What to Pack on a Self Drive Safari in Uganda

A self drive safari is where a tourist hires a car and travels on his own around the different tourism destinations in Uganda which comprise of national game parks, wildlife reserves and sanctuaries, historical and cultural sites, lakes and rivers and resorts. Traveling on your own gives you the freedom to discover natural beauties in Uganda extensively.
While engaging in a self drive safari in Uganda, there are items that the traveler has to carry to make his trip a smooth one and also help him/her in situations of crisis. Below is the packing list o guide you on your Self Drive Safari in Uganda;

Personal Items to Carry for a self Drive Tour in Uganda?

Enough clothes; while going for a self drive safari in Uganda, one should carry enough clothes for the trip as sometimes you may not have time for laundry to be done. Laundry services do exist at the lodge but come with a fee. One should also carry light clothes due to the hot climate of Uganda but these should not be skimpy to respect the culture of Uganda. The traveler should also carry a coat for the cold weather in the evening and a rain jacket in case it rains. The sun glasses and hut or cap should also not be forgotten for the sunny days.

Edibles and drinking water: self drive safari involves traveling long distances and most places that lead to national park or other tourism destinations are remote whereby finding a decent snack or drinking water is a challenge. It is better for the traveler to carry some edibles (biscuits, pringles, crisps) and drinking water to get rid of the minor anger and thirst while driving before the main meal sessions reach. Drinking water is very essential to avoid dehydration that may be caused by the hot climate of Uganda.

Insect repellent and jelly: Uganda is a tropical country which harbors very many insect so you have to carry insect repellent to avoid insect bites and for the jelly, it is used to regulate and protect your skin from sun burns.

Driving permit and identity card: one should always carry a driving license whenever driving a car in Uganda to avoid criminal offenses. There are always traffic officers on the road side checking for valid driving licenses. It is also important to carry an identity card which may be a national identity card or passport so that you can easily be identified in case of anything that needs identification.

Mobile phone and an emergency number– one should carry a cell phone for easy communication with the car rental company in case of any problem or with family to know you are safe in Uganda. One should also have national emergency numbers for the police and also for the nearby health centers.

Grind position system device (GPS)/ traveler’s map and the baby seat in case you are traveling with an infant. The gaps and travelers map helps to identify the bearings and routes that lead to the tourism destinations you are intending to visit. They should be well updated.

Medication- it is important for one to carry some basic medications like pain killers and orals. You should also be immunized against yellow fever. It is also best if you get prescribed malaria tablets.

Travel book– it is really nice to travel with a Uganda holiday guide book as this makes you get familiar with the different attractions even though you have not seen them yet. The Uganda holiday guide gives you all the necessary information on tour and travel about Uganda that can really help you while on a self drive safari.

Extra money– although you may have prepaid your car rental, accommodation and tourism activities fees, you are supposed to carry extra money to cater for other needs and emergencies.

Personal travel insurance- when traveling, it is important for one to acquire travel insurance to protect him/her from any unforeseen calamities that may happen. For instance if one gets an accident, the insurance will always be there to cover for his/her treatment bills

What things to carry in the car for a thrilling self drive safari in Uganda?

Water and oil lubricant- Uganda has a warm climate which means it receives some hot spells. During the hot spells, the traveler needs to carry water for cooling up the engine in case it over heats and also the oil since the engine uses so much energy to run and thereby friction being too much internally, you need enough oil for lubrication and reducing the friction.

Basic mechanic tools i.e. Jake and the spanner: these tools help the traveler in situations of replacing the damaged tyre in case of a puncture. The spanner also helps to tight up any loose bolts on the car Tyre.

First aid box– it is a must for one to move with the first aid tools as these help travelers to treat themselves in case of any minor injuries while driving the car. The box should have some basic medic items like a blade, bandage, methanol spirit, cotton, plasters and pain killers among the special ones.

Fire extinguisher– this is very important because you never know what might happen on the way, there might be a fire outbreak in the car and you will much need it to stop the fire.

Insurance cover– the rental car should have comprehensive insurance that covers up the damages for the third party damages and the physical damages of the rental car.

Before you set off for a self drive safari Uganda, make sure the above are put in check.