In this life, you cannot say that it is a one-size-fits-all . Some people are interested in driving themselves regardless of the part of the world they find themselves in. Others would love to connect with the local people and therefore always prefer having a local drive them around.
With the invention of GPS devices, Google Maps, mapsme and other navigation apps it has become easier for people who wish to drive themselves regardless of what part of the world they find themselves in. Of course there are still a few constraints like wrong locations but with the option of comparing maps in different applications, it becomes easy to navigate by yourself.
Kigali city is one of those cities in Africa that are not hard to navigate by yourself. You only need a few tips and self drive Kigali will be a walk in the park.
Keep Right
Unlike all her neighbors that drive on the left hand, Rwanda drives on the right. In the same country, French used to be the official language but they transitioned to English. Therefore if you are considering a self drive in Rwanda, you will do well if you know a few English phrases more so those related to traffic.
Carry Some Light Clothes
Sometimes the temperatures are high during the dry season. Wearing light cloths will help you to bear the temperature that sometimes are uncomfortable for some people. In case you are the kind that just loves the sun, then Rwanda is the place to be more so in the dry season.
Find a Reputable Car Rental Agency
Unless you intend to ship your car directly from you home country, you could have to rent a car in Kigali for your self drive in Kigali. Among the most popular companies include Kigali car rentals, Go Self Drive Rwanda, 4×4 car rentals Rwanda, Rent a car Rwanda among several others.
Most companies have similar hire policies, the only thing that often differs is the fuel policies. Some companies provide the car with a full tank while others provide the car with an empty one. Most of the other policies are more or less the same.
Book Your Activities In Advance
There are self reasons why people visit Kigali but the most popular reasons are business and tourism. If you are in Kigali for business and that is why you intend to self drive, the only thing you would have to book on top of your car rental is accommodation.
However, if you are in Kigali for tourism purposes, then you will do well booking your Kigali activities in advance. However, when playing your activities, leave room for a two to three hours delay. This could delay could be due to traffic jam or forgetting something at your hotel and you have to drive back and pick it.
Among the activities to plan for in Kigali include a visit to art galleries, the genocide memorial center, Kigali’s local markets as well as the Kigali night life experience.
Watch out For the Automatic Traffic Fines
Unlike her neighbors who use solely traffic officers to issue fines, in Rwanda they have automated traffic fining systems. Driving above the prescribed speed will get you a ticket. Driving through a zebra crossing when people are waiting will earn you a traffic fine, overtaking in the wrong or forbidden spots among several other traffic offenses.
In order to enjoy your Rwanda self-drive experience, you will need to be keen on the road discipline in order to avoid these fines.
In conclusion, driving in Kigali is not a very hard task, the road users are a quite disciplined due to the automatic traffic fines which making driving in Kigali easy compared to other East African cities.