Best Self Drive Safari Destinations in Uganda
Are you ready for an adventure of a lifetime in Uganda’s stunning wilderness? Our 4×4 car rental with popup roof is the perfect vehicle for exploring the country’s breathtaking landscapes, national parks, and wildlife reserves.
Best Self Drive Safari Destinations in Uganda
Self-driving in Uganda offers travelers the most immersive ways to discover Uganda’s diverse landscapes and national parks, this is the latest trending way travelers use to immerse them selves in nature, explore Uganda’s gems ,opting for a self-drive safari or a road trip with a driver/guide from 4wd car rental Uganda enables you explore this beautiful country on your pace, bringing you close to Uganda’s open savannah parks to rainforest ,explore some of the rewarding destinations to choose from on your 4×4 self-drive safari in Uganda
4x4 car rental to Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s top safari destination ranked for its mighty wonders for travelers seeking for self drive adventures, this park is Uganda’s biggest conservation spanning an area of 3893 square kilometers The park offers amazing wildlife viewing such as the big5 example Lions ,buffalos, leopards, elephants, beautiful scenery of Uganda’s Nile River , and the powerful Murchison Falls, perfect for independent explorers. For visitors who wish to have a hustle free adventure and life time expedition , hiring a car rental with a driver guide makes the trip easier and safer. Whether on a Uganda self drive or hiring a professional driver guide, Murchison Falls rewards an unforgettable Ugandan safari experience.
How To Get There
Murchison falls is located in the Northwestern parts of Uganda, getting there by road requires a road trip of approximately 305kilometers from Uganda’s capital Kampala or Entebbe via Kampala-Gulu-Masindi highway, approximately 5hours drive, however some travelers choose a chartered flight from Entebbe international airport directly to Pakuba airstrip
Are you planning on taking a memorable 4×4 road trip to Uganda’s biggest National park? these are outlined details that will guide you in crafting beautiful memories in this park.
Activities to Do In Murchison Falls National Park
- Rhino Trekking on route to Murchison falls in ziwa rhino sanctuary.
- Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo central reserve forest.
- Hiking and Top of the falls viewing.
- Game driving in Murchison Falls Northern open Savannah bank.
- Rewarding Boat cruise on the Victoria Nile.
Where To stay.
Murchison falls national park has a variety of accommodation both inside and outside the park, are you planning a self drive on a tight budget, midrange or luxury accommodation, below is a list of luxury ,midrange and budget campsites
Luxury Accommodation
- Pakuba Safari.
- Paara Safari Lodge
- Entiko Safari Lodge
- Nile Safari Lodge
Midrange Accommodation
- Sambiya River Lodge
- Murchison falls bamboo village
- Fort Murchison
- Bwana Tembo
- Murchison River Lodge
Budget Accommodation
- Rechill rest camp
- Giraffe camp
- Honey bee campsite
With all these activities in Murchison falls, you can plan for an extended 4×4 road trip in other Uganda’s natural wonders like Kidepo Valley National park or Kibale National Park for a more rainfall forest experience
4x4 car rental to Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo valley remains Uganda’s third biggest national park covering an area of 1442 Sq Km, located in the North Eastern parts of Uganda, lying on the edges of Uganda, Southern Sudan and Kenya boarder, this park located in the extreme North of Uganda’s boarder remains the the true African Wildness due to the fact its located in the remotest areas of the Karamoja regions, the spectacular views and beautiful landscapes in this wildness captivates everyone who visit this rugged semi-arid valleys, with over 80 species of wildlife including the big4,leopards,lions,elephants and buffalos, on a common game drive expect to see over 200 bird species.
