Uganda as Tourist Destination For Self Drive Safaris
Of all Uganda’s attractions, the national parks are the most visited ones. Most clients who rent cars for self-drive visit and experience the national game parks where the different wildlife species are protected and conserved.
The country has 10 national parks all open to self-drive travelers and these include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Mount, the Rwenzori national park, Mount. Elgon national park, Semuliki national park, and Kibale forest national park.
Within the national parks of Uganda, there are wildlife species like mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, the big five animals, a plethora of bird species, common mammals, and the common species of small primates.
Travelers who visit these natural places spend nights and days enjoying the attractions on their own terms or on their own. These experiences are normally called self drive safaris. The Uganda self drive safaris are non-discriminatory, any travelers can take them up.
The self drive safari itineraries or travel programs are exclusive and tailor-made. The discretion of where to visit and the number of days to spend on the safari are all left to the tourist or visitor.
Tourist Activities to Do in Uganda
While on a self drive Uganda safari exploring the different national parks, different activities are carried out, and here are some of the most popular ones;
- Chimpanzees and other small primates are tracked at Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge-Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Budongo Forest
- Game viewing or drives in the Savannah parks
- Gorilla trekking experience in Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable national parks
- Historical and cultural site encounters like Kasubi tombs, Namugongo shrines, Gaddafi national mosque, Lubiri at Mengo, Bahai temple, Namirembe and Rubaga cathedrals, and Uganda Museum. These are visited on a Kampala city tour
- Nature walks and sightseeing in the national parks
- Fishing on the various freshwater bodies like Lake Victoria
- Hiking of the various mountains e.g. Mountain Rwenzori, Mountain Elgon, and the volcanoes in Mgahinga
- Birding in the national parks and other eco-sites
- White water rafting at the Nile
- Cycling and quad biking
- Boat ride experience
- Swimming and sunbathing
- Fishing on the freshwater bodies
Uganda Self Drive Safari- Where to Go
Uganda has so many places to visit on a self drive safari but some places have a cutting edge over the others and these include;
Murchison Falls National Park
Formerly known as Kabalega National Park, Murchison Falls National Park is the oldest and largest national park in Uganda. It is located in the northern part of Uganda.
Its vegetation is majorly dominated by the savannah grassland making it a paradise for game viewing. Within its savannah plains, Murchison Falls National Park has different species of animals that are enthralling to encounter on a game drive.
Although you can do a self-guided game drive, it is advised to hire a park ranger or guide to take you around the park so that you can have an insightful experience.
Some of the wildlife found in the park are lions, elephants, giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, elands, warthog, and some unique bird species. Apart from a plethora of animal species found in Murchison Falls National Park, the Nile the longest river in the world flows through it.
River Nile transects through the park where it forms some amazing features that harbor tourism activities. For instance, the Albert Nile is where most of the boat ride experiences in Murchison Falls National Park take place.
There are also two wonderful falls on the Nile in the names of Murchison and Uhuru. These are two magnificent natural features that are beautiful on the eyes and also great for photography. We are sure you will enjoy these natural wonders once your self-drive safari with us in the near future
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This is the most popular park in Uganda explored by travelers on a self drive expedition. It is located in the west of Uganda in the Kasese district on the foothills of Mountain Rwenzori. It only takes 6-7 hours for self drive travelers to access the park but be sure to make stopovers at the different monument points stationed on the highway for refreshments and relaxation.
It is a very historical national game reserve since it was visited by one of the most famous and powerful people on planet Earth Queen Elizabeth II in 1956. In return, it was named after her.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is not only historical but also is mega natural biodiversity as it has so many attractions to enjoy on self-drive Uganda safari.
While on self-drive safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park, the traveler is likely to experience animal species like lions, buffaloes, elephants, hyenas, Uganda kob, antelopes, bush pigs, and so many other animals.
Queen Elizabeth is also a bird haven, it has over 600 species making it the best place to go birding in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park also holds the most exciting launch experience in Uganda.
The launch cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park takes place on the Kazinga channel, a 50km water stretch that connects Lake George and Edward.
