Bad Driving Habits to Avoid While on Self Drive in Tanzania

Driving in a foreign country can be troublesome for first time travelers. In most Africa countries, it is important to know that self drive is not for first time travelers. If you are looking to safe travels, it is important to be in the know of the strict rules and good driving etiquette before you hit the road.

With Tanzania becoming a favorite destination for those looking to self drive holidays, it is important to know which bad driving habits not to bring into this peaceful nation.

To most drivers, the one bad driving habit they know and have been warned yet still violated is ‘Don’t drink and drive’. But there is a long list of bad habits solo travelers and others on self-drive in Tanzania or any destination should avoid. By being keen on these bad driving habits, you will certainly have a smooth road trip in Tanzania.

Resting your hand on the gear stick

Normally, driving instructors do advise that you keep both hands on the wheel at all times. Instead, most people have developed a bad driving habit of just resting their hands on the shifter. The gear stick is linked to a selector fork and this is designed to make contact with a rotating collar for a short amount of time. In case you rest your hand on the gearstick, you may need a synchronizer and bushings of the transmission to handle more weight than normal hence resulting into internal wear.

Always keeping the pressure on the brake pedal while driving downslope

This is one bad driving habit that can kill your car faster. Yes, driving down slope can be challenging but most drivers tend to make it a habit to keep their foot on the pedal to ease slow down movement. But the best thing could be to shift into a lower gear and this can slow down the car as you slope without putting pressure on brake pedals and rotors.

Not minding about warning lights

Usually, people tend to ignore warnings like bulb gone/washer fluid till they make a stop. And yet such may need to be noticed as early as possible. Ignoring them may result into damaging your gearbox and you will need to change its parts at the time not recommended.

Keeping on the clutch while driving uphill

In case you are driving an automatic car rental, there is no need to stay on the clutch while driving uphill. This may apply to manual vehicles. The best is to make use of automatic brake hold system while in that position. If your vehicle doesn’t have, then make the best use of hand brake.

Overloading the car

Every car has its recommended carrying capacity. This is why you should be certain of the number of people you plan to travel with so as to find a suitable car to fit all of them. Overloaded car can strain most elements of the brake, suspension among others.

Not using the parking brakes

Not using parking brake can be dangerous and it may require that the parking pawl works harder and eventually, it can break.

Not warming car engine

This looks obvious but a huge mistake many make. Before you set off, the engine should have warmed for some good time. Note, nearly all cars start with cold engines and that is why it is important to have them warmed before setting off.

Keeping the fuel tank to almost empty

This is another bad driving habit which needs to be avoided. Note, oil pumps can heat up and, in the process, the friction between the engine parts can increase in case it is not submerged in adequate fuel. The best is to go for full-tank to avoid such cases and this is even healthy for your engine.

A self drive tour in the capital of Uganda

Self drive involves renting a car from a car provider of which traveler or customer leads to a particular destination by himself or herself. Self drive in Uganda is becoming so popular  because it is adventurous and one travels and gets involved with Uganda independently. On a self drive in Uganda, one can do anything one likes as long as you are not breaking the laws and rules in the country.

Have you ever thought of taking a self drive around Kampala city as you look at its beautiful attractions? Kampala city is the most populous city and at the same time capital and commercial city in Uganda. Despite of being a commercial city, it has lots of tourist attractions one may encounter while driving in Uganda. These attractions are enjoyed at their maximum capacity by taking a self drive tour.

While in Kampala city, here are some of the famous places you can visit to enjoy a self drive tour:
you can take a ride at the Uganda national museum at Kira road. At the museum you are able to know some of Uganda’s history. The museum has historical remains of the ancestors and also for the heroes of Uganda with good narrations from the museum guide.

You can also go to Mengo where you find some of Buganda kingdom structures like  the  Bulange which is the parliament building of Buganda, also the former torture house of former president Idi Amin, the Kabaka’s palace which posses so much history of Buganda and Uganda at large. One cannot forget to go to Kasubi tombs and shrines where the past kings of Buganda are buried which is near Mengo.

You can also visit the most prestigious religious sites in Uganda while you take a self drive in Kampala. There is the Old Kampala Gadaffi mosque which is the main worship place for Muslims in Uganda, almost within the same region, there is the Namirembe cathedral the main shrine for the Catholics.

There are also the Namugongo shrines which are also the memorial place where the Uganda Christian martyrs were killed. These are found in Namugongo on the outskirt of Kampala city.

