What Is An Out Of Hour Fee In Car Rental?
When you return the car beyond the agreed time, this may mean additional cost on you. Most importantly, you need to find out how to arrange an out-of-hours service and the amount it may cost you. Ideally, you may require a car rental very late at night or early in the morning but depending on the location, the car hire companies are not open 27/7. However, some car hire agencies do open early enough and for any need for car pick up outside normal hours, you may incur additional charge.
So what is the an out-hours fee-this is a cost one has to pay with most car rental companies, in case you decide to pick a car up or drop it off outside the normal opening hours. However, not all car rental companies do have this option available at the time of you booking a vehicle. The cost usually covers charges of having an employee at the counter outside normal working hours. This fee differs from one company to another and country to country that you will be hiring the car. But an out-of-hours fee normally costs between 15 pounds and 45 pound. While booking for a car rental in Uganda, make sure that you check through the terms and conditions of a particular car rental company you intend to deal with.
If you want to pick up a car rental outside the normal opening times then you can enter the precise time you intend to pick a car that is if you are booking online. This will also help you find out what is available and what additional fees you may need to pay. The car hire company’s website should let you know if you will be in position to pick up a car when the counter is closed. Usually, it is better for you to request an out of hours pick up at a time of booking a vehicle online. It is important that you find more information on the terms and conditions that do apply for this case.
There are many car hire centers like airports and train stations have many car parks which are open at least 24/7 and key box where one can drop the car key securely. This denotes that you will not have to arrange out-of-hours drop off or pay a fee. Take note that that you are responsible of the car till the counter opens and staff checks it. In case the car hire agency does not have a car park which is 24/7 open for car drop off then you need to know the possible way or rather pay extra charge.
In most cases, an out-of-hours fee is charged at the car rental counter upon arrival to pick up a car unless it is included in the cost you pay when booking for it. The counter staff takes the money directly from the credit card you provide for the deposit.
In case you do not want to be part of this charge then do pick up a car when the counter is open. Alternatively, if you get late for pick up car then better you take a taxi to a hotel and ask for a hire company staff and if they can deliver it to your area of stay better or go at the counter the next day.
In conclusion, depending on the car Rental Company you deal with, policies on returning the car rental late may differ from one company to the other. However, it is a common rule that when you return a car late or beyond the agreed time, you will be charged a fee.
Read More5 Best Sedan Cars for Hire in Uganda
Are you searching for a compact car to rent for your safari in Uganda? You have a right to choose the right car rental in Uganda that is comfortable and pocket friendly and that is why our saloon cars are there for you to realize your dreams in Uganda. Saloon cars are also famous as Sedan cars. Our saloon vehicles are smaller in size and they accommodate about four people and the driver. Our saloon vehicles are credited for their most comfortable, stylish and simple to manage and convenient for travelers who are in their business tour, city dwellers and safaris. We have a wide array of Sedan vehicles for people to hire especially the executive one which are versatile, comfortable and secure to the budget which are just adequate for travelers to drive around. Ideally there is no reason why you shouldn’t grab one our best and affordable 4X4. To help you come up with the best choice, below is the list of our amazing sedan/saloon cars to hire in Uganda.
1. Rav4
The best 4 seater car for you to hire, it accommodates a total of four travelers but it comes with adequate space. Its interior is amazing and generally one of the strongest vehicles to help navigate through Uganda’s rough roads. Besides other fleets of Saloon cars, the Rav4 also feature in tow categories, the short tow door and the long four doors all these have similar seating capacity and strength. Most visitors intending to take up self drive safaris in Uganda, the Rav4 is preferably the best because it is very friendly in terms of fuel consumption and simple to manage. Are you planning to travel as an individual, couple or friends? Using a Rav4 is the best vehicle to help you traverse throughout your safari in all corners of Uganda.
2. Toyota premio
This features as upscale saloon car with an incredible interior which come in wood trim and good class material together with assortment of convenience features such as bottle stands, air conditioning, airbags, centralized door lock, power windows, automatic and manual, CD player and among others. It is a small vehicle and simple to run hire a Toyota premio from our authorized car hire company in Kampala, Uganda and hit the road in a comfortable way to any of the attractive areas and you won’t regret in life. This kind of car is ideal for city safaris and distant towns although it is not encouraged to use on rough roads.
