This is a simple hurried safari plan to consider on your self-drive which covers almost everything on a list of adventures in Uganda. Tourist destinations to reach at on this adventure suggestion include Jinja, Sipi, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable and Lake Mburo and return to Kampala. Among the adventures to do include watching the Big Five Mammals, trek mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, watching tree climbing lions, rafting the source of the Nile.
This is a round road trip circuit that almost cover everything included on a safari to Uganda. The trip suggestion is very possible even on self-drive safaris. We are going to give choices of accommodations which can consider when taking this safari drive.
Day 1: transfer from Entebbe airport to Jinja
The fast day suggestion is possible when your reaching in Uganda not beyond 3pm. Can start your journey using the Entebbe express highway and using the northern bypass to avoid the Kampala traffic congestion. After receiving your 4×4 car rental will drive to Jinja East of Kampala capital. Jinja is recorded as East African regional capital of adventures with white water rafting being the canopy of activities. Today you will do water rafting in Jinja and take a city drive of Jinja..
Luxury: Wild waters Lodge
Mid-range: Nile River Explores (will do water sliding)
Budget: Nile River Camp
Day 2: Transfer to Sipi Falls
If you had your night at Nile River explore, take a morning water sliding it’s inclusive on the rates of accommodates. Then will start your drive and transfer to Sipi Falls in Kapichorwa at the foothills of Mt. Elgon. With lunch en-route will take an afternoon trek throughout the all 3 series of the falls. Hiking through coffee and banana plantations draws you to the break taking famous series of Sipi Falls, the falls are sparsely distanced and from one falls to another it’s a drive and then hikes. The natural ambiance which can’t be just found anywhere makes these moist falls special and perfect for photographing postures.
Luxury and Mid-range: Sipi River Lodge
Budget: Sipi Falls Resort
Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
Following that well prepared breakfast accompanied by a cup of black made coffee. Today will drive back to Soroti and take a simplified drive to Kidepo valley National Park via Soroti-Moroto road. It’s a full day drive and will reach Kidepo in the later evening hour. Will have to buy packed food at Soroti city so you can en-route for lunch refreshment.
Luxury: Apoka Lodge
Mid-range: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Budget: UWA Bandas
Day 4: Game Drive and Cultural exploration
Kidepo Valley National Park is considered to be the true African wilderness, don’t forget that the park suggests the best and widest landscape view of the acacia dotted Savannah. This day short after breakfast, will take a game drive through Narusi valley section. The game drive is an opening to sight a number of wildlife among which include the largest wild mammals; larger herds of Elephants, buffalo s, zebras, a number of antelope species. Chances to sight some of the big cats like lions, leopards and hyenas. Watch a number of bird species, supplement of warthogs, fox, and various interesting and irritating sounds are the expectation.
After about 3 hours of interacting with the wild offers, turn to your lodge relax wait for lunch. Then in the afternoon hours will take a Lorekul community visit around the park to interact with the local people in their entertainment activates like dances. This cultural experience is organized by UWA leading to this local community for experience the daily life of the Karamoja people.
Luxury: Apoka Lodge
Mid-range: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Budget: UWA Bandas
Day 5: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
The early morning drive from Kidepo is idea today via Kitgum. Will en-route to Peadar to Aura falls along Kitgum -Gulu road. Then will drive straight via Gulu to Murchison Falls National Park with a lunch en-route. When reached the park, take a rest at your lodge for the next day adventures.
Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge
Mid-range Sambiya Rive lodge
Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge
Day 6: game drive and boat cruise.
Take your breakfast, you’re to experience the morning scenic game drive through various tracks to the delta. This scenic game drive offer views of the some of the big five (leopards, lions, elephants, buffalos) also leads to the one of the world’s most populated hippo pool, number of animals and bird species. En-route for lunch relaxations and later will take the dramatic game boat cruise. The afternoon boat cruise along the Victoria Nile leads to watch the bottom of the world’s most powerful falls in the world. Watching how these rapids ease after upon their pouring. The boat ride is accompanied with a lot of features like cliff, a number of lives among which are the land and aquatic life.
Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge
Mid-range Sambiya Rive lodge
Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge
Day 7: Transfer to Kibale national park
Take your packed breakfast for a picnic breakfast along your drive. Before reaching the park will have a stopover at Fort Portal city for lunch en-route and even gazing at some unique features. Then will drive to Bigodi village, reaching at the community will engage is several activities and experience the local people do economic activities alongside conservation. Will take a village walk or nature walk through the Bigodi sanctuary watching a number of bird species alongside various monkey species.
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Mid-range: chimps Next
Budget: Jacaranda Hilltop Guesthouse
Day 8: Chimps tracking.
Today following your morning breakfast, your drive to Kanyacu information center where tracking starts from. Be briefed about tracking etiquette and be grouped in groups of 8 trackers, with an armed ranger will be guided into the thick forest to start searching for the species. The search can take about 3 minutes to 3 hours and finding the species you have an hour in their presence. Then return to your lodge to the starting point to refresh.
Then transfer from Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park reach by evening hours and relax at your lodge for another day.
Luxury: Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Kasenyi Wild Game Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge
Day 9: Game Drive and Boat Ride
Today take the morning sunrise game drive in the Kasenyi savannah, this is a rich point of games in the park, expect to watch a number interesting mammals just at your sight are the warthogs, bushbucks, kobs, buffalo, chances are high to see lions, elephants among many mentions. Roughly three hours after will be done and can consider lunch en-route and drive to Mweya peninsula for the afternoon boat cruise at this amazing Kazinga Channel.
It’s still fine to take an evening drive to Katwe Salt Lake before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight:
Luxury: Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Kasenyi Wild Game Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge
Day 10: game drive for climbing lions and transfer to bwindi
This day means a hurry morning drive to Ishasha sector, actually can a packed breakfast, and rush for the tree climbing lions. These are special mainly seen in Uganda, though also speculated in the Tanzania Lake Manyala National Park and South Africa, but in Uganda it’s no longer speculations, these prides have spotted this zone to be the sky chillax zone. Track the tree climbing lions which is done on a drive through the Ishasha savannahs south of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Then consider having your lunch en-route and then embark on the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National park buhoma sector.
Luxury: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Mid-range: Gorilla Conservation Camp
Budget: Bwindi View Bandas
Day 10: Gorilla trekking
Well packed with your hurry morning breakfast, rush to Buhoma starting point before 7:30am for briefing and at 8:00am trekking of the great giants begins, trekking takes around 30 minutes to 8 hours and when you encounter the gorillas you are given an hour to interact with them. Trekking gorillas is a lifetime experience finding yourself amidst these human closest relatives it’s really interesting. The adventure initiates other adventures done in Africa.
After the trek, can relax, and have your lunch refreshments. In the afternoon hours can if not so much exhausted can take a community visit for the Batwa experience. The community visit gives an insight of the Batwa people which is encompassed with some undertakings like cultural dances. Then can take about 2 hour drive to Lake Bunyonyi
Luxury/Mid-range: Birdnest Bunyonyi Resort
Budget: Crater Bay Cottages
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park
Take a lake view breakfast, can take about a close boat ride, and then will embark on your scenic packed drive to Lake Mburo National Park with lunch en-route to Mbarara. Reaching the park check-in at your lodge and relax. Today will do the night game drive, this is great consideration to watch leopards and actively hunting. The park has the highest population of leopards which can be easily seen during the moon night drive with brighter torches.
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Mid-range: arcadia Cottages
Budget: Eagle Nest Lake Mburo
Day 12: transfer to Kampala
Likewise enjoy your breakfast then go for early morning boat cruise, after embark on your journey to Kampala, have a stopover at the Equator for Lunch and photographing. Then continue to Kampala if you wish to travel back you can be dropped at your hotel in Kampala or at Entebbe airport for your next flight.
