Tips

Safety Tips for 4×4 Car Hire in Uganda

The 4×4 Uganda car hire services have grown remarkably around the country in the last few years. Many travelers turn to the services for different travel purpose for example airport transfers, wildlife safaris, business tours and other transport oriented activities. The 4×4 car hire services are very yielding when you use them, you have to follow some of the tips when choosing a 4×4 vehicle to use.

4X4 vehicles are the most commonly hired cars in Uganda due to the fact that most of the clients that use these cars are tourists who travel to the different tourism destinations across the country. Most tourism destinations are found in the remote areas where the roads are ragged and rough that need combative cars that can maneuver on these tough roads. The 4×4 vehicles are made to travel on such roads and on top of that they are so comfortable for a self-drive trip in Uganda. Though these 4×4 cars are made for ragged and tough roads, there has to be some safety tips that are supposed to be put into consideration to have a successful car hire experience in Uganda.

Here are some of the safety tips for 4×4 car hire in Uganda;

When you are preparing your 4×4 rental car for a self-drive trip, make sure that you load the car with the moderate weight of the luggage. In context do not over load the car.  The main causes of accidents and vehicles overturning are over weighting and the poor weight distribution. The top heavy vehicles are likely to roll, and are not easy to control in case you need to suddenly veer your vehicle. Your heaviest baggage and the equipment should sit low in the vehicle, with as little weight as possible on your roof.

The speed compounds problems, any possibility you meet on the road becomes so easy to deal with the slower you are traveling. You have got more time to react and your momentum is easier to manage. In Uganda, it is commendable for the driver to drive at a speed of 50km/hr in places where there are settlement and 80km/hr on highways. It is also advisable to look at the speed limit indicated on the road signs.

The dirt and gravel roads in Uganda can have sloping shoulders, swerving on to these uneven planes increase the possibility of overturning the vehicle. In the process of wildlife blocking your path it’s often safer to maintain your course than to swerve onto a slopping shoulder. More so the low speeds can prevent this becoming a decision you have to make.

Always be aware of the vehicle’s fuel capacity, fuel consumption as well as the distance between fuel stops. The terrain, speed, tire pressure and load all influence your consumption. Carry spare fuel in a gas can to be on a safe side. If you don’t have a gas can, it is best you identify the nearby gas station in the tourism destination you would be leading to. For instance when going to the national park for a game drive, make sure that you refill the fuel to full tank and then get to the park.

This tip is under looked by very many travelers but an established and reputable company guarantees the traveler safety as it has the experience to deal with any situation that make arouse. Therefore it is advisable for clients to look at the reputation of the rental company before making any booking of the 4×4 vehicle. The clients must make sure he/she first keeps track of their past records that are by either looking at their customer reviews and the duration of time they have been in the car rental business. What the past clients say about the rental company is what the company offer in terms of services. With these reviews, you will have certainty that car operators are experienced and have much skills that can give you good service delivery and also can bail you out in case of any problem while driving.

Safety precautions; always check the safety measures that are put in place while choosing a 4×4 Uganda car hire service. The rental car should always have comprehensive insurance that carters for the damages that might occur to the car while on the road. There should be road assistance that is immediate in case of a car breakdown. There must be emergency equipment in the car like first aid box to treat the causalities, fire extinguisher to stop the fire in case of a fire outbreak, jake, inflator and wheel spanner for tyre fixing in case of a flat tyre. The clients must also be given emergency numbers of social amenities like the police and health centers. This is because they might need help from these social authorities in case of any problems like body damages and robbery.

The overall car rental service quality; each and every person likes to be associated with something of good quality because it gives a peace of mind and creates a good impression. So while choosing a 4×4 Uganda car hire services, you should look for a rental company with very beautiful vehicles that are well maintained. The company should have balancing services like GPS, extra baby seats, camping gears and travel maps or the guide books that make the trip more enjoyable and classy one. This means that you shouldn’t just choose car hire services in Uganda by the prices you have to look for the attributes to hit the right services that will make your road trip a successful one.

