5 Popular Places to Visit on a Self Drive Safari in Uganda

Self-drive in Uganda has become a popular option for budget travelers and many tourists from the whole world prefer to visit Uganda and explore the country on their own. Many reasons have been put into place by travelers why they like to explore the pearl of Africa on their own. The major reason for going on self-drive gives one a chance to explore Uganda on his or her own pace. There is also a lot of freedom to choose where to go, what activity to do and when to get there.

Many car hiring companies offer self drive in Uganda and 4x4 Uganda Car Rentals is among the most popular leading car rental agencies in Uganda hiring different types of fleets ranging from luxury, midrange to budget safari vehicles. The choice is yours either you opt for a car on self-drive or with hire a car with a driver. Uganda has very many untouched secrets awaiting for you to explore, and during your trip, you can visit some of these places depending on the number of days you have to holiday through the pearl of Africa.

Uganda is gifted with ten different national parks and over thirteen game reserves, located within the four regions of Uganda including the Central Region, Eastern, Southern and the Northern region. Uganda also has several lakes and rivers which offer good relaxing moments, visit the cultural and traditional sites among places of your choice. However, it should be noted that most of Uganda’s attractions are located in very remote areas, so it is important to book a 4x4 Uganda car rental, which can navigate through rough terrain. Here are some of the top touristic places that you should not miss on your holiday to Uganda;

1. Kidepo valley national park:

Kidepo valley national park is another park one should not love to miss to visit while on a holiday in Uganda. The park is located in the far northern part of Uganda and it can be reached in a drive of about 11-12 hours’ from the capital city Kampala.

Kidepo valley national park is known for its unique composition of wild game co-existing within the dry mountain forests, open savannah and hilltops capped by the rock Kopjes including elephants, lions, buffaloes, different species of antelopes, zebras, and many other unique animals which only found in this park with a big number of bird species including the ostrich.  A game viewing safari in Kidepo national park offers the best memorable experience.

In Kidepo still you can go for community walk and interact with the local Karamajong people who will pass you through their native dances and music. It is worth a memorable experience to dance with the Karamajong. You can still do the nature walks with the guided ranger guide. The park is still virgin and it has a lot to offer. You are advised to use a 4x4 car sinec the terrain is tough and they are more the most suitable to take you to the park. 

2. Lake Mburo national park:

Lake Mburo national park is the most accessible of all Uganda’s national parks. It is located in Western Uganda, en-route to several other rewarding parks such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

If you have a few days in the country and you want to visit wildlife in their natural habitats, Lake Mburo National Park is the best place to go.

The park is located in the South western part of Uganda just about 270 km 3-4 hour’s drive and about 30 km from the Mbarara the largest city in the sub-region. To mention some of the animals expected to spot on your self-drive safari in the park include; elephant, buffalo, Burchell’s zebra topis, bushbuck, hyena etc.

So with you seated behind the steering wheel, you can enjoy a self guided game drive in the park. Other activities in the park include launch cruises along the lake Mburo, foot safaris to spot more animals including hippos, crocodiles and birding through the savanna grasslands.

3. Queen Elizabeth national park:

Queen Elizabeth national is the second most visited national park, after Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The park is found in the southwestern part of Uganda within a distance of about 402km from the Kampala city.

The park is known for housing a highest concentration of animal species some of which are rarely seen elsewhere in other parks. Some of the animals to see in the park include buffaloes, elephant, lion, leopard, hippo, bushbucks, waterbucks, giant forest hog civet cats, hyena just to mention but a few.

The park also hosts several primates, which are hosted in the Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest anf the Maramagambo Forest including the chimpanzee, the baboons, civet monkey, and black and white colobus monkeys, among others.

In Queen Elizabeth national park, you can as well spot the rare tree climbing lions occasionally seen sited on fig trees or tree blanches. So on your self-guided tour you can as well drive in the Ishasha sector, an extension of Queen Elizabeth National Park and spot these interesting lions sited in the fig trees. The guided game drive is so rewarding as well as the boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. The boat cruise is a two hour’s drive and it offers visitor a chance to view more species of wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and elephants which can be seen along the shorelines plus many more species of birds.

Queen Elizabeth National Park offers you chance to track chimpanzees while on your trip. Within the forest, there are not only chimpanzees but also the primates. A chimpanzee tracking expedition in the Kyambura gorge costs US$50 per permit.

For Bird lovers, you will stand a chance to see several species of birds which inhabit the park, over 606 species of birds can be sported only in this park.  So a visit to this park is memorable with different safari activities.

4. Bwindi impenetrable national park:

Uganda is the most popular destination for gorilla trekking in Africa and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most loved park! The impenetrable forest houses the rare apes together with several other wildlife species. 

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be reached in just a drive of about 8-9 hours from the Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Buhoma, the main gateway to Bwindi lies kilometres from Kampala.

If you are planning a self-drive guided safari to Bwindi, you are advised to book the gorilla permits well in advance to avoid disappointment. You can talk to your car hiring company to book the gorilla permits for you, because tour operators and car hiring companies have a higher chance of obtaining gorilla permits than individuals.

Currently, Uganda gorilla permits costs US$700 per permit. Also, be in the know that though gorilla trekking is the most expensive adventure in Uganda, it is also the most selling safari activity and gorilla permits are sold on first come first served basis.

5. Murchison Falls National Park:

This is Uganda’s largest national park. The Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most visited national parks to visit while on your safari. The park is a drive of about of 5-6 hours from Kampala. The park offers a spectacular view of the Victoria Nile plunging through the 45metre wide rocks of the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park.

Before reaching the park, you can make a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and get to see the white rhinos on a foot safari. The rhino sanctuary is located a few kilometers from Nakasongora - Miitooma about 15 kilometers from the main road and rhino tracking costs US$50 per person.

 At Murchison falls national park, game drives and boat cruise along the Nile river are the major activities done in the park. A visit to the top of the falls adds another experience that you should not miss. Giraffes, buffaloes, elephant, lion, leopard, antelope species are some of the animals to see on a game drive while hippos and crocodiles can be spotted during the boat cruise on the Nile river.

If you have several days in the park, you can as well go Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest game reserve. The forest also has other primates that include baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys among others.

Conclusion

Uganda is an amazing destination to visit in East Africa. Apart from the above places, there are distinguished places to visit on your next safari in Uganda that include Mount Rwenzori National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Kibale Forest National Park and more.