Rent a car to self drive in Uganda and Rwanda on an eight-day safari trip. This self drive safari trip presents opportunities of exploring some of Uganda and Rwanda’s top national parks on your own.

In Uganda, Queen Elizabeth national park, the most popular savannah park in the Country is visited for a game drive in the Kasenyi sector and a boat ride on the Kazinga channel.

Bwindi Impenetrable national park is another tourist destination explored for a gorilla trekking expedition where mountain gorillas, the endangered species are met in close proximity in the wild.

In the middle of the trip, you cross over from Uganda to Rwanda to visit Akagera national park, a renowned wildlife sanctuary for the big five (lions, buffalos, rhinos, leopards, and elephants).

At the end of the trip, you will drop off the rental vehicle at Kigali international airport to return to your home country.  

Detailed Itinerary: 

Day1: Vehicle Pickup at The Airport and Self Drive in Entebbe

This will be the first day of your self drive Uganda Rwanda safari tour and you will start it by picking up the rental car at either Entebbe International Airport or your place of abode at that time.

You will meet our staff who will take you through the formalities of renting a car with us for instance vehicle inspection, reading and signing of the car rental contract, payment of the rental fees, and presentation of your driver’s license and passport or National ID.

When the vehicle is fully handed over to you, you will either go for self drive in Entebbe and enjoy some of the attractions it offers for example the resort beaches, Uganda Wildlife education center, Botanical gardens, and exquisite shopping malls, OR drive straight to the hotel to relax and prepare for the following day. 

Day2: Self Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park 

Early in the morning, you will set off to western Uganda using the Entebbe Express highway and then connect to the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara highway.

On your way to the west of Uganda, you will make a stopover at the Equator Monument in Kayagwe near Masaka. Here you will observe the water experiment which validates that the spot is where the imaginary line of the equator passes.

You will also take pictures and videos standing and posing on the monument. You can as well for craft shopping at the center around. You will then proceed with your journey till you will reach Mbarara city where you will have lunch. The most recommended eatery spot for tourists is Agip Motel just opposite the long-horned cattle monument. 

After your meal, head to Kasese district where Queen Elizabeth national park is situated. You will probably reach the park in the late evening and head straight to your lodge for check-in, dinner, and night rest. 

Travel Distance: From Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park- 410 Kilometers
Travel Time: About 7 hours

Day3: Self Guided Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Boat Ride Experience 

You will wake up and have a sumptuous breakfast then drive to Kasenyi plains for a self-game drive. The animals likely to be seen on this expedition include elephants, lions, buffalos, elands, Ugandan kob, oribis, and many more.

The safari game drive will take about 3-4 hours and by noon you will be heading back to your lodge for lunch. 

As it will be nearing 2 pm, you will travel to Mweya dock to start your boat trip on Kazinga channel. Kazinga channel is a lifeline of different marine animals such as crocodiles, hippos, waterbuck, and countless bird species and most of these are sighted during the launch cruise.

The sail starts from Lake Edward’s side through the channel to Lake George and back. At the end of the experience, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.  

Day4: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 

After the morning feast, you will check out of your lodge and drive out of Queen Elizabeth national park taking the southern route.

When you reach the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park, you will make a stopover to track the tree-climbing lions. Here the lions are seen resting on fig and acacia trees after a long hunt in the morning. 

You will then proceed with your journey out of the park to connect to Kihihi town where you will have lunch. There is a chain of restaurants in this local town with delicious and organic meals to enjoy. You will choose one for your lunch. 

After lunch, you will drive to Kanungu district where Bwindi impenetrable national park is situated. Bwindi is such a large property with four sectors, notably Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga in the south, and Nkuringo in the southwest.

Therefore, you will stay at the lodge close to or within the sector, you will be tracking the gorillas. 

Travel Distance: From Queen to Bwindi is approximately 180km
Travel time: About 3 hours

Day5: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Expedition 

At dawn, you will head to Bwindi head offices for a briefing about the gorilla tracking guidelines. You will then be allocated to a group of eight people.

Afterward, you will lead to the starting point of the trek. You will be guided by the park ranger through the forest as you search for the gorillas in their exact habitats.  

When you meet the gorillas, you will be amazed by the size of the silverback. It is such a gigantic monstrous-looking creature but peaceful, gentle, and welcoming. The gorilla family averagely comprises 10 members led by a silverback. 

The gorillas have unique social characters which are observed during the track and we are pretty sure that you will be captivated by them.

Pictures and video capturing come into play while you watch the gorillas go about their routine. At the death of an hour, you head out of the forest to return to your lodge for lunch.  

Since the gorilla tracking expedition is such a strenuous activity, you will spend the afternoon and evening lousing and relaxing at the lodge to prepare for the following day’s long-distance travel to Rwanda. 

Day6: Self Drive Border Crossing from Uganda to Rwanda and Travel to Akagera 

You will wake up in the morning to check the rental car, test the engine and look at its fluid levels to whether they are still at the required level. You will have breakfast and then lead to either Katuna or Cyanika border to cross over to Rwanda.

It will take you 45 minutes to drive from your Lodge in Bwindi to any of the borders. At the border point, you will present the vehicle cross-border paper as well as your travel document, purchase COMESA and then enter Rwanda to proceed with your journey to Akagera National park.

You will make a stopover in Kigali city for lunch, you may also opt to take a short sightseeing tour around town and then connect to the road leading to the east of the country.

From Kigali to Akagera National park is a two-hour drive. Therefore, you will reach the park area in the early evening, and check in at the lodge. Enjoy the evening breeze, dinner, and retire to bed. 

Travel distance: From Bwindi Uganda to Akagera National Park- 273 Kilometers
Travel time: About 7 hours. 

Day7: Akagera National Park Self Game drive and Lake Ihema Boat Ride 

You will wake up to the sights and sounds of Akagera national park, the only savannah park in Rwanda, have breakfast and head for a game viewing thrilling experience.

The park is home to the big five animals, notably elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalos, and leopards. Other mammals to see on a game drive include elands, topis, duikers, hyenas, impalas, bushbucks, and many more.

You are advised to hire a park ranger to have a chance of seeing most of the common animals in the park. The game drive normally takes about 3-4 hours thus by noon, you will be returning to your lodge for lunch. 

At the end of your lunchtime, you will drive to Lake Ihema for a boat ride trip to enjoy what its waters provide. Wildlife to sight on the launch trip include crocodiles, hippos, waterbucks, and an array of bird species like papyrus ganolex, shoebills, ibis, jacanas, herons, kingfishers, and hawks.

Late evening, you will return to your lodge for supper and night’s rest.  

Day8: Car Rental Drop off at Kigali International Airport 

You will wake up at your leisure, and savor a sumptuous breakfast as a farewell to the amazing self-drive adventure safari trip you may have had in Uganda and Rwanda.

You will then drive to Kigali to drop off the vehicle at either the airport or any point you may have agreed with us before the start of your car rental trip. 

Travel Distance: From Akagera National park to Kigali- 108 Kilometres
Travel Time: About 2hrs and a half.