Uganda Aims to Triple Tourists with the Help of Better Transport
Uganda was ranked among the top 16 travel destinations by CNN Travel in 2016. Such accolades in addition to the public relations and marketing firms that were hired in 2015 to represent Uganda in Europe and North America, the brand “Pearl of Africa” has gained position in the travel market.
Uganda wants to triple the number of tourist arrivals to boost its economy along with other major export sectors such as agriculture. Statistics from ministry of tourism indicate $ 1.35 billion were earned as foreign exchange and UGX 7.3 billion was added to Uganda’s growth domestic product in 2015/2016 financial year.
Uganda received 1.3 million tourists in 2015; we have high ambitions to bring in 4 million tourists by 2021, said the chief executive officer, Uganda Tourism Board, Stephen Asiimwe in an interview last year.
Considering the competition for wildlife based tourism, Uganda has a comparative advantage over Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda has half of the world’s mountain gorilla population and gorilla safaris in Bwindi remain number one wildlife encounter in Africa.
Besides the mountain gorillas, Uganda has several unique wonders that include river Nile, the longest in the world, Lake Victoria, Mount Rwenzori, the 3rd tallest range in Africa, diverse wildlife and unique culture.
Despite tourism being a lucrative industry for Uganda as a top tourist destination, poor infrastructure remains a big challenge leading to low tourist access and flow to some of tourist sites and attractions within. Developing infrastructure such as car/bus stations, ferry ports, airport terminals and road networks connecting to remote national parks would create access and ease flow of travelers on Uganda safaris.
At the end of 2015, a group of 38 tourists from Germany were disappointed and cancelled their trip to Kalangala islands upon finding a Kalangala MV anchored by stones and rotten wood in water. The incident led to loss of dollars and created bad image for Ssesse Island as a leisure destination.
The incident was an eye opener for the government to improve tourist infrastructure and roads to take advantage of marketing efforts such as participation in international tourism exhibitions such as INDABA South Africa, ITB-Berlin, WTM-London, if tourist numbers were to be tripled by 2021.
Priority allocations are being made to energize road and air connectivity which is still a challenge. Recently a number of roads were constructed including 143 km Kamwengye-Nyakita which link Kibale forest national park to Bigodi wetland sanctuary.
The government has unveiled plans to construct new roads in northern Uganda, as well new aerodrome in Kasese while improving those that are available such as Pakuba near Murchison Falls National Park. Meanwhile according to the civil aviation Uganda, Entebbe airport is set for rehabilitation including new passenger terminals, arrival halls, and aircraft parking lot. Currently, Entebbe airport is faced with capacity, having experienced increase in passenger traffic from 781400 passengers in 2007 to 1.2 million passengers.
Read MoreThings To Know Before Renting a Car n Uganda
Rental cars fill some needs, yet frequently picking one that fits the majority of your prerequisites can turn into a befuddling experience. Uganda-Self-Drive in Uganda offers some solid counsel on what to search for when considering hiring a vehicle.
When hiring a car, it’s important to first consider if paying for insurance is worth the price tag, and in most cases, it is. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small scratch from serious collision, insurance is often worth the peace of mind of knowing that your rental car is looked after via insurance no matter what the problem.
However, it’s important to be vigilant in reading the contract you sign when acquiring the rental car car, as you may have already paid for standard insurance in the contract and sometimes added insurance is unnecessary and a hidden cost.
It always pays to have a preference of vehicle when selecting a rental car. Whether it be a hatchback, SUV or van – each car serves a unique purpose for a variety of needs that you as a customer may require. Most rental car companies will have the option of diesel and petrol vehicles from which you can choose. Diesel may provide more mileage and torque in your engine, but can occasionally be a little louder. Petrol may cost more at the pump, but in the rainy season petrol engines can warm up a little quicker. The petrol versus diesel debate is a lengthy one, so it really does come down to personal preference.
If you plan on hiring a rental car in Kampala for long distance driving, as is often the case in Uganda, it might be worth hiring a rental car that comes with unlimited kilometres. Remember that you will most likely be returning the car with the same fuel tank of gas as it was given to you, so although you may have unlimited kilometres this doesn’t mean that your travelling distance is without cost.
