4×4 Car Hire Uganda: 3 Viable Options Based on First-Hand Experience

Table of Contents

• How Much is 4×4 Car Hire Uganda?
• Three options for 4×4 Car Hire Uganda
  • Option #1: Road Trip Africa – Perfect for Self-Drive Safaris
  • Option #2: AJ Tours & Travel – Perfect for Car Hire in with a Driver
  • Option #3: Car Hire Uganda – Perfect for Small Vehicle Hire
• Car Hire Uganda Checklist: What You Need
• The verdict: The Best 4×4 Car Hire Uganda Options

You have several options for 4×4 car hire in Uganda. However, one thing to mention immediately is that hiring a vehicle in Uganda is relatively expensive, particularly compared to car hire in the UK, the United States, and Europe.  

This is primarily because there are few reputable car hire Uganda firms to choose from, and the cost of maintaining vehicles is much higher, given the poor condition of most Ugandan roads.

Still, if you’re planning a self-drive safari in Uganda, you have several viable options for renting a vehicle for the duration of your stay.

So, with that in mind, this article introduces you to your options when it comes to hiring a vehicle in Uganda. I have personally dealt with each of these companies before, and I can vouch for their service. Please read on for more details!

How Much is 4×4 Car Hire Uganda?

4×4 car hire in Uganda starts at around $50 per day but can exceed $150 per day, depending on the vehicle that you’re planning to hire.

If you’re hoping to take the vehicle outside of Kampala and Entebbe, you must opt for a 4×4, as the roads upcountry are in poor condition. 

In the following section, I introduce you to three car hire options that will help you choose the ideal vehicle for your Ugandan vacation.

Three options for 4×4 Car Hire Uganda

Here, I introduce you to three companies that offer 4×4 car hire in Uganda, based on my experience working with each. As an overview: 

• Option #1: Road Trip Africa – Perfect for self-drive safaris
• Option #2: AJ Tours & Travel – Perfect for 4×4 car hire in Uganda with a driver
• Option #3: Car Hire Uganda – Perfect for small vehicle hire

So, read on to learn more about these car hire companies and why you can trust them for your vehicle rental in Uganda.

Option #1: Road Trip Africa – Perfect for Self-Drive Safaris

Before owning a car in Uganda, I hired a vehicle with Road Trip Africa on three occasions. I was highly impressed by the service I received before each trip, and the vehicle I used served me well throughout my time in Uganda. As such, I can’t recommend Road Trip Africa highly enough.

One of the things I like about Road Trip Africa is that you can pick a vehicle to suit your needs and preferences, ranging from small 4x4s to custom safari vehicles. With that in mind, here is what you can expect to pay if you’re looking to hire a car from Road Trip Africa this year:

The reason for the variation in price in the 4×4 car hire in Uganda, as shown in the table above, is that Road Trip Africa offers discounted rates for hiring a vehicle during the off-season. Also, you can access a better rate if you borrow the vehicle for more days (i.e., a ten-day rental offers lower daily rates than a 2-day rental).

As you can see, Road Trip Africa isn’t cheap, but their vehicles’ reliability and service quality are what sets them apart. The last thing you want is to be stuck on the road during your vacation in Uganda.

For more information about the vehicles within the Road Trip Africa fleet and to enquire about car hire in Uganda, you can contact Road Trip here.

Option #2: AJ Tours & Travel – Perfect for Car Hire in with a Driver

AJ Tours & Travel is a leading tour operator based in Kampala, with a fleet of vehicles available for hire. The team at AJ Tours specialises in organising affordable safari trips to various national parks in Uganda, but they also offer a competitive car hire with driver service, which is perfect for taking the pressure of driving away from you.

AJ Tours charges $100 per day for car hire (including driver, but excluding fuel), and they have several vehicles within their fleet to accommodate small and large groups. Having used AJ Tours on so many occasions in the past, I can’t recommend the team enough. Adam is a great driver, so ask for him if you’re keen to hire a car from AJ Tours. 

Like Road Trip Africa, AJ Tours offers seasonal discounts on the cost of their car hire, so be sure to email them in advance to enquire about the best possible price they can give you before agreeing to hire a vehicle and driver for your trip.

For more information about the vehicles within the AJ Tours and Travel fleet and to enquire about car hire in Uganda, you can contact AJ Tours here.

Option #3: Car Hire Uganda – Perfect for Small Vehicle Hire

Although you can rent many vehicles from the aptly named Car Hire Uganda, this company is a great choice if you’re looking to hire smaller cars in Uganda and don’t necessarily need a safari vehicle. Therefore, I recommend it as a great option for car hire in Kampala, Uganda. Some of the options and prices right now include:

• Toyota Rav4: Starting at US$45 per day (up to 4PAX)
• Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX: Starting at $65 per day (up to 9PAX)
• Toyota Safari Van: Starting at $70 per day (Up to 9Pax)

As I have done in the past, you can also hire saloon or city cars from these guys if you need a car to shuttle you from Entebbe to Kampala or to any other cities in Uganda. This is a cheaper alternative than arranging 4×4 car hire Uganda, and this is one of the few companies to offer this service.

For more information about the vehicles within the Car Hire Uganda fleet and to enquire about vehicle hire in the Pearl of Africa, you can contact CH Uganda here.

Car Hire Uganda Checklist: What You Need

Now that I’ve given you three decent options for 4×4 car hire in Uganda, I want to leave you with a list of things that you should bring with you if you want to borrow a car during your trip. Of course, the requirements might change from company to company, so make sure you ask your booking agent in advance.

But, based on my first-hand experience, here’s what you will need:

✅A valid driver’s license: Bring your home driver’s license with you. Most nationalities can drive in Uganda with a foreign permit for up to three months. You can also drive in Uganda with an International Driver’s Permit if you prefer.

✅Your passport or national ID: Present your passport or national ID to the person arranging your car hire.

✅Credit card: You must bring a credit card with enough funds to cover your security deposit. In Uganda, you can also pay this in cash, but check this with the agent before traveling.

A note on car insurance in Uganda: Car insurance in Uganda is third-party for all road vehicles. So, it won’t cover you if you have an accident. You should always check the insurance sticker on your windscreen is valid before setting off in your vehicle, even if the agent tells you that it is! You should request them to update it if it has expired, or you will be fined on the road by the traffic police.

I highly recommend taking out sufficient travel insurance to cover yourself when driving in Uganda. You should also consider third-party waiver insurance, which is available for a fee from many online sellers before arriving in the country.

The verdict: The Best 4×4 Car Hire Uganda Options

So, there you have it – my recommendations for car hire Uganda. Whether you opt for Roadtrip, AJ Tours, or CH Uganda, you can expect great service and reliable service for the duration of your stay in Uganda.

Hiring a vehicle is liberating, as it allows you to see different parts of this beautiful country at your own pace, so it’s definitely something that is worth considering ahead of your vacation! 

If you’re planning to hire a vehicle for your vacation in Uganda, please do check out my recent article, where I explain what driving in Uganda is like. I offer some top tips based on experience, and they will help you prepare for your Ugandan self-drive safari.