This does not only involve sailing on the waters and winds blowing you but also an experience where the traveler meets or sees different marine animal species like hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, and innumerable bird species.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is nearly an all-around natural habitat, within it, there are chimpanzees at Kyambura Gorge for tourists on a self-drive to enjoy. Chimpanzees are very intelligent and playful primates that give a traveler such a captivating moment of interaction.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is an isolated natural reserve found in the northeast of Uganda on the borders of South Sudan and Kenya. This is why most self-drive tourists are hesitant to visit the park. Also, tourists who wish to visit Kidepo are advised to hire a 4×4 vehicle such as a Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser Gx, Land Cruiser V8, LX, or 4×4 safari Land Cruiser Five-seats
Though far from infrastructural development and urbanization, Kidepo National Park offers the best game-viewing experience in Uganda. Its fields are majorly covered with short arid savannah grasslands hence making it easy for a traveler to watch most of the game in the park.
It has four of the big five animals (lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards). Also, Kidepo is the only place in Uganda where one can see the cheetah and ostriches.
The game drives both in the morning and evening are very rewarding due to the abundance of wildlife species found in this amazing park. Away from the natural species, there is the Karamojong community around the park.
This community is an attraction on its own. The Karamojong people are very indigenous people whose main activity is cattle rearing. Their villages dotted with mud-molded huts are something to wonder about. Their cultural norms and code of dressing are also interesting and try out while on a self-guided safari.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
In recent years, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has become the most visited national park in Uganda for self drive travelers. This tropical rainforest park is situated in the Kigezi highland region southwest of the country.
Within this thick green forest, there are almost half of the total population of mountain gorillas in the world. Because of these unique species of animals within the forest, Bwindi is a heritage site under UNESCO.
The mountain gorillas in Bwindi are endangered species of animals red-listed by the International Union of Conservation for Nature(IUCN).
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the few places in the world where mountain gorillas are found. With that honor, people or travelers are allowed to meet the mountain gorillas in their natural setting when they visit Bwindi.
This is done in an activity commonly known as the gorilla trekking experience. This is one of the most captivating natural experiences a traveler can ever have in a lifetime.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park also has other wildlife species like elephants, common small primates, and leopards but these are very rare to sight.
What we cannot forget are the over 300 bird species found in this amazing forest. Some of these birds are endemic to the Albertine Rift. A gorilla trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is very rewarding since a traveler gets to meet his closest cousins, the mountain gorillas.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
This is an alternative destination for gorilla trekking in Uganda. It is also situated within the Kigezi region on the margins of Uganda, Rwanda, and Dr Congo.
This has fewer mountain gorillas than Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it has only one habituated gorilla family in Nyakagezi. But the park still offers the same gorilla trekking experience as Bwindi.
More to that Mgahinga National Park is also home to golden monkeys. These are very rare species of monkeys that are endemic to the Virunga montane forests.
These monkeys have a glittering gold color around their backs and cheeks making them an eye-catching phenomenon to watch and interact with. Within the Mgahinga National Park, travelers go hiking on the various volcanoes. These three scenic and adventurous mountains include Muhavura, Gahinga, and Sabinyo.
Kibale Forest National Park
This is one of the few natural tropical rainforests left in Uganda. It is located in the western part of the country. It is commonly known as the capital of primates due to the highest concentration of primates within its forests.
Kibale National Park has 14 different species of primates to take example; common chimpanzees, Ugandan mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, pottos, black and white colobus, and grey-cheeked mangabey.
However, with all those primate species in Kibale Forest National Park, the tourists are mostly wowed by the chimpanzees. The chimpanzees are part of the ape family, very intelligent animals hence making them interesting and mind blogging to meet and watch.
There are also other wildlife species in Kibale like elephants, giant forest hogs and leopards, reptiles, butterflies, and a variety of birds. Around the park, there is the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which also has different species of monkeys, and the community in Bigodi offers a cultural experience to the visitors by displaying their traditional dances, drama, and music.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is the nearest park to Kampala the capital of Uganda where most Uganda safaris start. It is only a 4hours drive from Kampala making it the easiest park to access for tourists on a self drive safari
The park derives its name from a serene lake, Mburo which influences so much the ecology of the park right from the vegetation to the wildlife species. While at Lake Mburo National Park, visitors go for game viewing to encounter animals like elephants, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, elands, leopards, and various birds.
The park also offers a boat ride experience on Lake Mburo. There are also other tourist activities carried out like horse riding and cycling since the park is relaxed and the predators are not so many.
Mount Elgon National Park
This lies within the Gisu region in the eastern part of the country. The park has the third-highest volcanic mountain in East Africa, Mountain Elgon. Mountain Elgon is the main feature and attraction within the park.
