Sustainable Car Rental practices in Uganda

We live in a generation where the effects of climate change have been witnessed with devastating effects. In 2022 alone, Ambroseli Kenya experienced their worst drought in the last forty years. Though a few showers have been witnessed early this year, it is a beat late to bandage the hundreds of wildlife that has lost life due to the drought.

If it had been only for 2022, it would have been bearable, but as of 2023, Ambroseli has lost thousands of wildlife in just a decade. This has not only happened in Kenya but also in a number of South African countries such as Botswana.

The effects cannot be solely blamed on climate change but we can all agree that climate change is one of the major contributors. In Uganda, wildlife fires are relatively common in Murchison falls national park and Kidepo valley national park. There are a number of lodges that have deliberately chosen to operate on an ecofriendly basis but outside the lodges, you will need transportation.

Below are some of the best ways to ensure that you are a direct contributor to sustainable car rental practices in Uganda.

Hire Less Polluter Vehicles

According to the international council on clean transportation, diesel cars tend to be more fuel efficient than gasoline cars. This implies that driving a gasoline car will cost you a little extra fuel-wise compared to the diesel option. But though diesel tends to be more fuel efficient, diesel cars emit more carbon dioxide than gasoline cars.

It should be noted that most of the safari agencies use diesel cars because of the fuel efficiency but if you are the kind that inspires to support sustainability, opting for a gasoline car would make a big difference.

It should be not that electric cars are not yet a viable option for most parts of the country. For now, opting for a gasoline car would make a bigger difference.

Opt for a group tour

It is true, self-drive Safaris or car rental in Uganda with a driver offers some sense of privacy. But when it comes to game drives, you realize that you are all aiming for the same thing, encountering wildlife. Instead of having 15 cars seeking the same animals, it would be better to book a bigger car for a group game drive in the park.

Group tours can sometimes tend to be inconvenient. Therefore we recommended you book group activities in the park and opt for personal transport for long transfers.

Book Eco Lodges

Many of us are used to having power (electricity) 24/7 and for this reason, eco-friendly lodges tend to be a bore for many of us given the fact that they have to turn off power at some point in the day and in the middle of the night.

It is quite common for us to think of convenience instead of sustainability. But it is highly recommended to spend nights at Eco lodges so that you may inspire more players in the industry to go eco.

Hire from Eco-Friendly Car rental Agencies

Many car rental agencies are mostly driven by business. But there are a few companies that have eco-friendly practices at their core. You can always check out reviews from previous renters that have found the agency adhering to Eco-sustainability practices.

Supporting these kinds of agencies will force other agencies to fall suit. Therefore, sometimes do not just focus on who is offering the best price, rather focus on who is contributing to sustainability.

Ask for the Car Service Tags to confirm the maintenance state

In Uganda, every time a car is serviced, the service provider often issues a card showing the details for the next date of service. Hiring a well-maintained car directly helps to cut down the emissions that often come about due to poor servicing.

It is always in your power to confirm that the car is in sound mechanical condition before you take it.

There are several other ways you can contribute to sustainable car rental in Uganda but the above few pointers can be a great start to making a difference.