Comprehensive Car Rental Insurance and Its Importance

If you’ve ever rented a car, you’ve probably been warned by salespeople at the counter about the possible consequences of walking away without buying their company’s rental car insurance. Put on the spot, you might not feel confident about exactly what your current auto insurance covers. And that’s what rental companies are counting on along with their commissions for selling you the coverage.
Want to be prepared next time you’re renting a car in Uganda? We can help you understand whether you need rental car insurance and how to get it before you get to the rental counter.

Rental car insurance or your own auto insurance?

Here are the typical insurance options from rental car companies, along with how to determine if you already have coverage within your own auto insurance policy. Coverage from your own policy applies when you are using a rental car for personal, no business purposes. The rules may be different for business use of a rental car. Check with your insurer or employer for details about coverage when using a rental car for business.

Crashes and car theft

At the counter: A loss-damage waiver (LDW), also called a collision damage waiver (CDW), gets you off the hook for any damage to the rental vehicle or theft of the car. It’s technically not insurance but rather a waiver that says the rental car company won’t come after you.
Your policy: If you have collision and comprehensive coverage on your own policy, it generally will extend to a rental car. However, you will still be on the hook for your deductible.

Damage you do to others

At the counter: Supplemental liability protection will pay for damage you do to others’ vehicles or property. A typical limit is $1 million. If you have no auto insurance (for example, if you don’t own a car), you should buy this.
Your own policy: Your own liability insurance will cover you when you’re driving rental cars. If you have really minimal liability coverage on your auto policy, you could buy the supplemental protection to boost your coverage. But if that’s your situation, you’d be smarter to increase your own liability coverage anyway.

Injuries to you

At the counter: Personal accident insurance covers medical costs for you and your passengers if you’re involved in an accident. This includes ambulance, medical care and death benefits.
Your own policy: If you have health insurance, this coverage would largely be redundant. Similarly, if you are interested in death benefits, you should have a life insurance policy. Personal accident insurance also is not needed if you have personal injury protection or Med Pay through your auto policy.

Your stolen stuff

At the counter: Personal effects coverage pays for your belongings if they’re stolen from the rental car, up to a set dollar amount.
Your own policy: Your homeowners or renters insurance will cover your possessions if they are stolen, even away from home. To make a theft claim, you’ll need to file a police report, and your deductible amount will apply.

The credit card safety net

Credit cards often provide coverage for rental cars, assuming you have used the card to pay for the rental and the rental is in your name. You’ll automatically have this coverage if it’s included with your credit card — no need to call or sign forms. But it is secondary coverage, meaning your own auto insurance policy will pay out first. If you don’t have auto insurance and are going to count on credit card coverage, call your credit card issuer to confirm the details.

Buying rental car insurance on your own

There are companies that sell standalone policies for rental cars if you don’t want to buy insurance at the counter. You generally need to decline the rental company’s coverage to use these.
Is car rental insurance really necessary?
That’s the first question people ask. The short answer is “yes.” But that doesn’t mean that you need the expensive stuff that your rental car agency is trying to push. There are some important things you need to think about before you waive the right to car rental insurance on your rental car agreement, however.
First, we’ll talk about what car rental insurance purchased through the rental agency can cover:

• Car rental insurance carries a waiver called a loss/damage waiver that releases renters from liability should their rental car be stolen, vandalized or damaged in a collision.
• Car rental insurance policies can also include personal accident insurance, which covers medical costs for you and any passengers due to injuries sustained in an accident with your rental car.
• Most car rental insurance policies carry personal effects coverage, which covers any personal items damaged in a collision or stolen from the rental car.
• Car rental insurance policies also usually include liability insurance that covers third party costs for both medical care and property damage if another vehicle is involved in an accident and the fault for the accident lies with the rental car driver.

Essential Car Hire Checklist for Uganda Self Drive

Renting a car for Uganda self drive gives you all the freedom to explore the Pearl of Africa! However renting a hire car can be a bit of a headache if you don’t plan your trip properly. Time and time again, we hear from holidaymakers who run into conflicts with car hire agencies. So, to prevent this scenario, we spoke to a number of experts in the field to compile our ultimate car hire checklist and here it is!

