14 Days Uganda Self Drive Memories in the Wild.

To live is to change, and change is a living factor in life. Start your dream by building a hierarchy beyond the limit if travel is your goal by hiring a car and self drive Uganda.

A lot of people from different parts of the world would love to have a meaningful travel life, but there are some questions on the table, like, which is the best travel destination to choose? What is the best car brand to rent? What is the best time to travel in regards to the need for a thorough weather check in the country of choice.

You may also ask yourself about what to take with you, what kinds of activities are best done reasonably beyond expectation, and how you should one link from place to place at your comfort, whether you book a scheduled trip or prioritise by selecting to self-drive across the region.
A lot will cross your mind in due course, but what matters is how best you can arrange to have long-lasting self-driving memories if you’re a travel maniac overseas.

Here is a well arranged 14 days Uganda Self drive itinerary that will make up your travel memories.
This program is a master class travel program for trusted self-driving visitors willing to visit Uganda at any time in a year.
The itinerary is a combination of sweet destinations with proper linking routes; if you are a naturalist, please prepare to have fun because Mother Nature is ready to talk to you.
The source of treasure is to drive and visit the most famous savanna Uganda places, such as Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park for game drives and a boat cruise, transcend to Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.

In these parks, you practically embrace nature because you have all the chances to view the animals of your dreams, from big cats to various mammals. In other wards, you can’t miss the big five animals, including lions, leopards, elephants, water buffaloes, and rhinos, that can only be spotted in the sanctuary called Zziwa located in Nakasongora district.
On the contrary, the same drive connects you to the amazing world of primates; link to Kibale National Park for famous chimpanzee trekking and humans closest living cousins on earth; prepare your drive and go primate watching in the tropical rain forest of Uganda.
The world has effortlessly fought to keep and endanger some rare species for generations; Mountain gorillas are what we’re talking about here; their population was sabotaged during the primitive era of mankind, but now the conservation board is taking action by keeping the rare giants safe with the aspect of increasing their numbers in the jungle.
Mountain gorillas are only found in three countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Virunga massif and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

On your own safari in Africa, you may have questions like how many mountain gorillas are left in the wild today. The answer is that these 3 countries have around 1060 as of the previous gorilla census, and Uganda, which has 2 gorilla national parks, shares half of the number, while the rest is shared between Rwanda and Congo.

Driving to relax on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest lake in Uganda is a one million milestone in the rolling hills of the Kigezi highlands.

Day 1: Receive the car and drive around Lake Victoria.
On this day in Uganda, you will hit the Entebbe international airport, where either your organized car rental company or the hotel to sleep in will receive and pick you up, respectively.

Travel Insurance Cover:
Although Uganda is one of the safest countries in Africa, travel insurance is very vital for you. This protects you from flight cancellations, covering up valuable lenses and other camera gear, and a lot of related travel and adventure preferences. I proudly recommend that you acquire one of the best policies to cover you in case of any uncertainties pre- and post-trip.

Car rental inspection
Depending on which kind of car you booked, you will have to look at it carefully.
Prior to ignition, there needs to be a perfect car inspection with your rental company fleet representative to make sure that everything is in good condition, and before you start your drive, check for all necessary car rental extras like the car jerk, safety fire extinguisher, the wheel spanner for tyre changing in case of punctures and the reflector that helps you alert other road users to give way due to breakdowns or emergencies more so check for any dents on the body of the car to avoid unnecessary fines on the car drop-off day.

In other words, our fleet has cars of different makes, such as the Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep, Prado TX, Prado Tz, and Toyota Land Cruiser V8, Vx, and Gx, all of them with differential locks and four-wheel drive.
These cars can support rooftop tents for those going hardcore camping in the wild; however, a Toyota Rav4 best represents people on a budget plan; it’s a full time 4×4 that maneuvers very well on all kinds of terrain in Uganda.
Camping priority
Some of the travelers may want to go exceptional by taking the camping option, which may either be choosing to hire a car with a roof top tent or deciding to go ground camping in the wild. This may go with all the camping gear that you should not skip planning for your self-driving trip in Uganda

Pay attention to the details of the car rental agreement.
It’s always advisable to read the car rental agreement carefully on day one, If there are some rental terms that you may not understand well, it’s advisable that you ask for clarification before signing the agreement to avoid misunderstandings.

