A self drive safari in Uganda is the perfect choice if you already have a car and simply want to drive to the park yourself. You handle the road trip. From the moment you reach the park gate until you drive out, our team takes care of everything inside: your lodge, park fees, game drives with experienced guides, boat cruises and activities.

This guide is for Ugandan families, expats, diplomats, NGO staff and visitors with a hired car who want the freedom of their own vehicle without the stress of planning everything inside the park. You will learn how our park-gate packages work, which parks are best, what we arrange for you and what it costs.

Jump to: How it works · What we arrange · Best parks · Why use guides · Costs · Sample trips · Driving tips

How Our Self Drive Safari in Uganda Works

Many people in Uganda own a comfortable car but do not want to take it on rough park tracks, or simply do not know where to find the animals. Our self drive safari in Uganda solves both problems.

1. Tell us your dates and park. Share how many people are travelling and your budget.
2. Choose your package. We send options for budget, midrange or upmarket lodges, all with activities included.
3. Drive to the park gate. Use your own car or a hired vehicle. We share directions, the best route and timing.
4. We take over inside the park. Your lodge is booked, your park fees are arranged, and your game drives and boat cruise are scheduled with guides.
5. Drive home. After your last activity, you drive out of the gate with great memories, while we stay on call until you are on your way.

Your car stays parked safely at the lodge while you enjoy game drives in a proper safari vehicle. That means no mud on your car, no getting lost on unmarked tracks, and a trained eye spotting the animals for you.

Who Is a Self Drive Safari in Uganda For?

A self drive safari in Uganda with gate-to-gate support suits many kinds of travellers:

• Ugandan families who want a holiday in their own car, at a lower cost than a fully guided trip.
• Expats, diplomats and NGO staff living in Kampala or Entebbe who already have a reliable vehicle.
• Visitors from Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania on a regional road trip who want help inside each park.
• Corporate teams and church groups travelling in their own buses or vans.
• Travellers with a hired car who prefer to leave the game drives to an expert.

If you would rather not drive at all, we also run fully guided trips with a driver-guide from Kampala or Entebbe.

What We Arrange Inside the Park

Every self drive safari in Uganda package is tailored, but most include:

• Accommodation: your choice of lodge, from good-value bush lodges to luxury safari lodges, usually on a full-board basis.
• Park entrance fees: paid in advance for every person, plus the entry fee for your vehicle.
• Guided game drives: in a lodge or Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) safari vehicle with an experienced driver, or with a UWA ranger guide riding along.
• Boat cruises: such as the Nile launch to the bottom of Murchison Falls, or the Kazinga Channel cruise in Queen Elizabeth.
• Activities: chimpanzee tracking, nature walks, the Top of the Falls hike, horseback or walking safaris, and more.
• Permits: gorilla and chimpanzee permits booked well ahead, as they sell out.
• Support: a Tulambule contact on WhatsApp throughout your stay.

All you need to bring is your car, your family and your camera. To see how this works in practice, look at our Murchison Falls safari, which we can adapt as a self drive package.

What your self drive safari in Uganda does not include

• Your own vehicle, fuel and driving to and from the park gate
• Meals and accommodation on the road before you reach the park
• Drinks at the lodge and personal spending
• Tips for guides and lodge staff
• Travel insurance

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Best Parks for a Self Drive Safari in Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park: about 5 hours from Kampala

Uganda's largest park is the most popular self drive safari in Uganda. The road from Kampala is tarmac most of the way, and a bridge now crosses the Nile at Paraa.

What we arrange: a lodge on the south bank, a guided game drive on the Buligi plains to see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and lions, the launch cruise to the bottom of the falls, and the walk to the Top of the Falls. On the way, you can stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white rhinos on foot, which we can book too.

Queen Elizabeth National Park: about 6 to 7 hours from Kampala

Famous for the Kazinga Channel, with its hippos, buffaloes and elephants at the water's edge, and the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha.

What we arrange: your lodge, a morning game drive on the Kasenyi plains with a guide who knows where the lions are, the Kazinga Channel boat cruise, and optional chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge.

Lake Mburo National Park: about 4 hours from Kampala

The closest savannah park to Kampala and ideal for a first self drive safari in Uganda or a short weekend away. See zebras, impalas, elands and buffaloes.

What we arrange: your lodge, a guided game drive, a boat trip on Lake Mburo, and a walking or horseback safari, which children love.

Kibale Forest National Park: about 5 hours from Kampala

The best place in Uganda to see chimpanzees, with excellent tarmac roads all the way to Fort Portal.

What we arrange: your lodge, your chimpanzee tracking permit, the Bigodi Wetland walk and a crater lakes tour. Read more about chimpanzee trekking in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: for experienced drivers

You can drive yourself to Bwindi for gorilla trekking, but the last stretches are winding gravel roads, so a high-clearance 4x4 is essential. We secure your permit, book a lodge close to your trekking sector and arrange a porter if you need one. See our guide to gorilla trekking permits in Uganda.

