The 10 Day self-drive overland safari in Uganda will take you to explore Uganda‘s best national parks where you will get a chance to see animals like mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park, Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, Rafting on the Nile, and Wildlife watching in different national parks in the country.
SAFARI ITINERARY
Day 1: Depart for Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast at your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala, you will meet with a driver from 4×4 Self Drive Africa Ltd who will brief you about how the car operates, sign the car rental agreement, and there you will be set to start your trip by driving southwestwards to Murchison Falls National Park with a stopover in Masindi Town for lunch. After lunch, you will drive up to the top of the falls where you will enjoy the amazing view of Murchison Falls as the Nile forces its way through a 7-meter gorge and it plunges over 47mtrs down to form a peaceful river. From the top of the falls, you will go check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options here
- Paraa Safari Lodge
- Nsambya River Lodge
- Red Chili Tented Camp
Day 2 Game Drive in the park & Boat Cruise up to the bottom of the falls
This morning you wake up for breakfast at the lodge and then proceed to the ferry to cross the Nile to the northern bank for an early game drive. Expect an encounter with lions, and hyenas, among other animals. Enjoy close contact with animals like giraffes, Red bucks, Bush bucks, Kobs, and Orbis. Prolific birdlife includes Kori Bustards, Ground Hornbills, Crested Cranes, Stanley’s bustards, Saddle Bill Stock, Yellow-billed stalk, and many others.
Retire for lunch at the lodge and thereafter, gather your strength for a 17km boat cruise on the Nile up to the bottom of Murchison Falls, and this is a magnificent spectacle. The river banks are thronged with hippos, Waterbucks, huge Crocodiles, buffaloes, and a variety of bird species. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Have breakfast at the lodge and get ready to transfer to Fort Portal town for an en-route stopover for lunch and then continue to Kibale Forest National Park the home to 13 different species of primates including the man’s closest relative – the Chimpanzees. You will arrive late in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation options here
- Ndali Lodge
- Mountains of the Moon
- Kibale Forest Camp
- Chimpundu Lodge
- Crater Safari Lodge
- Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Day 5: Game Drive and Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
After a cup of tea/ coffee, enjoy the spectacular sunrise and take on an early morning game drive along the Queens Nile, Channel tracks, and Kasenyi tracks. Expect an encounter with herds of elephants, Buffaloes, African lions, leopards, and several antelope species among others. after this adventurous game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and then after lunch, you will embark on an afternoon launch cruise along with the hippo-crowded banks of the Kazinga channel for an amazing wildlife-watching experience. The boat cruise offers a perfect platform for photographing the surroundings and also there are high chances of watching a lot of buffalos resting in shallows, elephants drinking water at the bank of the channel, also crocodiles are common here, giant forest hogs, warthogs, and many others. The drive is a breathtaking experience.
Accommodation options here
- Mweya Safari LodgeJacana Lodge
- Simba Safari Camp
- Engiri Game Lodge and campsite
- Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have morning breakfast and enjoy a game drive through the Ishasha sector famous for tree-climbing lions, also enjoy the spectacle of the Topi, Kobs, and Buffalos as they dot the acacia grasslands in the park. The experience is fantastic, arriving in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in the afternoon for relaxation and waiting for dinner and overnight
Accommodation options here
- Gorilla Resort Hotel
- British Hotel Kisoro
- Buhoma Community Campground
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Adventure & optional Nature walk
Wake up early in the morning for breakfast, with your packed lunch, drinking water, and trekking gear, you will proceed to the Bwindi Forest National Park headquarters for a short briefing from the ranger guide. After you will drive to the starting point of gorilla trekking. with a ranger guide and an armed guard, you will penetrate the Impenetrable forest in search of these giant Apes. spending a full hour with the Gorillas as they grumble and murmur while feeding, and playing will be your lifelong memorable experience. This is for sure fantastic. The time you will take while searching these animals is unpredictable but it goes between 2-7 hours depending on their movement in search of food and shelter. After this amazing gorilla trekking experience, you will return to the lodge for a full lunch. In case you still have some energy in the evening, will go for a village community walk to visit the Batwa pygmy community for a cultural show then after you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Transfer back to Kampala
Have breakfast and embark on a picnic drive back to Kampala, lunch in Mbarara Town, stop at the equator for photographs, and later proceed to Kampala reaching there late evening for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options here
- Minister’s Village Hotel
- Imperial Royale Hotel
- African Tribe Hotel
- Arcadia Suites Hotel Kampala
Day 9: Source of the Nile and Bujagali Falls rafting
Take a city tour in Kampala, visit Kasubi tombs, Bahai temple, Uganda Museum, Art and crafts shots, and local markets, and later transfer to Jinja and try out the wonderful experience of white water rafting on the mighty Nile. Visit the source of the Nile and drive through Jinja town with colorful gardens and an Asian-colored building style.
Day 10: Transfer from Jinja to Kampala
On the last day of this 10-day self-drive safari, you will wake up with a heavy breakfast at the hotel and then hit the road and transfer to Kampala where you will reach in the afternoon for lunch and then get ready to transfer to the Entebbe International Airport to meet your departure flight in case it’s scheduled on that da.