15 Day Self Drive Tour

15 Day Uganda Tour: Gorilla Tracking, Chimps, Culture, Wildlife Safari in Uganda

Day 1: Kampala – Sipi Falls

Pick up from the airport or hotel in Kampala after breakfast, transfer to Sipi falls in Mbale (5-6hours) on the edges of Mount Elgon, enjoy hiking around, walk around the beautiful Sipi falls, dinner and over at Sipi River Lodge, Lacam Lodge, or Moses Campsite.  

Day 2: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park

Breakfast at Sipi River Lodge and transfer to Kidepo Valley national park via Soroti, Lira, Kitgum or Via Moroto – Kabong route, lunch en route, dinner, and overnight at Ngamoru Safari Lodge, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Apoka Safari Lodge, UWA Bandas or Kidepo Safari Lodge.

Day 3: Morning and evening game drives

With a professional ranger guide, we embark on our 4×4 land cruiser with a pop-up roof for fantastic game drives in the park, both in the morning and evening. Expect an encounter with herds of Buffaloes, Elephants, Giraffes, Antelopes, Lion, Leopard, and many others. We can drive to the South Sudan border for more game including Ostriches. All meals and overnight at your lodge on DAY 2.

Optional Activities:

• A day hike to Ik tribe in Morungole Mountains
• Nature safari walk
• Karamajongo cultural tours

Day 4: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park (5-7hours)

Murchison Falls

Morning game drive followed by transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest National park, and one of the most beautiful parks in Africa! Arrive in time for lunch and embark on evening game (time permitting), dinner overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge in the middle of the park, dinner and overnight. (Other accommodations include Fort Murchison Lodge, Red Chilli Rest Camp, Paraa Safari Lodge.

Day 5: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

Breakfast at the lodge and embark on our 4×4 vehicle for game viewing in Murchison Falls National park. Animals to see include Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Warthogs, Antelopes, and many others.

After lunch, enjoy a fantastic boat cruise to the bottom of the falls, see huge Nile crocodiles, Hippos, elephants quenching their thirst on the shores, and over 300 bird species, return to the camp in the sunset for dinner and overnight at as on Day 4.

Day 6: Transfer to Kibale national park

Breakfast at the lodge, pack up our bags, and embark on our vehicle to Kibale National park via Butiaba escarpments. Kibale is home to 13 primate species which include Chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, Mangabeys, Olive baboons, Black and white colobus monkeys, etc, Lunch in Fort portal, dinner, and overnight at Kibale Forest Camp, Chimpanzee Guest House, Rweteera Safari Park, Kibale safari lodge.

Day 7: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Breakfast and proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing about your chimpanzee habituation experience with your packed lunch and water. The activity starts at around 6 am to 7 pm in the evening. Dinner and overnight at as on DAY 6.

Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park

Breakfast and take a tour around Fort Portal Town, visit local markets, Amabeera ga Nyiramwiru historical/cultural site, and Tooro King’s palace. Lunch and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park, dinner and overnight at Enganzi Lodge, King Fisher Lodge, Twin Lake safari lodge, Park View Safari Lodge, or Bush Lodge.

Day 9: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

Breakfast at the lodge and embark on our 4×4 pop-up vehicle for game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National park. Animals to see include Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs, Antelopes, and many others. After lunch, enjoy a fantastic boat cruise along the Kazinga channel that connects Lakes Edward and George, see huge Nile crocodiles, Hippos, elephants quenching their thirst on the shores, and over 600 bird species, return to the camp/lodge in the sunset for dinner and overnight as on DAY 8.

Day 10: Transfer to Ishasha Sector

Located in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National park and is famous for tree-climbing lions alongside other animals like buffaloes, elephants, etc. We enjoy the full-day drive in the Ishasha sector. All meals and overnight at Enjojo Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Ishasha River Camp, or Savannah Resort Hotel.

Day 11: Transfer to Bwindi Gorilla National Park (3-4hrs)

A relaxed morning, breakfast at the lodge and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National park, home to half of the world’s remaining population of the endangered mountain gorillas,  arrive at Gorilla Mist camp by afternoon, evening entertainment from the Batwa people (pygmies), dinner and overnight at Gorilla Mist Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Buhoma Community Rest Camp or Ruhija Community Camp.

Day 12: Gorilla Trekking Adventure, community walk

Today is your day for the life-changing event – Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park. Start early with heavy breakfast and assemble at the park headquarters for a briefing about the activity. The trek is quite strenuous and takes 1 – 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas in the forest. Relax in the evening as you wait for dinner and overnight as on day 11.

Day 13: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi (3-4hours)

Breakfast followed by transfer to the beautiful lake of wonders, check-in Arcadia cottages, lunch, and take an afternoon canoe ride to visit different beautiful islands of Lake Bunyonyi, dinner and overnight.

Day 14: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Breakfast and take picnic drive to Lake Mburo National Park, lunch in Mbarara town at Igongo Cultural center, arrive in time for a canoe ride on Lake Mburo, and evening game drive. Overnight at Eagles Nest Lodge, Arcadia cottages, Lake Mburo safari lodge, or Mihingo Lodge.

Day 15: Game drive, departure

Morning game drive and hit the road back to Kampala / Entebbe Airport where the tour ends.

End of the Tour

Please note; the above rates are simply estimates. They are inclusive of driver, fuel, car hire, accommodation for two pax, gorilla trekking permits and chimpanzee tracking permits. Excluded: Other park entrances, Lunch, tips and drinks. These might cost you an extra $1500 for mid-range and budget 2 pax while luxury, you might have to consider an extra $1800.

However, to better save on this trip, we usually provide only the car and the driver. You then meet all the other costs along the way. With lodges already booked, it is very possible to execute the above trip at a relatively lower budget. Another way to execute this trip is to do a self drive safari. However due to the long transfers, it is recommended you consider hiring a driver to avoid the long drive fatigue.

When you hire a car with a driver for this trip, it makes it very possible for you to adjust the itinerary as you see fit as long to meet the set dates for chimpanzee and gorilla trekking. For the same reason, we also recommend our clients to start with Bwindi and Kibale so that they may have the liberty to adjust their itinerary on the way.