Why Use Guided Game Drives on a Self Drive Safari in Uganda?

You could drive around the park on your own, but most of our guests prefer guided game drives, for good reasons.

• You see far more. Guides talk to each other by radio and know where lions, leopards and elephants were seen that morning.
• Everyone can look out. Nobody has to concentrate on driving, and safari vehicles have pop-up roofs for better views and photos.
• Your car is protected. Park tracks can be rough, muddy or narrow, which is hard on a normal family car.
• You learn more. Guides share stories about the animals, birds and plants that make the trip special for children and adults alike.
• You stay within the rules. Guides know which tracks are open and how close you can safely get to the animals.

How Much Does a Self Drive Safari in Uganda Cost?

Because you provide your own transport, a self drive safari in Uganda costs much less than a fully guided safari with vehicle hire from Kampala. Your package price covers:

• Lodge accommodation and meals
• Park entrance fees for each person, valid for 24 hours at a time
• Your vehicle's park entry fee
• Guided game drives in a safari vehicle
• Boat cruises and other activities you choose

You pay for your own fuel and any meals on the road. East African citizens pay much lower park fees in Uganda shillings, which makes this an excellent-value holiday for Ugandan families. Foreign visitors and residents pay in US dollars at UWA's published rates.

As an example, a 2-night Murchison Falls self drive package with full-board lodging, a guided game drive, the Nile launch cruise and the Top of the Falls is very affordable compared with a fully guided trip, and the price varies by lodge and season. Send us your dates for an exact quote, or see our budget Uganda safaris.

Sample Self Drive Safari Packages in Uganda

2 nights: Murchison Falls weekend

• Day 1: Drive from Kampala, with an optional stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Check in at your lodge for lunch, then visit the Top of the Falls in the late afternoon.
• Day 2: Morning guided game drive on the Buligi plains, then the afternoon launch cruise to the bottom of the falls.
• Day 3: Breakfast and drive home, with an optional second game drive first.

2 nights: Lake Mburo family break

• Day 1: Drive from Kampala, crossing the Equator at Kayabwe. Check in and join an evening boat trip on Lake Mburo.
• Day 2: Morning guided game drive, then a walking or horseback safari in the afternoon.
• Day 3: Breakfast and drive home.

4 nights: Kibale chimpanzees and Queen Elizabeth

• Days 1 to 2: Drive to Kibale. Chimpanzee tracking and the Bigodi Wetland walk.
• Days 3 to 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth. Guided game drive on the Kasenyi plains and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
• Day 5: Breakfast and drive home.

Every self drive safari in Uganda we plan can be shortened, extended or combined with other parks. Browse our short Uganda safaris for more ideas.

Best Time for a Self Drive Safari in Uganda

• June to September and December to February: the dry seasons, with easy roads and excellent game viewing.
• March to May and October to November: the rainy seasons. Main tarmac roads stay open, and the parks are green, quiet and cheaper. Inside the park, our guided game drives mean you do not have to worry about muddy tracks.
• Public holidays and school holidays: lodges fill quickly, especially around Christmas, Easter and Independence Day, so book early.

Driving Tips for a Self Drive Safari in Uganda

• Leave early. Aim to reach the park gate well before dark. Gates have set opening hours, and driving at night is not safe.
• Fill up with fuel in the last big town, such as Masindi, Fort Portal, Kasese or Mbarara.
• Carry your documents: driving licence, national ID or passport, and the car's papers. Police checkpoints are common.
• Watch for speed bumps and boda bodas in towns and trading centres.
• Bring cash in Uganda shillings for fuel, snacks and tips.
• Share your arrival time with us so your lodge and guide know when to expect you.
• Keep to 40 km/h on any park roads you drive to reach your lodge, and give way to animals.

What to Pack for a Self Drive Safari in Uganda

• Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens
• Neutral-coloured clothes, a warm fleece for evenings and a light rain jacket
• Comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent
• A phone charger for the car and a power bank
• Drinking water and snacks for the drive

Why Plan Your Self Drive Safari in Uganda With Tulambule

Tulambule Uganda Safaris is 100% Ugandan-owned, has planned safaris since 2014, and is licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority. Our travellers rate us 4.9 out of 5 on TripAdvisor.

• We know the parks, lodges and guides personally
• Packages for every budget, from bush lodges to luxury
• Park fees, game drives, boat cruises and permits arranged before you arrive
• One contact on WhatsApp from the park gate to the exit

Call or WhatsApp +256 782 915 447 or +256 703 171 855, email info@tulambule.com, or visit us at Plot 132, Akamwesi Shopping Mall, 2nd Floor, Room WW06B, Gayaza Road, Kampala.

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