3. Toyota Noah
This type of a car resembles the minivan in its physical appearance. It accommodates about seven people and driver and to enjoy more comfort and need of window seats, it can take five people. Its interior is fantastic, it has adjustable seats and you can do it your convenience. It is the most comfortable vehicle for group safaris of four and more, ideally there is no need to be worried of space to stretch your legs or pack your cargo. It also comes with sun roof that offers visitors the most stunning views of the area while in a safari.
4. Mercedes Benz
This is an ultimate luxury car. It comes in Mercedes Benz S class, E class and C class and many more brands. The Mercedes Benz is an unbeatable of all sedan cars given its entire mechanical make up, this however explains why it is acknowledged for wedding parties, executive hire and anything to do with upscale bracket. It is one of the cars that have kept their legacy of first class and durability. Renting this type of saloon car is an opportunity for visitors to save money as it is also the in terms of fuel consumption.
5. Toyota corona
This is best for traversing through Uganda’s capital city and other areas of the country. It is an exclusive four seater sedan car, best for town navigation and smooth areas. It comes in automatic and manual, air conditioned, CD player, ABC brakes, power steering, electric windows, airbags and others.
In conclusion Saloon cars are convenient, easy to drive and compact to navigate in Kampala and other areas especially on self drive safaris. Hiring our sedan cars gives you opportunity to explore different parts of Uganda at a pocket friendly price, comfort, safety and with big space to pack your luggage for safari. Enjoy your safari with our best saloon cars and you won’t regret in life!
Read MoreHow To Save Big On Uganda Car Hire
Saving is very important especially when going for a safari, and the saved money can be used on something else very important. Have you ever traveled to Africa mainly Uganda which is well know as the pearl of Africa. The country has very many tourist attractions some of which are untouched, however all these can be best explored either in a self-drive vehicle or with one of our experienced driver who know each and every corner of Uganda. If you want to make some savings on your self drive safari to Uganda or elsewhere and make the best of your trip, try to follow these simple car hire tips you will not fail to save more on your budget and use the saved money for shopping or any other personal nature.
Try to Look beyond brand name
Many car rental companies hire their cars at a very high rate just because of their names, so in order to avoid being over charged try not to concentrate more on booking with popular companies with brand names most of the time their rates are very high when you compare it with other small companies yet they offer the same services. Try looking out for some independent and trusted car hire agency in Uganda that charge lower price and on a discounted rates. Although it’s not a guarantee, it’s on record that independent companies offer cheap and friendly prices for their vehicles. You will find that you’ve saved some good money on the same car.
Avoid airport transfers
For the case of airport transfers, you should not do this mistake of transporting your self form and to the airport which many people do yet they hired a vehicle from the car hire agency. In order to save, always tell the car hire agent to pick and drop you at the airport or get you the car from the location in or around the city or at the airport. Airport pick ups and drop offs are chargeable and hence it ends up increasing your expense by more than 15%, so it’s better to agree with your agency about airport pick up and cover that extra expense, if you negotiate this before you won’t be charged. At Drive Uganda, we offer supplementary airport pick and drop offs for free when you book your rental.
Negotiate well with agent:
If you negotiate well with the car hire agent, you may end up getting the car at a reduced price. Or you may decide to do it one on one with the gent by visiting their offices and try to bargain, you never know you may get a reduced price on your car. Doing this you can be given a less expensive car than the one you confirmed with.
Always get a car that fits your needs and budget:
This is very important in case you want to save on car hire, you must hire a car based on the number of people you are traveling with and your budget constraints, as this will stop you from extra costs. if you’re a sole traveler don’t hire a van or a supper custom because it’s more expensive than a Rav4 which is suitable for 1– 3 people, and if you’re traveling with a family or with a big group from 3-8 people, a van, supper custom, land cruiser extended or a larger sedan is suitable and you can ask for a discount. It’s also advised to communicate your budget and the car of interest, the car hire agency will get it, and in case you need a special item it’s better to let them know because minus telling them, they won’t know and you may need something that may draw you in extra costs, so ask you will be given, for example, you may need a car with a tent. Also ask for discounts, most car hire services offer discounts when you rent for long period say from one week and above,
Try to know the exchange rate
This will also help you to save especially if you’re booking online, try to search online the exchange rate in Uganda shillings or any other rate of any country you’re going to, to avoid disagreeing with the agent about the exchange dollars in Uganda, you can use either the Google converter or XE currency converter. This will help you to know how much 1 USD is equivalent to in the Uganda shillings.
