8 Days Self Drive Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife Safari

Our representative will meet you at Entebbe Airport, pick you up, and drive to your hotel in Kampala/Entebbe for hotel check in. There, you’ll be handed over the vehicle for use during your self-drive around Uganda.

When you arrive at the hotel, you will check in and receive your room assignment. Typical hotel amenities include a restaurant, bar, an outdoor swimming pool, and a fitness centre; rooms are likely to feature air conditioning, satellite TV, wireless Internet, and private bath with hair dryer.

Thereafter you will go through the itinerary for the safari with our representative and after all has been agreed and understood, you’ll be assisted for today’s afternoon activity, depart for Mabamba Swamp Boat cruise.

The tour is by boat across the lake to Mabamba Swamps where we proceed by jumping into smaller canoes with guides to the get a view of the Shoebill, and many other birds such as Angola Swallow, Swamp Flycatcher, Olive bellied Sunbird, Grey-rumped Swallow, Blue breasted Bee-eater,  African Jacana, African Fish Eagle, Long tailed Cormorant, Yellow billed Duck, Malachite Kingfisher, Glossy Ibis, White-winged Tern, Hamerkop, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Knob-billed Duck, Little Stint, Great Cormorant, Grey-headed Gull, Spur-winged Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, Madagascar Bee-eater, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Sooty Chat, Weyns’s weaver, Grosbeak weaver, Crowned Horn bill, African Pied  , Common Squacco Heron, Red-billed fire finch etc. The boat tour across Lake Victory is magnificent with a great view of Entebbe, the Airport and more. On approaching the swamps you will pass through a fantastic lagoon with variety of attractions.

Your adventure begins at 8 am when you transfer from Entebbe to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda. Rhinos became extinct in Uganda in the early 1980s and the Ziwa site is being used as a breeding site for black and white rhinos. During our 2 hours at the sanctuary, we will see these creatures roaming around the 7,000 hectares of land and see their daily interactions.

As you leave the rhinos behind, proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, on the shore of Lake Albert where the River Nile roars through a narrow gap creating the Murchison Falls.

Wake up to an exhilarating start to the day as you embark on a game drive in the park to spot elephants, lions, giraffe, and other wildlife. This Murchison Falls safari does not stop on the land because, in the afternoon, you will take a relaxing boat trip on the iconic River Nile where, if you’re lucky, you’ll have a chance to see crocodiles, hippos, and an array of rare birds. You will see for yourselves the point where the River Nile joins Lake Albert, which is one of the major highlights of this trip. Feel the immense power and force of the falls as the spray hits your face and you will listen to the deafening roar of the water.  At the end of the boat trip, you will hike the famous ‘Top of the Falls’ where you will have spectacular views of the Murchison Falls along the Nile River, a perfect photo opportunity for the budding photographers.

In the morning you’ll drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Fort Portal Crater Lakes, perhaps Uganda’s most iconic sight. These volcanic craters formed some 8,000 to 10,000 years ago and they provide an idyllic backdrop to the extensive hiking trail network in the area. Here, you will be able to enjoy the amazing views of western Uganda’s tea farmlands and plantations. If the weather is good, you’ll get a chance to spot the Rwenzori Mountain Escarpment in the distance. After a day full of spectacular views, you’ll check in to the lodge and relax in preparation for the following day’s game drives.

Once again, You’ll start your morning with a game drive where you can expect to spot wildlife species such as elephants, buffaloes, side-striped jackals, hyena, leopards, lions, warthogs, Uganda kobs, and giant forest hogs. What a way to start your day!

After lunch, you’ll take a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel where you will continue your wildlife spotting, this time you will see hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, bathing elephants, and a range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be another highlight of your tour.

On the way to Bwindi National Park, you will drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, popularly known for the tree-climbing lions. Unlike their counterparts at the Kasenyi plains, the lions at Ishasha have found a way to climb the fig trees to enjoy the warm temperatures. While the sighting of the tree-climbing lions is not 100% guaranteed, a stopover at Ishasha is worth a visit! You will spend the night at Bwindi National Park.

Today is the day that many of you will have been waiting for. You will embark on a full-day adventure to track the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park. The trek will commence with a short briefing on gorillas trekking rules to ensure the safety of both the guests and the gorillas. You will then start the trek into the Impenetrable Forest to encounter the gentle giants of Bwindi National Park.​ You’ll follow the expert guides, looking for signs of the gorillas and changing direction accordingly until you find them. After this rare and memorable experience is over, you will spend the rest of the day and night in Bwindi National Park. Return to your lodge for a freshen up lunch and later proceed to visit the Batwa group enjoy their life story of living, their traditional dance of which you will join.

You will drive from Bwindi National Park to Kampala. There is a scheduled stopover at the equator crossing at Kayabwe for a coffee break and handicraft shopping and proceed to Entebbe arriving in time for check in and flight back home/or at your Entebbe hotel for overnight.