Considering to have an on road or off-trip to the most remote areas of Uganda is one of the most rewarding activities one 8can undertake. It does not involve any sort of tight schedules, no crowded terminals but just a free and open road and your whim to explore in your own time, at your own pace.
Renting a car from Entebbe, Kampala through any of Uganda’s reputable tour and travel companies is more appealing as a means of travel. It is accessible especially when travelling to local or safari destinations, or crossing borders to visit neighbors such as Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
However, a memorable road trip safari does not just happen, it also involves strategic planning right from the car you will use depending on the number of people you will be, places to visit, and accommodation facilities among others. Smart packing also plays a key role in how smooth and enjoyable your trip will be.
Cars you can hire for rental in Uganda include Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser GX/TX/GX, Safari van (suitable for large groups), Land Cruiser Extended and Hard top, Toyota RAV4 among others.
Therefore, we bring you a guide to walk you through essential thing you needed to pack when using car rental that will help you stay safe, organized and steadfast for whatever the road will bring to you.
Documents and car rental details: As an intentional foreigner wanting to have a road trip in Uganda, you will always need to verify your existence in the country so as you get ready for the trip, documents should be first be packed in a small bag, separately from your other cargo so that you don’t waste time digging through the big bag. Even renting a car, you will need to have these papers such as
A valid driver’s license and an international driver’s permit usually acquired in Uganda. Carry this especially when considering a self-drive road trip in Uganda.
Your car rental agreement
Emergency contact information
Insurance documents
Valid passport and national ID
Navigation tools: You need to have gadgets that will help navigate ad find your way easily. A mobile smart phone is important yet not always reliable as it can run out of battery and you will need a backup plan. Even when it is not just about battery, poor network can also affect your navigation and so carry these with you to combat such problems.
A physical map for back up, in case of poor network
A power bank or car charger
A phone mount for safe navigation use
Offline maps usually downloaded prior to the trip just in case in remote areas where network is poor.
Snacks and hydration: When self-driving or being driven to any of your destinations both near and far, it gets really exhausting and one always needs refreshers. Hunger and dehydration can easily terminate the joy of your road-trip.
Therefore, pack reusable water bottles, napkins and paper towels, a small cooler box for drinks and fresh food, non- perishable snacks such as granola bars, dried fruit and nuts. Greasy foods should not be a go for because they easily spill and also if your agreement includes cleaning fees.
Comfort items: A road trip, whether on road or off road gets more rewarding when the vehicle has some extra comfort, since rental cars are not always tailored for your personal comfort. Therefore, consider packing travel pillows and light blankets, wet wipes and hand sanitizer, comfortable clothing and spare outfit, sun glasses for day time driving.
Luggage: Always pack smart and not heavy for a road trip since you never know the size of the trunk of the car you are hiring, since it is not your usual vehicle. So ensure to pack items such as soft bags instead of hard suitcases for matters of flexibility, always pack only what you need for the duration of the trip and keep frequently used items in close reach.
Safety and security items: Since you are driving in an unknown land, not everyone you will meet will be as friendly as your car rental company. So, for security purposes, you will need to carry a small lock box or hidden pouch for safe keeping of valuables, copies of important documents and a basic personal safety kit that may include items such as portable tyre inflator, multi tool or Swiss army knife, duct tape , face masks, sunscreen and insect repellent among others.
Technology and entertainment equipment: Long drives tend to eventually become monotonous and boring so you need to have devices for entertainment to help you stay focused and in morale for the trip. These may include a curated play list or podcasts, charging cables for all devices, head phones for passengers and audio books.
Streaming apps such as Spotify to help you download entertaining content in advance so that you do not use mobile data along the way.
Emergency kit: Your usual vehicle and the car rental vehicle are totally different and during the long drive, you may not know or expect how it will behave. Therefore, always carry
A first aid kit with first aid supplies.
Basic toolkit
Jumper cables
Spare tyres
Flash light with extra batteries
Reflective warning triangle
It is also important to save your car rental company’s emergency contact just in case you need extra assistance.
Cleaning and maintenance supplies: As someone intending to enjoy a road trip in Uganda, you would not like to spend another money on having the vehicle cleaned up after the trip. Therefore, carry sanitary materials such as trash bags, air freshener, tissue paper and cleaning wipes. These will help you do a quick clean up at the end of each day so that you do not incur cleaning costs.
Car-specific add-ons: In case you need some specific extras for your road trip, it should be made clear to your car rental company. Things such as child car seats are usually requested from the company.
Other items you may carry for the road include phone holder for navigation, dash board camera (if that is legal and allowed), and portable Wi-Fi device.
Items for weather and terrain preparedness: Packing lists can always differ depending on the route you are intending to use. One packing for an urban road trip packs differently compared to that one packing for remote areas.
However, many road trips in Uganda are destined for remote areas so one needs to pack such as
Rain gear and umbrellas for the rains
Extra water and fuel for remote areas
Insect repellents for those planning on visiting national parks
Sunscreen, hats and light clothes for hot climate especially from July-October.
Cash: Endeavour to carry cash for smooth transactions of daily utilities along the road.
Packing for a road trip with a rental vehicle is an act of balancing simplicity and preparedness, offering you a comfortable long journey that is not stressful and over whelming. Smart packing will help you remain calm, focused and functional during the travel.