9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa Detailed itinerary Safari

Day 1 of the 9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa: Arrive in Uganda at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the hotel

Following your flight from the place of origin, you land in Uganda at the famous Entebbe International Airport located on the shores of Lake Victoria on the magical Entebbe peninsular. The brightening tropical sun and the fresh air emerging from the second largest fresh water lake in the world – Lake Victoria offers you a natural welcome to the Pearl of Africa! From the immigration to secure your entry visa, you find company representative at the arrival waiting area who will brief you about Uganda and the safari in particular before transferring to the respective hotel for relaxation. If you arrive in the morning, you can opt to undertake the day trip of Kampala city exploring the sites of religious, historical, political, economic, educational and cultural significance. These include; the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, the Kabaka’s Palace, Gadhafi Mosque, Baha’i Temple, Rubaga and Namirembe Cathedral, the Makerere University, the Uganda Parliament, Uganda National Museum, Market like Owino and Nakasero among others before retiring for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation(click on a particular accommodation to view more information about it): Upmarket / Luxury: Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Midrange / Standard: Humura Resorts, Budget / Basic: Buziga Country Resort, Camping at Back Packers Hostel

Day 2 of the 9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route and top of the Murchison Falls on arrival

After an early morning breakfast, you transfer from Kampala to northwest to start your Uganda tour with Murchison Falls National Park 311km about 5 hours’ drive. On your way visit the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for a nature walk to encounter the rare rhinos in the wild natural set up. You may have your lunch in Masindi town then Proceed to Murchison Falls National Park- the 3.840 Kilometer, largest protected area in Uganda to explore Murchison Falls. At this point, the Nile River compresses and squeezes itself over a kilometer wide down through a seven meter canyon. This 43 meter drop of the falls creates a thunderous roar and a beautiful rainbow in a plume of spray – a splendid tourist scene ever. You will settle for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge, Wild Camping

Day 3 of the 9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa: Do morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise along the River Nile

After your early breakfast, you will be guided to the Northern part of the park for a game drive to view and photograph prominent wild animals typical of MFNP that include; elephants, giraffes, buffalos, waterbucks, lions and Uganda kobs plus the leopards on a good day, plus a variety of bird species such as Secretary birds. After lunch, you proceed to a two-hour cruise to the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls from where pressured water escapes through the narrow gorge forming a great roaring thunder the highlight of a Uganda safari/Uganda tour to Murchison Falls National park. On the boat, you have possibilities of encountering Nile Crocodiles and Hippos and if lucky the sights of the Shoebill stork. Return from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge

Day 4 of the 9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa: Transfer to Fort Portal in the shadows of Rwenzori Mountains – the legendary mountains of the moon

After your breakfast, embark on the transfer from Murchison Falls National Park via the Albertine Escarpment of the great Western Rift Valley heading southwest to Fort Portal Area 441km about 9 hours’ drive. You drive through impressive countryside landscapes with rural settlements and village towns en route. A lunch stop is made in Hoima which is undergoing rapid growth due to oil discovery in the Albertine graben. You proceed to arrive in Fort Portal the capital of the Tooro kingdom, a warm and beautiful town situated in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon,” (the Rwenzori) for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Mountains of the Moon Hotel, Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse, Camping

Day 5 of the 9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa: Transfer early in the morning to Queen Elizabeth National, do game drive in the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and afternoon boat cruise along the 45km long Kazinga Channel

After an early morning cup of tea, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 135km about 2 – 3 hours’ drive to catch up with a game drive along Kasenyi track and Queen’s Mile in the park. In sight you have possibilities of encountering gigantic elephants, lions, buffalos, warthogs and antelopes. Connect to the lodge for lunch, after which you enjoy the two hours launch cruise on Kazinga Channel and have an amazing variety of birds and wildlife that majorly include; hippos, crocodiles and the wild game drinking on the channel side like elephants, water backs, buffaloes just to mention but a few. From the boat, do another game drive along the channel track in search of more game as head back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge, Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages, Wild Camping

Day 6 of the 9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa: Do Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early morning cup of tea, transfer to Kyambura gorge which is 100 metres deep within the Rift Valley for a forest walk in search for the habituated chimpanzees and other primates. The game rangers can provide you with a walking stick if you wish for this a little tiresome but interesting adventure. After this primate walk, you will embark on the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Ishasha sectors of the Park where you can luckily spot tree climbing lions in the fig trees that are adjacent to road. You arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp or Wild Camping

Day 7 of the 9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa: Do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After your early morning breakfast briefing from the guides, embark on the mountain gorilla search inside the impenetrable Bwindi forest. Please carry along with you drinking water, rain jacket and jungle boots and the walking stick for extra support if you need. Gorilla tracking is one of the highlights of all safaris to Uganda or Uganda tours that involve trekking gorillas and an exciting but a little tiresome activity you will enjoy in the Bwindi Tropical Rain forest. During the trekking, you are allowed to interact with and take photographs of the gorillas for only an hour while maintaining the 7m distance. Right After tracking connect to the starting point and embark on the scenic journey to Kabale through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape. You will dine and have your overnight at any of these lodges.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort,Midrange / Standard: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort,Budget / Basic: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat, Resort Camping

Day 8 of the 9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa: Do a sun rise boat cruise and transfer to Kampala

After breakfast, embark on the sunrise boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi exploring the impressive scenic views of the Lake marked with 29 Islands surrounded by magical Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa. The calm waters of Lake Bunyonyi allows you to rub shoulders with the local people as they paddle their canoes connecting to and from the Islands and also doing some fishing. Retreat from the 2 hour activity and embark on the transfer to Kampala 437km about 7 hours’ drive driving through impressive country side landscapes of south western Uganda making a traditional lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center for typical African buffet and another stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots where one leg would be in the southern hemisphere and the other in the northern hemisphere. Continue to arrive in Kampala in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Resort, Midrange / Standard: Cassia Lodge, Budget / Basic: Buziga Country Resort, Camping

Day 9 of the 9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa: Departure

Here, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport to catch up with your flight back home.

End of the 9 Days Uganda Self Drive Safari Uganda Self Drive tour Gorilla tracking in Uganda Africa