Yes, you can drive all the way around Uganda. Expect to travel far distances, so it is more than advisable to pick a rental option with unlimited kilometers. You should also make sure that the rental vehicle is properly insured.
You’re amazing 4×4 Car Hire Uganda adventure begins with our expertise on wildlife holiday in Uganda with a 4×4 rooftop tent vehicle. This is a Mabamba excursion in search of a shoe bill stork and then transfer to Jinja on the Nile. From Jinja, we head to Sipi – Kapchorwa for a coffee tour and continue to Moroto.
You’ll experience the Tepeth and Karamojong people firsthand and proceed to Kidepo for a typical African safari experience. The next stops are Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park. From Queen, you’ll head to Bwindi for gorilla trekking and then connect to Lake Mburo. The tour ends in Entebbe.
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be assigned an English-speaking professional tour driver/guide who will receive and welcome you to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked accommodation.
Self-drive to the excursion in Mabamba Wetlands and transfer to Jinja. This morning, you will have breakfast and at around 7 or 7:30 am. You will then move out and head for the Mabamba wetlands. The area is considered one of only a few places in Uganda with a higher chance of spotting the prehistoric shoe bill stork.
It’s fascinating to watch this bird in its natural setting. It may stand absolutely still for a long period awaiting the movements of its prey and then suddenly strike with a stunning speed. From Mabamba, you will return for lunch. Thereafter, you’ll embark on a transfer that will see you stay overnight in Jinja, a city famous as the historic source of the Nile River. You will arrive, check-in, and have the evening at leisure.
Self –drive from Jinja to Sipi Falls Area Kapchorwa. This morning you are at liberty to choose an activity of your interest. Note: Costs are not included as rates will vary according to one’s choice. If you’re an adventurous type, what better way to start your safari than to experience this most exciting, exhilarating adventure on the Nile firsthand? Get wet! Get wild! Get rafting! In fact, no experience is required to undertake this unforgettable adventure on the Nile.
But if you’re scared of the rapids, you can consider kayaking and exploring the Nile on its calm waters. If being in the water is not your thing, let’s go quad biking or mountain biking and have fun in the countryside. After all, the fun in Jinja, you will embark on a transfer to the Sipi Area Kapchorwa. You’ll check in and spend the evening at leisure.
Sipi Falls all day. You will have breakfast and thereafter, proceed out to explore the Sipi Falls. The hiking (about 2½ – 3 hours) takes you to explore the nearby Sipi Falls which is a set of 3 falls. The views are breathtaking and make for a great excursion while in Sipi. The afternoon coffee tour on the other hand will enable you to trace the story of coffee from seed to that in the cup and you don’t want to miss this informative experience. Later, you will relax at the accommodation with a spectacular view of Sipi right in front of you.
Sipi Falls to Moroto. You’ll enjoy breakfast and then you self-drive to Moroto via Soroti. Moroto is a town situated at the foot of the massive Mount Moroto and the surrounding Savannah plains. A visit here gets you closer to one of Uganda’s most indigenous tribes, the Karamojong and the Tepeth. You will arrive around 12 noon or 1:00 pm. After check-in at the camp, there will be lunch before you can proceed to visit the Tepeth tribe.
These are hunter-gatherers in origin and were the first inhabitants of Karamoja land. When the nomadic pastoral Karamojong migrated into their land, they moved into the highlands till today. This visit will surely offer us an insight into their lives.
Self-drive to Kidepo Valley National Park. You will have breakfast and drive off to Kidepo Valley National Park, arriving in time for some rest and lunch before going out for a game-viewing drive. You will proceed for game viewing in the Narus Valley in the south sector of Kidepo.
Narus is the sector of Kidepo that has Savannah grasslands mixed with acacia woodland. It is also the area of the park with permanent water sources throughout the year and for that matter, most of the animals are in this part of the park. Be on the look for large herds of buffaloes, elephants, many zebras, antelope species and the lions, the elusive leopards. You will return to the accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.
