When you contact car hire operators in Uganda, for a quote most come back with the price of the car rental, with driver (including all his costs), unlimited mileage but EXCLUDING fuel. Well, that’s fine but you may still need to know how Paying for the fuel on a Self Drive in Uganda is done, an explanation on how you would pay for the fuel each time you re-fill at a different petrol station given receipts at end of tour – charged an overall amount based on miles covered? You don’t really want to go for a Car + fuel basis because you want the flexibility of changing your plans and hence mileage. 

What is the norm?

When you take a car with a driver it includes a fixed sum with Insurance etc., for a fixed rate per day and buy your own fuel. When you need fuel, just put it in and pay the Pump attendant in cash. Always remember to ask for a receipt if you need accountability,… work with your driver. You could arrange for the driver to have a float and you settle later but it is just so much simpler Paying for the fuel on a Self Drive in Uganda by yourself.

Yes!, ….its an added hassle to pay at each fuel-up but at least you know how much fuel you’ve used rather than an overall estimate the operator has come up with at the start of the trip – surely fuel consumption must vary! You may decide to just take it easy a day or two and do no traveling – (of course we do get your money back then) but not many tour/car hiring operators are that flexible.
I am not suggesting that the driver will trick you, but helps if you are on a tight budget so just need to keep an eye on the money.

Car rental discounts in Uganda is an opportunity to get your Self Drive Car rental at the best rates in Uganda. Crystal Car Hire has decided to bring down its Car rental prices by 20% for those on long term Uganda Car rental on both Self drive and chauffeur Car hire options. As the peak seasons has come, we encourage you to Save more on Uganda Car hire by enjoying this chance to have great fun in the Pearl of Africa, whether individually, with friends or family, all at a lower rate than usual. Below are the discount rates for different car rentals and drivers in Rwanda during this wonderful month.

Toyota Rav4

A rav4 is the most used saloon car for trips in Uganda, both in cities and villages including all national parks because it is affordable, comfortable and convenient for those who love small cars in particular. It is a four wheel vehicle that carries up to four people comfortably, driver inclusive with an air conditioner and an audio player.

The rav4 hire rate for this April on self drive is USD 60 per day if you are taking it for two weeks or more.

Toyota Land cruiser

This is another interesting car to use for your Self drive car rental trip in Uganda because it is good at the country’s terrain. The interior has comfortable adjustable seats and enough legroom carrying up to five people with driver inclusive.

Rent a Land cruiser with a driver this April at only USD 90 per day if you are taking it for 7 days or more.

Super custom

A super custom van is a 4×4 vehicle that carries up to eight people comfortably with driver inclusive and has a sun roof, an air conditioner, adjustable comfortable seats with enough leg room, FM radio all these making it suitable for your trip in Uganda.

Hire a super custom for 10 or more days at a discount rate of only USD 110 per day with a driver.

for more Car Rental options, check out our Crystal car hire fleet.

Drivers

Car rental services with Floben car hire has qualified drivers with great working experience and a good general personal conduct, willing to give you the best services for your trip both in the city and national parks as you enjoy the drive.

Crystal car hire in Uganda offers you a driver for your Uganda trip this June at a discount rate.

Planning to have a perfect self-driving safari or Car rental in Rwanda or Uganda with the 5 door Rav4 self drive rental?

Then, Crystal Car Hire should be your company to hire from. Rwanda and Uganda are the emerging African destinations with unceasing activity of mountain gorilla trekking in these two countries alongside Democratic republic of Congo which is a bit unstable leaving Rwanda and Uganda to directly compete in the mountain gorilla tracking market.

In the car renting business, the 5 door Rav4 self drive rental has been the best consumers’ choice for self drive. This is because it is relatively affordable (budget hire ranging from US$40-US$55 per day ) and fit for the relatively rough roads which are the most common in rural areas of Uganda.

The 5 door Rav4, has automatic gear shift with a lesser petroleum fuel consumption and a tank size of sixty liters. This grants you between 500-650 kilometers depending on the type of the road you are using.

