anywhere with ease. Some of the 4WDs you can check out include a Land cruiser TZ/TX, Land Cruiser V8/VX, Land Cruiser hardtop, Toyota RAV4 among others.
If you are staying within Kampala or Entebbe, you can hire a saloon car and it will be able to get you anywhere within the city with ease.
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What can i consider for my self drive Uganda roadtrip?
As you plan for a roadtrip in Uganda, you need to know that however much it is a small country, with a proper itinerary, you will get the best out of it. This means that you will need to plan accordingly the driving time between the different destinations. This helps you know the exact number of days you will need to spend on the roadtrip and know how long you will spend driving each day.
Make sure you do have enough drinking water and food especially for your game drives. The fact that you will be visiting remote areas of the country, you need to always need to ensure you do have enough fuel in the car. There are fewer gas stations up country and these are distanced between 50km to 100km.
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What side of road do I need to be on while self driving in Uganda?
Just like some of the European countries, while driving in Uganda you need to drive from the left hand side of the road and only overtake from the right when it’s safe for you to do so. Unlike Rwanda, the rest of East African countries, drive from the left hand side of the road.
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Do I need an international driving license while driving in Uganda?
The only essential document you are requested to have on your self drive road trip in Uganda is making sure you have a valid driving license that does prove that in deed you have the desired experience to be on the road. An international driving license will be required if you plan to cross the border into Rwanda or Kenya.
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What equipment should I carry with me on a self drive Uganda trip?
As a car rental company we do have a number of extras we can avail to you prior to the start of your trip so that you have a hassle free experience and this includes equipment’s like a rooftop tent, wheel spanner, spare tire, car jack, complete camping gear. We always advise you to thoroughly check the car before the start of the trip and make sure everything you requested for is available.
Some of the essentials you will need to consider include a local simcard to reach out to us easily, a satellite phone, a torch, mosquito or insect repellent and proper clothing depending on the time of the year you are traveling.