There is also the national theatre in the middle of Kampala and this is where most of the national drama, plays are acted and also some cultural ceremonies are held. At the national theatre, there is also a cultural village where you can have a chance of buying Africa’s cultural commodities for example the craft shoes, clothes, bangles, clocks and different potteries.

There are also recreation centers in Kampala, shopping, clubs and cool restaurants that can make a self drive so fine. Some of these include the Nakumatt supermarket at oasis mall, capital shoppers, Game and Shoprite supermarkets, Mega supermarket in the middle of the city, Acacia mall which is the newest and most modernized shopping mall in Uganda and the centenary park which has a variety of hang outs with very many city revelers to interact with while having fun.

There are also very many discotheques in Kampala where you can have fun at night and relax your mind as you listen to Uganda’s finest music and also international music.

A Complete Guide to Climbing Nyiragongo Volcano

This is one of the long lasting volcanic mountains in Congo; its last eruption was in 2002 where magma flown towards Goma, this volcano is found in north Kivu province within the Virunga national park which manages and controls all the activities taking place on the isolated active volcano with its headquarters at Sekenkwe. The hike takes about 5 to 6 hours to climb the summit that begins at an altitude of about 1,997 meters to 3,470 meters above sea level

Nyiragongo lies 21km away from Goma town on the un paved  highway to Beni and Kisangani, with its base camp at Kibati  which is the starting point for tourists who wish to Hike this mountain i  just visited Virunga National Park in december 2016, and this volcano hike was absolutely at the top of my amazing experiences in  DRC

This mountain is in form of 3 sections for those who wish to spend some time on it, it has the Forest section and the hiking trails begins with this straight from kibalti until you join the 2002 volcanic

I’ll take a bit out of my general Virunga review I just wrote: rocks that stretch upto the rocky section which is the most challenging hiking trail. Ones advance preparedness would be needed to coup up with the  best time to visit this mountain is during the dry season,which is May to October , you can as well visit in the rainy season , but the hiking trails are slippery  thus becoming a bit of challenge.

The moment you get onto the top, there inn built wooden cabin  from which you  camp and begin to view the glowing active volcanoes and it inspiring  to change This night almost has eclipsed  your minds of how nature has wonders on planet Earth the hiking  experiences in epic-ness but you can also be blown away by watching the potential of an eruptionthis kike is for sure  It is 5 hours non-stop & does require a good level of fitness not to be overseen.

During the hike, porters perform their job if at all you ordered for one,, armed guards hike with you. food is actually really good on condition you ordered for it from mikeno lodge which is an extra $80 per person on top of $300 hiking ticket , and the gear you rent from Mikeno lodge are top notch (Patagonia down jacket, warm clean sleeping bag, etc.). It is at 11,400 ft (3500 m) so of course it is very cold at the top. Better for one to have  an entire set of dry clothes extra jacket , and would be nice to have  hiking gloves that keep you warm, as it partly gives you an extra hand / great on the way down to grab onto volcanic rock and sting nettles for stability and not rip my hands up. Much as there many un updated security concerns on various travel forums, but the Virunga staff are extremely professional & every detail to take care of seamlessly to every body on the trek. But you have to make sure the following are in proper arrangements to avoid any delays or inconveniences, At the border just make sure you have a printout of your tourist visa confirmation provided by Virunga.org, in addition to your yellow fever card is mandatory. transport has to be arranged from Goma boader best transport to use would be with Virunga park from Goma to Mikeno lodge/ Bukima (sekenkwe) Make sure to take good non-slippery shoes that will likely be soaking wet & very cold by the time you get to the summit. An extra pair or two of wool socks, extra shoes to change once you arrive so your feet don’t freeze.and also to change at the end of the hike at Kibati

Hiking Nyiragongo and experiencing it is a real  magical volcano and  Truly a world wonder that so few people like Billy Ssali have the opportunity to see.

Planning for Nyiragongo Hiking Safaris is very ease with Congo Gorilla Safaris the Destination Expert in Congo Safaris. the Shortest Nyiragongo Volcano Hike is 2 Days Safari which is offered as 3 Days Congo Nyiragongo Safari

5 Best African Countries for a Family Safari

Considered the second largest continent in the world, Africa is the dream continent for every traveler surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Africa is home to some of the fastest-growing economies, and revenues from tourism and tremendous opportunities exist to further expand tourism across the African continent

The continent has 54 countries all which have developed tourism but the rate of growth and development depends on the unique natural, cultural, historical and man-made features in these countries. Marketing, and transport infrastructures such as airline connections, roads and railways in addition to open borders, and improved marketing to niche sectors such as adventure and eco-travelers determine the level of tourism development in each African country. The top African family vacation trips among others include:

 South Africa

Not only having the natural attraction, South Africa has it all that a family on a holiday would want. The country is blessed with lots of city fun, Trip packed resorts, beautiful beaches and Big 5 safari parks. South Africa is home to legendary wildlife preserves and national parks among which include the Kruger National Park and a range of malaria-free game reserves.  The safari lodges in South Africa offer interactive children’s programs some of which include animal encounters mostly liked by children to remember for decades. A lot of adventure sorts like cycling, hiking and horse-riding plus widely available Wi-Fi to keep teens in touch with their friends back home as well as adults in touch with their business partners and family friends and relatives.

