There are several amazing places which indeed offer great travel rewards on a self-drive safari. Uganda also called the Pearl of Africa is among the continent’s best places to visit. Let discuss the best places to consider when planning for a self-drive safari in Uganda.
Kidepo Valley National Park
For an authentic nature encounters, taking this remotest route of self-drive in Uganda can suggest a great reward. Kidepo is located in northeastern Uganda and considered the remotest among all tourist destinations. It’s termed as “the True African Wildness.” The Kidepo Valley National Park in a unique way offers the widest opening of the savannah landscape.
A road trip self-drive takes about 10hours on a scenic drive. There are two sections of Kidepo Valley and the Narus valley that persist with water even in driest season. These two sections have the highest concentration of wild animals. The eco-biodiversity of Kidepo consists of over 74 mammal species includes some of the big five mammals, antelope species, zebras, cheetahs, wild dog.
There are about 470 bird species including ostriches, secretary birds among others. In 2019, CNN named Kidepo Valley National Park among the best attractive destinations in Africa. And in 2021, the park featured in the World Tourism Awards list of best safari parks in African and safari booking in 2019 listed the park 11 among the best 50 national park in Africa. Adventures to engage in mainly include; game drive, nature walks, birding, mountain climbing, Karamoja cultural visits experiences.
Jinja City
The East African capital of adventures with greater rewards. Jinja located in the eastern from Kampala, the capital of Uganda. The adventure capital is globally known for hosting the world’s longest river Nile. When visited Jinja can take adventures like boat cruise, white water rafting, bungee jumping, nature walks, hill hiking, quad biking among others.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
One of the most popular tourist destinations in Uganda. It offers one of the best road trips on a safari to Uganda. A road trip to Bwindi Forest leads to watching some of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas. Located in southwestern Uganda, seated in lines of Albertine Rift valley, seated on an area of 331sq/km. It’s characterized by tropical rain forest covering volcanic landscapes favoring the existence of the mountain gorillas.
With about twenty habituated gorilla families, the park offers the highest opportunities trekking. Also gorilla habituation is available for trackers done at Rushaga sector. Bwindi Impenetrable has 4 tracking sectors of Nkuringo, Buhoma, Rushaga and Ruhija. Gorilla trekking at Bwindi is the best experience and relatively possible for all classes of travelers.
Besides being an endemic destinations for mountain gorillas, the park home to various species of flora and fauna. These include about 300 species of birds, elephants, buffaloes, other primate species including red tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, chimps, bush bucks, about 400 species of plants and many others.
Adventure activities done at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include, gorilla tracking, nature walks, bird watching, mountain biking, Batwa cultural experience, etc.
Sipi Falls
These magnificent waterfalls are set just at the foothills of Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda, in Kapchorwa district on Sipi village. The villages are split into three phases and distanced from each other.
Sipi falls are astonishing features that have amazingly attracted several travelers from across the world. The best part of the falls is the cool and warm climate, and a walk through the coffee and banana plantations.
The three overlooking splashes right 100m below, the next falls at an elevation of 85m and the other falls at 75m below. The breathtaking Sipi waterfalls are raised at an elevation of 1600m above sea level.
The Sipi falls is an en-route to travelers going to hike Mount Elgon and even those driving to Kidepo Valley National Park through the eastern route.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
The park where one visit and have a longer stay when engaged with several adventures. Uganda’s oldest national park and the most famous, as well the 2nd most visited tourist destination in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in western Uganda, along the radiations of the western arm of the Great Albertine Rift Valley, at the foothills of Mount Rwenzori.
The Queen Elizabeth Park features the savannah, woodlands, and the tropics. Unique for the rare tree climbing lions, highest concentration of birds with over 600 species of birds. Sub-divided into Kasenyi savannah open for game viewing, and Mweya peninsula common with Kazinga Channel that connects Lake Gorge to Lake Edward it’s for game viewing on a boat cruise. Ishasha sector popular for tracking tree climbing lions, Kyambura Gorge tropical unique for accommodating chimpanzees.
Adventure experiences done on a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park include Wild game viewing on both game drive and boat cruise, bird watching, tree climbing lion tracking, chimpanzee tracking, community visits, visiting Lake Katwe a salt mining lake. Also hippo census, mongoose tracking, lion experiential among others.
Kibale National Park
Kibale is East African capital of primates with about 13 different primate species. This the best place to track chimpanzees in East Africa. Chimpanzees here are fully habituated and trekkers have an opportunity for a close-up encounter with the chimpanzees which is rare to the rest of the forests where the apes are tracked across east Africa.
This eco-biodiversity forest is located in western Uganda about 26km off Fort Portal. It’s only at Kibale forest in Africa where tourist as well can take part in the habituation process. So, tourist at Kibale can do either tracking or habituation. Chimpanzee tracking here costs US$250 and chimpanzee habituation costs US$300 and spend the almost a full day with these giants.
Kibale National Park has two chimpanzee tracking sessions a day; the morning session starting at 8am and the afternoon session starting at 2pm.
Murchison Falls National Park
This is the best destination for travelers on a self-drive safari in Uganda. The park is today the best place to drive with ease. Due to oil development around Lake Albert, roads accessing the park are paved. This park present the best safaris in Uganda, with great views of wildlife.
The park is located in northern Uganda, crossed through by the Nile Victoria which meets Lake Albert to make the amazing Albert Delta. This the perfect place in the parks of Uganda to watch the highest concentration of wildlife. A safari leading to Murchison Falls Park offers an opportunity of watching the big five at once considering the inclusion of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Among adventure to do when take a self-drive safari to Murchison Falls National Park include; game drives, boat cruise, hiking to the top of the falls, nature walks, visiting the top of the falls. Taking a community visit to experience the lifestyle of people staying around the park, forest walks at Budongo and chimpanzee tracking.
The above are just a few of many places where you can enjoy self guided safaris in Uganda.
