Car Rental and Hire in Uganda

As one of the popular tourist destinations in Africa, Uganda receives over 1 million visitors every year for tourism related purposes. Uganda also receives business travelers, students, researchers, entertainers, soccer fans, pilgrims and conference participants. All these groups of travelers need transportation to help them reach their destinations and any other place they wish to go to during their time in the country. Are you one of those visitors who is planning to hire a car while in Uganda? Do you want to Rent a car in Kampala or Entebbe? After receiving countless requests from tourists and other groups of travelers to Uganda, we are now hiring out our vehicles for a fee. Are you interested in hiring a car for tourism related purposes, business, research, study tours or a conference in Uganda? Regardless of whether you are planning for an extended vacation, a weekend getaway, a longer trip or road trip, we have very interesting offers and information that might interest you if you read on.

Hiring a Car in Uganda

Why hire a vehicle with us? We have built our tourism business based on providing high quality services for our clients. One of the reasons why it has been easy to distinguish ourselves from other tour companies is the desire to offer excellent and personalized services. We are applying the same attention to detail and quality while renting and hiring out our vehicles. We offer cars in great condition and ensure that we deliver as promised. At the moment, we are only hiring out vehicles to international travelers who are already residents in the country or are planning to visit Uganda for tourism, business, research, study and conference related purposes. We also hire out vehicles for those who are interested in a Kampala city tour, visiting religious sites or charity foundations. So if you are interested in visiting the key attractions in Kampala city or major tourism sites in Entebbe town, this may be page you are looking for.

Types of cars available for hire

Our cars are usually hired for self-drive purposes but we can also offer a driver if requested at an extra cost.  We have different types and models of vehicles. Each is suitable for a specific purpose and we will advise you based on your needs and available options. Most of them are 4×4 Wheel drive Vehicles except for those intended for visiting the capital Kampala and the smaller towns with good road networks. We have the following types of vehicles

Toyota Super Customs: The Toyota Super Custom is a very popular vehicle because it has been tailored to offer comfort for tourists going on a safari. It can take up to 5 travelers and provides all the space and legroom required particularly for long journeys.

Standard Safari Hiace Vans: This is a mid-sized car that looks very similar to the Toyota Super Custom but has a better engine and can transport up to 9 people. It is an excellent choice for larger groups of travelers.

Toyota Rav4: The Toyota Rav4 has become very popular for self-drives because it’s economical (doesn’t require much fuel). It is a 4X4 car and hence able to maneuver through difficult Ugandan roads.

Toyota Kruger Suv: This is personal favorite for visitors who are interested in touring the capital or going for long upcountry tours. We are hiring this for city tours and visiting the smaller towns in Uganda. The Toyota Kruger is not suitable for mud-filled roads or safaris.

Land Cruiser Prado TX and TZ: The Land Cruiser Prado in all its variations is a stronger and more powerful vehicle than the Rav4. Its more reliable for safaris and has greater leg room than the Rav4.

Land Cruiser V8: The V8 takes the comfort of the Land Cruiser TX/GX a step further and is generally suitable for the more luxurious traveler. It has a leather interior and more high-end finishing. We highly recommend it for travelers who are going for business meetings or touring major towns in Uganda. The Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Consumes more fuel than most of the cars in our fleet.

Safari Land Cruisers: This is the most popular vehicle for safaris in Africa. They are hardened machines and can maneuver through the most difficult terrain. They are also very spacious and normally come with a pop-up roof. Safari Land Cruisers can accommodate between 5 to 8 passengers.

Toyota Coaster Buses: For very large groups of between 20 to 40, a Toyota Coaster bus may be more ideal. The coaster bus is ideal for students, airport transfers, city tours and also to visit national parks.

Regardless of which model you ending up choosing, we will share photos of the car before you make any payments or sign the contract. We don’t offer some Luxury cars like Range Rovers, Mercedes Benzes and Limousines as a company but we can recommend companies that do so. We do not hire our buses or Extended Safari Cruisers without a driver. It is important to indicate why you are hiring the vehicle so that we recommend the most suitable one for the activity. The vehicles that are hired for tourism related purposes have a pop-up roof to allow for better wildlife viewing. They might not be suitable for a conference or business meeting.

Note: We will provide you a car with a road map and GPS. Baby seats and camping gear are only offered on request.

Cost of hiring a car in Uganda

The cost of hiring a car depends on;

The type of car: A Toyota Land cruiser is more expensive to hire than a Toyota Rav4. This is because they can carry more passengers and are generally more comfortable for longer distance driving.

The number of days hired: If you are hiring the car for a longer period of time, you are eligible for a discount. Our discounts are only possible if you are hiring the vehicle for 5 days or more.

The number of travelers: A lone traveler may pay less than a group of people hiring the same car.

Whether you will drive yourself or use one of our Drivers: If you are planning to drive the car yourself, the cost will be lower than if you request for one of our local drivers.

We generally charge between $70 to $170 per day for our vehicles without a driver or fuel. If you rent a car with a driver, we will assign you one is very knowledgeable and experienced dealing with international travelers. We have drivers who speak English, French and also the major local languages. We can also get you Guides/Drivers who speak German, English and Italian.

