Things to Do

Things to Do a Self Drive Uganda Safari

Most times many tourists avoid driving themselves in a country they never seem to know well especially when the countries in question are in Africa. Yes, it is a bit tricky to start driving yourself in a foreign country like Uganda where road rules are easily broken, road signs are a few and traffic lights are rarely seen. It takes a very well experienced driver to maneuver this pearl of Africa. Even you the not so much experienced driver, can do with a self drive in Uganda if you are a so carefull driver.

There is so much to do in Uganda with your self drive adventure in this pearl of Africa. Uganda is a country gifted with nature, a lot of wildlife, mountain gorillas, scenery, mountain hiking activities, water bodies, beaches and lots to offer for an awesome trip. With over ten national game reserves with a variety of activities to do in each park, the self drive adventure is worth it.

Considering that it is difficult getting around Uganda, a deal with a trusted car rental agency like Auto Rental Uganda would do you wonders with the best prices that won’t dig lots into your budget and still have an awesome holiday.

Considering that Uganda’s highlights are many, a little far apart and many activities to keep you busy, wondering through these parks and highlights on your self drive uganda adventure is worth it.

Setting off from Entebbe the airport town to Kampala is about 36kms which would take you about an hour or more is not an easy one say in taxis, it’s a real pain sitting in these matatus. In kampala in as well a traffic area that requires patience. There are so may things to do while in kampala and among these include, visiting the museum, the only Ba’hai temple, the traditional Kasubi tombs, the Uganda martyrs’ shrine, the Makerere art gallery, craft village and local markets. All these destinations are averagely 15kms apart and this will require a car with you to visit all these places. Yes, to have a view of what Uganda is like or a clear picture of Uganda, you need to visit these places. Yes the bikes we locally call the bodabodas are a fast way but are a vey risky way to get around town and Uganda. So trust us that your car rental on self drive will do you magic.

Getting out of kampala town in either direction is an easy one and less congested. Heading south to the first game reserve say lake Mburo requires transport and that car will be a great deal. About 250kms from kampala,, this small game reserve is endowed with spectacular wildlife. Game drives, boat cruises, horse ridding, biking and spectacular nature walks. There are no or a few transport means to and from the park so consider that self drive in your car rental worth it if you are a person who needs that privacy to your self.

Connecting to Bwindi for the ultimate gorilla experience is about 300km from lake Mburo national park and a lot is seen on the way to the park. The local life and the rolling hills of kabale. You can decide to go for coffee tours, dugout canoe on lake Mutanda or on lake Bunyonyi the second deepest lake in Africa after lake Tanganyika, the Batwa culture experience. However all these places are approachable with cars as some tend to be far distances apart. Hotels in the park are bult mostly on the outskirts of the park and therefore require transport in the morning to get to the starting points of the gorilla tracking.

About 70kms to connect to the queens park of queen Elizabeth where you can do game drives and the Kazinga channel boat cruise at the Mweya peninsula. With your 4*4 vehicle from auto rental Uganda, consider a big deal with your self drive in this park. Whee you need to connect to the Kibale forest national park for a chimpanzee tracking or habituation experience. About 130kms from queen Elizabeth, this place actually need a car to get you each there. On the day for the chimpanzees, you actually need drive to the kanyancu/park headquarters for a briefing and that ‘s early as 8am and 6am for the habituation experience.

With you car rental, it is easier to connect to the biggest game reserve in the pearl of Africa, the Murchsion falls national park. Where the mighty rive nile crosses and with a strongest water fall with unbelievable power. The game drive and top of the fall visit is imposible without the car, otherwise you will need to dig deep in your pockets paying for the UWA game drive vehicle to do all these activities.

Making a round trip in Uganda through the north without a car would be a tiresome and difficult one. The noth is a remote area where transpot into the northern game parks and reseves tends to be difficult as well. A visit to the cultural karamojong villages is worth visiting but a great deal with your car rental. The eastern to the pianupe, matheniko game reserves, mtelgon, and sipi is unappochable without a private self drive or car ental vehicle. You actually feel the conviniece of your carr rental.

A lot can be done in Uganda with your car rental even on your self drive adventure. Every place you wish to reach out can easily be done with your car rental. Yes you will approach every corner and spot in Uganda even without a car but tust me it might turnout a nightmare for you..