Exploring Kidepo Valley National Park all day. You will enjoy your breakfast and then embark on a sunrise game drive/safari where you will have the opportunity to encounter wildlife including lions, herds of buffaloes, elephants, zebras, or the elusive leopards among others. You will return to the lodge for lunch and afternoon relaxation. After a good rest, you’ll move out for the Karamojong community, a cultural encounter where you will spend a wonderful afternoon (evening) with the Karamojong people and have an insight into their way of life and beliefs. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at the booked accommodation.
Game Viewing and self-drive to Murchison Falls National Park. You will wake up early, have breakfast and proceed for an early-riser game viewing. Thereafter, you’ll exit Kidepo and hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison, and the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest national park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeests, buffaloes, and elephants. The concentration of hippos and Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. You will reach Murchison, check into your accommodation then have some rest, dinner and an overnight stay.
Game drives safaris at Murchison Falls National Park. You will take breakfast and depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest national park. Be on the look for wildlife including lions, and leopards though hard to spot among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive.
You’ll return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including hippos, crocodiles and several water birds. At an extra cost 15$, if interested, you will continue with a hike to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill of reaching the top is unforgettable. You will return to your accommodation and relax.
The road trip with rooftop tent car to Kibale National Park is so amazing not to miss on your self-drive holiday in Uganda. You will have breakfast and then drive to the top of the falls to truly appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the Murchison Falls. From the top, you will embark on a transfer that will see you stay overnight at the edge of Kibale Forest National Park.
The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way. Upon arrival at the accommodation, you will check in and just relax. At an extra cost of 15$, if interested, you can proceed with the crater lakes excursion. You will enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes, surrounded by gentle hills, and stunning views all over. Else, just enjoy your rest at the facility.
Game drives safaris at Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will have breakfast and proceed for the Bigodi Wetlands excursion. The Bigodi Wetland boasts of an extensive array of biodiversity among which are several primate’s species like the black and white Colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and baboons. The Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers. Among the major bird species within the area is the great blue turaco.
From Bigodi, you will embark on a transfer (about 2hrs) to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will reach Queen early enough to have lunch, rest and then proceed out for game viewing. During the game drive, look out for wild animals like reed bucks, bush bucks, Kobs, warthogs, elephants, lions and buffaloes to mention but a few. Alternatively, you could choose to go for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive (instead). You will return to the accommodation and take your rest.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge and afternoon Boat Trip in Kazinga Channel. You will have breakfast and proceed for the chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura Gorge. The gorge is home to habituated chimpanzees plus other primates including baboons, monkeys and also bird species. Today, you will spend the early part of the day tracking chimpanzees here. Thereafter, you will return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch.
After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds on the water shores. After the boat trip, you can proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive and thereafter, return to the lodge.
Take self-drive in Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the half world’s endangered mountain gorillas. You will wake up early and proceed for an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Be on the look for cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, lions, and leopards (though hard to spot) among others. You’ll return to the lodge and check out then head to Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions.
The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get to spot them, the sight is picturesque and memorable. From Ishasha, you will continue to the accommodation at the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the reserved gorilla permit.
Gorilla trekking experience at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is remarkable.
The area offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. You will return to the accommodation and have a good rest after a strenuous trek. At an extra cost, if interested, you can move out to encounter the local community. Otherwise, you will continue with your relaxation.
Self –drive to Lake Mburo National Park. You will have breakfast and set off to Lake Mburo National Park via Mbarara City. You will arrive at the accommodation in Lake Mburo in time and rest before moving for an afternoon-to-evening game drive.
On the game drive, expect to see the gigantic eland antelopes, zebras, topi, impalas, Uganda Kob and Cape buffaloes among others. Later, you will relax at the accommodation where you will spend the night. At an extra cost of 30$, if interested, you may consider the night game drive to encounter nocturnal creatures which will be a rare sighting compared to the regular daytime sightings.
Return to Entebbe. You will enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park bush walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range) zebras, giraffes, elands, topi, antelopes and cape buffaloes among others.
You will take the trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo National Park. Thereafter, you will return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport.