Safety, Quality and Insurance when renting a car in Uganda

All our vehicles have got comprehensive insurance that covers damages while on the road. The car you hire will have a spare Tyre and first aid kit. While handing over the vehicle, we will ensure that we assign you a contact person and phone number. The contact person is your focal person whom you can call at any time for help and Guidance. The contact person will be someone with great knowledge of Uganda and the areas you will be visiting.

Booking a car for hire in Uganda

In order to book or rent a car with Mission Africa Safaris, you should send us an inquiry using the email address office@silverbackgorillatours.com. We will inform you about the available cars and related costs/quotations. If you decide to choose any of the available cars, we instruct you on the next steps. To hire a vehicle on self-drive, we will require a valid passport and a valid driving license.  If you decide to use one of our drivers, we will still ask for your passport and a deposit of 40% of overall the cost. The rest of the balance will be paid month before picking up the car or on arrival in cash. The deposit helps us plan ahead and reserve the particular car especially during peak tourism seasons. If you planning on a self-drive, you are required to read our terms and conditions before the car is handed over to you. If you are okay with the terms and condition, you can then sign a contract before the car is given to you.

How will I pay for car hire?

We have two payment methods. By Credit through our company Pesapal account or through a bank wire transfer to our company bank account. There are Pesapal and bank transfer charges to take into consideration and include while making your payments.

How will I pick the car and who pays for the fuel?

The point of pick up depends on your location. You can come to our office or we can instruct our driver to bring the car to your lodge, the airport or any particular location. It is important to let us know where you will be lodging and the exact time you need the car so that we make a timely delivery. If you need the car right from the airport, our company Driver will wait for you at the airport 30 minutes before the arrival of your flight. You need to share with us your time of arrival and other flight details. If there are any changes to your arrival time or hotel bookings, let us know that too.

What about the fuel? We will deliver the car with some fuel in it. There are no costs for fueling the car during delivery within Kampala city or Entebbe town. We will charge a cost for delivering the car in districts and towns outside Kampala or Entebbe. The amount charged will depend on the distance to be covered.

Renting a car for use outside Uganda

It is possible to hire a car and use it in Rwanda and Kenya. You might want to know that most travelers use our vehicles for safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. However, driving to other countries outside Uganda implies that you have to follow the specific driving laws of the country. You might also need to pay fees for crossing borders as well as insurance for the duration of your time in the other country. The minimum age for driving a car may be different from country to country. We generally do not hire cars to teenagers. Only those who are 21 years and above may hire a car from us.

Important things to consider while Renting a car in Uganda

It is important to read our terms and conditions as well as contract carefully. Failure to do so could lead to unnecessary fines. A copy of the terms and conditions will be shared with you during pickup and you are expected to sign it before the car is handed over to you. Ensure that you drive carefully while on Ugandan roads. The Knowledge of the road signs will be important.

Over speeding in Ugandan roads is discouraged. The roads are unpredictable with a lot of bumps and humps that are deliberately built to slow down reckless drivers especially in town centers. Always be alert and imagine that you could encounter a hump. Avoid driving at night. Things like overloading, driving while talking on phone and not observing traffic lights can put you in problems with the Uganda police. You may end up being detained at the police station or else asked to pay fines if you drive recklessly. Apart from police fines, there are also fines which come with failure to adhere to the car rental terms and conditions. Do not forget to pay parking fees within towns and cities.

If you have never been to Uganda and are not experienced in driving through traffic in a developing country, we advise that you don’t go for a self-drive. We can provide you with a driver to take you to your destination of choice. We charge $60 for a driver per day. Local drivers know how to navigate through the traffic. They know the roads and how to get out of every situation. Having a personal Driver will allow you to sit back, relax or conduct your business. If you choose to drive yourself, you need to be aware of the reality of some of the roads in Uganda. Most of the major roads in Uganda are of good quality and made of tarmac. However, once you leave the main roads, you may have to deal with murram roads. These murram roads often mot well maintained and unpredictable. During the dry season, the roads can get very dusty hence requiring a good air-conditioned car. The heavy rains during the wet season can cause many of the park roads to become impassable. Some roads at the Murchison Falls National Park are impassable after the seasonal floods. You can only pass through if you are traveling in a very good 4X4 vehicle and are willing to take risks. The Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable forest is also known for having impassable roads after the wet season floods. Getting the correct route through Nkuringo can be very hard if you are not using a local driver who is familiar with the area. Self-drives are recommended for tourists who have already visited Uganda before or international residents who have been living in the country for a while. If it’s your first time in a developing country and you want to take up the challenge of driving yourself, then we recommend that you have all the information regarding the routes, weather patterns and local driving policies.

If you are hiring a vehicle for a destination out of Kampala and Entebbe, you will need a good 4X4 Vehicle to deal with the unpredictable rural roads. You don’t want to get stuck in the mud with a saloon car. 2×2 cars are more suitable for Entebbe, Kampala and townships. Only use a 2X2 car during the dry season in Uganda. Even then, the dry season is very difficult to predict these days when you consider the level of global warming. The rains come when least expected these days and you can only be safe is you just go with a 4X4 vehicle.

Hire the car in advance especially if you are planning to tour Uganda during the peak season. The dry or peak season is when most tourists come to Uganda for their vacations. Cars are in high demand and getting a specific one may not be easy.