Fun Things to Do in Kampala

Are you planning to take a safari in Uganda? Many travelers wonder about the fun things to do in Kampala during their holiday in Uganda. Kampala is considered to be “Mecca” of activities. It’s a city with obvious tourist attractions and finding things to keep you occupied can be easy. Rejoice! Here’s a little list of some things that new arrivals, tourists, or even folks who’ve lived here for years might want to check out.

Attend One of Kampala’s Annual Events

There’s a lot that happens each year in Kampala. Check out this list of annual events in Kampala to see if your time here matches up with one of the city’s yearly activities. Everything from marathons to music festivals to food fairs to rally car racing.

Attend New Year’s Day in Kampala in January—Expect fireworks and parties at its clubs and bars alongside large crowds and plenty of fun lasting well into the early hours of New Year’s Day

Catch up with Motocross Championship in March staged every year at the Uganda Motorsports Arena in Kampala and attracting some of Africa’s best bike riders

Don’t miss Amakula Kampala International Film Festival in May that showcases films in all their various guises, from contemporary to classic.

Be present at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in September for Royal Ascot Goat Races with crowds of folk coming to place a bet on the goat they think is most likely to cross the finishing line first

Be in Kampala in early October for Kampala Contemporary Art Festival with exhibitions held at Nommo Gallery and the Afro-art Gallery, Spare time to attend Kampala Food Festival–a one day event that showcases the country’s finest flavors, as well as the creative culinary work of the country’s top chefs and lastly enjoy the Big Birding Day–a 24-hour event during which crowds of ornithologists converge in Uganda to collect sightings of resident bird species

MTN Kampala Marathon is my favorite event in Kampala. The MTN Kampala marathon is the biggest sporting event in Uganda organized by MTN. Every year, people from all walks of life take part in this annual event. The city filled with character and the streets are always bustling with people – unlike the rest of the city’s sleepy streets. Some take part for fun, others for charity and others compete to win. MTN Marathon attracts all kinds of people with little regard to status, race, size, height and origin–It’s awesome.

Visit an Art Gallery

The art scene in Kampala is small but growing. Each month, we see new art shows and developments. Nommo art gallery and African Village on Buganda road are two of the more established galleries but afro art gallery at national theatre is a recent addition that has done a lot of great work. Spend an hour or two looking through their galleries, watching the artists and work, or just hanging out in their cool, friendly, spaces.

Go to the Library

Kampala has a first-class national public library located on Buganda road. Not only is it in a snazzy building with a beautiful but it’s also a great idea and the first library in the country. The last time I was there, the organization of the books needed a bit of work but there’s something charming about finding cookbooks mixed in with bibles and biographies. You can try to read from Makerere University’s main library. There is a fee you are supposed to pay but the reward is just impressive. It is very well organized with all the reading content you would want. Makerere is the oldest university in East Africa established in 1922-Have a life time chance to visit Uganda’s most ranking education facility to feel the magic of surrounding trees and buildings.

Watch Live Music

Live music is not a big problem in Kampala–experience live music and live bands play at night in night clubs and hang out places. The common places to get the live band entertainment include National Theatre, club Obligato, Sabrina’s Pub, Centenary Park, Jazville Bugolobi, Kampala Sheraton Hotel and many other places. Go for live music every Thursday at Mishmash located along Acacia Avenue, Kololo and join Ndere troupe at Ndere centre for traditional dance and Music.

Go to a Movie

Cineplex located at Garden city is Kampala’s best movie theatre. The cinema is equipped with 3D and even have something called the ’4D Experience’ which I have yet to try out. They get the latest movies and it’s a fun night out. Try out many more movie theatres including cinemax located in Nalya, century cinema located on acacia mall in Kamwokya and cinema magic. Enjoy the feel of Hollywood while on your vacation in Uganda.

