Let me start by saying that we had a wonderful time exploring Uganda!
My wife and I spent 4 weeks traveling around the country in a Land Cruiser 78 series with a rooftop tent. The car worked flawlessly the entire time. We did not have a single mechanical issue. Looking at the cars of other rental companies which we saw during our trip, we were very happy with our choice.
Our car came with a fridge, two camping chairs, a table, a large gas stove, cooking equipment, a shovel, a high-lift jack, and a towing rope. The rooftop tent had two sleeping bags in it.
All our communication was via WhatsApp with Edward and Joan. This worked flawlessly. We picked up our car at Entebbe Airport at 6 am on the day of our arrival. After a handover, we did all the paperwork and were ready to go.
Before we left Entebbe, we paid a visit to Victoria Mall, and more specifically, the Carrefour to stock up on groceries and water. Additionally, we decided to buy two blankets, as we think that is more hygienic than using sleeping bags. We’d highly recommend thoroughly checking if you need to buy anything before leaving Entebbe, as it can be tough to find some gear in other parts of the country.
As mentioned above, the car worked flawlessly, however, our fridge broke after 2.5 weeks. Edward immediately proposed to bring us a replacement though.
The rooftop tent was comfortable. All side flaps could be opened which allowed some ventilation at night. To open and close the tent, you need to be reasonably fit as you’ll have to climb around the car and possibly even onto the roof.
With a width of 120 cm, the bed was rather narrow, so you better be well-acquainted with your travel partner. If not, you will be after the trip. Due to the height of the car, the ladder of the rooftop tent was too short. To solve this problem, we needed to place a box under the ladder each evening. This was very makeshift and not always stable.
The car had a double fuel tank which was useful for our visit to Kidepo Valley National Park. The four-wheel drive worked well. We used both 4H and 4L at times. The AC worked reasonably well. On very hot days, it couldn’t quite keep up anymore.
Self-Drive Uganda also organized our Gorilla Habituation and Chimpanzee Habituation permits. We got handed all the paperwork at the airport. The tours were amazing!
Important things to know:
1. Do not expect a new vehicle but a properly used car. Ours had just below 300.000 km on the clock. The body had scratches and dents everywhere.
2. The trunk of the car – at least with a Land Cruiser 78 series – is a bit tough to organize and access. You can only enter through the front doors and the trunk. Inevitably, things will move around when traveling on bumpy trails.
3. Uganda can be dusty. There is a good chance that all your luggage will be covered in dust at the end of your trip.
All in all, we had a spectacular trip, traveling 4000 km across the entire country.
We’d definitely rent with Self-Drive Uganda again.
More Details…Trip Advisor