1. You have to book ahead as possible for the best deal.
2. Always check the levels of collision damage waiver and the thief protection excesses. In case they are high it’s definitely worth taking out zero excess cover. Compare the cost of the broker’s own top up waiver with an independent excess reimbursement policy.
3. In case you buy an excess reimbursement policy from the broker, always make sure it’s in the same name as the lead driver on the rental voucher otherwise it may not pay out.
4. The cost of adding extra drivers and hiring child seats can be high and varies largely so shop around
5. Always check the driving section of the AA’s website for some advice on local driving regulations.
6. Make sure you have enough capacity on your credit card to stand a hefty deposit. The debit cards are not accepted because they have no pre- authorization facility to ring fence funds to cover damage.
7. Always enter the correct start time for the rental. In case your flight is delayed by more than one hour you must let the rental office know otherwise your reservation may be cancelled, as cars are only held for two hours at busy times.
8. At the car desk, make sure the cr5edit card to be used is in the name of the lead driver on the rental voucher, otherwise you will have to pay again.
9. Always have a second card handy to put paid to the scam of the suppliers who claim that the card has been declined if you have refused their insurance.
10. In case you reject the local CDW top up cover, the agent may to sell you the road side assistance cover covering vehicle recovery if of breakdown, getting locked out, flat battery as well as mis fueling.
11. Once the contract is given, please read it carefully before leaving the office, most especially items that have been tricked as accepted or declined. In case there are charges you don’t understand, ask about them. If the total shown is more than that printed on your voucher you may without knowing have signed up for optional insurance you do not need.
12. Before driving away, check the fuel type. This is because putting in the wrong fuel is regarded as negligence and all CDW cover might be withdrawn.
13. Inspect the car well; make sure every tiny scratch is marked on the contract. The body work, you should check the windscreen, wheel hubs, the underside of bumpers and the edges of wing mirrors.
14. Open the boot and check that It has a warning triangle, high visibility jacket, spare bulbs, and any other items legally required in that country otherwise you might be charged for their loss.
15. You can use your camera to take photos of all the four sides of the car.
16. Check the clutch if it’s not burning out.
17. In case it’s too dark to inspect the car, go over it with a fine tooth comb the following morning and report further scratches, noises or mechanical concerns immediately.
18. In case on an accident; call the police if another vehicle is involved, even if the damage is mirror. Fill in the legally binding accident statement form. The form is divided into two sections and each driver in their version of events.
19. On returning the car, keep the receipt from the petrol station where you filled up the car on the final day. Always get the vehicle signed back in. in case it’s not possible, make sure that you take a new set of photographs to prove it has been returned without any damage.
20. Always settle any disputes with the car rental company.

6 Important Tips for Solo Travelers Visiting Uganda

Are you a first-time tourist planning to travel alone to the Pearl of Africa and in need of advice or tips of how to go by with your safari? Provided is the list of important tips for first-time solo travelers to Uganda;
1. Have confidence in yourself
Self confidence and belief that you are capable of doing more than you think is always important when undertaking a solo trip as a first-time traveler. Why is it important? You will be faced with some challenges which will need you to solve during the safari thus problem solving skills are very vital for any first-time tourist.
2. Plan in advance like booking for the first few nights of accommodation in the destination
Many tourists prefer traveling to a destination without making prior plans but it is always advised to book for the first few nights of accommodation to avoid wasting time figuring out how to get about within the new destination. To be on a safer side, you can book accommodation for the entire safari depending how long you will spend in a particular place because you may find less room for abrupt itinerary changes.
3. Get some safety essentials before the safari
Read some safety magazines or research on internet so as to get information regarding how to stay safe during Uganda safaris. Not only that, you may need to pack some safety essentials for your safari such as pickpocket-proof clothing with some hidden pockets thus you may need to carry a bag, carry a safety whistle or personal alarm to draw attention in case you are attacked and a combination lock for your backpack as well as backpack zippers among others.
4. Avoid being nervous
I know you will have a lot of what-if questions but there is no need to worry and be nervous during your solo-trip. Questions like what if I lose my luggage or even passport? What if I miss my flight or train? What if the accommodation facility I book is uncomfortable? Or what if I lose my money to theft? These are very common questions because such scenarios have happened to first-time solo travelers but that doesn’t mean you should be discouraged, forego or cancel the safari but rather look for solutions like contacting the local police or Embassies in the country.
5. Feel free to interact with the locals
Interacting with the local community members means you will be sharing with them, thus the locals will always help you where necessary. They will help you discover more about the destination especially about the best restaurants and other fascinating places within the destination but also take time to meditate in beautiful places and make new discoveries and not just stay in one place.
If you are someone that doesn’t know how to interact with the locals, you can actually meet them during walking tours, money exchanges, home stays and hostels among others.
6. Always take time to be alone
If it means sitting alone in the bar, it is fine because you will be able to meditate on the safari besides the fact that it makes you freely approachable.

