15 days 4×4 self-drive trip to east and western Uganda

Road trip overview

This 4×4 self-drive trip starts and ends in Entebbe. This road trip will give you a chance of visiting Jinja town, get a chance to view the romantic sipi falls. you will drive to Murchison falls national park which is famous for a variety of wildlife and boat cruises, the animal species in this park include, lions, elephants, bush buck, antelopes, kobs, birds among others. You will continue to Queen Elizabeth national park famous for the Kazinga channel and many animal species including the tree climbing lions found in the Ishasha sector of the park. The other animal species found in the park include the birds, elephants, kobs, antelopes among others. You will also get a chance to visit Kibale forest national park which is famous for chimpanzee trekking. This trip will take you to Bwindi impenetrable national park with over 340 mountain gorillas making it half of the mountain gorillas remaining in the whole world. Lastly, you will visit Lake Mburo national park for several game drives and wildlife species

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport and drive to Jinja.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be briefed, sign rentanl agreements, make payments, get keys for your 4×4 vehicle and embark on your journey to Jinja for the long waited source of the Nile experience. Jinja is the past industrialized town of Uganda. On your way to Jinja, you will make stop over at ssezibwa falls, Mabira forest for nature walk find the colorful gardens as well as the brewery industries. You will also visit the source of the Nile where the Nile emerges from Lake Victoria. Upon arrival at Jinja, you will check-in at your hotel where you will have late lunch relaxation, dinner and overnight as contemplate on the adventure that lies ahead of you. Accommodation options: Jinja Nile resort/ wild waters lodge

Day 2: White water rafting and quad biking at the Nile

After an early morning breakfast at the hotel, you will go for white water rafting on the high rapids of the mighty Nile which is the second largest river. After lunch, you will prepare for quad biking experience. To do quad biking you don’t need any experience. In Uganda, this sport is mainly done in Jinja in the villages along river Nile. When you go for it, you will get free training or practice before the safari begins. While quad biking, you will go into the deep heart of the countryside, visiting scenic and isolated places that many tourists rarely see. During this safari, the rainier the better as muddy ground offers a real life experience. This is an exceptional African experience for age categories. Quad routes and tracks cater for all levels of people like children, beginners, adults, experienced plus expert riders. Accommodation options: Jinja Nile resort/ wild waters lodge

Day 3: Drive to sipi falls

Have breakfast and drive to sipi falls that are found in Kapchorwa which is north to Mbale. As you move towards the Kenyan border, there Lays Mountain Elgon National Park and it is at its edge that you will embrace the sipi falls. A series of three of these waterfalls makeup the sipi falls. Upon arrival, you will check-in at the lodge where you will have dinner and an overnight stay as you wait for the adventure and fun that awaits you the following day. Accommodation options: Sipi valley resort/ Rafiki lodge

Day 4: Hiking to visit all the three waterfalls at Sipi

After an early morning breakfast, you will meet your local guide and start off the hike to visit all the three waterfalls. You will follow a trail 7to 8km along that goes through the local communities and their farmlands of tea and banana plantations which are the main cash crops grown in the area. Between visiting the waterfalls, you are treated to breath taking landscape scenery from the green slopes of mountain Elgon to the distant flat plain plains of Karamoja in the distance. Each waterfall offers an experience from another, from the plunge, beautiful views, cakes, to rainbows. The entire hike will 3 to 4 hours, visiting the first waterfalls from to descending down the second and finally to the third at the end of the trail which is the biggest and the main one. At the end of the fun, you will return to the lodge for lunch and afterwards proceed to visit the caves. Accommodation options: Sipi valley resort/ Rafiki lodge

Day 5: Drive to Murchison falls national park

Have breakfast and take all day drive north via Hoima to Murchison falls, through verdant country side past traditional homesteads and farms. You will gaze at the Nile which is the longest in the world Murchison falls is the largest national park in Uganda and the park has a variety of animal species that include leopards, lions, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes, crocodiles and many bird species including blue throated roller, the shoebill, turi Ibatis, Uganda woodland warbler, yellow billed and grey throated. The main tourist activities carried out in this park include game viewing, boat trips along river Nile. You will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Accommodation options; Chobe Safari Lodge/ Baker’s Lodge (Luxury), Pakuba lodge/ Murchison River lodge (Moderate), Red Chili Rest Camp (Budget)

Day 6: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

With your packed breakfast, you will go for a morning game drive with your ranger who will help you spot the a big number of wildlife found in the Park, you will be able to spot a lot of the African animal wildlife for example: elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many tropical birds. After the game drive, you will drive back to the hotel for lunch as you prepare to enjoy the boat cruise on River Nile. This boat will allow you get close to the water animals which include hippos as well as the Nile crocodiles. The Nile has got many stunning bird life which is also enjoyed while taking your boat trip; these include; the bee eaters, colored king fishers, shoebill stork, grey throated and the yellow billed birds. After the boat cruise, you will go for a rest at the lodge in the Evening as you wait for dinner and an overnight stay. Accommodation options; Chobe Safari Lodge/ Baker’s Lodge (Luxury), Pakuba lodge/ Murchison River lodge (Moderate), Red Chili Rest Camp (Budget)

Day 7: Transfer to Kibale forest national park

Have breakfast, checkout of the lodge and drive to Kibale forest national park. You will be able to enjoy am impressive sight of the legendary “mountains of the moon” which you will clearly see on the road to fort portal. You will as well pass through many traditional villages as you enjoy local people carrying out agriculture.