Mind the local currency.
However, before a lot is done, we recommend that you take a simple practice like getting introduced to the new currency by visiting the forex bureau to exchange money for some Ugandan shillings with you because most of the local communities do conduct their businesses using the local currency.

However, there are some cashless points where your credit or visa card is top-notch to use for any piece of transaction, like national park entry fees and activities; most lodges and hotels can go cashless too; and in response to that, some of the fuel stations, especially those located in big towns, can also accept the cashless means if you are paying for gas.

Shopping for the trip
For the sake of a successful trip in Uganda, you need to prepare yourself with ample snacks and enough liquids in transit because the weather keeps changing and you have to keep hydrated. Snacks keep you awake till the next meal point, so it’s advisable to have enough chocolate bars rich in energy.

A new registered Ugandan SIM card matters.
Never the less, if possible, try to change to the country code by buying and registering a new sim card to convert mobile data for internet surfing and easier communications in and out, especially in the remote upcountry side.

Your passport is the link to register for the sim card, and for less than 2 USD, you can acquire either MTN or Airtel, which are the most reliable mobile telecom networks that connect most parts of the country.

Spend some time on the shores of lake Victoria
Despite the fact that you have chosen to self-drive in Uganda, don’t hesitate to drive around Entebbe town and its nearby tourist centers just because Entebbe city has a lot of touristic and relaxing places.

Mingle with the friendly local community on the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa and second in the whole world.

Taste the fresh fish like tilapia and nile perch at your comfort as you chill on the sandy beaches of the lake, sunbathing with plenty of fresh air in the magnitude.
There are numerous accommodations in Entebbe, but if you choose to travel on a budget program, hotels such as Viavia Entebbe, Boma Hotel, Entebbe Guest House, Gorilla Africa Guest House, 2Friends beach hotel are some of the few choices available to spend a night.

DAY 2 IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK VIA ZZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY.
This day always starts with an early morning breakfast, and then you check out of your respective hotel to park your luggage and also cross check if there are no valuable belongings left behind.
You will have an experience of the busy Kampala by yourself as you scale through the traffic jam to connect to Bombo road or else you can comfortably use the Entebbe Express High, where you will pay 5000 Uganda shillings at the road toll, which is the equivalent of $1.3USD, USD. This is the main route connecting you to the northern side of Uganda.

After some kilometers of traveling, you can choose to make a quick stopover at about 70km from Kampala in either Wobulenzi or Luwero for fruit shopping like mangoes, pineapples, and numerous citrus. These are highly recommended, especially for campers and road trippers, because they are all organic fruits and they keep you awake and hydrated on the highway ride. You will hit the road again.
As you reach Nakasongola district, you will branch off to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which is 7 kilometers off the main highway to the sanctuary gates.

At Zziwa, you will watch the rhinos feed in their natural habitat and take a walk in the savanna as the destination guide gives you insights about the sanctuary and its rhinos.
You may have lunch at the restaurant of the sanctuary or drive to the nearest Kabalega dinners, Gators Café on a highway driving distance to Kafu Bridge; otherwise, you are free to visit any tourist-branded restaurants around.

After lunch, you will drive towards Murchison Falls National Park via Masindi town, and here you have to refuel your car at full tank to be safe for game drives, enter the park through the Kichumbanyombo gate, and visit the top of the falls if time still allows. It is actually the best time for sun set self-driving photographers to take wild memorable photos of Murchison falls.

In the same case, you can choose to drive straight to check in to your lodge or to your respective camping ground to set up your tent, if at all you made a prior camping ground booking. Dinner awaits you before the night’s savanna whispers.

You can camp at; Red Chill campsite, at the top of the falls, Elephant Plains
You can choose from several lodges like Paara Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Bwana Tembo, and Heritage Safari Camp.

DAY 3: MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVE AND BOAT CRUISE
Like it is always a common principle for all travelers around to start with a hot early morning breakfast, you will wake up to have a cup of coffee and some eates and after hit the northern section of Murchison Falls for a magnificent game drive.

It is a mandate to hire a park ranger for all self driving visitors in Uganda to guide you throughout the entire game drive experience. This is because they know the park very well and can help you spot animals easily, Not only that, but rangers know all the wildlife behaviors in the park, so they know what to do when these animals react differently, so there is no need to panic.

