Self Drive 11 Days Uganda Safari Tour to Best Destinations
On this 11 Days Uganda Safari Tour, you will be exploring Uganda’s most remarkable National Parks that guarantee special encounter with your favorite wildlife species.
This safari highlight focuses on both forest and savanna-dominated parks; Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Expect to experience the most of gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking and game viewing –all guaranteeing you incredible sights of Uganda’s abundant wildlife in their natural habitats.
Detailed Itinerary for 11 Days Uganda Safari Tour:
Day 1: Arrival & drive to your hotel (Entebbe)
Arrival at Entebbe International Airport (EBB) and your driver will warmly welcome you into the Pearl of Africa. From EBB, drive up to your pre-booked accommodation in Entebbe city.
Accommodation
- 5 Boutique Hotel/Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe (Luxury).
- The Boma Hotel Entebbe/Acacia Beach Hotel (Midrange)
- Papyrus Guesthouse (Budget).
Day 2: Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park by road
Begin your journey northwestwards to explore Murchison Falls NP, Uganda’s biggest park spanning over 3840sq.km.
It will be an amazing 5-6 hours’ drive trip with a chance to make a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only location to find rhinos in the wild in Uganda. Enjoy 2-hour rhino trekking experience to explore more about rhinos and taking pictures while in their natural habitat. Continue to Masindi for lunch break and move to the park.
Arrive early to clear with park officials at Kichumbanyobo gate and head to the top of the falls on a scenic drive while keeping eyes on some of the wildlife as they roam around. Have great moments at the top of the Falls, take pictures and you will be transferred to your accommodation for relaxation.
Accommodation
- Nile Safari lodge/Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)
- Sambiya River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange)
- Red Chili Rest Camp/Murchison Backpackers (Budget)
Day 3: Game drive & launch cruise excursion
Leave your safari lodge by 6:00am for your morning game drive and this is for you to catch up with early morning risers as they become active for the day. Explore the Northern circuit with an experienced guide and keep eyes on different wildlife species while in a 4×4 tourist car.
The different wildlife species to see on the Northern circuit include the cape buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, lions, leopards, and many bird species.
Return to the lodge by car while spotting more wildlife. Have a leisurely lunch break and after, transfer to the Paraa Jetty for a boat cruise, 2-3 hours. Enjoy sights of aquatic species like hippos, crocodiles, and many bird species such as bee-eaters, fish eagles, and more.
Have good time taking pictures of the powerful Murchison Falls at the base and return using a boat or continue with the 45-minutes’ walk to the top of the falls.
Accommodation
- Nile Safari lodge/Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)
- Sambiya River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange)
- Red Chili Rest Camp/Murchison Backpackers (Budget)
Day 4: To Kibale National Park via Masindi-Fort Portal city
Depart from Murchison Falls National Park for Kibale National Park located in Western Uganda, Kabarole District.
En-route jaw-dropping Rift Valley escarpment and dotted homesteads around Hoima area, and on arrival around Fort Portal area, enjoy the cool weather with scenic view of the tea farms and the Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
Accommodation
- Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge (Luxury)
- Primate Lodge (Midrange)
- Isunga Lodge (Budget)
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi walk
After a hearty breakfast, leave for Kanyanchu Visitor Centre where you will be cleared by tourism official. Join the rest of the guests for briefing about chimpanzee trekking regulations.
The actual search for a habituated chimpanzee community at 8:00am and the park guide will be accompanying you on entire trek. The trek may run for 2 to 4 hours but covers an hour for up close and personal with chimpanzees, and taking photos.
Trekking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park is of great advantage in that you also stand a chance to encounter other primates besides chimpanzees. They include black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, and others.
Once you have returned from the forest, you will be offered lunch at the lodge and have enough time relaxing. Exit the lodge for a guided nature walk in Bigodi wetland a perfect place to see lots of primates, plus other mammal species and birds.
