25 Days Self Drive Uganda Safari

25 Days Self Drive Uganda Safari offers you a self drive safari to Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Mount Rwenzori. The 25 Days Self Drive Uganda Safari is ideal for travelers on long Uganda Safari as they trek Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, watch wildlife animals as well as hike the majestic Mountain Rwenzori in Uganda.

The 25 Days Self Drive Uganda Safari is one of the best adventurous trips for those interested in exploring the Pearl of Africa – Uganda. The trip will lead you to major tourism destinations of the country like Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Murchison falls, Kibale forest national park, Rwenzori mountains, Queen Elizabeth national park and others.

In these destinations, you will watch attractions like; the endangered mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, the 5 big animals, golden monkeys and many others. The trip starts and ends in Kampala/Entebbe.

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Safari Overview

Day 1: Arrival and spend the night in Entebbe

Day 2: Drive to Murchison falls national park, and en-route rhino tracking

Day 3: Morning game drive, boat cruise and hike to the top of the falls

Day 4: Full day drive to Kibale forest national park

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi hike

Day 6: Drive to Rwenzori mountains national park

Day 7: 3 days hike of Rwenzori mountains (Day 7 to 9)

Day 9: Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park and game drive

Day 10: Morning game drive and boat cruise

Day 11: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park via Isasha sector

Day 12: Gorilla trekking experience and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

Day 13: Golden monkey tracking and Batwa cultural experience

Day 14: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation

Day 15: Full day experience at Lake Bunyonyi

Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo

Day 17: Morning birding walk and night game drive

Day 18: Transfer to Jinja

Day 19: White-water rafting and visit the source of the Nile

Day 20: Transfer to Sipi falls for hike and coffee tours

Day 21: Drive from Sipi to Moroto

Day 22: Moroto to Kidepo Valley National Park

Day 23: Kidepo Game drives

Day 24: Drive back to Entebbe

Day 25: Mabamba birdwatching and departure

Day 1: Arrival and spend a night in Entebbe

On this first day of the trip, you will be welcomed by the company representative who will handle over the rental vehicle plus keys and all the necessary documents. After, you will head to the hotel of your booking in Entebbe for your refreshment, diner and overnight.

Day 2: Drive to Murchison falls national park with an enroute rhino tracking

Have your breakfast at the lodge and set off to Murchison falls national park – Uganda’s largest national park. The park is known for protecting 4 of the big African game – lion, leopard, elephants and buffalos. Also, the park is a home of the most powerful waterfalls – Murchison falls that squeeze within a 7m gap from Nile river.

During your transfer, you will have different stopovers for some experiences like enroute lunch, rhino tracking and photography. Arrive at the lodge of your booking or camping site in the evening hours for refreshment, dinner or overnight.

Day 3: Morning game drive, boat cruise and hike to the top of the falls

With your packed breakfast, go for an early morning game drive in the open savannahs of the beautiful national park where you will spot numerous animals like lions, elephants, leopards, topis, waterbucks, buffalos and others. After, drive back to the lodge for lunch and later go for an afternoon boat ride on Victoria Nile up to the bottom of the falls.

The boat is the perfect platform to see and photograph many different bird species, and after the boat cruise go for 30 minutes to an hour walk to the top of the falls where you will see a 7m gorge where water squeezes itself to make powerful waterfalls.

Day 4: Long drive to Kibale forest national park

After breakfast, meet your driver guide for the transfer to Kibale national park – the home of primates. The drive exposes you to roadside features like plantations, Ankole cows, valleys, different craters and caves. Arrive at the lodge in the evening and check in for an overnight. spend a day in the beautiful town of Fort Portal. Overnight at Chimpanzee forest lodge (midrange)

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and bigodi walk

Have your breakfast very early and later transfer to the park head office for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees and later enter the forest with the guidance of a park ranger along with your tracking gears, packed water and snacks. This experience takes about 2-5 hours in search of the chimpanzees and once found, you will spend 1 hour viewing them while studying their behavior and taking pictures. After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch and refresh.