Murchison Falls is Uganda’s biggest national park, covering a total area of 3870 square kilometers. It’s dissected by the Nile for both the south and the northern sections.
The park is covered by savanna grassland, savanna woodland, forest woodland, and thickets; all these are harbors for wildlife, so expect to be amazed on your game drive.
The northern section is where serious game keeps so there are linking tracks like Victoria Track, Burigi Track, Delta Track, Albert Track, Research 1, Research 2 and Queen Track.
The most likely animals to be sighted include lions, leopards, African elephants, Rothschild giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeests, several antelope species, warthogs, cape buffaloes, and a mammoth number of bird species.

In addition, if you are lucky enough, you will see the rare shoebill around the delta shore on the Albert Nile.
Park rules
Always follow the park rules, like driving 40km/hr, keeping on the tracks that were designated for gazette visitors, keep the park cleaner than you found it, switch off the car engine, especially at viewing times for cats.

The game drive is always scheduled for about 4 hours, so by mid-morning we expect the experience to end by that time, get back to the lodge respectively and prepare for lunch then relax a bit as you wait for the afternoon activity.
Boat Cruise
A boat cruise in Murchison is such a fascinating experience when you sail to the bottom of the falls, you should not miss it on your to do list when you visit the park.
You can either book it in the afternoon or in the midmorning because, at this time animals get closer to the shore of the Nile to take water.

Book and board a green boat with either Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or book under GandC/ Wild Frontiers, or Paraa Safari Lodge, which both have silver boats that have enough space to accommodate a reasonable number of people.

The activity is scheduled for around 3 hours from 2 p.m. in the afternoon; you sail straight to the bottom of the falls for the magnificent view of the beautiful world wonders.
The river is endowed with rare aquatic life, such as schools of hippos, Nile crocodiles hibernating on the shores. Numerous animals like elephants, antelopes, and giraffes stretching their long legs come in for water to quench their thirst, and it is a thrilling moment for tourists. Enjoy the boat ride as you relax with nature, get to know much about the falls and parks from the guide on the boat trip, and enjoy taking great scenic photos for greater memories.
After the cruise, you will drive back to your respective accommodation place for dinner, and the day has ended.

DAY 4  SELF DRIVE IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
 On this day, you can choose to have a day of rest, find a swimming pool, and swim as you sip some Uganda brand beer as you read a novel of your choice.
You may decide to visit the top of the fall too if you never made it in time on the first day. You can drive there to get some good videography and some cool photos of the Devil’s Corridor and the world’s most powerful falls.

The park fees
Park entry is 45 USD per person for foreign nonresidents for 24 hours.
Foreign nonresident children pay 20 USD per child.
Then, for foreign residents, the park entrance is 35 USD.
Foreign resident children pay 10 USD per child.
Car entry is 12 hours, and the fees are 10 USD per night.
A boat cruise is 35 USD per person, though prices vary if you ask for a private boat ride or if you choose to go fishing on the Nile.
A game drive in the park costs $20 to hire a park ranger under the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
You can buy souvenirs easily from any place of your choice if you find any at prices that are negotiable.
NB: Many travelers always ask about how they should tip the staff, tipping is done to one’s satisfaction, and there is no fixed amount entitled.

Note: Prices above always change due to changes in circumstances, but with communication ahead.
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DAY 5: IT’S A TRAVEL DAY TO KIBAALE NATIONAL PARK
Start your day as usual by having breakfast in the morning, and afterwards start the journey to Kibale National Park. Use either Bugungu gate or Mubako to exit the park; you will take Bulisa road via Ngwedo town to the plains of Bugungu wildlife reserve.
This is a fascinating road trip as you drive to the Butiaba escarpments for the valley sight, It is such a great scenic view from the panorama of the steep sides. At the viewing point, you will see the endless sights of Lake Albert ascending to the woodland forests with the Butiaba fish landing site that benefits the local community around.
Don’t forget to use your lenses at this moment because it is a perfect direction for photographers who love scenery photography.

From here, proceed with your drive. After a few kilometers you will have a stopover in Hoima town, where you can have a break at the Kolping Hotel and have a coffee to stay awake, in this town, take the chance to refill your tank at Total Energies or Shell Petrol stations.
The road from Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park is now asphalt, and it is very possible to drive and reach Fortportal in time for lunch at Garden Restaurant. From Hoima, drive to Kagadi and then Kyenjojo, your next destination is Kamwenge district.

Check in to your lodge respectively, or prepare your camper for the night; at least most of the lodges in Kibale have camping grounds for those who self-drive and camp Uganda in rooftop tents.

