From long straight roads through the impressive national parks to grid-plan cities to winding mountain roads, driving in Uganda can vary enormously. Ugandans drive on the left-hand side of the road, and you will find that most hire companies only rent out automatic vehicles though some manuals can be rented too.
Thanks to the wide, well-maintained roads and great signposting, driving is the best way to make more remote areas instantly accessible. Penalties for things like over speeding and driving while on phone or over the legal blood alcohol limit will be definitely waiting for you, so take care (or avoid alcohol completely if you are driving). If you are driving through National Parks, you will want to look up any rules or fees you might have to pay in advance.
Automatics as standard
It is unlikely that any Uganda car hire company will have cars with manual transmission, so expect automatic as standard. If you have never driven one before, it is simple – don’t you worry, you can learn from here; just remember that when in gear the car will creep forwards unless you are pressing the brake.
In some vehicles, the automatic gear lever is on the steering column rather than between the two front seats. However, the best way is to hire/order for one of your company’s driver-guides to drive you up to wherever you may want to go – as your travel itinerary indicates.
Recommended road trips in Uganda
You can enjoy your road trips in Uganda in various outrageous places such as the ten national parks; Bwindi, Kidepo, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Mgahinga, Kibale, Rwenzori Mountains, Mount Elgon, Semliki, and Lake Mburo. You can also take your road trips to some awesome cities and towns in Uganda such as; Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Mbale, Namugongo, and many others.
Exclusive Analysis about Self-Driving in Uganda
Car rental, or self-driving tourism, is a growing trend in Uganda’s outbound tourism that offers significant opportunities to attract many travelers to more off-the-beaten track destinations. With self-driving in Uganda, the country receives various sorts of travelers with different motivations for renting a car, and places to go. Since self-driving tourism is steadily growing in Uganda, the country boasts many cars rental companies which will help travelers to have the best possible experience.
What is the appeal of self-driving tourism?
Self-driving tourism is favoured by travelers who need more freedom and independence in their travels, and is especially popular for visiting places of natural beauty, such as national parks, lakes and rivers and waterfalls, beaches, mountains, and many others.
It is also very charming for travelers who like to drive and want to enjoy the driving experience in countries that are well known for their high-quality and open roads. Uganda is a country with better quality roads especially in its cities and major trading centres, hence being a top destination for self-driving tourism – basically ideal for those who want the city tours.
However, in Uganda’s national parks and reserves, you are most likely to find that some roads are not of the best quality simply because in modernizing the roads, you will be destroying the natural beauty of the park plus clearing the habitats for wildlife. Therefore, you are always emphasized to drive with much care (slow speed) while in the park due to the poor roads there and also the awareness of animals in the park.