Its volcanic features and wildlife species are worth enjoying. It has the largest intact caldera in the world, the warm springs from River Suam are also very interesting to encounter, and the several caves.
There are also unique animal species within Mountain Elgon National Park for example tuskers, duikers, antelopes, and small primates like vervet monkeys, black and white colobus, and blue monkeys.
Mountain Elgon National Park is one interesting place that a traveler mustn’t leave on his/her bucket list. It is both exciting and adventurous with the hiking and game viewing involved.
Apart from the national parks, there are also other places to visit on a Uganda self drive safari. These are normally complimentary places to the national parks and these are as below:
Lake Bunyonyi
This is a freshwater lake nestled in the Kigezi region in southwest Uganda within the vicinity of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park.
Many travelers use it as a resting place after the energy-draining gorilla trekking experience. Lake Bunonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda and the second deepest in Africa after Lake Tanganyika.
It has various islands where different lodges and resorts are established for tourists to relax and wind. While at Lake Bunyonyi, a traveler can go boat riding, grab a book, and enjoy the serene environment at one of the island resorts.
It is also a perfect place for lovers to rekindle their love. Cozy, romantic, and honeymoon dinners or feasts are organized on the island resorts for lovers.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
This is the only natural habitat where rhinos are found. It is located in the Nakasongola district in the central region along the way leading to Murchison Falls National Park.
The rhinos in Uganda had become extinct and a sanctuary in Zziwa rhino sanctuary was set up in the 90s to ensure that these flabby animals were reintroduced into the country.
Now, the rhinos in Uganda are over 20 and all are found in this sanctuary. At the sanctuary, visitors spend a good time watching the rhino graze around. The booking of the rhino tracking activity is done at the entry point.
The visit to the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary is regarded by many as a stopover and has the completion of viewing the big five animals when they get to Murchison Falls National Park.
Jinja Source of the Nile
The source of the Nile is located on Lake Victoria in Jinja. The Nile is an iconic river around the globe as it is arguably the longest river in the world. It starts its long journey from Uganda up to the north of Africa in Egypt.
Like any water body, the Nile in Jinja offers lots of adventurous activities and this is why Jinja pulls lots of travelers each and every day.
Some of the tourism activities to engage in while at the source of the Nile in Jinja are touring the monumental site of the source of the Nile, boat ride experience, water rafting at Kagala and Itanda Falls, sport fishing, kayaking, tubing, and also reveling at one of the resorts on the banks of the river. The source of the Nile can be encountered on a one or two-day tour.
Sipi Falls
Located within the vicinity of Mountain Elgon, it is one of the most scintillating waterfalls one can ever encounter in the world. Its waters are so clean and the landscape and the vegetation are so much on point and scenic.
It is one of the best places to go sightseeing and photography and filming.
Ssese Islands
This is a collection of over 80 islands located on Lake Victoria. The largest inland freshwater body in Africa. The most visited island on Ssese is the Bugala islands where Kalangala district is situated.
Actually, Bugala islands are mistakenly regarded as Ssese islands yet it is just an island in Ssese. On the islands, there are different resorts where visitors go for a weekend getaway.
On the islands, it is all about having fun and forgetting all your daily problems. The environment on the island is spontaneously perfect for unwinding and getting rid of all the stress in the world.
On the islands, travelers engage in camping retreats, swimming, fishing boat rides, nature walks, and sightseeing.
Mountain Rwenzori
This is the highest mountain in Uganda whose highest peak- Margherita stands at an altitude of 5109 meters above sea level. Mountain Rwenzori is snow-capped at most of its summits and this is why it was named the mountains of the moon.
It is such a catchy physical feature to encounter from far and near. Mountain Rwenzori is much more than a mountain since it has different species of animals from the various monkey species and birds to some wild mammals.
It also has very unique vegetation like the heathers. With all that, Uganda made it a national park to protect the unique species and also for visitors to enjoy it to the fullest.
Uganda Wildlife Education Centre
At first, this was a zoo but later turned into a wildlife education center. It is located in Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria. This has most of the various animals that are found in the different national parks across the country.
It is a very interesting place to be. It was designed in such a natural form giving the visitor a national park atmosphere.
Travel with Car Rental in Uganda on a 12-day self drive safari to visit the country’s top national parks. This is an adventure that can make you realize that Uganda is truly “The Pearl of Africa”.
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