Here are some lodges in Kibale:
Kyaninga lodge
Ndali Lodge
Papaya Lodge
Crater Safari Lodge,
Primates Lodge {very close to the Kanyancyu chimpanzee briefing point.
Chimpanzee Forest Lodge was previously chimpanzee guest house.
Chimpundu Safari Lodge
Turaco Tree Tops Lodge
Kibale Guest Cottages

Camping Accommodation
Isunga Camp
Rwetera Safari Camp
Kibale Forest Camp
Feel free to choose from any of the above accommodation styles for a fruitful self-drive safari.

DAY 6: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING AND BIGODI SWAMP WALK.
With a cup of coffee or preferably a continental breakfast, it’s a day of wonders in the tropical rain forest today, Drive to the Kanyankyu gates and check in for briefing at Chimpanzee point for the dos and don’ts in the forest.

It all starts with registration and taking your records from both your chimpanzee permit and your passport number, and finally, after briefing you get subdivided into groups of around 6 members, get assigned an armed ranger who will be in charge to guiding you through the chimpanzee search.

The activity is always estimated between 2 – 6 hours, although it can go past that depending on the nature of the day depending on the movement of the chimps due to natural factors like scarcity of food influenced by seasons.

Kibale National Park is said to be keeping around 13 primates species in total, including some different monkey species like black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, L’hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys, and red tailed monkeys.

Several habituated chimpanzee groups are available for tracking in Kibale. What you need is to secure your chimpanzee tracking permit in time, as it is always recommended, because you may think of booking it on the ground and the slots are full, so in order to avoid cub issues, please book your permit in time through a registered car rental company.
A lot of self driving visitors in Uganda may lack some information about chimpanzees, but the trekking has two shifts, one in the morning, which starts at around 8:30 a.m. after briefing, and the other in the afternoon, at 2:00 p.m., so it’s up to you to decide which is the best time to fit your program for the mighty activity.

However, prepare to be amazed by human’s closest relative, watch them play and groom each, other. Chimps are very smart animals because on many occasions, they have been seen using tools best taught by mothers, who teach the young ones how to break fruit pods with stones.
What to know
You should have an up to date chimpanzee permit for 200 USD from the Uganda Wildlife Authority after reading the current dates.
Park enough water with you in the forest.
These days, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a face mask is recommended to take.
By principle, you are given an hour to view and interact with the primates once you come across them.
You are recommended to pack some snacks if you have not packed lunch because there is no fixed time to find them.
Mind to curry an extra lens to emit the mist just in case.
Curry trekking boots, long sleeved, pants, and a raincoat

Other activities apart from chimps
Later in the afternoon, you will drive to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is more of a buffer zone for Kibale Forest National Park.
The swamp is home to over 100 bird species and different species of small primates that migrate from the park.
A nature walk at the sanctuary will enable you to encounter some of the birds and some monkey species.
There are some souvenir centers in Bigodi town where women sell different souvenirs like bangles, necklaces, wrists, kitengi attire, sandals, and earrings.

We advise you to try to buy something from the craft center as a way of supporting the local community.  Late in the evening, you will drive to your lodge for dining and a night’s stay.

DAY 7: DRIVE TO SEMLIKI NATIONAL PARK FOR HOTSPRINGS

You will drive to Semliki National Park and get to the park offices, where you are to meet the park guides and set out to trek the Sempaya Hot Springs trail. Watch out for monkeys and numerous bird species along the trek.
The springs eject boiling geysers 2 meters into the air. The pool boils at 103 degrees Celsius, and to experiment with the hotness of the water, you will place eggs or bananas in the boiling water, and indeed, within 10 minutes, they will be ready to eat.
After returning from the hot springs trek, which will last at least 2 hours (including time at the springs), you will drive to Fort Portal, where you will have lunch.

In the afternoon, you will head to Amabere Caves. These are stalagmites with an interesting myth about the queen of one of the ancient descendants of the area.

A guide at the caves will give you an in-depth story about the caves as you take a tour around. You will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

You can choose to nest in any of these lodges or your favorite camping place below;
Upmarket lodges
Mweya Safari Lodge
Enganzi Lodge
Katara Safari Lodge
Elephant Plains
Mazike Lodge
Park View Lodge
Budget and campsite in Queen Elizabeth
Simba safari Camp
Kikolongo Safari Lodge
Kasenyi Safari
Bush Lodge Safari Camp
Twin Lake
Buffalo lodge
Pumba Safari Lodge
Tembo Safari Lodge
Marafiki
At your convenience, you can contact any of the above lodges to book straight in straight and have your room reserved, or inquire about camping details at the safari camps to experience nature.