Book Early:
Always it’s better to book earlier before your traveling dates in order to avoid disappointments and last minutes booking. This will help you choose the right car that fits your budget and the number of people you’re traveling with. Moving on the streets of a strange nation looking for a car to hire you may get a wrong choice and expensive car.
Read MoreHow Early Should I Book a Gorilla Safari
Are you planning for a gorilla safari to Africa and you do not know when you should book your permit or how early you should book for your gorilla safari? Well, in order for you to take part in gorilla safari, a number of factors have to be considered while planning for a successful primate adventure of this kind.
As you plan for a memorable gorilla tour, one of thing you shouldn’t forget is securing your gorilla permit. This must be done early enough! How early should it be done is a main question that nearly everyone asks and very significant and at end of this article, you would have got the answer to this important question.
A gorilla permit is a very important requirement for every trekker who wishes to embark on gorilla safari in Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo. A permit is what allows you track only one habituated family and given the high demand for permits, visitors are always encouraged to book for their permits in advance to avoid any kind of disappointments. In Uganda, about 136 gorilla permits are always available for visitors to purchase and these represent about 17 habituated groups that are available for visitors to trek in Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, in Rwanda-there are about 80 permits that are always available for purchase and they represent the 10 groups that have habituated and readily available for visitors to trek then 64 in DRC which represent about 8 habituated families in Virunga National Park. Note, one gorilla group is equal to eight visitors!
Usually, visitors wishing to take part in this tremendous primate adventure are advised to book their permits at least 3-6 months earlier before the actual trekking date. However, others even book 2 years earlier. Booking a permit in advance is something of great significance. First, it gets you out of the stressful moment on the last minute booking when it becomes very challenging for one to find a permit the fact that demand for them is very high. Normally, things become worse especially during the dry season which is also regarded as high/peak season which is the busiest period in the gorilla parks. The dry season begins from June to September and December to February. However, the wet season is equally ideal for trekking and kick starts from March to May and from December to February. Besides, it allows you to plan for other things which are of great value for this adventure. Note that gorilla trekking isn’t only securing for a permit but also for you to plan for means of transportation to and fro the destination, lodges and accommodation options for your overnight stay while on safari plus meals and many other factors. By booking your gorilla safari early enough, you will have a well-planned vacation in Uganda or Rwanda that will leave a lasting memory in you.
The cost for gorilla permits varies from country to country. In Uganda, you can obtain one at $600, in Rwanda at $1500 per person while in the DR Congo you need about $400 and this also applies to those of you who wish to trek for eastern lowland gorillas at Kahuzi Biega National Park.
You can book a permit through a registered, recognized ground tour operator or company or through a reservationist at Uganda Wildlife Authority if you are to track mountain gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park; reservationist at Rwanda Development Board if you are heading off to Rwanda. Send your email with dates you wish to track gorillas and we shall check the availability of gorilla permits for you as you sit back home. The dates you intend to track gorillas are available, we shall reserve a permit for you and you will be required to make a deposit.
In conclusion, if you are planning to take part in gorilla experience in Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo, make sure that you book your permit early enough to avoid being disappointed due to shortages that come as a result of high demand for gorilla permits. Contact us and we shall be of great help to you!
Read MoreUganda’s Tourism Benefit Locals
Tourism in Uganda has helped a lot in improving the lives of many Ugandans including in the rural areas. The number of tourist arrivals in Uganda has increased significantly over the years and this has translated into dollars for different people involved in the hospitality industry.
