Self drive Car Hire in Uganda and Rwanda

Looking for self-drive car hire services in Uganda and Rwanda?  Hiring a car for your safari in Uganda and Rwanda is a very good idea. With a hired car, travelers can explore many thrilling places that would have otherwise been missed. The landscapes of Uganda and Rwanda are incomparable, and with a hired car, you will get the most out of your safari. Superfine Safaris Limited provides detailed guidelines and advice on hiring a car for self-driving in East Africa.

Requirements for Self-Drive Car Hire in Uganda and Rwanda

A driver’s license:

Also called a driver’s permit. the license is one of the most important requirements to hire a car in Uganda and Rwanda. If your driver’s license isn’t in English or doesn’t include a photo, an International Driving Permit is highly recommended. Make sure that the document is valid for the whole car hire period.

Age requirement: Most car hire Agencies/Companies require drivers to be at least 21 or 25 years old, depending on the Company. Those who are under 25 years old might be subject to a young driver surcharge as well as a limitation on car categories.

National Identity Card or Passport: Forest travelers will be required to present valid passports along with their driver’s license when hiring a car. Residents can use a National Identity Card.

Choosing the right rental car for your needs

The perfect car hire option will depend on the nature of your safari/trip, which will affect the car size, fuel policy, and transmission type.

Car size: The number one factor that will affect the car hire option is the travel plan, whereby you will either choose a compact or economy car for City excursions and fuel savings or the SUV for rural areas or National Parks and National Reserves where road conditions might vary.

Fuel Policy: Some Car Hire Companies in Uganda and Rwanda use a full-to-full policy whereby you will get the car with a full tank and return it full. Confirm the policy at pickup to avoid unforeseen fuel charges.

Transmission type: Manual transmission cars are common and generally not costly to hire, although automatic cars are widely available for travelers who prefer them, especially in larger Towns or Airports.

Cost of hiring a car in Uganda and Rwanda

The Cost of hiring a car for your Uganda and Rwanda road trip depends on several factors including;

• Season: Car hire rates usually increase during peak travel periods such as the December Holidays and the dry season (June to September and December to February). This season typically sees a surge in demand hence leading to higher hire rates/prices. The off-season travel season (March to May, and October to November) offers better deals and availability.
• Location: Hiring a car at major Airports (Kigali Airport in Rwanda and Entebbe International Airport in Uganda) is convenient but can be slightly more costly than downtown or our City branch pick-up locations.
• Car type: Economy car types/models range from $40 to $70 per day, mid-range vehicles cost $80 to $90 per day, while SUVs or Luxury cars might exceed $150 per day depending on season and demand.
• Car hire duration: Longer car bookings usually come with lower daily hire rates. For this reason, weekly and monthly hire rates are more budget-friendly for longer stays.  Hiring a car for a short period might be more costly than a longer hire term because companies usually offer lower rates for a longer commitment period.

Driving tips in Uganda and Rwanda

Speed Limits: The standard limits in Rwanda are 40 km/h (24 mph) in urban areas, 30 km/h (19 mph) in residential zones, and 80 km/h (50 mph) on highways. Speed cameras are common in this country, hence drivers are advised to adhere to posted limits to avoid fines. For Uganda, the speed limit is also 30 km/h (19 mph) for Towns and built-up areas and 100 km/h (62 mph) on highways.

Traffic Rules: Ugandans drive on the left-hand side of the road while Rwandans drive on the right-hand side of the road. Also, seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers in both countries and mobile phone use is prohibited unless while using a hands-free device.

Parking: In Towns and Cities, look for designated Parking areas. In some places, informal “car guards” will offer to watch your car for a small fee. In so doing, avoid leaving valuables in plain sight.

Toll roads: Uganda has one major highway/toll road, named the “Kampala-Entebbe Expressway” with several toll sections. In so doing, toll fees can be paid with cash or card, and some car hire Companies have electronic toll tags for convenience.

Wildlife caution: In rural areas or National Park zones/areas, always stay alert for animals crossing roads. Decrease speed in wildlife zones and try not to exit your car in Protected Areas unless in designated areas.

Additional considerations

• Cross-border Travel: Planning to drive to Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, or other neighboring countries? Inform your car hire Agency/Company in advance. Additionally, cross-border fees and specific documentation are normally required.

• Roadside assistance: Most rentals come with 24-hour roadside assistance. For this reason, always keep the contract number closeby in case of emergencies during your road trip in Uganda and Rwanda.
• Navigation: Navigation systems such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) devices can be added to your car hire, or you can use Digital Maps and Smartphone Apps (such as Google Maps), but a local SIM Card or International roaming is handy for data access.
• Child safety seats: Ugandan and Rwandan Laws require proper child restraints for children under the age of 12 years (including rear-facing seats for infants and toddlers, forward-facing car seats for those around 1-3 years, booster seats for children between 4 and 7 years, and seatbelts for those around 8-12 years).

What to inspect before accepting the car

Getting up close and personal with the car allows travelers to examine defects or pre-existing damage, hence a meticulous inspection and checklist will help you avoid being held responsible for any circumstances that might arise.

For external inspection, we recommend checking the bodywork (for scratches, peeling, dents, or patchy paintwork while paying attention to doors, bumper, and car roof), windows and mirrors (for cracks, scratches, and chips), lights (to be sure that every light is in working condition, and tyres to ensure that they’re properly inflated to the sufficient tread depth.

For internal inspection, we recommend checking the dashboard and controls (to ensure warning lights are on), and controls (such as air conditioning, navigation systems, heating, and radio). Also check the boot to ensure it is clean and contains emergency accessories such as the jack, spare tyres, and warning triangle.