What To Know About Hiring A Car & Driving in Uganda
Does your version of a Ugandan holiday involve driving off-road in a 4×4 along a park game track? Or touring Kampala city in a luxury SUV? Maybe it’s cruising through Uganda with family or a small group in a minivan. Whatever your road trip desires are, as a tourist driving in Uganda- there are a few things you should strongly consider for a safe and comfortable journey in the city, suburbs and remote regions of the country. From knowing the right driving age to hire a car in Uganda to understanding the traffic rules and road navigation- here is an overview of renting a car in the Pearl of Africa.
Self Drive Requirements
First things first- What do you need to hire a car in Uganda? Well, you are required to have a valid driver’s license for locals and an International Driver’s License for tourists, and it’s a good idea to present your passport or any other form of identification you have. It’s important to note the legal driving age in Uganda for tourists is 23 and not over 70 years- however, some Uganda car rental companies accept tourists between the age of 20 to 23 to drive a rental car while others will charge extra for a younger driver.
Navigating Uganda’s roads
Uganda’s road network consists of a combination of paved highways and streets plus less developed and narrow secondary roads. You should take extra caution when driving on secondary roads, especially in remote regions of Uganda where the terrain is rough, dusty, and sometimes muddy. You can rent an SUV or sedan for trips within the city and suburbs but if you are visiting national parks and remote destinations, then the best idea is to rent a 4×4 car in Uganda with a driver-guide if it’s a first-time visit.
A very vital thing to remember when driving in Uganda is to stick to the left side of the road so if you have been used to right-hand side steering, it will take a while to get your bearings. Take your time getting to know your rental car before setting off and always pay great attention on the road to avoid collisions or traffic penalties.
Fueling
There are thousands of fuel stations in Uganda situated within cities, suburbs and remote districts in Uganda. Diesel is much cheaper than Petrol with the former costing UGX 3350 per liter ( 1$ ) and the latter at UGX 2800 per liter (0.75$). However, fuel prices in Uganda may vary depending on where you are or the season- but on the whole, it’s very cheap. make sure you always keep your eye on the fuel gauge because it’s very easy to get swept away in the excitement of your self drive adventure.
Uganda car rental companies offer different fuel policies that you need be aware of. Some will offer you the rental car with a full or half tank as part of your self-drive rental agreement and you are expected to return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel.
Car Rental Cost
Car rental prices in Uganda hugely depend on the type of car, number of rental days, season of the country and included insurance. It’s very important to have insurance when driving in Uganda especially if going up country. 4×4 safari cars are more costly to rent than sedans & SUVs but much cheaper than luxury cars plus the higher the number of rental days, the lower the price of a rental car and vice versa. Car rental prices in Uganda hike during the peak season months between December to February & June to August but lower during the low season due to less demand.
Speed Limits
You should strongly consider Uganda’s driving speed limits to avoid traffic penalties and accidents. The speed limit on highways is 100 km/hr, 50 km/hr when driving through city or town streets and 30 to 40 km/hr inside national parks. The penalty for speeding in Uganda is UGX 300,000 to 1.2 Million and or prison for 6 to 2 years so be a responsible driver on your trip to avoid such inconveniences.
Pick-up & Drop-off of rental car
Another very crucial thing to note that might save you money or cost you extra is the pick-up location and final drop-off location. Some Uganda car rental companies charge extra for delivering the car to you at Entebbe airport or any location outside Kampala city hence you can save money by picking up your rental at the offices in Kampala or Entebbe; two most popular rental locations in Uganda. You wont be charged extra for dropping off the car at the airport but you will have to pay for leaving the car outside Kampala city with pricing rising the further you are away from the city.
So if you are planning to drive in Uganda on safari, business or leisure holiday, then the above information will be very vital for a successful self drive road trip. You can now hire a car in Uganda today by contacting us via info@rentadriveruganda.com or call us on +256-700135510 to speak with our reservations team.