How to get there
A road trip to kidepo Valley will be the most fascinating one, this road trip can be taken in different options, the first option is by driving via the kampala-Gulu-Kitgum highway traversing through the karuma bridge watching the Nile river transiting its 6500kms journey to the north, this direct route via gulu town is approximately 571km from Uganda’s capital Kampala or Entebbe, however this entire trip can be subdivided with an overnight at Ziwa rhino sanctuary, Gulu town or Kitgum
Another alternative would be Using the kampala-mbale-sironko-moroto-kotido-kabongo to kidepo, this is the most adventurous roadtrip if your seeking to immerse your self in an authentic African way, this route is approximately 740km from Kampala or entebbe making it 13hours drive nonstop drive, however there lots of different attractions along the way, the route traverses through Mabira forest a popular birding spot for birders, straight to jinja the home for the mighty River Nile and Lake Victoria, a simple tour can be highly rewarding into this stone city.
A hike stop over at sipi falls will prepare you for an immersion in the true african wildness, a 4×4 road trip via this region grants you an opportunity to explore pian upe, matheniko and ,bokora wildlife reserves the true hidden gems of eastern Uganda through this entire trip you can opt for a night in kapchorwa or Moroto town.
Travel advisory , the routes to this virgin gem sometimes take it too personal this is when 4wdcarrentaluganda.com comes in to offer you an ideal 4×4 car rental fit for this adventure.
The last and fastest way is by choosing a chartered flight from Kampala or Entebbe, kajjansi airstrip directly to kidepo valley National park and this can approximately take 2hours .
What to do in Kidepo Valley National Park
- Game drives
- Visit Narus Valley in kidepo
- Kanangoroko hotsprings
- Hike Moutain moroto
- Visitng the Karamajong Ik communities
- Bird watching safaris
Where to stay in Kidepo Valley
Luxury
- Apoka Safari Lodge
- Adere safari Lodge
Midrange
- Kidepo Savannah
- Zebra safari lodge
Budget
- Apoka restcamp
- Kakine & Nagusokopirecampsite
4x4 car rental Bwindi Gorilla Trekking
Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park is Uganda’s famous misty worlds UNESCO site, located in the South-western parts of Uganda ,known for its rich biodiversity and impenetrable misty jungle.
Bwindi Impenetrable is a home to nearly half of the worlds remaining mountain gorillas.
Bwindi impenetrable Forest National park is divided into four sectors, namely
- Buhoma Sector
- Ruhija Sector
- Rushaga Sector
- Nkuringo sector
All the four sectors will give you a unique experience and ounce in a life time experience.
How to get there
Connecting to these four sectors comes with various routes depending on the flow of your travel plan.
Getting to Buhoma Sector
The most popular self-drive route from Kampala or Entebbe will be Kampala/Entebbe-Masaka-Mbarara-Ntungamo-Rukunjiri-Kihihi-Buhoma alternatively, the route from queen Elizabeth National Park for a connecting Self-Drive road trip will be Katunguru-Ishasha-Kihihi-Buhoma.
Getting to Ruhija Sector
The most popular Self-drive route from Kampala/Entebbe is driving via Masaka town- Mbarara-kabale.
Getting to Rushaga/Nkuringo
These two sectors commonly share the same route, the most common route is from Kampala/Entebbe-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro route
Planning for a 4×4 road trip road trip to this Africa’s iconic wildness would be the best idea either when your planning for a self-drive adventure or a driver guided adventure expect a drive of 8-10hours from Kampala/Entebbe or about 2-3hours if your transiting from near by parks like Lake Mburo or Queen Elizabeth National park, a 4×4 car rental would be an ideal option to smoothen up the all journey by navigating into the rough potholes, steep hills and gravel roads to this impenetrable National park.
What to know when planning a 4×4 self-drive Uganda Gorilla trekking Adventure
- A Gorilla permit costs 800$ for a foreign Non Resident, 700$ for foreign residents and 300000ugx for an EastAfrican resident.
- The best time to do gorilla trekking is June & August, however June more recommended because its less busier compared to July and August, however considering December and February would be a right time as well.
- Roads in Bwindi are more scenic but rugged expect driving through mountain paths, steep hills, gravel tracks, a 4×4 vehicle is a must.