In the afternoon after lunch, connect for a nature walk in Bigodi wetland sanctuary where you will get to enjoy walking through a wetland with a variety of bird species. After the walk, return to the lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Transfer to Rwenzori’s Nyakalengijja to Omukiiza camp

Have your breakfast at the lodge and meet your guide for the transfer to Rwenzori mountains national park – home to the highest point of Uganda. When you reach the park, you will drive to Rwenzori Mountaineering Services headquarters for briefing about the 3 days Mahoma hike. You need to arrive in the morning to allow ample time to rent equipment and meet your guides and porters.

The trail begins by passing through farmland to the park boundary beyond which it follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb up onto a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. During this part of the trip you may hear chimpanzee and see black and white colobus, blue monkey and the brilliantly coloured Rwenzori turaco. It ascends steeply to Omukakiza camp (tent pick) for dinner and overnight. The hike takes an average of 6 -7 hours.

Day 7: OMUKAKIZA CAMP (2500M) – LAKE MAHOMA CAMP (3000m)

From omukakiza follow the trail that drops down through the bamboo forest to the Kurt Shafer Bridge, just below the confluence of the Mubuku and Bujuku rivers. Passing through the bamboo forest, traverse through a long and exhausting stretch of slippery moss-covered rock.

From the Nyamuleju rock shelter, Mount Stanley and Mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of the giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally reach Mahoma Lake, the deepest in Rwenzori mountains national park after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut. The hike takes an average of 7 – 8 hours. 

Day 8: LAKE MAHOMA CAMP – NYAKALENGIJA CAMP

From Lake Mahoma camp, slope downs from the same trail to Nyabitaba Camp for your lunch. This will take about 5 – 6 hours.

After your lunch, descend back to Nyakalengija where you will meet your driver for your transfer to the park campsite or lodge of your booking. The descend from Nyabitaba to Nyakalengija will take 3 – 4 hours

Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

Have your breakfast and transfer to the Queen Elizabeth national park, the second largest national park of Uganda. Check in at the park with a game drive that will expose you to numerous animals like; lions, elephants, many hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and sometimes leopards.

Overnight at Queen Elizabeth safari lodge

Day 10: Game drive and boat cruise

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast before getting on with the game drive on different trails in the park including the along the Kasenyi trail. Along the Kasenyi trail there is a great opportunity of seeing various animals like water bucks, Uganda Kobs, elephants, buffaloes, lions, warthogs as well as various birds. After the drive, drive back to the lodge for lunch.

Later during the afternoon, you will take pleasure in cruising on a 2 hours boat safari along Kazinga channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. During the adventure, fancy your eyes with a good number of animals like Hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, warthogs, elephants, kobs among others and also a collection of birds like the malachite kingfishers, pink backed pelicans, on the banks and in trees. Drive back to the lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable national park via Isasha sector

Enjoy your tasty breakfast at the lodge and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable, the home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas. On your way, you will have an enroute game drive in Isasha sector where you will spot a number of animals including the rare tree climbing lions. Arrive in the late afternoon and check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

After your breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking experience. After, walk through the park rainforests insearh of the endangered apes and once found, you will spend one full hour with one of the groups as you take flashless pictures.

The whole activity takes about half a day depending on how near we find them. After the experience, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch and then check out for your transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Day 13: Golden monkey tracking and Batwa experience

After your breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for briefing about golden monkey trekking experience. After, walk through the park rainforests in search of the endangered apes that you will see swinging from one tree branch to another. You will enjoy the shy and beautiful golden monkeys for a full hour and once done, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for an afternoon cultural experience with the Batwa.

Day 14: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation

Have your breakfast at the lodge and drive to Lake Bunyonyi – Uganda’s Switzerland for relaxation. The lake is known for having many islands that feature different local people that can entertain you through traditional dances, songs and poems.

Day 15: Canoeing and relaxation on Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, you will go for an interesting boat cruise in a dugout canoe where you will be able to explore some of the 29 islands, enjoy the beautiful scenery, terraced farmlands, rolling hills, view different water birds like herons, kingfishers, interact with the local people living on the islands among others. After the canoe ride you will drive back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 16: Proceed to Lake Mburo National park

Have your breakfast at the lodge and check out for your transfer to Lake Mburo national park. The park is known for boosting a variety of mammal species thus regarded as one of the best safari destinations in Uganda. Among the animals in the park include elands, buffalos, impalas, zebras, giraffes, topis, duikers and many others.

