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Lake Bunyonyi: A Wonder to Behold

There are places you travel to in this world that were made to take our breath away, places that leave you marvelling at the wonders of nature. When you go to such places, you feel like you never want to leave.

Such places were created to bring out the zen lost within you; the moment you behold them you feel all the peace in the world descending on you.

Lake Bunyonyi is one of those places. Tucked away in the hills of Kabale and Kisoro districts in south-western Uganda near the border with Rwanda, the lake has one of the most beautiful views that are worth the five-hour drive from Kampala.

The lake is estimated to be 25km long and 7km wide and with an altitude of 6,437ft. It is surrounded by hills that are 7,218 to 8,130ft high. These hills are quite beautiful when viewed from an aerial point due to the farming activities carried out by the people who live in this area. Lake Bunyonyi is rumoured to be the second deepest lake in Africa, estimated to be 44m to 900m deep.
The biggest population of people in the area are Bakiga and Batwa who have resided here for centuries and live by cultivating the land and rearing cattle.

The area has wonderful weather throughout the year, with rain and mildly hot days coming through the months. This area is very suitable for farming and, best of all, vacationing for tourists. As is always the case all over Uganda, the residents around Lake Bunyonyi are very friendly, meaning your stay there will be warmly welcomed.

There are enough hotels and lodgings such as Arcadia Lodges plus campsites where one can find good accommodation for their stay whilst taking in the beauty of Lake Bunyonyi.

Over the lake, there are 29 islands that can be seen almost floating and in the morning before sunrise, there will be mist slightly rising off the surface of the lake, hiding the islands.

The islands make the lake look magical. When you see them from a distance, it is easy to think that you are somewhere in the Maldives without the coral of the ocean. One of the best locations to view them throughout the day is up in the hills. You can take a day from dawn to dusk and watch how they always seem to emerge from the shadows of the morning and glow throughout the day and gaze at the reflections of the stars in the sky dancing over the lake at night.

Birding
Lake Bunyonyi literally means “Place of many little birds”. True to its name, you will find here so many different bird species that call the islands and the shores of the lake home. Some of them are indigenous to the area while others migrate in. There are over 200 bird species that can be found in the area, meaning any birding enthusiast would be amazed by what they would find here. Species ranging from shoebills, wobblers to the ever beautiful crested cranes and of course the “little birds” can be easily sighted during a birding expedition.

Canoeing
The islands are so massive you just have to take a day off and have a tour of the ones closest to the mainland, see nature’s little wonders with beautiful views of the lake. Take a canoe ride with a professional guide on Lake Bunyonyi or set sails on a boat and have a romantic picnic while at it.

Nature walks and hikes
Most of the shores and neighbouring areas around Lake Bunyonyi are hilly and forested, which make for good nature walks. You can enjoy a day communing with nature or hike up one of the hills especially in the morning or evening when the weather is cool and breezy.

Kibale National Park
A little distance from the lake, you will find Kibale National Park, where you can go for chimpanzee trekking through the thick forests that cover most of the park and learn something new about the other animals that live in that area.

How to Book Uganda Car Rental

This is among the mutual questions asked my very many people hoping to hire self-drive cars in Uganda.  . However, hiring a car in Uganda for 2020-2021 is something very easy especially if you book a car with us at 4x4ugandacarrentals.com. Consider below some of the ways you can get your car for either self-drive or with a driver in Uganda with a lot of ease.

• Sending an Inquiry: Go to our contact us form and fill in the form after press the send button, after receiving the massage, our reservation team will get back to you shortly not less than 10 hours with the best car hire offer. In the massage you are reminded to include what you need, what you ask for is what we offer, although we normally do advise our clients before we offer the service. We have a team ready waiting to answer your emails on time.
• Calling us Direct on our cell phone. You can hire a car from us in Uganda 2021 by simply dialing us on our office number +256776641554. Once we receive a call, we respond immediately and advise you accordingly on the best car fleet available in stock based on your travel plans and interest. You can book with us your fleet direct on a phone call and we reserve car a desired dates of travel either on self-drive or with a driver
• Whatsapp: We don’t have any problem, if you find that WhatsApp is the best way to reach us for your car hire fleet booking you are kindly welcome, and your massage will be replied immediately for 2021 car rental Uganda deal. You can whatsapp us on +256776641554. We shall then get back to you immediately with our discounted 2020-2021rates.

