5 Best Places to Visit On Uganda Self Drive Trip

Uganda has been ranked among the top safari destinations in Africa for over 15 years and there is no denying tourism sector is still growing even with the latest COVID pandemic, a destination blessed with an abundance of attractions that range from landscapes and water bodies to unique wildlife & diverse cultures. Many of these attractions are situated in remote destinations and the best way to get there is by hiring a private car for self drive in Uganda and then making an itinerary of places to visit. You need to rent a 4×4 car that can handle the rough terrain, muddy and steep slopes if you want a safe and comfortable road trip.

We at Tellanza Car Rental Uganda have been organizing self drive trips for several years and our reservations experts have compiled a list of some of the best places to visit if you plan on driving yourself.

1- Kampala City – The capital of Uganda is the busiest and most vibrant destination in the Pearl of Africa blessed with a number of tourist attractions and leisure spots. Cultural sites depict the rich history of Buganda Kingdom while the restaurants, shopping malls and night clubs also give you an insight of what the city life is like. Kampala city has always been used as a base for exploring other areas and driving yourself around the city is very easy even without a GPS.

Getting there– Driving from Entebbe to Kampala with last about 50 minutes using the Entebbe-Kampala express highway.

2- Jinja city – Dubbed the adventure capital of East Africa and home to the source of the Nile , Jinja has always been the best place for leisure tourists and adventure seekers flooded with numerous exciting tourist activities top of the list being grade 5 white water water rafting adventure which offers tourists chance to explore the Nile on an open raft. Other exciting activities to do in Jinja include Bungee jumping, horseback riding, quad biking, Sundowner cruises, golfing, source of the nile boat ride, tubing, speed boat tours to mention but a few all available at affordable costs.

Getting there– Self drive road trip lasts about 30 to 40 minutes from Kampala city using the Nabweru road

3- Bwindi national park – The home of the infamous endangered mountain gorillas is another popular place for self drive safaris in Uganda. It might be located at the corner of south western Uganda but you will enjoy every bit of that long drive to the park passing through numerous towns. Expect en-route stop overs in different towns for pictures & chance to interact with the locals. There are plenty of nice eco-friendly lodges & guest houses offering cheap accommodation so you can be assured you cant fail to get where to sleep as you prepare for your gorilla trekking safari in one of Africa’s most ancient forests.

Getting there – Self drive road trip lasts about 7 to 8 hours from Kampala city using the Mbarara road.

4 – Murchison Falls national park – If you want to get the real feel of Uganda’s wildlife, then a self drive tour to Murchison falls park is what you need. Uganda’s oldest and most visited park is home to 76 mammal species and a record 451 bird species with most sought-after species being the Big Five which include the lions, Cape buffaloes, Elephants, leopards and Rhinos which you can visit at the Zziwa Rhino sanctuary en-route to the park. Enjoy game drives, boat cruises, bird watching, primate tracking, cultural encounters as well balloon tours when in the park.

Getting there – A self drive road trip to Murchison falls park from Kampala city will last about 4 to 5 hours using the Masindi road.

5 – Lake Bunyonyi – Arguably the most famous lake in south-western Uganda located between Kisoro & Kabale, Lake Bunyonyi is the second deepest lake in Africa with tourist guides and locals estimating it to be about 900m deep. Bunyonyi is a local phrase meaning “Place of Little birds” , this lake is home to 200 species of water birds making it another popular bird-watching destination in Uganda. However one of the top attractions on Lake Bunyonyi are the 29 islands with the most popular ones being Akampene island (Punishment island) where unmarried pregnant girls were exiled and the Bwama and Njuyeera (Sharp’s Island) where an English missionary by the names of Leonard Sharp established a leprosy treatment center , church , patient quaters and medical facility. Several tourists visit the Lake to relax, honeymoon, watch birds, visit the islands on dug-out canoes as well explore the neighboring villages.

There are plenty of other fascinating places to visit on self-drive safari in Uganda but the above five shouldn’t miss out on you itinerary if you want to get that full wildlife, culture and adventure experience.

So rent a car online today and go explore these destinations on your own, we have a fleet of well-serviced rental cars ideal for self drive ready to hit the open road. You can contact us today by sending an email to rent@tellanzacarrentaluganda.com or call us now +256-702838696 / +256-708234114 / +256-772424754

By Bryan Hulk