When you’re planning a holiday in Uganda, there are many different transport options to choose from, however there’s nothing quite like going on a self-drive holiday. As travelers, driving in Uganda is fun, easy and ideal for families, friends and couples who enjoy a more independent holiday.
Uganda’s roads lead to the Big Five game park, wildlife reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and community wildlife management areas. Visiting Uganda on budget requires a little bit of planning and preparation.
Because Uganda’s parks suffered such a massive poaching strap during the turbulent 1980s it is a second-tier safari destination in comparison to its neighbours Kenya and Tanzania.
Moses through 4×4 Car Hire Uganda prepared a rooftop tent Land cruiser with camping gears and visited almost every national park in the country. Uganda was a revelation. I had not expected such a richness of wildlife or such great concentration. Uganda has everything that her more famous neighbour Kenya has plus such once-in-a-lifetime sightings as gorillas and chimpanzees.
Though that does not mean you shouldn’t consider it. Wildlife populations have rebounded in the national parks and the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary means you can score the Big Five in Uganda again. The beautiful scenery displays the best in East Africa. The Rift Valley landscapes and tropical forests make dramatic backdrops to an extensive variety of flora and fauna.
But ironically, the safari animals are not the main reason to do a safari here; it’s a variety of other things that make Uganda a special destination. Scenically Uganda holds its own with any other country the mountains and lakes of the southwest are postcard perfect, standing atop Murchison Falls is fascinating and Kidepo Valley is simply amazing. The safari experience is also great because the national parks receive far fewer visitors than most parks in other countries.
And the mix of Central African rain forest and East African Savannah, hosting over 1000 species of bird, makes Uganda one of the best bird-watching destinations not just in Africa, but the world. It’s ideal if you can share the driving so that you get the chance to enjoy views without having to keep your eyes on the road.
But more than anything it’s the chance to see gorillas that makes Uganda excellent for self-drive safaris. Over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas live in Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks where groups have been habituated to humans to allow up-close encounters. It’s one of the most amazing wildlife experiences a person can have.
Despite the large distances, traveling around most of Uganda is fairly straightforward, with a reasonably well-organized network of public transport and a good range of car rental companies. It’s virtually impossible to get to the national parks and places off the beaten track by public transport; even if you do manage, you’re likely to need a car once you’re there, so you lead to rent a car for possibilities to go off track.
Renting a car is the most convenient way to get around since you can get to many out of the way parks and destinations. Transportation in Uganda comes in a wide range of public and private options that cater to a variety of budgets.
- Public buses and motorbikes are the cheapest and most direct ways to get to major destinations, though looking for deals on private transportation will improve your flexibility and ease of travel. Public transport in Uganda is limited when it comes to remote, rural communities and almost non-existent if you want to explore the wilderness and the all-important national parks and reserves.
- Renting a car will get you into wilderness areas and national par ks. If you want to experience the thrill and charm of back country Uganda, you’ll need your own wheels. The country is networked by excellent quality and beautifully scenic roads, along with enough endless stretches of gravel top to appeal to any adventurous road-tripper. There are several reliable and relatively inexpensive car rental companies, including 4×4 Car Hire Uganda. If you’re traveling in a group, rooftop tent car rental often turns out to be the most affordable option. Prices are usually lower if you book in advance rather than wait until you arrive at the airport.
- The 4×4 expedition has more to offer than most forms of travel, but it also presents some of the greatest tests. Package tourists pay a company to anticipate all their needs and backpackers find local people to satisfy their requirements but expedition travelers depend solely on themselves.