If you are travelling long distance, or even a short distance for that matter, you should consider a breakdown/roadside assistance that is often provided by car rental companies. The good news is this cost is often included in the original price of hiring the rental car, and if your rental car company doesn’t provide roadside assistance as complementary, then the fee for this is generally small and well worth the extra few dollars.
As mentioned earlier, it is very important to read through the small print on the contract provided to you by the rental car company for several reasons. You need to know specifics of the car rental agreement, such as minimum hire periods and hidden costs that you may incur. Such hidden costs could be late fees, relocation fees, and a drop off charge.
You may only need the car for an hour or two, but most rental car companies will charge a minimum of 24-hour rental. If you are early to drop the vehicle off, this too could incur a fee; regardless of if you feel you are doing the rental car company a favour.
Hiring a rental car need not be a chore; in fact hiring a car can be a lot of fun. Just be sure to have a checklist of preferences and must haves to ensure you select the perfect car for whatever you have planned, and make sure you read the contract!
Read MoreHow to Find the Best Car Rental Agency in Uganda
With no doubt every trip or vacation in Uganda has to be effectively planned to ensure its success. Once you plan for a vacation, always ensure that with the car rental company you are offered with quickest service with exclusive independence observed. In Uganda, there are multiple companies offering car rental in Uganda that even be accessed online. So, once you choose to go for a Uganda safari or any other travel engagement, it is advisable to choose a rental car that can conveniently take you around Uganda. .
Self drive Car hire in Uganda offers a number of advantages, but in order for it to be convenient and also a cost effective, you have to ensure you choose the best company to provide you with this service. The renter has to go through some ways to achieve the former as they are follows:
Once your days of traveling are confirmed, Chances of arranging for a proper rental car service are high with an instant delivery, remember, you are on the internet searching for a Uganda car rental company that will provide you with car rental services that affordable. It is ensured that will specifically choose that car rental company that will meet your expectations by offering a reliable service.
Make direct communications with the car hire company, use their email, telephone number or if they offer it, their “live chat” features. Often communicating to a real person will provide you with peace of mind that you are dealing with a legitimate company that will provide you with a good service other than communicating with a virtual company.
If you are driving in unique or strange areas especially in Uganda, it can be an exceptionally daunting experience and you need to know you have adequate insurance. Insurance should be provided by the car hire company; this is one of the factors to consider when renting such service. Does it cover theft, should the car be stolen from the hotel parking? These are important questions to ask, along with the cost of the excess payable should a claim need to be made.
Price always plays a large deciding factor in choosing the car hire company you choose to use. Remember you are looking for a company that offers a host of inclusions in the price without any hidden extras. Ideally the price should include the duration of use with unlimited mileage, it should also include insurance for the time you have the vehicle. Ideally they will also offer a free drop off and collection, this way you can drive from the airport to your hotel and back to the airport again with ease.
Find out other different offers available with that car rental service provided. For example providing children seats without charging extra fee. What about navigation? If its your first visit in Uganda, you may want a satellite navigation system to help you find the major sights and attractions in addition to the guidebook provided to you by the tourist services you opted to. . Often these are also available at an additional charge.
Read MoreUganda Car Hire: Is Damage Liability Waiver Necessary?
The continuously referred answer to the question of whether or not you need damage liability waiver, therefore, is that is not essential – but you would be landed with full responsibility for any loss or damage that happens to the vehicle, and this could potentially be as much as the replacement value (a lot of money, in other words)
A damage liability waiver partially reduces – or “waives” – your liability for such loss or damage. It is an agreement between you and car Hire Company you are involved with that your liability is partially waived in this way, rather than an insurance policy in the strict sense of the term (though most people will reasonably see it as such).
Once you rent a car in Uganda, you really take on full responsibility for any loss or damage suffered by the vehicle whilst it is in your care in case you don’t have a damage liability waiver.