In a nutshell, if you are searching for the best car rental company in Uganda to give you the finest and discounted 2021 Uganda car rental offers contact us we will offer you the best and meet your come true. Fill in the Form below and rent a car in Uganda

Is it possible to Cross Boarders with a Rental Car in Uganda?

Hiring cars on self-drives has become very popular here in Uganda for a period of now 2 years and many travelers who prefer this method navigating. It’s understandable that not every person owns a vehicle, but that’s why 4×4 Uganda Car Rentals come into existence, so that nobody should be left behind and denied a chance to travel even if he/she is going to cross border.

In most of the time, many traveler prefer traveling up-country or even cross boarders by road. So every person has a reason why they rent a car. Many people are asking themselves whether it’s possible to hire a car and cross borders to another country, the answer is yes! Charges always differ and many companies charges differently in case one is going to cross borders. These fees are meant to cover cross border insurances fees, regional surcharges for crossing the border. The added fees are meant also to cover the extra insurance needed when you are driving in two the county. However sometimes you may find when the all charges included in the total costs for hiring the vehicle at once.

The car hire company can even advise you on where to buy the insurance needed to drive in any country you intend to travel to for the safety of your trip in the east African country.  You are always advised to tell the car hire company about the country you are interested to travel in, so that they can advise you accordingly about the applicable fee to pay for the insurance plus necessary documentation needed and if also interested, you can be advised about the accommodation options available.

It is also advisable to share with your Uganda car rental company about your itinerary when booking the vehicle to assist you get the right information about what you have to do before crossing to another country. The car hire agency will avail you with the right document if he/she declare the right border they plan to use with the rental car to cross the country. it should be noted that if you get any problem with the car rental company without the awareness of the car rental company you will be stopping the insurance. And once you get an accident or stealing or damaging the vehicle in another country, you are entitled to pay the agency with your own pockets.

The car hire agency will ask you in advance your travel plans before they confirm the booking in order to give them enough time to process for you all information required and also to enlighten you about any fees and also process for you all the information required and all the paperwork you may need to take with you when crossing borders.  So tell the company you are going to hire from that you are going to cross borders to another country with your rental vehicle.

Though some companies allow their vehicles to cross borders to any country in Africa, there are some car rental companies which do not allow their vehicles to cross borders especially to some countries with political conflicts like south Sudan, Democratic republic of Congo, Somalia among others.

Don’t meander around this festive season, in case you want to hire a self-drive car and you want to cross border either for business, vacation, leisurely tour or for adventure, and you are still looking for ideal provider to get around, simply contact us at https://www.4x4ugandacarrentals.com, we are at your disposal.

How to enjoy Luxury Uganda Trips at low prices

When most people envision traveling, they picture something easy and relaxing with cocktails and picture perfect scenery. Yet, before you envision all this, there has to be a plan and a budget. Although you have to remember that you do not need a big budget to go for luxurious trips, here is how.

Cheap destinations
Yes, it is a thing. You can actually find so many travel destinations that will not drain your savings. When you go through Google, a number of countries in Africa and islands on the Pacific and Atlantic oceans have lodgings that can go for as low as $50.

Discounted packages
Before you jump on everything, try scouting the internet for discounted packages that are always popping on travel websites. These packages usually have lower rates that cater to transportation, food, accommodation, and activities — meaning you will pay once and relax your way through the holiday.

To fly or not to
It is not a must that when you are travelling across borders you should take a flight. Did you know that instead of spending over $300 on flight to and from one of the neighbouring countries, you could just take a bus that will cost you as low as $60? Mind you, lately, bus companies have luxurious coaches with enough leg room, WiFi, and charging pots.

Peak season
It might seem like everyone is travelling during this season but it is the best time to travel since almost every hotel has a huge campaign they are pushing to fill up rooms. You will find good hotels with a 50% discount for a room you could barely afford before that.

Drive yourself
It can be quite tiring when you have to drive from Kampala to Mbale on your own; but if you plan to switch with a passenger, it can be a fun road trip. Driving your own car saves you money used to hire a driver or even a van when moving with a big group. Use this money to book a spa day because you deserve it.

Travel campaigns
Since 2015, there have been more than five major travel campaigns initiated online by companies and individuals. An example would be Experience Africa, Ug Travel Month, and Intimania where you pay a minimal amount of Sh250,000 and spend a weekend away. The trips always involve a big group of people headed to places like national parks for a weekend and most of them sleep in tents. The amount paid usually caters for everything — music, food, accommodation and alcohol.