Tourism however remains a foreign concept to many Ugandans despite the benefits that it is providing to this Country. Very few Ugandans have visited the different national parks in Uganda. Although the size of the British Isle, Uganda has over 10 national parks in addition to other different game reserves and conservation areas.
About a million tourists visited Uganda national parks in 2018; however by 2009 the number of tourists had increased tremendously to 145,000 arrivals.
Uganda’s tourism despite its great initial potential after independence was greatly affected by the dictatorial reign of Idd Amin in the 1970s. A large number of Uganda’s wildlife was decimated due to poaching and poor management of the wildlife.
Rhinos for instance were hunted to extinction in Uganda. This was partly due to superstition by the soldiers who believed that wearing a rhino horn made one invincible.
However also during the 1990s there was war in northern by the Lord’s Resistance Army – LRA as well as south western Uganda by the Allied Democratic Forces – ADF and media reports about these incidents negatively affected the country’s image.
One of the worst of these incidents was the massacre of tourists in Bwindi national park who had gone on a gorilla safari in 1999 by the ADF rebels. Gorilla tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner for Uganda’s tourism. Almost all Uganda tour packages feature gorilla trekking in Bwindi as a must do activity included in the itinerary.
The other notable incident was the killing of students from the Jimmy Sekasi Institute of catering and hospital by the LRA in 2001 in an area of Uganda’s largest national park – Murchison falls national park in northern Uganda.
In order to realize the goal of conservation, conservations have poverty alleviation as one of the key objectives of conservation of wildlife. Uganda Wildlife Authority has for years now made it a point in its revenue sharing program to ensure that 20% of the annual revenue collected from any national park goes back to the communities surrounding the national park or tour attraction.
In total there has been over $2 million that the Uganda Wildlife Authority has given back to the local communities in the national parks through their local governments and the money is often used to provide services to the community as well as start projects for the locals in the area.
There are over 30 districts found around Uganda’s national parks and protected areas. All these districts under their local government have identified projects under the revenue sharing scheme that the Uganda Wildlife Authority can partly finance.
These locals have identified projects such as constructions of classrooms, teachers’ houses, clinics, roads, irrigation schemes, community halls and centers etc.
In addition to this locals benefit from tourism activities directly, for instance the locals around Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park as well as Mountain Rwenzori national park earn more in a month than most civil servants earn in a year from being porters to the tourists when doing gorilla trekking and Rwenzori mountain climbing.
Read MoreTourism and the Gorillas
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. Tourism involves travel of people” and staying in different places of there interest. Many people travel to Africa to see mountain Gorillas and gorilla trekking is the major tourism activity in Uganda. As must do for every visitor to Uganda, Rwanda or Congo whether for the first time or not and is the largest generator of revenue from tourism.
Apart from Uganda being home to almost half of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorillas, there is a lot to see and do in Uganda. There are lots of birds, wildlife, natural scenery, rich culture, mountains and many more. Conservationists in Africa are looking forward to a bright future for the protection of mountain gorillas because according to a census conducted last year, Uganda’s endangered apes have increased in number from 302 to 480 individuals, hence the total number of gorillas in Africa is now at 1000. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the increase proves without uncertainty that Uganda’s conservation efforts are paying off and is testimony to the sound natural resource management policies that are being implemented in the protected areas,”
Both gorilla conservation and gorilla tourism is intertwined! Tourism relies on availability of gorillas yet tourism is also crucial in generating the funds that are used in supporting conservation works within the gorilla habitats.
Gorilla tourism has also helped in getting the local communities on board in protecting the mountain gorillas. By putting some of the revenue into local projects, converting formerly hostile groups into friendly advocates for the gorillas’ survival, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials have been able to build successful partnerships with local communities.
The endangered mountain gorillas have their home in two known national parks; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both national parks are found in the south western part of the country. Mgahinga is the Ugandan part of the Virunga Conseravtion Area that extends into Rwanda as Volcanoes National Park and the Democratic Republic of Congo as Virunga National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site given that it hosted three great apes; chimpanzees, mountain gorillas and humans. A gorilla trek is one of the most interesting adventure activity that can be done in Bwindi Forest. Currently gorilla tourism is highly controlled and the number of visitors tracking the mountain gorillas is limited. There are 17 gorilla groups that have been habituated for gorilla visits. Every group is visited by a maximum of eight visitors.