Accommodation
- Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge (Luxury)
- Primate Lodge (Midrange)
- Isunga Lodge (Budget)
Day 6: To Queen Elizabeth NP
Start driving from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth NP, navigating via the Crater Lake dominated route. Connect through Kasese while viewing the majestic Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
Get to Queen Elizabeth National Park early, settle at the lodge where lunch will also be offered. You will leave for an afternoon game drive and expect to come across variety of wildlife, especially elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, antelopes and birds.
Accommodation
- Mweya Safari lodge (Luxury)
- Bush Lodge/Elephant Plains (Midrange)
- Kazinga Channel Resort/Simba Camp (Budget)
Day 7: Game drive and boat cruise
Have full day in Queen Elizabeth National Park starting with the morning game drive through Kasenyi plains. This is 2-3 hours of looking out for mammal species such as African bush elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, warthogs and antelope families. Expect to drive back while spotting more savanna dwellers and birds.
Settle at your safari lodge, enjoy a leisurely lunch till in the afternoon when you will be embarking on a guided launch cruise. The Kazinga channel launch cruise will run for 2-3 with guarantee of incredible aquatic life sighting such as hippos, crocodiles and birds.
Accommodation
- Mweya Safari lodge (Luxury)
- Bush Lodge/Elephant Plains (Midrange)
- Kazinga Channel Resort/Simba Camp (Budget)
Day 8: Pick up & travel to Queen Elizabeth NP
After breakfast, you will be picked up by your driver and set off to the Southwestern side of the country. Pass via the Ishasha sector where you will be spotting the tree climbing lions and other animal species.
Have a leisurely lunch at Ishasha and continue up to Bwindi NP and you will check in at the lodge in Buhoma sector.
Accommodation
- Buhoma Lodge/Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge (Luxury)
- Silverback Lodge/Engagi Lodge (Midrange)
- Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Bwindi View Bandas (Budget)
Day 9: Enjoy the best of Bwindi gorilla trekking
Following your special cup of tea/coffee, briefing at Buhoma sector, a gorilla sector with the oldest gorilla group –Mubare gorilla family.
You will have insight into the dos and don’ts for gorilla trekking then a gorilla family assigned to you and park guides. One gorilla group is visited by a maximum of 8 guests and by 8:00am, you will be led through the park in search for the rare mountain gorillas.
A maximum of one (1) hour will be availed for you to enjoy a face-to-face encounter with mountain gorillas in the wild. Begin trekking back with the guide leading you and spend the better part of the evening at the lodge relaxing. Get out of the lodge and you will be led to the Batwa community, a perfect way to end your day today.
Accommodation
- Buhoma Lodge/Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge (Luxury)
- Silverback Lodge/Engagi Lodge (Midrange)
- Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Bwindi View Bandas (Budget)
Day 10: Bwindi –Lake Bunyonyi
A delicious breakfast will be followed by check out of your lodge in Buhoma sector. Start driving to Lake Bunyonyi, a spectacular freshwater Lake with 29 Islands and surrounded by scenic hills.
Arrive early and have good time relaxing at the lodge, get lunch and embark on a canoe ride/boat cruise to enjoying the sunset, visit the islands and also sight lots of birds.
Accommodation
- Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort (Luxury)
- Arcadia Cottages/Bunyonyi Safaris Resort (Midrange)
- Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Basic)
Day 11: Depart
Settle for your leisurely breakfast and after, check out of your lodge or camp. Leave Lake Bunyonyi for 8 –hour trip back to Entebbe and today marks the end of 11 Days Uganda Safari Tour.
End of Tour
Inclusions on the 11 Days Uganda Safari Tour
- Gorilla permits
- Chimp permits
- Rhino tracking
- Park entry fees
- Bottled water
- Launch cruise
- All trip activities
Exclusions on 11 Days Uganda Safari Tour
- Cigars
- Tips
- Laundry services
- Telephone costs.
- Extra activities.