Parking List for Gorilla Trekking
- Insect repellents
- Light rain jacket
- Gloves
- Face mask
- Long Pant Trousers
- Water proof hiking boots
- Camera & Binoculars
Where to stay In Bwindi
Buhoma
- Buhoma Gorilla camp
- Haven Lodge buhoma
- Ride4 woman Buhoma
- Buhoma community rest camp
Ruhija
- Bakiga Lodge
- Agadi Uganda
- Ruhija Gorilla friends campsite
- Ruhija community rest camp
Rushaga
- Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
- Lake Mulehe Gorilla lodge
- Nshonji Camp
- Gorilla Leisure lodge
How to access a gorilla permit
There mainly two ways of getting a gorilla permit/ticket ,the most recommended way is by contacting a tour operator , a reservations officer will handle the entire process, alternatively there is a direct contact with the Uganda Wildlife Authority however this process might give slow response, at 4wd car rental Uganda we take the pride in handling all your Gorilla trekking and habituation query, from reserving you gorilla Tickets, to selecting the right 4×4 car rental needed for your gorilla trekking experience.
4x4 Self-Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s second biggest National Park, its a popular biodiverse safari destination offering a unique breathtaking landscape and lavish wildlife, spanning the equator this park poses the monument where it crosses latitude 00, making it Uganda’s medley of wonders.
Queen Elizabeth was originally called Kazinga National parkin 1952, later renamed in 1954 to commemorate the queens visit , queen Elizabeth 2 of England, currently the park is a home to Africa’s greatest wildlife, over 95 mammal species call this medley of wonders home ,additionally to the overwhelming number of bird species about 600+ bird species making it an interesting paradise for nature enthusiasts.
What to do on a self drive safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Game drives: Immerse your self in a rewarding game viewing in the kasenyi plains during this astonishing game drive you expect to encounter big games like African Savannah Elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Cobs, waterbucks, hippos, predators like lions, leopards, spotted hyenas among others.
Primate-Tracking: Lately queen Elizabeth national park is a home to interesting numbers of chimpanzee in the kyambura gorge ,Kyambura gorge is also known as the valley of apes, its a 11km gorge located in the Northeastern corner of queen Elizabeth National park formed by kyambura river covered by a concave rainforest, surrounded by cliffs and Savanna this is a prime current tracking location for chimpanzee.
Bird Watching: Are you a birding enthusiast? queen Elizabeth is a paradise for different bird species these can be seen in the kasenyi plains and kazinga channel , over 600 species including the African fish eagle ,flamingoes and papyrus gonolek.
Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel: Cruise along the kazinga channel, one of the longest channel spaning about 4okm connecting the two beautiful lakes ,George and Edward, this is unmatched with encounters of different wildlife and scenic views of the mweya peninsular.
Game drive to Ishasha Sector: A game drive through the southern sector of queen Elizabeth famously known as ishasha sector gives you a chance to see the tree climbing lions up-close , these unique predators spend their day lounging on fig trees scanning their preys.
Experiential tracking: Spend more time in the front of these savanna kings while at queen Elizabeth by booking an experiential lion tracking, its one of a kind , this activity is only done in queen Elizabeth ,this is done by tracking a certain pride of lions, these predators have a radio collar attached in the neck , your assured of seeing the lions and getting to know their extra behaviors.
Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National park.
Luxury
- Mweya safari Lodge.
- Acacia wildness mweya.
- Buffalo Safari lodge.
Midrange:
- Bush Lodge.
- Enganzi Game Lodge.
- Warujojo Safari Lodge.
Budget
- Engiri game lodge
- Pumba Safari cottages
- Enshama game lodge.
How to get there
The medley of wonders is located in the western parts of Uganda, a direct drive takes at least 7-8hours however your self drive road plan might include some other national parks making it shorter to get there , from kampala/ entebbe, the most common self drive or driver guided route is Kampala/ entebbe-masaka-mbarara-kasese road where as another common route will be driving via fort portal toursim city
Car Rental to Mountain Rwenzori trekking
Mountain Rwenzori is Uganda’s highest mountain also known as the mountain of the moon , one of Africa’s most striking and rewarding self drive destination, located between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo border, this park is more well known for its highest peak Margherita ,the mystical vegetation and scenic multi-day trekking routes.