A gorilla trekking permit goes for USD600 per person in Uganda, USD400 in Virunga National Park of DR Congo and USD1500 in the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda.
Gorillas Increasing in Numbers
According to Mike Cran-field of Gorilla Doctors, “The mountain gorilla is the only non-human great ape that is actually growing in number and the growth of the mountain gorilla population can be attributed to the intensive conservation and collaboration between multiple conservation groups and government authorities.” The increase in population growth was partly due to “extreme conservation” methods such as daily ranger monitoring in the forest, this is according to the conservation group Gorilla Doctors. Think of African Beauty with the Gorillas in their natural habitat.
Read MoreThe Forgotten Uganda Pyramids
Pyramids are probably one of the most unique architectural endeavors of ancient history that we can still see today. The pyramids of Egypt are very astounding in design and are probably the most known world-wide. However the number of pyramids in Sudan far out numbers those in Egypt by 85. Sudan has a great number of pyramids and is testament to the rich culture the Country had in its history.
There is however a pyramid in Uganda that is little known by the locals even in those living in the District of Maracha where it is located. In 1911, after the signing of an agreement between the then British Protectorate and the Belgian, the latter built a pyramid in Alikua village located in today’s District of Maracha. The Belgians built the pyramid to signify that they were the first white people to settle in the region.
It is believed to have a bottle with a paper in it on which is written the year in which they first settled in the area before the British colonialists. The Pyramid is 5 meters tall and is made of mud and stones. The structure is however now cracking and the plaster around it is worn out with old age. It was well protected about 3 decades ago as it was being funded by the Belgian government but is now rapidly being destroyed due to neglect. Some years back the structure was vandalized by people who thought mercury had been buried in it. Its caretaker is a 34 year old young man Mr. Alikua Oku who is not being paid a cent for his work.
The locals consider this a cultural heritage and one school in the region has it has its emblem. Early during the colonization by the British, the pyramid was heavily guarded by the protectorate soldiers when West Nile became part of the British Protectorate. The West Nile region was initially part of the then Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) which was a colony of the Belgians. According to a local Mr. Gatabua, Weatherheads who was the District Commissioner during the British rule was killed when he and his soldiers attempted to carry out a cattle raid from the locals. He was shot and killed by the locals and buried just about 200 meters from the pyramid.
This is an example of how Uganda has failed to take advantage of its tourism potential. Tourism in Uganda is one of the fastest growing sectors at a rate of 21% and has grown by 50% in the last 10 years. Currently we have put more emphasis on gorilla tour in Bwindi impenetrable forest, with gorilla trekking bringing in over $3m annually.
Read More
Quick Guide to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Your visit to Uganda would be an incomplete one if you do not visit Queen Elizabeth National Park. Located in Western Uganda at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most popular tourist destination.
The park was named after Queen Elizabeth II of England after visiting Uganda and was established in 1954.The park is one of the world’s biosphere reserves protecting a wide range of flora and fauna.
Getting There
The National Park is located in Kasese District in Western Uganda set against the backdrop of the Ruwenzori Mountains and extends from Lake George to Lake Edward connected by the Kazinga Channel. The Park’s diverse ecosystem like the sprawling savannah, the shady, humid forest and the sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands have made it attractive and a habitat for the wild animals and over 500 bird species. This park has greatly attracted many tourists who come for safaris.
You cannot miss out on viewing the safari tree climbing Lions, Elephants, Hippos, Chimps, Leopards and Kobs among others. There are several services offered and enjoyed in the Park like game drives, scenic drives, bird watching, nature walks, guided walks, chimp tracking and boat rides/ cruise on the Kazinga Channel and after all those activities you can relax and spend a night in the available park lodges like Mweya Safari Lodge, Katala Lodge, Mweya Hostel, bush lodge, Savanna Lodge and Enganzi Lodge among others.
Besides the beautiful attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, there is a fascinating cultural history and the local community with enjoyable stories, music and dance; all this makes Queen Elizabeth National Park fun and memorable. This is also the main reason why many tourists have greatly traveled to Uganda to enjoy the wildlife safaris carried out within the national park.
