A Detailed 8 Days Self-Drive Uganda Itinerary Guide

Itinerary Overview: 8 Days self-drive Uganda

During these short but powerful 8 Days Self-Drive Uganda Itinerary Guide, you will get to know Uganda. You will visit mountain gorillas and chimpanzees and you will take a beautiful boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. You will also see chimpanzees, hippos, savanna elephants, various antelope species, and, with a bit of luck, lion, and leopard. An ideal 8 Days self-drive Uganda, Best Itinerary for First-Time Visitors if you have little time, but still want to get away from it all to a completely different world.

Traveling with your own group? Our group tours are already guaranteed for 2 people!

Why is Uganda called the “Pearl of Africa”?

In his 1906 book “My African Journey”, Winston Churchill was the first to use the term “Pearl of Africa“. He was inspired by what he saw in Uganda of “magnificence, variety of shapes and colors, an abundance of a wonderful life – birds, insects, reptiles and animals”. He, therefore, described the East African country as a fairy tale. It is therefore Winston Churchill that Uganda owes the nickname “Pearl of Africa”.


8 Days in Uganda: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi, Chimps in Kibale and Safari in Queen Elizabeth NP

 Tour Summary

  • Safari is by flight & 4×4 Luxury land cruisers 
  • Gorilla trekking will be in Bwindi Forest National Park
  • A maximum 1 hour will be spent with the Mountain Gorillas
  • Accommodation before and after trip can be arranged on request at an extra cost

What you need to know

  • Accommodation is provided in Luxury/MidRange/Budget Lodges. 
  • Pack the right Gorilla trekking clothes
  • Tour can start any time of the year
  • The minimum age for the tour is 15 years 
  • A gorilla permit is included in the cost

Itinerary Gallery: 8 Days Safari in Uganda

drive on to Queen Elizabeth National Park
visit the primate center of Uganda
Kazinga Channel.

Safari Highlights: 8 Days Self-Drive Uganda

  • Day 1: Flight Amsterdam/Brussels to Entebbe
  • Day 2: Entebbe – Kibale Forest
  • Day 3: Kibale Forest National Park
  • Day 4: Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kisoro/Bwindi
  • Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • Day 7: Kisoro/Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park
  • Day 8: Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe and flight from Entebbe to Amsterdam/Brussels
What’s the real story?:

Itinerary Details: 8 Days Self-Drive Uganda

Day 1: Flight Amsterdam/Brussels to Entebbe

The journey begins. You will arrive at Entebbe International Airport in the evening. A short 15 – minute drive will then take you to the Airport Guesthouse. Here you will sleep the first night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 2: Entebbe – Kibale Forest

Today you will visit the primate center of Uganda, Kibale Forest. After a short stop in Fort Portal, we continue to Kibale Forest Camp on the edge of the national park.

Drive Time: About 5 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 3: Kibale Forest National Park


Kibale National Park, Uganda’s “Primate Capital of the World”

In the morning or in the afternoon you make a Chimpanzee Tracking. That depends on the available permits. You will look for chimpanzees under the guidance of rangers. Before or after you also make the Bigodi Swamp Walk. This is a beautiful walk through an agricultural area and papyrus swamp. There is a good chance that you will also see many monkey species here!

It is also possible to spend the whole day with the chimpanzees. During a Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, you will search for these special primates together with a group of researchers and a ‘habituation team’. However, this is subject to the availability of permits. If you participate, the Chimpanzee Tracking and the Bigodi Swamp Walk will be canceled.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 4: Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park

We leave for Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the way, we cross the equator and make a number of game drives. Then we arrive at The Bush Lodge. This is your accommodation for the coming night. In the afternoon you will also take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kisoro/Bwindi

After a morning game drive, we continue to Kisoro. On the way, we drive along Lake Bunyonyi and you also have a beautiful view of the Virunga massif. This is a chain of volcanoes that lies in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You will spend the night at Gorilla Valley Lodge.

Drive Time:  About 7 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park


Gorilla trekking ( Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Uganda)

This is the day you have probably been looking forward to for a long time! Today you will meet the mountain gorillas! Guided by rangers, you will search for these ‘ gentle giants ‘ in groups of a maximum of 8 people. Once you have found them, you can stay with them for an hour. You can spend the rest of the day as you wish.

Instead of the standard Gorilla Tracking, it is also possible to do the Gorilla Habituation Experience. Then you follow a not yet fully habituated mountain gorilla family for four hours. You do this, of course, under the supervision of a group of researchers and a ‘habituation team’. However, this activity is subject to the availability of permits. In addition, the standard Gorilla Tracking will lapse upon participation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 7: Kisoro/Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park

Today we drive to Lake Mburo National Park. After a lunch break at the Igongo Cultural Center, we arrive at Mburo Eagles Nest. This accommodation is beautifully situated on a hill on the edge of the park. After checking in we make a beautiful game drive in the park.

Drive Time:  About 8 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 8: Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe and flight Entebbe to Amsterdam/Brussels

Start the day with a walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park. Of course, you do this under the guidance of an experienced ranger who also knows the park well. Then we drive back to Entebbe. We have lunch at the equator. Here you can also buy souvenirs in the shops. In the afternoon we arrive in Entebbe. After dinner at the Airport Guesthouse, we will take you back to the airport.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

End of the 8 Days Self-Drive Uganda

Cost Inclusions

  • Uganda gorilla trekking permit
  • Accommodation & meals as indicated
  • 4×4 safari vehicle
  • A professional English speaking knowledgeable driver guide.
  • Bottled drinking water on board
  • Flight fees
  • Activity fees

Cost Exclusions

  • International flights & Visas 
  • Tips
  • Drinks
  • Any changes to the itinerary 
  • Laundry

Transport 

  • 4×4 safari land cruiser for luxury travelers
  • 4×4 safari van for budget travelers

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