However carries up to five people including the driver, so most times is considered a four seater as it only gives four people access to the windows; leaving the fifth (sitted in-between) person without direct access to the window

Due to its limited size, it has no roof top tents however it has enough space in the back to carry camping gearing for four people. These includes a quite number of items that you may use on your tour:

• Sleeping bags / small matresses
• Fold Chairs
• Camper table(s)
• Lamp (s)
• Suite case
• A water proof tent
• Electric cooler box
• Cutlery
• Gas cooker / Cylinder
• Jerrycan (s)
• Water Jug

Road trips in Uganda are taking the lead and they are replacing the guided safaris in the country. Traveling around Uganda with your own means of transport is the only way to experience Uganda’s en-route attractions to the fullest. Uganda is a destination which is packed with exciting and beautiful things to see and do, many of which are away from the usual routes.

Having a car to travel around road trips in Uganda does not only give you the freedom to see various sites but as you can pack up and leave your lodge or accommodation to where you want to go, no schedules! Even though having a vehicle is an amazing way to see the country, there are things to consider in order to have a successful road trip in Uganda.

In other countries, driving at night is okay, but not in Uganda, due to the fact that you’re in the foreign country, you shouldn’t risk to drive at night because most drivers in Uganda don’t respect traffic laws at night and most high ways do not have street signs and lights.

The main reason is to make sure you arrive at your lodge or destination before the sun has set for safety reasons.

In order to enjoy or have successful road trips in Uganda, choose suitable accommodation and keep their contacts. Search for suitable and good accommodation facilities near travel destinations and the travel operator you choose can help you because they are knowledgeable enough to help you choose the suitable accommodation that suite your budget. They can even give you all the relevant information about attractions en-route and also in national parks.

A number of roads in Uganda have street signs so don’t neglect them and drive under the stipulated driving speed, over speeding in Uganda is an offense and punished. The speed limit on major highways is 80-100 km/hr. while in trading centers it can range between 30-40km/hr. and in national parks is 40-50km/hr. it is also advisable that you switch on lights when driving on dusty roads and when it is raining. And in national parks of Uganda, off-track riving is not allowed.

There are very many reasons to have a good map, but due to Uganda’s nature of having many scenic drives, so not only will the map stop you from getting lost but they typically list various routes you can take to get to your destination. We suggest always opting for the scenic routes listed on the map as those drives are stunning. Having a cell phone is just plain smart. Use it to reserve hotel rooms, to call someone if you need help, or if you’re lost. And you can buy a local SIM card when you get to the country.

When starting your journey every morning, first check the vehicle and ensure that everything is in good condition such as the indicators, breaks, head lights, oil level, tyre pressure for all the 4 wheels and spear tyre and many others.

Although it’s great to drive along the highway with the widows down and the breeze blowing on your face, make sure to roll the widows up when you reach a town. If you’re sitting in the car parked in a parking lot with your widows down, you’ll be an easy target for someone to reach in and steal your belongings. Enjoy the breeze outside of the cities but turn on the air conditioning and roll up the windows when you reach town.

The above-mentioned reasons are the things to know to have successful road trips in Uganda.

Crystal car hire gives you tips about traveling with a baby on any safari, vacation or holiday. Babies are a blessing and being around your baby feels good and gives you comfort. While planning to have a family trip, hiring a vehicle for a self drive adventure is one of the things that comes to your mind not forgetting to rent a baby seat from the car hire company.
Traveling along with a baby and your own baby seats for a vacation in most cases is looked at as something that adds expenses and yet it is the best way for one to save some money especially for travelers hiring a car for a family vacation. Most Car Hire Companies may require you to pay a lot more on baby seats and yet you could go traveling with a baby and your own baby seats and save that money to add more activities in your travel plan.

For travelers renting a car within the same destination, you can take your own baby seat and have some money remain with you to purchase other things along the way. Before renting a car, on your Rwanda safari with a baby make sure that you first cross-check with the local road authority websites if at all they have information about baby seats or it will require you to travel with your own.