Essential Checklist When Hiring a Car in Uganda

Car hire is one the fastest growing travel option in Uganda. It is normally used by foreign people on a vacation, weekend family/group excursion, business and political conferences. Car hire services are used by very many people due to their convenience, safety and availability.
However, there are certain things that have to be put in place to have a good car hire experience both you as a client and the car hire company and the items that should be on the checklist of car hire are as below;
You should not forget to carry your money transfer electronic cards. If you are intending to rent a car in Uganda, you should carry a visa card or credit card with you. This is at times considered as the security deposit you supposed to leave with the car hire company to act as back up cover for the damages that may be caused on the car that are beyond insurance policy cover. There should be some money on these cards that can be withdrawn to cover for the damages caused. The electronic cards can also act as the provisional mechanism for the extra costs you may incur on the car hire trip that may not have been budgeted.
You should have your driving license. Any car hire company in any country will ask for a driving license to prove that you are eligible to drive a car. The driving license should have a language that is comprehended in Uganda. Normally driving licenses that have an English or French language are easily accepted in Uganda without a request for a translated one.
You should also have an identification document where hiring a car in Uganda. This must be in form of a valid passport or national identity card. These documents verify who you are and where you come from. No one on earth can trust with a multimillion property (car hire) without keeping hold of your identification. This shows that you are a genuine person and incase of theft of the car, they can easily track you down through your identification.
You should also make sure that you have the full amount of money that you agreed to hire a car from the car provider. In car hire business, there is nothing like taking a service on debt. The least the car provider can do; is by accepting a half the amount of money you agreed and the rest to be paid at the end of your car hire service.
The above are the items you as the client is supposed to present to the car hire company.
For the car hire company these are the items on the checklist that it is supposed to deliver to you
The insurance for the car should be available and valid. A good car hire company should have an insurance policy for third party damages and car damages for each and every car for hire. The insurance must be in place to protect you from any damages that are unforeseen while driving in Uganda.
You should also ask for extra facilities if need be. Facilities like GPS in case you are going to have a self drive tour in Uganda or a baby seat if you are traveling with a kid in the car. These facilities help you to have a convenient and enjoyable car hire services.
You should also check the car if it is in good condition. Scrutinize the car very well as you check if there is any physical or mechanical damage on the car and also take some pictures of the car before you set off for your journey. This makes you know which damages you are liable to incase of any accident that may occur while driving the car.
If the above items are on the checklist of car hire service, you are more like to have very peaceful and enjoyable travel experience in Uganda as they will be no misunderstanding between you and the car hire company.