The Cape Town and the coast in South Africa provide the family with the chance to see favorites such as Mountain, the Cape Wine lands and the penguins of Boulders Beach. If you take a road trip along the Garden Route, families also explore a very scenic stretch of coast, dotted with quaint villages and exciting activities that range from whale watching to bungee jumping. Sun City is Africa’s top family resort with plenty of entertainment for grown-ups and children alike. All these fantastic features make south Africa a tourism destination in Africa for every family to visit.

Botswana

Drifting down a papyrus-lined waterway, passing bathing elephants and shy antelope, is an absolutely unforgettable safari experience for families of a holiday in Botswana.

The game viewing is superb and activities include game drives, nature walks, and canoeing, boating and even elephant back safaris. The true wilderness enables the family to learn bush-tracking and survival skills and camp out wild in the bush – the best way to travel across the African plains.

Botswana is a home for more elephants than any other country in Africa; Botswana is one of the greatest safari destinations. In the north lies the world famous Okavango Delta, one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes which attracts a myriad of birds and large concentrations of wildlife, and Chobe National Park, famed for its enormous elephant population. Families should not miss out Botswana for the greatest travel experience.

Kenya

Located in East Africa, the magical Kenya delivers safe and rewarding family safaris in world-renowned Big 5 game reserves, beach holidays on the country’s dazzling coastline and Indian Ocean islands and the greatest wild life spectacle which is the Masai Mara wildebeest migration.

Families spend an unforgettable safari in Kenya tracking big cats on game drives on a Masai Mara safari; drifting over vast plains on a scenic hot air balloon flight; going on guided bush walks led by red-robed Maasai warriors and hand feeding giraffe at the well-known Giraffe Manor.

Kids normally join the junior ranger programs packed with unforgettable experiences such as learning to shoot a bow and arrow, making fire with sticks or casting animal tracks in plaster. Wildlife-rich game reserves, white sand beaches, Maasai warriors, once-in-a-lifetime activities and all the atmosphere of big game Africa are so interesting. Therefore, each family should endvour to visit Kenya for a greater memorable experience.

Tanzania

Tanzania is a well established safari destination delivering great wildlife watching holidays for families, the game viewing at Serengeti and Ngorongoro craters give a family a clear view of the big five along with cheetahs, African wild dogs, lovebirds and vultures. A family can also witness the incredible annual wildebeest migrating.

The Ngorongoro Crater known as ‘Africa’s Eden’ offers amazing wildlife viewing with over 90 lions along with leopards, rhinos and a lake at the centre  inhabited by hundreds of flamingos. Also, being located at the coast, a relaxing stay by the sea enjoying the beautiful sandy beaches and beach activities such as swimming, boat cruising, sunbathing among others enjoyed by the family is of great experience.

Uganda

Though Uganda is most known for gorilla safaris, it offers great opportunities to travelers with families. The wildlife parks such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo National Park offers urivalled game viewing to travelers. You can also enjoy horseriding in Lake Mburo National Park, and Jinja, the adrenaline capital of Uganda has much to offer for those seeking adventures in Uganda.

In conclusion, Africa is a beautiful and diverse continent where travel choices abound when it comes to game-viewing for families with kids of all ages.  Many destinations in Africa offer kids’ programs with age appropriate activities so that little ones in the family get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience and adults as well. Families planning a trip should choose Africa for greater and memorable experience.

What to Know about Lake Kivu in Rwanda

Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes lying on the boarder of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo with in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika.Lake Kivu is found in the Northern Province of Rwanda and can be visited on Honeymoon Adventures.

As well as boasting a number of delightful beach resorts, this beautiful lake is also a great place to cycle the Congo–Nile trail.

Running along the Congolese border for 90km, the 2,370km² Lake Kivu is one of a string of ‘inland seas’ that submerge much of the Albertine Rift floor as it runs southward from the Sudan to Zambia. It is very a beautiful lake, hemmed in by steeply terraced escarpments containing several peaks of 2,800m or higher, including the smoking outline of volcanic Nyiragongo in the far north, and it has long served as a popular weekend getaway for residents of this otherwise landlocked country.