Bed & Breakfast
You do not have to sleep in an expensive hotel to get a feel of luxury. Thanks to technology, you can now stay in a beautiful and less costly place called a B&B. They are usually rooms in someone’s home that are rented out and you can search online for many of them in your travel destination.

Budget airlines
A number of airlines offer cheap flights across the African continent that can go as low as $200. You can look through travel advisors and booking websites to compare and contrast some of the prices before you rush to book.

Best Lodges for Honeymoon Holiday in Uganda

Are you planning to go for your honeymoon trip to Uganda but you have no idea of which place to visit? When it comes to honey moon safaris, you need that seclusion and quietness atmosphere with your dear one. There is no need to be with the crowds or the usual areas, choosing one of Uganda’s luxury lodges will certainly meet needs. They include;

Mweya Safari Lodge

Located within the Mweya peninsula of Queen Elizabeth National Park and provides about 49 stunning rooms specifically the suites, queen cottages, presidential cottages, standard rooms and ravishing tented camps which offer that romantic and honeymoon moments of lifetime. It offers you a chance to catch a glimpse of the spectacular views of the Kazinga channel and also the extra privacy. The presidential and Queen Cottages a side from tented camps provide visitors with breathtaking wildlife views and birdlife. This lodge is a luxury facility just like Sheraton hotel but straddles within the lush wilderness Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. It comes with luxurious tented camps and cottages with bathrooms and exceptional views of its surrounding. A trip to this lodge is referred as a dream come true!

The Sanctuary gorilla forest camp

If you are looking for luxurious facilities to spend your special day with your love ones, consider this camp your best choice. The camp is situated within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and comes with unbeatable honeymoon experiences. Just imagine spending your special moments within Bwindi where the critically endangered mountain gorillas are inhabited.

The Paraa Safari Lodge

Paraa Safari Lodge is situated within Murchison Falls National Park, northwestern Uganda. It offers the most comfortable accommodation and nature which come with excellent views of the area and the Nile River. It consists of about 60 exquisite rooms and suites and not to forget the state of art facilities as well as services that will entirely make your experience unforgettable. The lodge comes with luxurious swimming pool, restaurants overlooking the Nile with mouth watering food. a gift shop, bar and many more.

Chameleon Hill Lodge

Situated in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Chameleon Lodge is one of the most stunning safari lodges that are worth visiting while on honeymoon safari in Uganda. The lodge lies around the shores of Lake Mutanda and this provides the most exceptional views of its surrounding areas and its design alone is something not to be forgotten. Spending your honeymoon trip in this lodge gives you a chance to also trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park and not to forget Lake Mutanda.

Mihingo Safari Lodge

There is as amazing compared to spending a honeymoon vacation in the wilderness while wildlife surround you. This kind of remarkable experience can only be found in Mihingo Lodge in Lake Mburo National Park. It has many tented cottages which are separated from one another, meaning a visitor enjoys the total privacy he or she needs, and it also features the best bathrooms. Do not miss to enjoy the spectacular views of African wilderness in Uganda.

Pineapple Bay Resort

Pineapple resort is situated on Bulago Island and is beautiful place to consider for honeymoon vacation in Uganda. It has honeymoon cottage whose design provides the romantic moment to visitors. It offers another version of Zanzibar Island. You can choose to relax around its beachside cottage which overlooks Lake Victoria. You can also opt for fishing, nature walks or swimming.

Wildwaters Lodge

If you want to be off the usual environment, consider Wildwaters Lodge your best choice for honeymoon holiday in Uganda and East Africa. It straddles within the lush island just at the center of River Nile and provides ultimate experiences to honeymooners. Try visiting this lodge and prove the romantic and stunning setting of the area as you chill and relax while catching up with the tropical sun along the might River Nile.

Equator Snow Lodge

The lodge is located on the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains and thus offers visitors the incredible views of the mountain ranges and number of exciting activities for honeymooners. The lodge features about 4 cottages, established around the River rocks, and built within the tropical trees around River Mubuku and provides luxurious en-suite, private deck for chilling and enjoying the drinks, bathrooms and many more.

In conclusion, Uganda offers amazing places for you to spend your secrete moments with your dear one. Apart from the above others include the Papaya Lake Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Chobe Safari lodge, Kyaninga Lodge and many more.

Jinja, the Cradle of All Thrills

There is always a great place in Uganda; a place where people travel to from far away just to experience what it has to offer.