DAY 8: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK EXPERIENCE
Depending on where you slept, you will need to arrange your entrance to the park.
Always mind having an ample breakfast early in the morning before you start the drive to the park for a game drive.
Most of the accommodation places in Queen Elizabeth are located very close to the park, and a few of them are within the park due to communities within the park; however, there are gazette entrance points to access the game drive circuits, especially Kasenyi Plains.  You are recommended to book a Uganda Wildlife Park ranger who will guide you through the main experience.
Before you drive to the park, you will have to access the park headquarters to register and pay for park entrance for the car and all the individuals in the car, as you will be guided by the park clerk on which items to pay for.

The park gates are always open early in the morning at 7:00 a.m., and that’s the official time to access the Kasenyi game drive fields in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The park has accessible game drive circuits by names to make it easy for guides to locate wildlife in different mating grounds, There is Research short, research long, community access track, Kaguta track, old mating track, new mating track, Janate track.
Always book a car with a customized roof hatch for a better view of the game in the savanna, Prepare to view animals like African savannah elephants, Hippos, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, waterbucks, hyenas, and some cats like leopards and lions if you have the chance from Mother Nature.
Usually the game drive is very interesting when the temperatures are still cool in the morning because when the heat comes from mid-morning and afternoon, most animals hide in the thickets for no view.
At least let your game take 4 hours, and then go back to your camp and prepare for a lunch rest.
Afternoon boat ride on the Kazinga Channel
From the morning game you will pay for your ticket and drive to the Mweya peninsula for the afternoon boat ride on the Kazinga channel. This channel separates two freshwater lakes, one Lake George and the other Lake Edward, to enjoy other views of nature with the breeze as you sail on the lake with sounds of nature influenced by the currents.
You will sail to the shore of the lake to experience the sights of numerous hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, and eater birds, as well as the insightful tales from the guide. The boat cruise is normally scheduled for 2 hours before docking back. Drive back to the lodge and plan for the next day in advance.

DAY 9: DRIVE AND PROCEED TO ISHASHA FOR TREE CLIMBING LIONS
Ishasha Sector is a section of Queen Elizabeth National Park also popular for its tree climbing lions, and they are spotted by luck depending on the season.
Start your drive from wherever you camped and proceed to Ishasha, the drive from the main asphalt road (Mbarara road) is 70 km, which perhaps takes an approximate 2 hours.
Take in mind that the road to Ishahaa is semi graded with some potholes, and if it’s a rainy season, you may take longer hours due to slow movements on the bumpy and skidding roads.
Along the way you can still spot wildlife, so on slow drives, you still stand a higher chance of seeing animals because it is still a drive with wild dimensions.

The sector has driving tracks that we keep the traffic on from Katooke gate in the north of Ishasha; the Ntungwe track is one of the tracks you can drive for animal spotting, the middle track will connect you to the fig track; and it is the best that you have more chances to view tree climbing cats because they love climbing the figs to lay their bells on the fig tree branches to relax and to also avoid competition from other animals.
The other animals to see within Ishasha include; topis, duikers, Uganda kob, cape buffaloes, leopards, elephants, warthogs, reedbucks, mongoose, and different bird species that keep calling each other.

Lodges and campsites in Isasha
Ishasha Wilderness Lodge: this one is upmarket.
Enjojo Lodge, it’s at budget-friendly but provides camping or a campsite for rooftop tents.
Bullbush camp
Topi Lodge
Ntugwe camp

DAY 10: DRIVE TO BWINDI VIA ISHAHA SECTOR.
It’s always advisable to check your car every morning before you start it, sometimes you may have flat tyres or fault starts, have everything fixed before any move to be pretty sure that you are safe for the day.

Have breakfast in the morning and have your language loaded for the morning game drive, just in case you missed the tree climbing lions the previous day.
This is the time for you to have your dream fulfilled, and remember, it’s your main game drive in the Ishasha sector.

The sector has such an amazing topography that proves wildlife and scenery photographers the best of their experience, Ishasha shares the bounds with the Democratic Republic of Congo so if you look far horizon from the central circuit of any of the tracks, you can record some of the best amazing photo shoots of your life in photography because of the exceptional scenery around you.

