Self Drive in Uganda – Hire a Car in Uganda & Go Self Driving visiting its major Tourist Sites, Self Drive Safaris

Uganda is a huge destination in Africa with over ten top National Parks to visit plus Sanctuaries and game reserves, these sight seeings are composed of different Wildlife Primates, apes, wild animals and different bird species.

Uganda “The Pearl of Africa” is located in the Eastern part of the African Continent and before visiting this destination I was just hearing and reading about it but after my visit I experienced and witnessed why its called “The Pearl of Africa”, below is my experience after fantastic visit to Uganda’s top most touristic destinations.

Since we were budget travellers we decided to Self Drive in Uganda and hired a Car with 4×4 Car Hire Uganda the leading Car rental company in Uganda, a 4×4 wheel drive land Cruiser Prado was enough for us since we were three plus our luggage.

The real price for the Land Cruiser Prado in Uganda is $70 USD per day but since were taking the Car for Long term 4×4 Car Hire Uganda decided to give us a discount of 5% off the original prices and this really worked for us as it was cost saving, for flexibility and accuracy we booked for this Safari jeep in advance plus giving in some deposit such that the Car is 100% reserved for us and on arrival the driver from 4×4 Car Hire Uganda was waiting for us at the airport, we were very excited to meet him and he welcomed us to Uganda which made us feel at home.

After the warm greetings presented to us was the hard copy of Car rental terms and conditions advised to go through and see whether they meet our needs but exactly they were meeting which influenced our signing on this copy confirming that we go by them.

After signing on that copy we paid our remaining cost of the rental and a receipt was issued to us for confirmation of the payment, after that the driver handed the Car and Camping gears to us for continuation of our Journey but since it was evening we spent our over night in Kampala city.

Early in the morning we started our Journey to Murchison falls National Park in the North western part of Uganda via Masindi- Gulu highway with a stop over in Nakasongola district- Nakitoma for the Rhinoceros tracking in Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary which costs $45 USD per person, after this activity we continued with our Journey up to Murchison Falls National Park with en route stops over for Lunch, this journey was associated with en route game viewing, since we were tired on that day reaching Murchison just rested while preparing for tommorrow’s activities.

Next day early morning we were just ready for our first game drive around Murchison with interest of sighting its Wildlife species including Wild animals, Primates Species and more, some of these species include elephants, buffaloes, Monkeys like Black and White Colobus Monkeys, different bird species and more, lunch was our next step as we waited for the evening game drive such that we get to see ones missed in the morning.

On our day two in Murchison Falls National park we couldn’t miss the boat cruise along the waters of Murchison falls where we were able to sight most of different aquatic species which included crocodiles, hippopotamus, birds and more.

After our boat cruise in Murchison we were just ready to meet the green cover of Kibale Forest National Park in the western part of Uganda, Kibale Forest National Park is characterized with ever green tropical rain forest with big tree species, our main interest here was the tricky chimpanzees and it costed us $150 USD per person to do the tracking in the Jungles of Kibale but if interested in the chimpanzee habituation experiences it costs $220 USD per person.

Bigodi Wetland walk enabled us to see different bird species with in the suburbs of Kibale Forest National Park. After our experience in Kibale forest National Park we decided to focus on Queen Elizabeth National Park where the famous tree climbing lions are found, our driving continued up to this Park very excited to see these tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, although we had finished a game drive in Murchison we were forced to do it in Queen such that we are able to see these tremendous tree climbing lions resting up in the tree branches.

After Queen Elizabeth National Park our next move was Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the shy endangered Mountain Gorillas in the mist, Bwindi is characterized with a thick, strong and impenetrable forest where these apes reside, while in Bwindi impenetrable National Park the Gorilla trekking activity costed us $600 USD per person, this activity is some how tiresome but exciting so you have to be physically fit.

We went in a group of eight people trekking with a park ranger to guide us through the walking trails and it took us like 2-3 hours to discover the location of these apes in the Jungle, after discovering them you are allowed to stay in their presence for only one hour while seeing them playing with their young ones, laughing, feeding and more. Gorilla trekking certificate is awarded at the park offices after the trekking activity.

We finished our self drive trip in Lake Mburo National Park after the amazing gorilla trekking in Bwindi was a last game drive in lake Mburo which granted us opportunities of sighting the skinny colored Zebras, Elephants, Buffaloes and more plus a boat cruise on Lake mburo, meeting the local fishermen we also practiced fishing on Lake Mburo.

After the long experience our next step was to drive back to Kampala very excited to hand over the stable Land Cruiser  Prado back to 4×4 Car Hire Uganda as we wait for our return flight back home. Thanks to 4×4 Car Hire Uganda for the wonderful services offered on our Self drive trip in Uganda.