Self-Drive Safari in Uganda
Self-drive safari in Uganda is one of the most convenient ways for you to wander around all the corners of the pearl of Africa with no limits and restrictions. The self-drive safaris in Uganda, or road trips, offer you a unique way to enjoy your adventure and unforgettable experience in the pearl of Africa. The self-drive safaris in Uganda, however, are not as common as mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, and the game drive safaris in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison falls national park. Despite, you can still organise a self-drive to the Uganda national parks for wildlife encounters, and en-route activities like taking photos and interacting with the local communities in Uganda. The action for the self-drive safari in Uganda starts on the spot, as you enjoy the scenic views along with the high ways, come across wildlife, and a lot of unique features, even before reaching the final destination.
It is a self-drive safari in Uganda, but to enjoy all the way, it is better if you just book a driver to take you around, and you can tell him to stop anywhere you want to. However, there is a provision for you to drive yourself to the destination in the countryside of the pearl of Africa, even other adventurous travellers, just choose to move with their vehicles, to Uganda, especially if they are travelling from one country to another in Africa. A 4WD is the best vehicle to use for the long self-drive journey for a Uganda safari. Also for the company to keep track of the vehicle a GPS or global positioning system is installed to the vehicle, this is also one way to help you keep on track. Besides, a self- drive in Uganda is one way you can get really lose and comfortable during a Ugandan safari. Some self-drive safaris in Uganda can be excursions; however, others can last for a week or even two.
Tips on a self -drive safari best experience
The self -drive safaris are not so common in Uganda, however, adventurous travellers in Uganda always demand for one way to really be comfortable and enjoy the adventure thrill in Uganda. However, it is not right to drive is a country you are not familiar with, because the road might rally be different and puts you in a risk position of getting lost. However, the following tips can help you get on that Uganda self-drive safari with confidence and enjoy the whole road trip;
Have an updated map, yeah it might sound like a stale tip for the modern world safari travels, however, a map can help you get around in the right roads till you reach you final destination. The most up to date maps might be the online maps, however, you will find no network, therefore, it would be good if you just download an up to date travel map in Uganda. The travel guide for Uganda might have the latest updates of the Uganda road system; also if the network is right, the Google maps as they provide the most actual locations of different places.
Road safety; what you have to know is, Ugandan roads are very risky road, the drivers in Uganda love over speeding. Also the roads in the rural areas of Uganda are marram and others are in a bad state. Also the roads in the city and along the high ways, the pothole are common. Therefore, you need to be really careful when driving in Uganda; the best solution is to hire a driver. You also have to be well conversed with the restrictions for the roads in the protected areas. For example, it is so easy for you to move across wild animals near Lake Mburo national park and pian upe game reserve; you can also encounter cows along the high way roads. What you have to know is when you find any animals along the road, it is better to slow down, however for any accident, you can run to the nearest police station and report the accident, otherwise, the local people might take advantage for the fatal mistake you make during the Uganda road drive.
Avoid driving in the night; the nights in Uganda are really risky especially for you who is in Uganda for the first time. Just like any other countries, the high way driving can be dangerous in the night as you might find the high way robber, or even fail to find the way, especially in the rural route to the national parks of Uganda. However, if you wish to travel during the night, there is only in way to get around that is to hire a drive to take you around Uganda roads. Also drunk driving in the night is not allowed, over speeding, and other restriction. Therefore, make sure you first understand the road safety rules in Uganda, if at all you want to self-drive for your safari.
And lastly but not list, you will find any police men along the roads in Uganda, this is the traffic police. However, some might just be dirty cops who want to get something little from a lonely travelling foreigner. But when you come across the policemen or the traffic police, just be confident and provide all the necessary documents, like the permission for you to drive in Uganda, the vehicle registration documents, if at all you crossed to Uganda with your vehicle. And for any car breakouts, the car hire companies always offer the rescue plan for their clients. However, if the break down is not a big issue, in the major towns in Uganda, you can find car mechanics that can help you repair your car, and get back on the road.
Key road safety points
- Keep left when driving
- Follow the speed restrictions on the posts along the roads
- Follow all the warning signposts along the highway roads to avoid accidents
- Be ready to meet the traffic police along the city roads and the highways
You can visit any Uganda national park during the self-drive safari, however, you have to know that a national park is a protected area for wildlife, therefore be careful when driving with in the national parks. Also make sure you do not make unnecessary stops in the national parks, some parks are really dangerous with very wild animals like leopards, buffaloes, lions among others. Despite, the best way to enjoy your self-drive safari in Uganda is to hire a driver; most car hire companies will give you a driver, please accept the help, especially if you are new to Uganda.