Are you planning to hire a vehicle from 4wd car rental Uganda for a self drive trip to the mountains of the moon? this is the most scenic adventure you can encounter in Uganda.
How to get there
Choosing a 4×4 is an ideal idea due to the dramatic nature of the steep winding roads, rough patches near the park gates, however these are some of the common routes for someone intending to start a road trip from Kampala or Entebbe, -fort portal-kasese the drive via this route takes about 7-8hours alternatively the route from Kampala via masaka-mbarara-kasese would be ideal for a night stop over in queen Elizabeth national park.
Roads connecting to Nyakalengija main gate are always slippery during rainy season , making a 4wd vehicle an ideal reliable option.
Activities to do In Rwenzori National Park.
Margherita Peak hike, this is Africa’s third highest peak about 5109m, a reliable 4×4 would play a vital role in ensuring you get to the trail starting point readily in time.
Bird watching ,Rwenzori is a home to over 200 bird species including the Rwenzori turaco and Albertine rift endemics.
Multi-day hikes ,these hikes include a 6-9 days trek, these classic hikes cover snow capped peaks.
Photography, rolling green valleys and hills in the Rwenzori ,misty peaks and crater lakes offer endless photographic opportunities , with a self drive 4×4 car rental you can stop whenever you want.
Where to stay in Rwenzori
- Rwenzori Base camp guest house.
- Ruboni Community Camp.
- Rwenzori. Backpackers and campsite.
Travel Advisory
- Carry enough fuel from Kasese or fort portal.
- Rent a strong 4×4 with good tires and ground clearance.
- Begin your journey early to avoid fog from the mountains of the moon
Self-Drive to Jinja Uganda
Jinja is Uganda’s leading tourism destination ,located in the eastern parts of Uganda, on the northern banks of Lake Victoria, jinja remains Uganda’s industry hub and commercial center ranked 2nd biggest economic city in Uganda, jinja is a home base to to the Busoga kingdom, this beautiful city is located approximately 80km from Kampala or Entebbe and its a home to the source of the Nile , the worlds longest river, the name jinja originates from a local language meaning a rock.
People from different corners of the world including tourists and local visitors travel to this stone city for its breathtaking nature.
What to do in Jinja City
Jinja has a variety of recreational activities , are you planning to do a self drive or a driver guided adventure in jinja? rent a 4×4 from 4wd car rental Uganda, below are some of outlined activities to go for in this stone city.
- Kayaking on the Nile
- Ziplining in Jinja
- Uganda Railway museum
- Quad biking
- Source of the Nile boat tour
- White water rafting
uganda Safaris
Common Self Drive itinerary In Uganda.
- 3 day Murchison falls National Park
- 4 day Bwindi impenetrable/Mgahinga gorilla trekking.
- 6 day Bwindi gorilla trekking and queen Elizabeth National park
- 18 day Uganda Self Drive safari
- 21 day Uganda Self Drive Safari
3 day Trip Overview to Murchison falls National park
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s top safari destination ranked for its mighty wonders for travelers seeking for self drive adventures, this park is Uganda’s biggest conservation spanning an area of 3893 square kilometers The park offers amazing wildlife viewing such as the big5 example Lions ,buffalos, leopards, elephants, beautiful scenery of Uganda’s Nile River , and the powerful Murchison Falls with its location in the Northwestern parts of Uganda, adjacent to the Albertine rift valley
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from Kampala or Entebbe
Day2: Game drive in the Northern bank and Boat safari on the Nile
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking in budongo forest reserve and transfer back to Kampala or entebbe
Detailed Itinerary
To book your 4×4 car rental with popup roof in Uganda, contact us today. Reach us on info@4wdcarrentaluganda.com or whatsapp on +256 754 480176. We’ll be happy to assist you in planning your adventure and providing you with the best vehicle for your needs.
