10-Days Uganda Self-Drive safari
This 10-Days Uganda Self-Drive safari takes you to Uganda’s prime destinations for spectacular encounters. Drive through Uganda’s countryside, exploring the different terrain and scenic landscapes, and explore the savanna plains of Murchison falls national park and Queen Elizabeth national park. Encounter the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha before interacting with the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi.
Safari Highlights
- Rhino trekking
- Game drives and boat cruises in Murchison falls national park
- Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth
- Game drives in the Ishasha sector
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
10-Days Uganda Self-Drive safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
On arrival at Entebbe international airport, a representative from Laba Africa will welcome you and give you your self-drive car. You will receive a briefing about your self drive car rental safari and be introduced to your safari vehicle. Inspect and get acquitted with your safari vehicle for your 10-Days Uganda Self-Drive safari. You will further get some tips on driving in Uganda, rules, and the regulations. Relax and recover from your journey in anticipation for your African self-drive safari.
Meal plan – Dinner
Day 2: Meet the Rhinos
Have an early morning departure from Kampala in order to avoid the morning traffic in Kampala. Your first stop will be at Ziwa rhino sanctuary. Enjoy a delicious breakfast before embarking on a rhino trek. Learn more about the sanctuary and go through the safety briefing before heading out onto the savanna woodland in search of the white rhino. This rhino trek is done on foot. Get close and personal with some of the 35 rhinos that call this sanctuary home. Get to watch them as they graze and freely roam about their savanna home.
Proceed to Murchison falls national park through Masindi town. Have a lunch stopover before proceeding to Kichumbanyobo gate. The drive through the southern part offers spectacular scenery of the Budongo forest and the escarpment. Olive Baboons in the middle of the roads act as the welcome committee to the park. A quick stop at the top of Murchison falls will give you a chance to marvel at the creations of mother nature. Experience the might of the Nile as she rumbles down into the Albert Nile, leaving beauty and mist in her wake. The Nile waters, forced through a 7-meter gap is breathtaking. The ever present rainbow in the afternoon sun is nothing sort of magical. Capture the moment in video and photos.
Proceed to your camping site and set up for the night. Busk in the evening sunset as you are serenaded by the sounds of the wild
Travel time – Approx. 7 Hrs
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: A day on the savanna plains.
A day on the savanna plains starts before the sun is up. The nocturnal wildlife is going into hiding while the grazers are up for the day. As early as 6:00 am, head out on the plains of Murchison falls in search of the amazing wildlife. Big cats like lions and leopards can be seen on the different tracks in the park. Elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hippos, waterbucks, bushbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, oribi, hyenas, and jackals are some of the wildlife that can be seen on a morning game drive. Bird species that can be seen during your drive include; saddle-billed stork, lapwing, black-bellied bastard, ab dem stork, Abyssinia ground hornbill etc.
Have a quick lunch and head out for the afternoon boat cruise on the Nile. This cruise allows you to relax and experience the wilderness at the same time. Elephants, waterbucks, crocodiles and kobs can be seen as they quench their thirst by the banks of the river. Hippos can be seen in their family groups in the waters. Birds species on the river include the Egyptian geese, woodland kingfisher, pied kingfisher, African Fish eagle, lapwing and many. At the bottom of the falls, get to experience the scenic beauty of the Murchison falls. Catch the rainbow over the falls on sunny day. The boat cruise will last up to 3 hours. Continue and check into the lodge. Relax and enjoy the sunset over the horizon.
Meal plan –Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Camping
Day 4 Transfer to FortPortal
Following an interesting day on the savanna wilderness, we will break camp and transfer to Fort portal. The scenic drive takes you through the flatlands next to Lake Albert. The fishing villages entice you to take some amazing shots. At Biso escarpments, enjoy a picnic snack as you marvel at the beauty of the Lake’s shores. Proceed through Hoima and finally to Fort portal. Here, set up camp at the shores of some of the crater lakes in the region. Enjoy a relaxing evening with a cool breeze from the lake.
Travel Time – Approx. 6 Hrs
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Camping
Day 5 Queen Elizabeth National Park
Break camp and embark on the short drive to Queen Elizabeth national park. This savanna paradise is famous for its tree-climbing lions. After an early lunch, head out to the Mweya peninsular for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. With over 600 bird species, you are in for a treat. This cruise brings you closer to the shores where flocks of birds can be spotted. The wildlife that is seen by the banks include; buffalo, elephants, waterbucks, and crocodiles. The channel is beaming with crocodiles and hippos. After the boat cruise, you will head out to your campsite and set up for the night.
