8 days 4×4 self-drive to western Uganda.

Tour overview

This 4×4 self-drive to western Uganda starts and ends in Entebbe. This road trip will take you Lake Mburo national park which is famous for zebras and the biggest antelope, this continues to Bwindi impenetrable national park that has got over 340 mountain gorillas making it half of the mountain gorillas remaining in the world. The tour takes you to Queen Elizabeth famous for Kazinga channel and many animal species including tree climbing lions found in the Ishasha sector of the park. The other animal species found in this 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.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport

Welcome to Uganda! Upon arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be briefed about the vehicle, sign agreements, make payments and drive to lake Mburo national park which is the among Uganda’s smallest savannah national parks. It was upgraded as a national park in 1983 and 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 among others and then after the boat cruise you will drive back to the lodge. All rides begin at Rwonyo jetty, it will not take you long before you begin to see large groups of crocodiles 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 2: Game drive and continue to Bwindi impenetrable

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. However, the heights of the park have to be the Burch ells zebra and eland which are only found in two national parks in Uganda. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch as you enjoy the beautiful views. After lunch, you will drive westwards heading towards Bwindi impenetrable, home of mountain gorillas. Accommodation options; Chameleon hill lodge (Luxury), Four Gorillas lodge (Moderate)

Day 3: Gorilla trekking

On this day, you will have a great time meeting with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest! After a tasty breakfast, your guide will 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 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park

Have breakfast, 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 boat cruise on Kazinga channel where you expect to see various 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), and Simba safari Camp

Day 5: Game drive- Queen Elizabeth

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 drive 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.

Day 6: Drive to Kibale forest national park

After breakfast, you will 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, 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. On arrival at the park, you will check into your lodge and after proceed to visit the scenic crater lakes. 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 7: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland visit

Wake up so early and head to Kanyanchu by 8:00 am to start your chimpanzee trek in. 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 elephants.

These primates are located by listening to their pant hooting calls, and then hurry to the place where they are calling from. You get a chance to observe them as they play, feed; socialize as well as jumping around the trees. 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 8: Drive back to Entebbe international airport

After a good night sleep at your lodge, it will be time for your final driving from Kibale forest national park to Entebbe international airport for your flight back home. We truly hope that you have a memorable experience that you will remember for a life time.