Therefore, most rental companies in Uganda will want to protect their investment in the vehicle by insisting that you have an adequate damage liability waiver or its equivalent. Many actually will include the cost of providing the waiver in the quoted cost of renting the vehicle. But remember it is important not to be misled into thinking that this totally absolves you from any financial responsibility for damage to the car. There are important exclusions usually attached to such agreements.
There are some areas that most often included in a waiver. Damage to the windows or glass, the tyres and wheels, the roof and underside of the vehicle yet these happen to be areas that are among the most vulnerable to damage. Since they are excluded from the damage liability waiver, this means that you could end up paying for the whole repair bill in the event of damage.
The amount of excess is likely to vary from Rental Company to Rental Company in Uganda and from one country to another – but is still a significant amount. In Africa as a whole, it might be several hundred of a thousand shillings, but in the Uganda car rental industry, it is completely different. Just like the excess on a regular insurance contract, the damage liability waiver excess is the first part of any claim for loss or damage. .
This separate cover for the excess is likely to be sold by the rental company itself, but there are a number of specialist car hire insurers that offer more competitively priced products. Given the size of the hirer’s remaining liability under the damage liability waiver, therefore, it is also possible to insure either a part or the whole of the excess, thus reducing the risk. It is also important to remember that the damage liability waiver is almost always only a partial waiver. The agreement includes an excess amount excluded from the waiver that remains the responsibility of the hirer of the vehicle.
Read More5 Days Holiday in Uganda – Alternative Safaris to Take
There are plenty of great attractions and landscape around Uganda but the 5 days gorilla tracking tour is second to none. Start your five days in Uganda with a gorilla trip to Bwindi forest, home to one of Uganda most famous prime attraction and track gorillas twice, and also meet the first moving primates “chimpanzees” in kibale forest. This is one of the greatest safaris in Uganda as it hits only the cream attractions of the country. I believe you would like to embark on relaxing ride after an overnight stay in the one of Uganda trip start cities with Kampala as the finest. Breakfast is a must before heading out with your driver guide but charge your camera to take photos of the beautiful ride and later have an exhibition inside which rewinds back all the memories and amazing moments of your Uganda holiday.
Kibale forest is sited just 3 hours from the Kampala and chimpanzees will be waiting for you in the afternoon. Kibale national park contains one of the loveliest most varied tracts of tropical forests, and harbours the greatest variety, concentration of primates found anywhere in East Africa and research confirmed that not less than 13 different species reside here.
Not more than three countries in Africa have been awarded as top gorilla trekking destinations but Bwindi forest in Uganda offers superb gorilla viewing encounter with 99% guarantee of meeting the rare mountain gorillas. Besides, Bwindi national park has no introduction; it’s a home to rare mountain gorillas and easily accessible by road for any gorilla trek. There is more than gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest like culture history of the Batwa people, Waterfalls walks and hikes, forest nature walks, Bird watching, etc. Around Bwindi there are many community projects and retreats that have changed lives of many locals with healthy problems, school fees and social well being. Why not ride a $10 bike and support the life of a local woman or visit Bwindi hospital and give hope to the sick. Besides, the local Bwindi community children will smile and take you as a here friend if you give them a book and a pen or pencil to use in class. You can also visit private homes and even take part of their day to day home activities. The truth is Uganda is the best place to track gorillas and get close to locals and their cultures and Bwindi forest is a perfect destination to experience the best gorilla trek and culture.
5 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari
Alternatively, you can choose to spend the entire five days in only bwindi forest and Queen Elizabeth national park. In this option tree climbing lions of Ishasha are a must see, wildlife in Kasenyi plains, katwe salt works, chimpanzees in kyambura gorge and Kalinzu beautiful kazinga channel , mountain gorillas, Batwa people among others. Main trip activities include Morning and evening game drives, Bird watching, Chimpanzee trekking, cultural tours, Launch cruise or boat cruise, gorilla tracking, forest walks , waterfall hikes among others. Both parks have variety of incredible flora and fauna and are acknowledged to be habitats to main Uganda prime attractions. The various park species make trip experiences unbelievable giving tourists a reason to visit over and again. However, in five days you can visit your favorite parks in Uganda as well as other interesting attractions.
Read More