There are mainly three ways to approach a road trip. The first one is setting off to simply drive around the country without necessarily making viewing wildlife your main goal. The other option is tailoring your road trip around wildlife destinations. And last tailoring your road trip itinerary to feature most of the major towns around the country as well as wildlife destinations.
Uganda is one of the trending destinations for self-guided road trips in East Africa. The country’s reputation as Africa’s Friendliest Country stems partly from the tradition of hospitality common to its culturally diverse populace, and partly from the remarkably low level of crime and hassle directed at tourists.
The country has a lot to offer to adventure seekers! From gorilla trekking expeditions into the famous Bwindi Forest to classic game drives in savanna national parks, lots of adventure await you within this East African nation dubbed as the Pearl of Africa!
Many travelers often assume that they know the country simply they have visited most of the national parks around the country. But there is more to life than mere wildlife and national parks. This is where people who tailor their road trips around major towns with wildlife reserves as mere detours often experience the country in a better way than those who visit only wildlife destinations.
When we talk about a budget Uganda road trip, it ought to be looked at in light of major towns with wildlife destinations as detours. Most of the national parks or wildlife destinations have been organized in a way to fit some of the basic needs of the tourists. Though it is highly recommended to visit these places, featuring most major towns will give you a better insight into the country.
Here are some of the things you should consider for your budget Uganda road trip:
Car Type
It is highly recommended to consider a 4×4 car given the fact that most of the none highway places have poor roads. In regard to the 4×4 car, a Land cruiser is more recommended than a Rav4. There are some places that you may not be able to reach with a Rav4, for example the remote Kidepo valley national park in northeastern Uganda. But with a Land cruiser, you can visit any part of the country.
Tow Rope
On top of hiring a Land cruiser for your budget Uganda road trip. Consider getting a tow rope for your rescue in case you get stranded on the road for any reason.
Jumper cables
Jumper cables are some of the essentials for your Uganda budget road trip. You cannot be sure when the battery will go flat. It is common to find a car battery lighting green implying that it is still is good condition only for it to fail to start the engine. To prepare for this, it is recommended to carry jumper cables so that anyone can come to your rescue in case your car fails to start.
Wheel spanner and Jake
Sometimes that car can be delivered with tires in the best condition but accidents are unpredictable. It is therefore important to note that on top of having a good spare tire, you will need the tools to install it. These are not very big tools, they can easily get misplaced when doing the final checks.
GPS Device
The GPS is an essential for all travelers looking to self-drive Uganda. Instead of using your phone as the navigation device, a GPS works out better given that it allows to continue using your phone while driving. Many phones tend to use a lot battery while using them for navigation. To save your battery phone, it is better to use a GPS device.
In conclusion, a budget road trip in Uganda should put more focus on exploring Uganda’s major towns instead of visiting national parks only. On your journey to explore some towns, you can plan for detours that allow connect to national parks. It is important to note that there is life outside the national parks and the best picture of the country can only be gotten when you combine visiting national parks and Uganda’s major towns.
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