You will as well enjoy fort portal which is in the foot hills of mountain Rwenzori filled with tea plantations filled with tea plantations, after enjoying this platform of green tea, you will continue to Kibale forest national park which is one of the great rain forests in Africa. This forest is mainly famous for around 13 primate species with chimpanzees being the main tracked chimpanzees. The other primate species include the golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, as well as the bird species. The park is also next to Bigodi wetland which is managed and own by the local people in the area, this place is famous for primate watching as well as birding.

On arrival at the park, you will check into your lodge and after proceed to visit the scenic crater lakes plus the terraced tea plantations around the hill of fort portal. This Crater Lake sits on Lake Nyinambuga where tourists can take a walk as they enjoy the cool breeze of this lake. After, return to the lodge to enjoy lunch as you relax and wait for your dinner and overnight. Accommodation options; Ndali lodge (Luxury), Kibale Forest Camp/ Kibale Guest Cottages (Moderate)

Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland visit

Wake up so early and head to Kanyanchu by 8:00 am to start your chimpanzee trek in Kibale forest. Chimpanzees are considered to be the closest relatives of human beings since they share 98% of their DNA with that of human beings. As you proceed with the search of these beautiful chimps, you will view many other primate and animal species including the LHoests monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkey, grey cheeked mangabeys, bush babies and many bird species including yellow spotted nictor, ramped tinker, crowed eagle, as well as the forest elephants which are mammals.

After the long trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare to visit Bigodi wetland sanctuary where you will view more primates like the blue monkeys, baboon, otters, bush bucks, mangoose, bush pigs and many more. This place is also known for many species like the great blue turaco and the green breasted pitta. Accommodation options; Ndali lodge (Luxury), Kibale Forest Camp/ Kibale Guest Cottages (Moderate)

Day 9: Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park

After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge and drive to Queen Elizabeth national park. This national park is famous for a variety of wildlife and chimpanzee species. This famous conservation area is bordered by Lake Edward in the south west an in the north east, it’s bordered by Lake George. This park was named after queen Elizabeth the second and it has a variety of animal species including the impalas, kobs, forest hogs, elephants, buffaloes, tree climbing lions, and the cape buffaloes.

Upon arrival at queen Elizabeth, you will have lunch and then do the afternoon set out for boat cruise on Kazinga channel where you will see various of animals like crocodiles, hippos, water bucks, buffaloes as well as birds like the storks, king fishers among others. Accommodation options; Katara Lodge/Mweya safari lodge (Luxury), Kasenyi Safari Camp/Ihamba Safari Lodge (Moderate), Simba safari camp (Budget)

Day 10: Game drive- Queen Elizabeth

Arise early enough and after breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive where you will see various animals like elephants, elands, antelopes, buffaloes, lions among others. After having your lunch at the lodge, you will transfer to Ishasha to see the famous tree climbing lions which can only be sighted at Queen Elizabeth in the Ishasha sector. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight. Accommodation options; Katara Lodge/Mweya safari lodge (Luxury), Kasenyi Safari Camp/Ihamba Safari Lodge (Moderate), Simba safari camp (Budget)

Day 11: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Have breakfast and embark on journey to Bwindi forest a home to mountain. Pass through the Ishasha sector where you will take the pleasure in watching tree climbing lions, also enjoy various spectacular landscapes on your way. Arrive in the park late in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay at any lodge of your choice. Accommodation options; Chameleon hill lodge (Luxury), Four Gorillas lodge (Moderate)

Day 12: Gorilla trekking- Bwindi Impenetrable

On this day, you will have a great time meeting with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest! After a tasty breakfast, drive to head offices for briefing and later enjoy the fullness of the mist forest as you see the gentle giants and other wild life species like forest elephants, monkeys, butterflies, and different bird species. Only one hour is permitted to you with the gorillas. Locating gorillas can take a few hours or the whole day depending on how far they moved from the place they spent the previous night. After the trek, in the evening you could go for a guided nature walk or a community visit. Accommodation options; Chameleon hill lodge (Luxury), Four Gorillas lodge (Moderate)

Day 13: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park

Have breakfast and embark on epicnic drive to lake Mburo national park which is the among Uganda’s smallest savannah national parks. It is a home to 332 bird species, animals like buffaloes, Oribis, kobs, warthogs, zebras among others.

Upon arrival at the park, you will check in at the lodge, have lunch and then you will have a preparation for an unforgettable experience of the boat cruise along the lake. Still a lot of animals will be seen like crocodiles, hippos and buffaloes lining on the banks of the lake. The lake is also famous for its bird life, majestic fish eagles, and colorful kingfishers. If you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse with the rare shoebill storks. Accommodation options; Mihingo Lodge (Luxury), Rwakobo Rock (Moderate), Eagles nest/ Leopard’s rest camp (Budget

Day 14: Game drive and transfer to Entebbe.

Have breakfast at your lodge and set out for the game drive through the park where your eyes will be fed with amazing sights and wildlife such as impalas, kobs, antelopes, also bird species. Lake Mburo has a variety of antelopes including topi, duiker, Oribis, reedbuck and klipspringer and Rothschild giraffe have recently been reintroduced. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch as you enjoy the beautiful views. After lunch, you will check out of the lodge and transfer to Entebbe arriving in the evening. Accommodation options; Airport guest house

Day 15: Relaxation at Entebbe

Have breakfast at your hotel and then spend the whole day relaxing and chilling at the white sandy beach. The other activities also include swimming in the water, birding, fishing in the waters of the lake victoria that are characterized by many fish species, Hand over the 4×4 vehicle before your flight back home. We truly hope that you had a memorable experience with 4×4 self-drive Uganda that you will remember for many years to come!