Kivu has a smaller surface area than the two most expansive Albertine Rift lakes, the more southerly Tanganyika and more northerly Albert. Nevertheless, a maximum depth of 480m and total water content of 333km3 places it among the world’s 20 deepest and 20 most voluminous freshwater bodies. In addition, the 285km² Idjwi Island, which falls entirely within Congolese territory, is the second largest inland island in Africa and tenth largest in the world.

A shallower and larger incarnation of Kivu probably formed about two million years ago as a result of the same tectonic activity that created the Albertine Rift and other associated lakes. Back then, Kivu would have been contiguous with the lower-lying Lake Edward on the Uganda.  About 20,000 years ago, however, a natural dam created by lava from the Virungas isolated Lake Kivu from Lake Edward. As a result, Kivu’s surface rose to its present-day altitude of 1,470m, the Rusizi River which had formerly drained out of Lake Tanganyika into the southern tip of Kivu reversed its flow, and the lake became part of the Congo Watershed.

Kivu supports an impoverished fauna by comparison with other large Rift Valley lakes, as a result of an unusually high level of volcanic activity. The geological record suggests that the release of methane trapped below the lake’s surface has resulted in regular mass extinctions every few thousand years. As a result, fewer than 30 fish species are known from the lake and, while this does include 16 endemics, it pales by comparison with the many hundreds of species recorded from Lakes Victoria and Tanganyika.

High methane levels probably also explain the complete absence of hippo and croc, and are also cited by those who claim that the lake has no Bilharzia. Kivu’s attractively irregular shoreline, with its verdant slopes and sandy beaches, is served by three main resort towns. The most northerly of these, Rubavu/Gisenyi, has the best tourist facilities, partly because of its proximity to Rwanda Volcanoes National Park .

Karongi/Kibuye, further south and with the advantage of being far closer to Kigali, also has a few decent lakeshore hotels. At the southern end of the lake, overlooking the exit point of the Rusizi River, Rusizi/Cyangugu can easily be visited in conjunction with Nyungwe National Park and Huye/Butare, and has recently gained its first hotel meeting international standards.

Keeping Healthy While Traveling with Food Alergies & Intolerances

Travelling to different countries entails discovering the other part of the world that your country never offers and the difference in these countries you head to. You probably are used to the foods you have back home and yes some strange foods in other countries may not be good to your health. However on the other hand, some foreign foods are worth a try that is a trick of adventure.

When travelling to Uganda, whether on self drive car rental or guided trips, keeping our clients healthy during their trip is a priority at Auto Rental Uganda, but as you know safety comes first you keep yourself safe as we do our best on keeping it up. Most of the people from western countries are either Vegans, vegetarians’ or both which is not the case here in Uganda. We mix all the foods and eat it at the same time. Have you tried the African traditional LUWOMBO with Auto Rental Uganda? I would definitely say you are missing out something about the real Uganda

Good thing to do you should inform your service provider about your diet and how you want it to be. We may be able to eat all the beef, sea food and veggies but we still consider people’s choice and command and if someone does not take it we take the liberty to give you that choice  that perfectly suites you.

Beef is the delicacy in Uganda. You find it in most restaurants you go. Mixed in different soups, dried, BBq and snacks, chicken, nuts, beans and veggies are the most seen soups in restaurants.

Our team are trained in how to shop and cook for those travelling with food allergies or intolerances. Just in case you go camping alone, packing some food that stays longer is a great idea however Uganda is gifted with lots of fresh food that you absolutely can buy along the way. Who on an adventure wouldn’t love interacting with the food sellers and visit the markets? Wouldn’t that be an added advantage to go shopping in the markets? Alternatively you can buy everything you need for camping and you don’t need to stop shopping. It will save you time but you definitely will miss something interesting about these African markets. Talk to our Uganda car rental reservation team and they will push to help you with the shopping in and around the malls and markets so you be set on your self-drive in Uganda or guided tour.

Here’s  some facts to follow when shopping.

1. If in doubt about what is stated on a label DO NOT buy or use it
2. Wherever possible avoid local restaurants even if there clearly menu items that meet the dietary requirements due to cross contamination issues. Use specific restaurants recommended to you. You can make special orders just if you’re allergic and can have the exact meal for you.
3. When shopping and buying food products always ask if something has gluten or any other thing you may or may not want. Alternatively read carefully on the food packs.
4. Keep it fresh and unprocessed.  In Uganda we usually eat fresh, try it out and see. Enter the market and buy only fresh food that you can be sure off. Good thing is you find many markets around Uganda as you travel up-countries. And yes, you can use it as an opportunity to visit the local markets which everybody raves about
5. There are certain items that are easily contaminated like jars of jam, mayonnaise, butter, jellies and other spreads.  Make sure you keep them clean for those with allergies and intolerances.

