Things to do on Selfdrive safari
Things to do on a selfdrive safari in Uganda
Uganda is diverse with a lot of stunning tourist attractions that will leave you mesmerized. We have compiled the top 5 tourist destinations in Uganda that you should not miss when you come for a self-drive car rental safari in Uganda
Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park was established in 1952 and covers a surface area of 3893km2 . The park is located in the northern region of the Albertine Rift Valley in Masindi district of western Uganda situated 300km by road northwest of Kampala. The Murchison Falls also known as Kabalega Falls is where the Nile bursts through the narrow gorge and spreads down to a stream flowing into Lake Albert. Hippos, crocodiles and water bucks thrive in the banks of the stream.
Murchison Falls National Park has got a spectacular view with the huge waterfalls roaring and finding their way within the small slit of 7 meters or 23 feet wide between the rocks as it divides Bunyoro escarpment and Acholi savanna plains. A lot of can be seen here mainly include; elephants, buffalos, lions, giraffes, chimpanzees and many others. Vegetation is commonly savannah, woodland and riverine forest.
In Murchison there are four of the big five; buffalos, lions, elephants and leopards are mostly seen in the northern part.
It is possible to go for a boat safari on the river since there are scheduled and charter boat trips to the foot of Murchison Falls during the journey you will see many hippos, crocodiles, elephants etc as they come to have a drink. Attractions car rent Uganda
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda on the rim of the Rift Valley. The hillsides which are mist-covered ancient rain forest that dates back to more than 25,000 years, 400 plant species. More notably, this “impenetrable forest” in addition protects an predictable 500 population of mountain gorillas – approximately half of the population in the world, among which are a number of habituated groups, that can be tracked by visitors.
Bwindi is home to more than half the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas. actually there are over 300 mountain gorillas living here. Many tourists rent cars in Uganda end up in Bwindi to enjoy Mountain Gorilla tours / tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The word “Bwindi” means “darkness” and taking a hike this magnificent forest will certainly unveil to you the reason why the forest was named so. Take part in this mountain gorilla tracking / trekking adventure because it may involve climbing the steep terrain
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is not to be missed when you rent a car in Uganda for self-drive safari. besides the main highlight gorilla tracking there are quite number of activities that you may be engaged in. There are different community initiatives that arrange these tours; Buninga forest walk, nkuringo cultural center, Rubuguri village walk, nyundo community eco-trails, NCCDF among others.
- Kibale National Park.
Kibale National Park is in the western part of Uganda about 348km is one of Uganda’s most lovely places to explore. The park is located close to the serene Ndali Kasenda crater area and it takes a half day’s drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori Mountains & Semuliki National Parks and the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve.
Southern Kibale borders Queen Elizabeth National Park and collectively these conserved areas protect a 180 km long migration corridor for wildlife that stretches from the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park in “Ishasha”, to “Sebitoli” in northern Kibale.
Kibale is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking and other primates coupled with the most beautiful tropical rainforest. It has a pleasant climate almost throughout the year, the wettest area being the north of the park receiving an average annual rainfall of about 1700mm especially in March-May and September-November.
Kibale National Park accommodates L’Hoest’s monkey, red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboon, golden cats, red & blue duikers, Bush baby alongside a variety of birds. Buffalos, leopards, elephants are also present, a large number of reptiles and butterflies are also there though hardly seen.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in western Uganda and stretches along the districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo, Rukungiri, Kamwenge and Bushenyi. The park which covers a surface area of 1978km2 existed as Lake Edward and Lake George Game Reserves in 1920’s and was later gazetted in 1952 as Kazinga National Park by the British Colonial Government. In 1954 the park was baptized Queen Elizabeth National Park in commemoration of the visiting British monarch.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa as well as the most visited national parks in Uganda. The park which is commonly known as “medley of wonders” is an ideal habitat for big game, 10 primate species and over 600 birds’ species.
The park gives you spectacular views of Rwenzori Mountains, Kazinga Channel, the large area of the swamp, the beauty of open savannah around Lake George, the beautiful crater lakes and a lot more.
Queen Elizabeth National Park spans the equator with the monuments on either side of the road which marks the exact point where it crosses latitude 00.
Besides the remarkable wildlife attraction, Queen Elizabeth National Park is also proud of attractive heritage and cultural history. Tourists usually get an opportunity to visit local communities with the help of local tour guides and entertainment in terms of music and storytelling is offered to them. This will definitely leave the visitors yearning for more.
- Kidepo Valley National Park.
The Kidepo Valley national park is shared between Uganda and South Sudan. This park is very remote and increadbly beautiful park but very few tourists make it there compared to the rest of the national parks in Uganda. Kidepo is an ideal home to big game, over 70 mammal species as well as 475 bird species and contains two rivers of Kidepo and Narus that dry up during the dry season.
Dodoth pastoralists and IK farmers lived in the area before it was gazzeted as a game reserve in 1958 by the British Colonial Government and the purpose was to protect the wildlife from poaching and prevent further clearing of the bush for tsetse fly control. In 1962 the game reserve was renamed Kidepo Valley National Park.
Although tourists are allowed to visit the park throughout the year, the best time would be during dry season (January – May and October – December] and it is usually advisable to use 4WD vehicles to avoid any inconveniences caused by bad roads. Attractions car rent Uganda