There are places in Uganda that are full of magnificent natural wonders that you are bound to fall in love with at first sight. Jinja and the great Nile river can be the highlights of Uganda, but certainly they are not the only natural wonders you come across when you visit this country.

Located in eastern Uganda, Jinja is a stopover for commuters heading to the border between Uganda and Kenya or just travelling back to the other districts in the region.

Origin of Jinja
The name Jinja originates from the tribes that live around the region. The word Jinja means “rock” in both Luganda and Lusoga languages. The place is named after the rocks that surround Ripon Falls.

Jinja is largely home to one of the biggest tribes in Uganda: the Basoga. Being of the Bantu ethnic group, their language, Lusoga, is very similar to Luganda and in dialect can be mistaken for Lugisu or Lunyole, the other Bantu languages spoken in Eastern Uganda.

It is hard to believe that a century ago Jinja was just a small fishing village that was in the middle of the trade routes in Uganda. After the completion of the Owen Falls Dam, Jinja became a bustling little town with several immigrants, especially Indian and Chinese, who stayed behind opening up businesses that invited other investors, resulting into economic growth in the region.

The town was the base for British operations in Busoga, which also contributed to its rapid growth during the colonial era.

Tea estates, sugarcane farms and cotton estates slowly sprouted up in the long run all over the plains and hills of Jinja, especially near the Nile. The untapped opportunities attracted several new investors who engaged in the production of sugar and tea.

Over the years, Jinja has become one of the most visited locations in Uganda with large number of tourists coming from the rest of Africa and the world. The area around the district is bursting to the seams with touristic potential that is slowly being harnessed to grow tourism and hospitality in Jinja and eastern Uganda.

If you find yourself in Jinja, try out some of these fun activities:

Bungee jumping over the Nile
There is nothing more nerve-wracking than throwing yourself into the mercy of a rope and the strong winds of the Nalubaale, yet the moment you take the plunge your mind frees up and you feel the freedom to fly with the many birds buzzing next to you. Bungee jumping has become one of the best things to do when in Jinja, it can cost an average of Shs100,000 per person. The people who handle it are professionals who take you through every step as you plunge over the Nile.

White water rafting
Being home to one of the most popular water rafting locations in the world, Jinja is definitely the best place to be excited and thrilled at the same time on the Nile. Bujagali, known to the Basoga as Budhagali, is one of the best white water rafting locations Uganda has to offer. Right on the White Nile with refreshing rapids, you will want to do this over and over again.

Quad biking
After a little plunge over the Nile, there is more to do. Jump into the wildlife and explore it with a lot of speed at your side. The quad bike experience is a very enjoyable adventure especially if you have several other people doing it with you.

Kayaking
Just like white water rafting, you will have professional guides taking you through this world famous sport on the Nile; it is an experience you do not want to miss while in Jinja.

Nature walks
You need to take time away from the thrills and commune with nature. Enjoy what Mother Earth has to offer by trekking through the Mabira just right on the fringes of Jinja on your way back to Kampala to complete your experience.

Source of the Nile
Track the Nile’s journey right from where it all starts and bring your school geography to life by visiting the source of the Nile with guides explaining to you how it was formed and why it flows upwards.

Bird watching
Right within what used to be the largest forest in Uganda, the Mabira is home to an array of bird species that attract bird watchers from all over the world. Take some time and learn about the many beautiful species that Uganda is known for.

Honeymoon
Jinja is very remarkable and romantic. The sceneries over the Nile right to its source at Lake Victoria will live you entranced, adding exciting memory to your honeymoon. It is also enclosed with over 50 hotel properties, including the Jinja Nile Resort, Black Lantern and the Jinja Nile Village, to accommodate you as you take your love to the next level.

Uganda Camping Equipment and How to Find Them

Uganda Camping Equipment and How to Find Them

If you plan to have an outdoor camping next season, then try finding the best of Uganda camping equipment to carry with for the utmost comfortable camping experience.

Outdoor camping in Uganda has gained much popularity over years so as to change from your day to day busy life.

Some days out away from hectic schedules provide much excitement and recreation options than any other holiday plan.

The Uganda camping equipment, required will depend on the location you have chosen to camp in. Since the camping places chosen are varied so are the camping accessories that are required for particular needs.

Most outdoor camping equipment accessories come in the shape of camping tents, camping stoves, camping clothing, hiking boots, utensils,chairs, tables etc. Some people like to camp in the plains, some in the mountain areas, some in fields and some in woods.