In case you choose to rent a baby seat while traveling with a baby, do not miss to check out all the costs in the first case such that you do not get caught up. There is a cost for any baby seats which get damaged, dirty or lost meaning you will need to bring your own in that even when the sodas or food drops on them, you can clean at your own time without realizing a cost. If you consider car hire in Rwanda or any destination plus a baby seat, make sure that you are given the baby seat on the day when you will pick up a car and they should be fitting the baby so that you enjoy traveling with a baby.

Rent a car Rwanda has listed some of the pros and cons of traveling with a baby and your own baby seats to use in a car rental other than hiring them from the Car Hire Company.

Safety.

Whereas most of the baby seats offered by car hire companies are of the recommended standard, it is also worth noting that not all destinations have the similar standards meaning what may seem satisfactory in one destination may not be the case in another. You will realize that the majority of car rental companies offer the main brand vehicle seats and if you have a specific baby seat for your baby to sit them better you come along with it. For safety purposes, make sure that the baby seats fit well.

Compatibility.

Most of the car seats are compatible with modern vehicles though you are advised to look at the make and model of the vehicle’s seat design if they fit. Given that most of the car rentals are up to date make and models it is uncommon to get compatibility problems but you are encouraged to check and also ensure that you reserve a vehicle of suitable size.

Damage.

While most travelers get worried about their expensive car seats getting damaged while on a flight, note that baby seats are always packed differently. You can ensure that they seats are well wrapped prior loading.

The prices

Hiring a car for a longer period of time on your Rwanda safari with a baby can really be costly and for families who may need two more baby seats; you will see the impact of this as it encroaches in your budget. Given that most airlines accept babies below two years to pack at least two items in the hold, it means that you can also push at least one and save some money from hiring a baby seat in car rental. But check if there are charges attached for hold luggage to avoid unplanned costs. In case you find out that the charges are favorable, then there is no need to hire both a car and baby seat. For quality and safety while on your safari, the best option is for you to travel with your own baby seats while traveling with a baby, however, ensure that they are fitting well into the car rental.

Driving in heavy rains while in Uganda is not advised because Uganda experiences a rainy season that comes with heavy rains. Nearly half (46%) of all weather-related car accidents — more than 700,000 a year — are due to rain worldwide. As we experience more soggy weather, it’s imperative that all drivers are schooled on how they can practice driving in heavy rains and maneuver their vehicle and avoid weather-related auto accidents, which often cause death rates to rise in Uganda.

Here are some tips for driving in heavy rains:

1. Exercise caution when heavy rains follow hot, dry spells. Engine oil and grease build-up on roads and highways over time, and when combined with precipitation, you’ve got the equivalent of an automotive Slip ‘N Slide. Road conditions may improve after the season’s first rain washes away most of the grime, but you’ll need to still exercise caution when driving in the rain.
2. Slow down. Wet pavement causes tires to lose traction and vehicles become more difficult to handle.
3. Avoid standing water on roadways. Not only can you hydroplane and lose control, but you can impair your vision and other drivers’ visibility by splashing through puddles. Moreover, standing water often shields potholes and debris from view and it can reduce the effectiveness of your vehicle’s brakes.
4. Drive in the tracks of the car in front of you. This allows the vehicle ahead to displace any standing water that’s on the road.
5. Increase your following distance. Slick roads, wet brakes and reduced visibility can lead to collisions. Give other vehicles plenty of room and brake early with reduced force.
6. If your car begins to hydroplane, do not brake or turn the wheel abruptly as this may cause your vehicle to go into a skid or spin. Take your foot off the gas and keep the wheel straight until your car reclaims traction. Brake gently if needed.
7. Don’t use cruise control. It can cause your car to accelerate when hydroplaning and reduces driver attentiveness.
8. Grip the steering wheel with both hands to maximize vehicle control. This means putting down your cell phone (remember, texting while driving is still illegal in 35 states) coffee, makeup, shaver, sandwich or anything else that takes your hands off the wheel and eyes away from the road.
9. Keep your windshield wipers in tip-top shape. Winter cold can wreak havoc on your blades, so get them checked before rainy seasons arrive.
10. Defog your windows. Precipitation can cause your windshield to quickly fog up, so use the front and rear defrosters to maximize visibility.

Employing these tips of driving in heavy rains you can save your life.