Uganda's Finest

Uganda's Finest

This circuit is an all-time favourite and still among our most popular in Uganda. Trek the gorillas and chimps in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Kibale rainforest. See the mighty river Nile explode in Murchison Falls. Enjoy plenty of wildlife spotting on your self-drive safaris in Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls. Gorilla and chimp trekking permits included.

Scroll down below to see the day-to-day route with route description and lots of insider travel tips for Uganda. The price includes car rental, accommodation in three price categories and gorilla and chimp permits. 

Check the day to day itinerary

Day 1 of 15

Destination: Entebbe
Drive: 20 km | 30 minutes

Airport pick up, transfer to mid-range lodge set in a lovely garden in the charming town of Entebbe.

Accommodation options:
Budget / Mid-range: Via Via Guesthouse
Deluxe: Boma Hotel

Day 2 of 15

Start: Entebbe
Destination:
Lake Mburo National Park
Drive: 225 km | 6+ hours.

From Entebbe, take the express highway toward Kampala. At Busega roundabout, you take the last exit onto Kampala / Masaka / Mbarara road. 

Accommodation options:
Budget: Eagle's nest
Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock
Deluxe: Mihingo Lodge

Day 3 of 15

Enjoy: Lake Mburo National Park

Enjoy a day in the park. With no dangerous predators such as lions, Lake Mburo is the place to go for walking, biking, or horseback Safari. Moreover, this is one of the few national parks in Africa allowing night game drives, which give you the chance to see some of the rare nocturnal animals like the mongoose, hyena, leopard, and serval cat.

Day 4 of 15

Start: Lake Mburo National Park
Destination:
Lake Mutanda
Drive: 225 km | 7+ hours

Drive to the Kigezi Highlands, perhaps the most fertile and scenic region of Uganda: a landscape of expansive blue lakes and steep terraced slopes tumbling southwest towards the rainforest of Bwindi National Park.

Accommodation options:
Mid-range / Deluxe: Mutanda Lake Resort

Day 5 of 15

Enjoy: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Ready for the experience of a lifetime? Today you will be tracking the rare mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi’s mist-covered, forested hillsides and dense forest cover protect an estimated 320 mountain gorillas, roughly half of the global population. This includes 11 habituated groups which can be tracked by limited groups of people. You will be departing from either Rushaga or Nkuringo.

Day 6 of 15

Enjoy: Lake Mutanda

Plenty of activities can be arranged at Lake Mutanda. Enjoy a ride in a dugout canoe as the local fisherman do, go on a birding trip, nature hike or cultural village walk and finish off the day with a sunset boat cruise. Decide what to do then and there, or contact us in advance for reservations.

 

 

Day 7 of 15

Start: Lake Mutanda
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive: 220 km | 7+ hours.

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s oldest national park. From open savannas to green rainforests, from dense papyrus swamps and crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it is little wonder that Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts one of the highest rates of biodiversity of any game park in Africa.

Accommodation options:
Budget / Mid-range: Bush Lodge
Deluxe: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 8 of 15

Enjoy: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Enjoy a day in the park. Boat trips on the Kazinga Channel offer great game viewing, as do game drives around Mweya Lodge and the Northern Circuit. Further southwest, the remote Ishasha plains are famous for their tree climbing lions, while the Kyambura Gorge is home to habituated chimps. The nearby Maramamgambo Forest has a wide variety of forest monkeys and the dozens of crater lakes scattered across the park are often filled with beautiful pink flamingos.

Day 9 of 15

Start: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
Drive: 125 km |  2½ + hours

Drive to Kibale Forest near the pleasant town of Fort Portal. Kibale is a 800 km2 tropical rainforest, home to 13 primate species and an impressive range of birds.  

Accommodation options:
Budget / Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp or Isunga Lodge
Deluxe: Papaya Lodge

Day 10 of 15

Enjoy: Kibale National Park

Kibale Forest is a nature lover’s paradise, with its sublime bird watching and chimpanzee tracking, as well as opportunities for viewing a wide range of other primates. Chimpanzee trekking is a half-day activity starting either early in the morning or just after lunch. A field of beautiful crater lakes lies between Fort Portal and the forest, which are perfect for a swim or exploration on foot.

Day 11 of 15

Start: Kibale Forest National Park
Destination: Hoima
Drive: 220 km | 6+ hours

Beautiful back roads passing through friendly villages will bring you to Hoima town, the staging point between Fort Portal and Masindi at the southern entrance of Murchison Falls National Park.