Rewards of Renting a Car for Your Uganda Travels

Most recently many travelers both foreign and national have turned to car hire services as the best transportation means. The foreigners use car hire services for wildlife safari tour, city tours, excursions at the beach or resort and business and political meetings and the nationals use these services for family travel, wedding ceremonies, school tours, business meetings and also dates with their beloved ones. The people who have use the car hire services Uganda have had good remarks of them and are very will to use them when the opportunity comes.
The following are some of the rewards of car hire services in Uganda;
Car hire services bring comfort while traveling. Remember in car hire, there is only one passenger in the car and for the case of group travel the cars are very spacious and everyone has room to stretch his limbs. The cars also have very soft and modified seats which give the passenger to travel in very relaxed way without any discomfort.
Car hire services are less costly most especially when you are traveling in a group as you pay a collective fare for the car hire. There is nothing like every individual to pay differently. The price is square, you just pay as whole team and you are good to go for the car hire services which might not be the car with other transportation means like public means where everyone has to pay individual and in the end it may be a high price if summed up together.
Car hire services in Uganda are very convenient and reliable. most of the times car hire picks up the customer right for a certain point or station and takes him/her direct to his/her preferred destination without any stopovers. They also work 24/7, these services are available any time the customer needs them let it be night or day. They are there to amend the loopholes of public transport and also ground transportation means.
This traveling option gives the customer safety on the road as the car for hire is always in insured and in a good condition and in case there is a chauffeur on the wheels, he is always well trained and professional. The insurances cover all the damages that may occur to the car in case of an accident so you are less liable to the costs of the damages occurred. There is also road assistance that can help the client at the earliest time possible when he/she gets a car break down.
Using car hire services for long distance travel reduces wear and tear of your personal car in case you are residential client in Uganda. So one can rent a car to spare his/her personal car for wearing and tearing out due to long distance travel he/she might be going to engage in.
The customer gets an opportunity to ride in his/her dream car or a new model car. Car hire companies Uganda normally have exquisite vehicles that are a dream to drive for everyone.  So by using car hire services the customer gets the satisfaction of riding in very nice car or a car of his/her dream.
When the customer uses car hire services in Uganda he/she get privacy and independence while traveling as he/she is the only passenger or traveler in the car. The customer has room to do whatever he/she wants as long as it does not violent their agreement with the car rental company.
Car hire services make the customer to create a good impression and also command self esteem. This normally applies to business men meeting their business clients as the clients can consider the businessman as a legitimate person when he/she comes out of a nice car to meet the client and the for the case of lovers, the lady can perceive the man a very responsible and elegant one if he picks up in a very nice car.
Car hire services save time as these services are always on time to transfer their customer to any destination they may want to go and there also no stopovers which can lead to wastage of time. So with saving time the traveler is able to cover a wide range of destination within a short period of time.
With all the rewards that the car hire services bring to the traveler, every traveler should resort to using such services because they are the best ground traveling options in Uganda.

Why Use A GPS When Traveling Around Uganda

Uganda is sometimes referred to as the pearl of Africa; it’s named due to its incredible variety of tourist attractions that inhabit the country, many people whole over the world jet in to have a glance on God’s creature. It’s a home to a variety of wildlife, beautiful landscape and rich cultural history. Some of the tourists prefer travelling under the guidance of a safari guide because it’s a much safer option  used more frequently by many travelers in the recent years. However many  travelers have started embracing the self-drive option which many believe that its much cheaper also offering privacy and freedom. Uganda offers a variety of interesting destination to visit all offering unique attractions however they requires adequate knowledge about routes, shops and accommodation and this where the Global Positioning System (GPS) comes in to help. Some experienced travelers know how to use a travel map but the GPS is a way better option as it offers real time positioning.

Cheaper option

This option is much cheaper when you compare it with hiring a full driver/guide. if you book with us at Uganda self drive,  we will give it to you at a fee of usd$ 10 per day cheaper than hiring a driver we charge usd$20 for a driver/guide per day.  So it’s cheap and you get the much freedom you need and avoid going by a guide’s itinerary.

Good Navigation

The Global positioning system offers the best navigation service than any other system, if you rent a car with it you are assured of not getting lost on the way, as this garget offers you a chance to type in destination you want to visit and it will draw the path showing distance and time taken to get there. Not only that but it gives you an opportunity to mark some so the interesting route, shop, restaurant, bank or tourist attraction to remind you along the way when you need to make a stopover. It can even remind you the right path in case you get lost. Indeed it’s the best garget to use while on your self-drive safari most especially in the destination you are not well conversant with.

Fuel Sparing

The moment you hire a car with a GPS garget, you have the chances of economizing on fuel, this comes as a result that the GPS will choose for you alternative and shortest routes to use hence help you make fuel estimates since you already know the distance for each route.

Portable and Easy to use

The GPS is very portable as a phone with easy to follow instruction on the main surface. You can easily place it at the window and connect to the car since some come with a rubber stamp. So if you are planning to hire a car form a rental car company, you should also consider getting GPS to guide you around especially if you are going to a destination you do no well. For more information you can write to us at info@ugandaselfdrive.com or you can call us directly on +256-751552950