So as to enjoy the fun and excitement completely, it’s important to carry camping stuff that you will require during your camp stay. There are some hikers and campers who love to camp and discover the most extreme parts of the world. Therefore, the camping requirements differ from one person to another.

Before starting for any camping outdoor, you must buy the things that you will require.

So was to find the best camping equipment, it is better to find a cheap camping equipment dealer and order the stuff you want to carry along.

The light weight tents, portable camping stoves, handy weightless chairs, disposable utensils, sleeping bags,hiking boots, light fabric weightless clothes and other camping accessories can be bought online at the most discount rates.

It is good to carry camping equipment that is too light to so as to give you much freedom while trekking and hiking.

Many types of camping equipment are not cheap to buy and can be afforded only when you have a large budget. On the other hand, if you have a small budget, you can opt to renting. The activity of out door camping has been growing along side with car hire in Uganda. So for all those who would like to hire camping equipment on the road trips, the best is ti hire for the car rental companies.

Renting camping equipment is a good option depending upon how often you go for camping. Otherwise if you are a camping freak then, having a stock of your own camping gear is worth. For those who want rooftop tent camping, the best option is renting.

Have a great camping experience this season by keeping all your camping requirements toned up.

Getting Up close and personal with Uganda chimpanzees

From the spectacular mountains to the rivers, lakes, wildlife, lash wilderness, thick misty forests, and to the friendly faces, Uganda truly deserves to be referred to as the pearl of Africa. Sure, the country is endowed with every bit of Africa’s tourist resources.

Uganda is home to many things: the rare mountain gorillas, Africa’s longest river, and now also prides in being home to about 5,000 chimpanzees scattered in different parts of the country.

These dramatic primates are the closest to humans, sharing with DNA of about 98 per cent. This means that they pretty much act and reason like humans, with their intelligence equated to a five-year-old child. Chimpanzees are social animals and live in communities headed by an alpha male.

Sadly, chimpanzees are top on the world’s list of endangered species, their threat to survival being typically from humans, their very own cousins. They are captivated, especially the babies for pets, poached for their meat, and the deadliest of all being the destruction of their natural habitat through deforestation, which has left a number of chimps homeless and vulnerable.

Where to find them
Chimpanzees are found in focus tourist areas of Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Semuliki National Park, Budongo forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Kibale Forest. Kibale forest alone has the highest concentration of about 1,500 individuals and it’s the best place to meet the chimps. Other places include the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre and the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Ngamba Island takes care of the orphaned, abandoned and rescued chimps until a certain point in time, when they are reintroduced to the wild. All these places are open to tourists who wish to spend time with the chimpanzees.

How to spend time with the Chimpanzees
One can spend time with these dramatic apes through the following activities; Chimpanzee trekking, Chimpanzee habituation, care giving, and viewing of the feeding. Meeting with nature is always an incredible experience but spending time with man’s cousins is certainly an out of the world experience.

Chimp trekking
Chimp trekking is an exercise that involves trekkers walking through the rainforest searching for the chimps in their natural wild. The trekkers are always escorted by a trained rangers from Uganda Wildlife Authority who are usually knowledgeable about the location of the families. Trekkers get a chance to watch the already habituated families up-close for one hour though the entire exercise takes about two-six hours.

Kibale Forest National Park is the most prime of all, consisting of many families. One cannot certainly miss to see the chimps. Other places include Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest and Semliki National Park.

Chimp habituation
Habituation is a process where wild animals are tamed to harmoniously co-exist with humans. In this case the extremely wild and aggressive families of chimps are slowly and technically made to get familiar to humans. It usually takes about two years for the chimps to fully adapt although it is important to note that wild animals are just that — wild. Thus they need their space. With this, the Uganda Wildlife Authority established a set of rules and regulations that trekkers must strictly observe while with the chimps.

Chimp habituation gives visitors a chance to spend more hours or even a whole day with these primates right from the time they awake to the time they retire to their nests. This activity is only done in Kibale Forest National Park and Budongo forest in Murchison Falls National Park.

Care giving
This is done at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary where visitors participate in care taking of the chimps, from preparing the food, to serving, and carrying out medical routines, and updating the chimp diaries. This is by far emotional and interesting.

Feeding the chimps
Still done at Ngamba Island but this time visitors don’t get hands on but rather, they watch from the visitor’s platform as the chimps are being served with food, mainly fruits. There are lots of performances from the chimps too, as they display different survival skills as each member struggles to grab the fruits first and the most aggressive gets the lion’s share.