Ishasha has very narrow tracks, so you are always advised to drive carefully and also respect the speed limits because animals keep crossing from one track to the other.
By chance, if Mother Nature gifts you with the roaring cats hanging up the figs, please switch off the car engine and stay silent to create a peaceful environment in the savannah.
After the view, you can drive and exist the park peacefully, after a few kilometers, you will approach Kihihi town, and you can choose to have a lunch break at either Savanna Golf Course Lodge,Suba Hotel, or Kashunju Hotel.

Alternatively: don’t forget to refuel your tank at the Total Kihihi fuel station on the highway at the entry point of town, just opposite Suba hotel, here you can get a little mechanical alert from the mechanics at the station as long as your car rental company is aware.
Follow your Google map on the asphalt road to Kanyantorogo and turn off right for only 32km to Bwindi National Park (Buhoma section in particular).

Check in to your lodge or campsite, respectively.
Upmarket lodges
Bwindi Lodge
Mahogany springs
Buhoma Lodge
Sanctuary retreat
Haven Lodge
Trekkers Lodge
Budget and camping lodges
Buhoma community rest camp
Enganzi lodge
Ride for a Woman Lodge

DAY 11: GORILLA TREKKING AND BWATWA COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE
The beautiful moment is here for you today. Prepare for the long awaited jungle experience in Bwindi, have enough breakfast as the routine, and with a lot of vibes, drive to the park headquarters for a briefing from the ranger on duty.

What to know about gorilla trekking
Briefings about mountain gorillas normally start at 7:30 a.m., and by 8:30 a.m. you will either drive to the starting point or start trekking from the briefing center.

The group allocation of gorillas will always dictate where you start your trek.
There is a group of gorilla trackers who enter the forest very early in the morning before anybody else to trace the location of every gorilla family in Bwindi.

This tries to make the activity a little easier because trackers send information to the headquarter about every group’s sighting, in that case, some of the groups are closer and others may be further from the briefing point.

Every gorilla family or group is entitled to 8 visitors, a ranger guide, one policeman, and two armed security guards and these are not going on a battle front but to protect you from other wild animals that are not habituated like gorillas, like the forest elephant, Security will scare shoot in the air just to disperse the elephants.
Before grouping visitors, everyone is mandated to have a gorilla tracking permit reading the current date. Meet the clerk with your passport for registration.

The jungle is very active, and sometimes the trekking may take longer than we anticipated. It is recommended that you have a packed lunch and take a bite after viewing the gorillas.
By far, the conservation time allocated for visitors is 1 hour if you find them; otherwise, the estimated time of the entire trip is between 2 – 8 hours. This can be ridden by different factors; they are wild animals, so expect to walk on foot in the jungle to find them.
Food is a factor too; sometimes scarcity of food may lead gorillas to feed from far away, and this may cause a delay in finding them, especially in the dry season when some trees shade off their leaves.
Bwindi National Park is impenetrable, so it’s not a passable forest. There needs to be ample time to create the pathways to find the gorillas, hence the jungle memories.

Bwindi is geographically located in rough terrain mountains, so you are subjected to good tracking boots with gators and long pants, rain gear to protect you from rain because Bwindi is a tropical rain forest and it can rain unpredictably.
Hire potters or a gorilla helpers: It is advisable for visitors to hire a potter who is only $20 USD at the moment. He /she will help you with your language, and they will also give you a hand in case you get stuck during the gorilla trek.

At the viewing point for gentle giants, you are advised to stay calm and silent, turn off the flash of our cameras so as not to disturb the gentle giants in their natural habitat. Otherwise, feel the thrill by taking your dream gorilla photos.

Interact with the gorilla peacefully, watch the mothers nurse their young ones like humans do, the juveniles will give you a joyous day because they do swing in the branches like circus in the jungle.

After gorilla trekking, you will head back or have a place to sit and interact, and you will also receive gorilla certificates from your ranger guide as conservation policy. You will be branded the gorilla ambassador when you go back home.

DAY 12: TRANSFER TO LAKE BUNYONYI FOR RELAXATION
After so many days of long drives for adventurous activities, you will take some time to relax and unwind at Lake Bunyonyi.