Go to the Casino

Kampala can be an entertaining place to live. We have an almost endless list of bars and nightclubs, parties, restaurants, poetry nights, live music, dancehalls, and a variety of art openings. But even with all of this, there’s always room for a little more vice. Enter the casino: the all-in-one adult thunder dome that will supply us all with enough sin to last a lifetime. No high rollers or showgirls here – just Indian men gambling quietly as the waitresses bring around trays of complimentary cold samosas. But as someone who doesn’t really like gambling all that much and often feels intimidated by card tables, I like it here! It’s relaxed, welcoming, and, as its open until 2am, it makes a fun stop after dinner. Simba often seems like the most obvious option however other casinos can work for you including myfair, pyramid and Kampala casino where Players and spectators may enjoy gambling at Roulette tables, Black Jack or Mini Baccarat tables.

Easter Weekend Ideas: What To Do

So, you’ve decided not to participate in the Easter ‘exodus’ from Kampala and spend the long Easter weekend right here at home instead. Well, whether you’re after family fun, a wild time, or a quiet weekend at home there’s plenty on to keep you occupied. IN KAMPALA takes it day by day with interesting happenings until you’re back at work on Tuesday morning.

Friday:

In the Christian tradition, Good Friday is the day on which Christ’s crucifixion is commemorated. This means that most churches in Kampala will have special services at different times throughout the day.

If you’re looking to get the kids out of the house Bean Cafe is having an Easter Egg Painting Party from 2-4pm. All ages welcome!

Yutta Konvictz presents a dance production at National Theatre ‘Dooms day, a cry for the people’ focusing on nepotism, deceit, selfishness, sectarianism, tribalism, greed and deception.

Looking for something a little lighter? There’s some great comedy at National Theatre from 7.30pm (entry 10,000 UGX) with Fun Factory (https://www.facebook.com/Funfactory256) bringing you ‘Organised Chaos’.

Feel like getting out on the town? Break out your finest Hawaiian gear and hit Garden City’s Boda Boda rooftop bar from 7pm (entry 10,000 UGX)

Saturday:

While some people just like to take it easy on a long weekend others want to be up at the crack of dawn running for a good cause. And there’s two to choose from. The first is a 10k charity run to help construct wells in Makindye Division’s slum areas. The race starts at 7am at the Sabagabo grounds opposite the Magistrates Court in Makindye. Entry is 15,000 UGX per person, 150,000 UGX for companies and NGOs. Or, you can run to help the Namirembe Cathedral’s Ttegula Project with either a 5 or 10k run that begins on the Namirembe Cathedral grounds. Entry is 10,000 UGX.

If you want to take the kids out for an Easter Egg Hunt and children’s party there’s one on at Uganda Museum (Kira Road). There’s Easter egg painting, storytelling, face painting, food, drinks and prizes. The festivities start at 10am and entry is 10,000 UGX.

Looking for a little early evening entertainment? Chill at Jazzville from 7pm with Code 9 covering Phil Collins greatest hits in Phil Collins tribute night. Entry is 20,000 UGX.

If you’d like a little art to start off your evening drop by MishMash for Elinros Henriksdotter’s Divine Matrix London Style which will be video, painting, sonic poetry and drawings.

Then, move over to Club Venom where the East African Bashment Crew (Bebe Cool, Nazizi and Wyre) will be holding a meet and greet party. Starts at 8pm and cost is 20,000 UGX – or 40,000 UGX if you’re VIP and your March paycheck is burning a hole in your pocket.

Sunday:

Once again the churches will be packed with Easter services and special services. If you’ve been contemplating heading to church today’s the day.

The Kika Troupe then invites you over to the Kika Performing Arts Centre on Sisa Road at 9am for a contemporary dance show with a bouncy castle and face painting afterwards. Entry is 10,000 UGX for adults and 3,000 UGX for kids.

Afterwards, you can pack a picnic and head down to the Uganda Museum at 1pm for everyone’s favourite quarterly music festival, Blankets and Wine (https://www.facebook.com/BlanketsWineKampala?group_id=0). This round they’ve got Madtraxx, Sundowners, Winston & Pragmo plus Tamba. Get your ticket today though as they’re 35,000 UGX at Uganda Wines and Spirits now or 50,000 UGX at the gate.

Monday:

Let’s face it. At this rate you need a day to relax and just have a break. However, if you’re looking for things to do with the kids check our family section. If you are looking for a restaurant check our restaurant section (https://www.kampalacityguide.com/food/)