To be on the safe side while camping or eating in restaurants be clear on what you want, or ask for assistance on shopping before you start your trip. One of our team members at Auto Rental Uganda is more than happy to help you find and shop for just the right food stuffs.

Self Driving Uganda – Why You Need a Local Phone Number

While on a Self Drive in Uganda, it is vital to have a local phone number that you can simply purchase in the shops or service centres in major towns around the country. There is a wide range of networks to choose from that is MTN, Airtel, Orange, Vodafone, Uganda Telephone, and most recently Smart Telecom. There is wide network range coverage for MTN, Airtel and Uganda Telecom although most people have a preference of Airtel for easy communication followed by MTN. Most importantly is even when you cross the border to Rwanda, the same sim cards will work there although if you require to communicate easily with the local Rwanda people, a Rwanda sim card would be the best option. Purchasing a local sim card should not cost you more than 5,000 Uganda shillings.

A local phone number has far much more advantages as opposed to your international number while on a self drive in Uganda safari. Most of the roads in the country are not really that tarmac especially if you get off the usual highways and it is very easy to communicate with a local phone number to ask any body or your car rental agency for say help with regards to directions with much ease because they can always call you back to find out where you are or how best to get from point A to point B.

Because of the nature of the roads very often it is easy to get a mechanical problem with your rental car of which it is no guarantee but just in case it happens to you, it is very easy and efficient to communicate using your local phone number to your car rental company and they can easily walk you through what to do and how best to go about your issue than having an international number which can take a lot of money to communicate and with less airtime. It is very easy to communicate to a mechanic nearby and also with your rental company for a quick fix of the problem which actually might not be that big a problem.

Not only is it easy to communicate with your car rental agency but also with some other suppliers with in the country at a much more cost effective rate. Remember no body wants to spend much more while on holiday so a local phone number is an automatic saving scheme especially on calls within the country. There are cheaper cell phones in the country too that you can buy at about 30,000 Uganda shillings to serve the purpose while on your holiday. Most notable brands for cheaper cell phones include; Techno and Itel. For instance it is very cheap to book a boat trip in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth or Lake Mburo National Parks using your local phone number or liaise with a Ranger in case you are going for a Gorilla Trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.

There are very many things that can move smoothly with easy communication and easy communication is a very important aspect for a success of your safari holiday. When there is an international number involved, your local rental company may not easily communicate the changes in say weather at different areas on your safari trail because of the expense involved in communication. Also some times lodges require phone numbers for the guests before they get to the lodge so as to prepare in advance what you would wish to have, say if you need dinner at the lodge or not, it is easy for the lodge to call you using your local phone number as opposed to an international number some time of which the staff at the different lodges may not have the knowledge of how to dial. Unless you are going to have a guided tour, then your safari guide will have a local phone number to easily communicate but for a self drive safari, I would urge you to endeavor and get a local phone number upon arrival either at the airport or any major town in the country. You can as well talk to your local safari operator to purchase the sim card for your and upon arrival you get it as the car is handed over to you. By so doing, I guarantee you will have a wonderful experience on your safari.

Discovering Uganda on Self Drive

When hiring a vehicle in Uganda please be aware that the driver / guide must have a valid license permitting him or to drive that particular vehicle. This is required for when stopping at police road blocks and also for your safety while on the road. An international Driving permit is required for self drive in Uganda by international tourists and you should always consult the car rental agency that is organizing your car hire before traveling to Uganda.

Uganda self drive and tourism services have been in operation for a long time and they are located in all parts of the country. They have a wealth of experience in planning the best vehicles for safaris in the whole of East Africa countries like; Tanzania, Rwanda, Congo, Kenya. The cars range from 4×4WD, tour buses, small cars for around town; mini vans and bicycle for traveling in Uganda. The fees charged on hiring vehicles are very affordable. Also on offer are highly skilled guide / driver with vast knowledge around East Africa and the cars are fully insured and any damages done by the clients are handled by their insurance company.

They can also offer you the most exciting and comfortable safaris throughout the East African region.

With a lot of experience on car hire these car hire companies have skilled staff which are highly educated from driving to well trained customer care, where safety and enjoyment comes first to all clients.