The drive from Buhoma is windy because of the folding mountainous landscape; expect winding roads on your road trip to Bunyonyi; however, it is such a beautiful landscape with a spectacular view of contours on top of the mountains as it is the system used by farmers in the highlands.

I hope you are not car sick, or you may have some slight phobia, which is normal for everyone afraid of heights. Take your altitude pills if at all you are not used to windy roads with high altitudes; otherwise, have a safe drive in the mighty Bwindi Forest National Park.

Lake Bunyonyi, located between the districts of Kisoro and Kabale, offers a nonchalant environment for relaxing and reenergizing.

It has over 27 islands with resort lodges that offer various leisure activities like swimming, boat rides, romantic dates, and cozy dining. Bufuka, a town on the shores of the lake, also harbors resort beaches and hotels for relaxation.

Zip lining is another interesting activity on top of the lake, have fun with no phobia with a spontaneous view of the islands.

You will choose any of the numerous lodges around the lake to relax and enjoy the pristine atmosphere of the Kigezi region.
The relaxing lodges are;
arcadia Cottages
Bunyonyi bird nest
Bunyonyi Eco Lodge
Bunyonyi Rock Resort

 
Camping Places
Bunyonyi Overland Camp.
Byona Amagala Island
Paradise Eco Hub
Hawk’s Eye Lodge Bunyonyi

DAY 13: TRANSFER TO LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK VIA MBARARA.
It is approximately 3- 4 hours’ drive from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park. You may have your morning breakfast at leisure, and hereafter start your drive via major towns like Kabale, Ntungamo, and Mbarara.
You can choose to have lunch in Mbarara city at either Agip Motel or Igongo Cultural Centre, or alternatively, a cup of coffee of any kind, These two food points provide look foods if you wish to go local for a food experience, it is a buffet set up with an A la carte’ if you choose other food options.

Always pay attention to your car; at least check your fuel gauge every time you come across a big town, if need be, please refill your tank for a good purpose, check your car tyres if there are any mechanical attentions with your vehicle; this is always the best time and place for you.

Otherwise, continue with your drive to Lake Mburo for an evening game drive or a sunset boat cruise. All national parks in Uganda have the same entry policy at the main gates: make your payments, and then drive to your destination.

Activities in Lake Mburo
Game drive
Lake Mburo has a vast number of wildlife for nature lovers. Mind your windows and enjoy your game drive from the word go. Starting from the main straightaway, you will have to see herds of zebras, the beautiful impalas, warthogs, Deffasa waterbuck, and a lot of bird species in the savannah woodland vegetation.
Always be keen to follow game drive tracks: Zebra track, Eland Track, Mihingo Track, Lake Mburo Track, and Warukir Track. Enjoy the mighty game from gate to gate due to the large concentration of various animals alongside the tracks.

The introduction of giraffes from Murchison Falls has made self drive very unique here, for they have naturally multiplied, and because there are fewer predators in the park, giraffes tend to be peaceful if spotted.

Night game drive
Lake Mburo is one of the great national parks that you can experience night game drive, arrange accordingly to enjoy the nocturnal animals

Horse Ride in Mburo
Have you ever thought of doing a game drive on a horseback ride? This is an open opportunity for you in Lake Mburo, it’s a guided activity that you are obliged to book prior from Mihingo Lodge, also one of the most precious lodges to stay in.

The horse guide takes you through the steps of riding a horse, which are very simple to learn. It also depends on the time, but there are a series of time intervals that you are guided through before you make any bookings. You may bushlink for either 1 hour or 2 hours, depending on your priority.

You have always been behind the wheels but this time around, you are behind the horse. Take time to have a wildlife safari in style.
Birding in L. Mburo

Boat Ride
You can book to take a boat either in the morning, afternoon or late in the evening for sun set cruise. The minimum clients on the boat are 4 members, boom now with Uganda Wildlife Authority and enjoy watching wildlife from the boat.

Where to stay
Kigambira Lodge
Acadia Cottages
Rwakobo Rock
Mihingo Lodge

Where to Camp
Rwonyo Safari Camp
Leopard Camp
Hyenas Safari lodge
Camping on the shores of Lake Mburo

Day 14, as your rental ends with Joy
This is your last day with the car, and you will be driving it and dropping it off at the place you agreed to meet your hirer; however, you can also choose to make an extension if you still want to use it further to other destinations if you still feel the enjoyment of the Peal of Africa because there is a lot to see. This is guaranteed only if you communicated before your extension dates.