Though some travelers see hiring a safari driver on their trip as a waste of money yet they also know how to drive and still possess a valid driving permit, but in some circumstances hiring a driver is the most affordable and best thing.
Of course, if you order for a safari driver it is you to pay him and not the rental company but if you really compare the services provided by him and what you are paying, you will even want to add him more money. Safari drivers are very affordable and it is really nice and better to get one on your trip.
Below we show you how hiring a safari driver is very affordable and a best way to enjoy your trip in Uganda:
Reduces unjustified accidents and paying extra money
From any of the sanctioned rental companies in Uganda, when you hire a car it means that it is under your full control for that specified period of time you are with it and for any danger happening on it, basically unjustified accidents, you are the one responsible. The unjustified accidents are those which are not really reasonable such as accidents got from reckless driving, over speeding, and others.
However you should not be so scared because all the cars for these sanctioned rental companies are under comprehensive insurance but you will also be asked to pay a sum of US$ 1000, if at all you got a serious accident, to transport the injured car from the crime scene to where insurance can start its operations, just that.
But in most cases all those circumstances come when you don’t have a safari driver because most of the roads in Uganda’s national parks are not in the best condition and it may be challenging to drive onto them when you are a stranger/foreigner.
Therefore you may end up getting uncalled for accidents since you are not so sure about the poor roads which may in turn lead to the penalties of paying the US$ 1000, which you cannot even spend on paying the safari driver.
A great experience
You are guaranteed to learn a lot of things when you hire a safari driver on your trip than when you drive yourself. Since the safari driver is very experienced and knowledgeable about Uganda, he will be taking you through many amazing things about Uganda, such as culture, people’s way of living, best tourist attractions, and many others, hence leaving the country with a great experience.
Time to do other things
You will not be getting enough time to communicate to your relatives and colleagues while driving but in case you have a driver, you will be able to enjoy your safari comfortably while you are sharing the best moments from your trip to relatives and friends whom you left home. You will actually be a corporate when you have a safari driver and you will have more time to do other things, contrary to when you are driving yourself.
You reach your place of interest with a fresh body
Many of the national parks and other tourist attractions in Uganda are very far from Kampala (Uganda’s capital city) and you will need to drive miles and miles to reach them which is really tiresome and it will bring much fatigue yet your body needs to be fresh for you to enjoy most of the activities in the parks. It is therefore a best destination to hire a safari driver such that he does the driving as you are a bit resting since you will still have the fatigue of the airplane.
Best Tourist Places to Visit in Uganda
Uganda is one impressive country you should think of on your next Africa travel adventure. The country comprises of a compilation of interesting destinations that you can go to during your adventure. Uganda has a lot to discover on your self drive safari in Uganda, and below are some of the best epic tourist places that a traveler can visit and remain with amazing long-lasting memories:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Bwindi may not have a lot to discover but its uniqueness of inhabiting almost half of the total population of the endangered mountain gorillas on earth makes it a perfect spot to give a visit. This exceptional Park is nestled in the southwestern region of Uganda and undoubtedly it receives the heaviest number of tourists annually.
The Mountain Gorillas are very friendly to humans and you will evidence that mostly when you meet these gentle apes. The gorillas will always be delighted to meet you and they may want to come near you however you are emphasized never to be so close to them due to various reasons, among them which include not to spread diseases to the gorillas (since they nearly share the same DNA with humans, meaning they can be affected to human diseases too), and for security purposes as well for the fact being gorillas are still wild creatures besides being all that social and friendly to humans.
There are however some other things to discover and enjoy in Bwindi, such as; gorilla habituation experience, the Batwa Cultural Trail, birding, and mountain bike riding, all which will fetch for you a lot of joy and happiness.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This is another marvelous epic Park and a visit to it will enable you to view some of the natural wonders that you have never thought of happening. Queen Elizabeth National Park is surely a worthy-visit-place in Africa as there are very many things to enjoy and discover, including the unique tree climbing lions.
Usually lions are not known to climb trees like monkeys and chimpanzees but it is really a surprise and of course amazing to see that in the Ishasha sector of this Park it is a routine to see lions climbing and resting on the tree branches. These tree-climbing lions are mostly seen in the noon hours when it is too hot and they decide to climb and hide the hotness on the tree branches. Still in the Park is the beautiful Kazinga Channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George.
The channel attracts a wide range of animals and birds, with one of the world’s largest concentrations of Hippos and many Nile Crocodiles. In the Kyambura Gorge of Queen, you can indulge in the primate safaris with the major activity there being; chimpanzee tracking – another friendly ape to humans.
Kidepo Valley National Park – True African Wilderness
Surely it is very difficult to fully describe the beauty of Kidepo in just an article or even when given a full day to describe this park to someone is still not enough. However, what you have to know is that this is the most recommended park in Africa to serious wildlife lovers and photographers.
The park comprises of multifarious activities which are so fabulous, such as fantastic photography safaris, exceptional game drives and game viewing, birding safaris, amazing cultural experiences, among others. In Africa there is no single Park with more wildlife species than Kidepo and it is the reason as to why it was christened the ‘’True African Wilderness’’.
It is therefore a pleasure to visit Kidepo as you will view many wildlife species including Africa’s big game like Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards, Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, Zebras, Giraffes, among many others. The panoramic and photogenic landscape of Kidepo is another reason as to why the Park attracts many tourists.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is endowed with numerous attractions that you should not miss on your next adventure. The park has the largest concentration of wildlife in Uganda and a trip to this park will see you viewing all the popular Africa’s big five though only four are exactly found in the park but on your way to or from Murchison, you will view the fifth one. The Africa’s big five are Lions, Rhinos, Elephants, Leopards, and the Cape buffaloes.
The Rhinos are not in the park but on your route to or from Murchison Falls National Park, you will stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and view them in plenty. Besides the big five, the Park’s main attraction is the eye-catching Murchison Falls National Park – which are among the most powerful waterfalls in the world.
The highlight of your safari in this Park is visiting the top of the falls, of which the launch trip up stream is very amazing as it offers stunning views of the falls and there are numerous wildlife species concentrated along the shores including Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, Buffaloes, Elephants, water bucks and various bird species. In the Park, you will also track the chimpanzees.
Ssese Islands, Kalangala
These are 84 paradisiacal islands situated in the northwest of Lake Victoria in Uganda. These islands are major eat-out places in Uganda and always various sorts of people, such as; couples, honeymooners, group of friends, families, workmates, and students, throng the islands to have fun and enjoy their time there, especially on weekends.
There are a bunch of activities to indulge in while at the islands, including; boat cruises, bird watching, quad biking, sport fishing, village/cultural encounters, primate safaris, nature/forest walks, golfing, and there are beautiful sandy beaches too, plus many other mesmerizing activities.
Jinja City
Jinja is a city in eastern Uganda and it is globally known for the existence of the ‘’source of the Nile’’ – longest river in Africa and second in the world. The source of River Nile is believed to be at Jinja, according to John Spekes’ findings, and it is the major attraction there.
The city receives many tourists who go there to visit the source of Africa’s longest river and also engage in various astonishing activities such as white water rafting, kayaking, quad biking, jet boating, and swimming.