Accommodation options:
Budget: Kon Tiki Lodge
Mid-range / Deluxe: Hoima Cultural Lodge

Day 12 of 15

Start: Hoima
Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Drive: 175 km | 5+ hours

Today you will cross the entire Murchison Falls National Park, entering the reserve from the south, whilst staying overnight just outside the northern section of the park. Along the way you will cross Budongo Rainforest and visit the top of the waterfalls, which is a spectacular experience. Once you cross the Nile River, you can take a refreshing break at Paraa Lodge, situated at the heart of the park with excellent views of the river. Most of the wildlife is in the northern section of the park.

Accommodation options:
Budget / Deluxe: Fort Murchison
Deluxe: Murchison River Lodge

Day 13 of 15

Enjoy: Murchison Falls National Park

Another day of your self-drive safari with opportunities for game viewing. Other activities include a boat trip to the base of the falls or take a smaller boat downriver from Paraa towards the Nile River delta where it flows into Lake Albert.

Day 14 of 15

Start: Murchison Falls National Park
Destination: Kampala
Drive: 370 km | 6+ hours

An excellent newly surfaced road takes you to the capital city, Kampala, where you will find a thriving dining and nightlife scene with a pleasant vibe. We would be happy to recommend some especially good places to eat and drink.

Accommodation options:
Budget: Bush Pig
Mid-range / Deluxe: Yellow Haven Guesthouse

Day 15 of 15

Enjoy: Kampala

Depending on your return flight, you have time to visit some highlights of Kampala:

- Explore Kampala on the back of a boda boda (motorbike taxi) and learn about Kampala’s history and scenic places. We recommend 2 Friends Boda Tours.
- Visit Ghadaffi Mosque located on Old Kampala Hill.
- Visit the Baháí Temple.
- Enjoy a traditional cultural dance show at Ndere Centre, Ntinda. Shows are on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Highly recommended!
- Visit the largest secondhand clothing market in Uganda: Owino Market.

Uganda's Finest: What to expect on your self-drive safari

Travel time, road conditions & when to go

15 days / 13 car rental days are recommended for this route, spending two nights at one location. On an average travel day you will drive for 5 hours. Keep in mind that with photo and picnic stops, this can still make a full travel day. Time not on your side? Shorten the road trip with a day at Bwindi. 

Road conditions are good: asphalt with the occasional pothole and speed bumps. The most adventurous part is driving from Kisoro to Lake Mutanda (volcanic and dirt road), from Hamurwa to Ishaha (off road) and from Masindi to Murchison Falls. We cannot stress enough to drive slowly (25km/h) and carefully on this road! Roads inside the National Parks are generally dirt tracks in good condition. More driving tips can be found in our on the road section.

Uganda's Finest is nice route to travel year-round. April - May and November is low season, with more rainfall. Peak season is from June to September and around Christmas. Check our when to go section for more Uganda weather information. 

Go to Travel time, road conditions & when to go

Prices

Low season | 1st March - 31st May

Price is per person, in Euros. Easy and secure online payment to our Bookings office in the Netherlands. 

Price includes 14 hotel nights mostly on the basis of Bed & Breakfast, 13-day car rental, airport pick up, and gorilla and chimpanzee permits.

Ask us for any luxury accommodation options.

Prefer a guided road trip? Add € 520 and you can experience Uganda's Finest with a driver-guide. 

  Rav 4 Landcruiser Hilux
  2 pax 4 pax 2 pax 4 pax 2 pax 4 pax
Budget 1,870 1,760 2,130 1,860 2,260 1,920
Mid Range 2,340 2,230 2,600 2,330 2,730 2,390

 

Rest of the year

Price is per person, in Euros. Easy and secure online payment to our Bookings office in the Netherlands. 

Price includes 14 hotel nights mostly on the basis of Bed & Breakfast, 13-day car rental, airport pick up, gorilla permits and chimpanzee permits.

Ask us for any luxury accommodation options.

Prefer a guided road trip? Add € 520 you can experience Uganda's Finest with a driver-guide. 

  Rav 4 Landcruiser Hilux
  2 pax 4 pax 2 pax 4 pax 2 pax 4 pax
Budget 2,070 1,920 2,330 2.020 2,460 2,090
Mid Range 2,530 2,390 2,790 2,490 2,920 2,550

Create & Book

Book Uganda's Finest road trip as it comes, with stays in budget, mid-range or deluxe lodges - or adjust it to your liking.

Make this road trip yours

Included in your tour

Included

  • Gorilla permit $ 700
  • Chimp permit $ 200
  • Bed & Breakfast
  • Car delivery to your hotel or airport
  • Comprehensive car insurance
  • Roadmap and Bradt Travel Guide
  • Unlimited mileage
  • 24/7 Road assistance

Optional

  • Electrical fridge
  • Driver-Guide