Travel time – Approx 2 Hrs
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch, and supper.
Accommodation – Camping
Day 6 chimpanzee tracking and game drive
Start off the morning with an early breakfast before heading out for Chimpanzee trekking. At the starting point, you will be taken through the guidelines of chimpanzee trekking. Then off you go. Led by expert guides, you will head into the tropical forest in search of the chimps. On making contact, you will marvel at the similarities between these apes and humans. Since we share 95% of our DNA with the apes, they are intelligent and communicate with 12 vocal calls. Experience them interact, eat and groom one another. You are allowed an hour with the chimps before returning to your camp site.
Later in the evening, you will head onto the Kasenyi plains for an evening game drive. The mating grounds for antelopes entice the big cats for an easy meal. If you are lucky, you will get to encounter lions, leopards, and hyenas. Visit the craft shops and visit the salt mines to experience how local salt is mined.
Accommodation – Camping
Day 7 Ishasha
On this day of our safari, you will head to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. This sector is famous for the tree-climbing lions. This short drive allows occasional encounters with the elephants. On arrival in Ishasha, set up camp and have lunch.
Later in the evening, embark on an evening game drive for epic wildlife encounters. This sector allows you to enjoy exclusive wildlife interactions. Some of the wildlife include tree-climbing lions, buffalo, elephants, kobs, and hyenas. Get back to your camp for the night.
Travel time Approx. 3 Hrs
Accommodation – Camping
Day 8 Transfer to Bwindi
As you near your 10-Days Uganda Self-Drive safari, we head into the forest for the highly anticipated activity of all, gorilla trekking. After breakfast, you will break camp and head towards the Bwindi impenetrable forest. The scenic route takes you through the Albertine rift, offering transcendent views of the steep escarpments. The tea plantations, terraced hills and the local villages gives you more insight into the lives of the local people. On arrival in Bwindi impenetrable national park, check into your accommodation/ campsite for the night. You may opt to stay in a lodge due to climatic conditions. Temperatures drop during the night.
Accommodation-Camping/ Optional lodge
Day 9 Gorilla tracking
In preparation for a gorilla trekking safari, have a warm breakfast before heading to the park headquarters. Here, you will be assigned a gorilla family to trek and taken through the guidelines for gorilla trekking. Led by expert guides and rangers, you will trek into the primeval forest in search of these beautiful primates. The rangers will move ahead, clearing a path through the thick undergrowth. The terrain offers challenging yet adventurous moments in the forest.
On reaching the gorilla family, you will be amazed at the beauty of the gorillas. The big silver, watching as you clamor to take the perfect shot, the shaggy coat of the baby gorillas or the playful juvenile gorillas all bundle together to make it a memorable experience. Watch them as they groom, interact and climb to forage for food. You are allowed an hour to interact with them. Photos and videos are allowed as long as the camera mode is disabled.
Return to the lodge/ campsite and enjoy a well-deserved lunch. The afternoon allows you to relax and get some much-needed rest. You have the choice of visiting the local communities and buy a few souvenirs from the local craft shops.
Accommodation – Camping/Optional lodge
Day 10 Transfer to Kampala
This is the last day of your 10-Days Uganda Self-Drive safari. In preparation for the long drive back to Kampala, an early start will come in handy. Depart Bwindi for Kampala and enjoy the scenic drive through the forest. The rolling hills of Kabale offer a different driving experience from any other part of Uganda. Stop in Igongo cultural center in Mbarara for lunch break before proceeding to Kampala. At Kayabwe, make a stopover at the equator monument and take a few memorial pictures. Take part in the hemispheric experiment to show the different hemispheres. You will proceed to Kampala and that will mark the end of your 10-Days Uganda Self-Drive safari
Travel time – Approx. 9 Hrs.
Accommodation – Not included
10-Days Uganda Self-Drive safari inclusions:
- chimpanzee permits
- Rhino tracking fees
- All park entrance fees
- Game drives
- All meals as the itinerary states
- Fuel
- Bottled drinking water
- Airport Transfers
- Gorilla permit for gorilla tracking (USD 700)
10-Days Uganda Self-Drive safari Exclusions
- Visa fees
- Accommodation for the last day
- Medical insurance
- International flights