Read More
Boosting Local Tourism Through Bird Watching
In a bid to promote local tourism in Uganda the National Forestry Authority – NFA as well as Uganda Wildlife Authority – UWA are planning to let locals enter the national park free of charge and help in identifying as many unknown bird species as possible. This is to enable boost local earnings from Uganda’s tourism.
According to statistics from the Uganda Wildlife Authority the number of tourists to Uganda national parks is mainly foreign non-resident tourists who average about 61,000. This is closely followed by students on field trips who make up approx. 42,000 while only a palty 30,000 are locals.
This project is expected to be conducted with the help of ornithologists as well as the many local bird guides who were recently trained as well as seasoned birders.
The acting director of tourism and business services of Uganda Wildlife Authority, Mr. Stephen Sanyi Masaba this initiative is aimed at helping to promote the bird watching in the Country as well provide information about Uganda ‘s bird species to the international community.
Uganda has over 1047 recorded bird species which is more than half of the bird species found in Africa as a continent. According to Mr. Masaba bird watching in Uganda alone has the potential to generate over Shs 126 billion approx. $45m each given year if only the Country could attract 10,000 foreign tourists to see birds only. At press conference at the Uganda Media Centre, he said that in 2008 compared to mountain gorilla tracking which brought in $3.3 million, Uganda birding watching brought in $6m.
During the event all the birds seen or heard in the wild will be recorded. The birding tours will be carried out in the following selected sites
- Semuliki National Park
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Lake Mburo national park
- Mount Elgon national park and forest
- Kibale Forest National Park
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Kidepo Valley National Park
How to Easily Get a Car for Hire in Uganda
Uganda is one of the first moving countries when it comes to tourism. This is attributed to its rear attractions which include those that are not found elsewhere in the world. Currently, this country hosts a high number of people from different countries who come specifically to tour and have a look at some of the nature wonders this country possesses. As tourism develops, there is another sector that is growing alongside it and that is car hire in Uganda. Today, numerous companies have been setup in Uganda and these mainly deal in renting out cars to both people and organizations. As you well know that not all people can afford to buy their own cars yet they need them for movements and this is why they have to hire where necessary. Even tourists are forced to rent cars simply because they cannot drive their own in a foreign country given the time they are to spend on a safari.
Car hiring simply means obtaining a car for use at an agreed price and then return it to the owner after use. When one gets a car on a renting basis, he/she is charged a fee by the owner. This is charged because the owner has to maintain the car and also have some income for his company so that it can keep moving. This price is not constant as different companies have different pricing strategies and goals. Also the type of car hired contributes a lot in determining which price to be charged. Normally, small cars are charged lower prices compared to big cars because of the fuel consumption variances and the number of people carried. These are the main determinants in coming up with a fee to charge a specific customers. Here at our company, we always put our clients in mind when determining how much to charge them for using our vehicles. We always try and make both sides happy because we well know that one customer satisfied is better than investing dollars in marketing our company. This is because that a customer once satisfied he will go back to his country and speak well about us and also market our brand while there.
We have numerous cars ready to be rented out and they are in good conditions for ensuring safety on the road and making sure that clients reach their destiny without any conveniences. Self drive services are also provided in our company giving our customers the liberty to drive themselves in our vehicles at a very low price. We service them regularly and also dispose of those that appear to be in dangerous conditions. We have the best staff which is experiences in this sector well trained to deal with customers. They are always online to answer questions from customers and offer advice to them whenever required.
Booking with us is simple especially if you visit our website. All you need to do is to click the inquire button on this website and simply fill in the details in the form and then click send. Our team will immediately reply to your inquiry and they will go on to send you the costing according to your request. We always encourage our clients to first read the terms and conditions of our company before booking a car. You can now book your favorite car with us and we shall give it to you without hesitation even if it requires a self drive, we shall give it to you. Our services stretch from Uganda, Rwanda and even Kenya. We have agents in all those countries and offices so it doesn’t matter where you want to go, we allow you enjoy a drive to all destinations in these countries without charging extra costs.
Read More