You will arrive at the park in the late afternoon hours and check in the lodge for lunch and later proceed with an evening nature in the plains of the park. You will spot several wildlife species including birds, zebras, giraffes, elands, topis, waterbucks and many others. After, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 17: Morning nature walk and night game drive

Wake up for your early morning nature walk through the open plains of the park. By the lead of the game ranger, you will pass through the vegetation of the park as you spot different animals like zebras, giraffes and many others at a closer distance.

Later after the walk, move back to the lodge for your late breakfast as you wait for your lunch. Have a relaxed afternoon at the lodge and later go for a night game drive with an opportunity of spotting nocturnal animals like leopards, bats, and many others. Later at around 10:00pm, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 18: Drive to Jinja

Wake up for your tasty breakfast at the lodge and later check out for your 5 hours’ drive to Jinja, the home of adventures. Located in the Eastern region of Uganda, Jinja is known for hosting several adventurous attractions including the source of the River Nile – the longest river on the African continent. Arrive in the city in the evening, check in at the lodge of your booking for dinner and overnight.

Day 19: White water rafting and visit the source of the Nile

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast and go for briefing about white water rafting. After you will embark on the adventure taking you through different rapids on River Nile. From the experience, you will for lunch and then go for walk to the source of the Nile. In the evening, after enjoying the moment and taking beautiful pics, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 20: Travel to Sipi Falls for Hike and Coffee Tours

Drive to Sipi Falls after an early breakfast. Have short stops along the way for relaxation and arrive in time for a delicious lunch. Follow an experienced local guide into the community for a coffee experience after your lunch before your abseiling activity through three magnificent waterfalls. You will have the opportunity to adventure through a steep climb to a series of caves as you follow the difficult trail to three different waterfalls.

On your way, you’ll see maize fields, coffee gardens, banana plantations, and traditional African homesteads, as well as breathtaking views of the valley. Later, return to your lodge at the end of the day, you will be treated to a spectacular sunset dinner.

Day 21: Drive from Sipi to Moroto

After breakfast, we will travel to Kara Tunga in Moroto district to learn about the Karamojong culture. Enjoy the Karamojong people by visiting their manyattas and following them through their daily lives. Meet the nomadic warriors and Karamojong women. Later in the day, we’ll head to your lodge to unwind.

Day 22: Moroto to Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo National Park is located in Uganda’s remote north-western corner, near Kenya and Southern Sudan, and forming the farthest extremity of the remote, sparsely populated Karamoja region. On the way to Kidepo Valley National Park, which lies between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya, take in the incredible scenery and your guide’s exciting stories and grab lunch en route. After arriving in Kidepo, you’ll have dinner and spend the night at possibly Kidepo Savannah Lodge or any camp or accommodation of your choice in the area.

Day 23: Kidepo Game drives

Kidepo is Uganda’s most remote national park, so its magnificent beauty remains wild and untouched. The game drive will begin after an early breakfast. There will be lions, cheetahs, bat-eared foxes, and much more. The dry Kidepo Valley is devoid of big game but abundant in scenery. Drive to Narus Valley, the park’s only permanent water source, where wildlife congregates for much of the year.

Along the valley floor, look for buffalo, leopards, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, ostriches, zebras, and elephants. Giraffes and elands can be found on the drier slopes above, and lions can be found on the rock outcrops. Later in the day, after lunch, you will go on an afternoon game drive before retiring to your lodge to relax.

Day 24: Drive back to Entebbe

After early breakfast, you will leave Kidepo Valley National Park and drive back to Entebbe for an overnight.

Day 25: Mabamba birdwatching and departure

Have your breakfast at the lodge and drive Mabamba for shoebill watching. After, have your lunch and prepare for your departure flight.

Inclusions

• Accommodation & Meals
• Transportation in 4×4 wheel vehicle
• Airport transfers
• Full‑time driver/guide (English‑speaking)
• Park Entrance Fees
• Gorilla trekking permit
• Chimpanzee tracking permits
• Golden monkey Tracking Permite
• Park entrance fees
• Activities & Excursions
• Gorilla and chimpanzee treks
• Golden monkey tracking
• Guided game drives
• Bottled drinking water

Exclusions

• International Flights
• Visas
• Travel and medical insurance
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Laundry services
• Souvenirs, extra meals en‑route
• Health & Medical Vaccinations
• Optional Extras
• Activities not in the itinerary