22 Days Self Drive Safari in Tanzania & Uganda- Self Drive East Africa.
Enjoy the freedom of self drive in Tanzania and Uganda on a road trip to visit the big five animals and the primates in Uganda on tailored private guided safari tour with Self drive East Africa in Landcruiser with Rooftop tent & Classic Camping gears.
Tour Summary
Day 1: Transfer from Mwanza International airport in Tanzania to Serengeti national park for an overnight
Day 2: full day game drive
Day 3: Guided Nature walk and transfer to Mwanza town for an overnight
Day 4: transfer to Uganda via Mutukula border to Bukoba town for an overnight
Day 5: transfer to lake Mburo national park from Bukoba and do a boat cruise and late afternoon game drive.
Day 6: nature walk in lake Mburo and transfer to Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 7: full day hunting or tree climbing lions
Day 8: morning game drive at Kasenyi & afternoon boat cruise at Kazinga channel and again late afternoon game drive.
Day 9: crater drive and transfer to Kibale forest national park for overnight
Day 10: chimp tracking or nature walk and Bigodi sanctuary
Day 11: visit the Amabere caves and transfer to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for an overnight
Day 12: Rhino tacking and transfer to Murchison falls national park for hike to the top
Day 13: game drive and boat cruise on the Nile River
Day 14: transfer to Kidepo valley national park
Day 15: full day game drive, visit the Kanangarok hot springs
Day 16: hike mount Morungole and visit the IK people
Day 17: transfer to Moroto for an overnight and visit the manyatta village (Karamojong experience)
Day 18: transfer to Sipi falls
Day 19: transfer to the source of River Nile at Jinja
Day 20: nature walk in Mabira forest and visit the Uganda martyrs’ shrine at Namugogo
Day 21: visit the Buganda kings (Kabaka’s) Palace and city tour.
Day 22: if possible, departure at Entebbe according to your flight schedule. If not, we go visit the Mabamba swamp so that we see the shoe bill stork.
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1: TRANSFER FROM MWANZA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN TANZANIA TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK FOR AN OVERNIGHT
Transfer from Mwanza international airport to Serengeti national park for bed and meals. The distance from Mwanza international airport to Serengeti N.P Ndabaka gate is143km lasting for 2-3hours. We prefer you fly to Mwanza international airport because it’s the closest airport to access the park faster.
On arrival at the park gates of Ndabaka gate, we shall pay and get the park entry permit. Our game drive will begin from the gate and takes us to Seronera area which is the central of Serengeti N.P and that’s where we shall have our lodge. The drive from Ndabaka gate to Seronera will take 3hours as you will be seeing lots of common wildlife around the western corridor zone such as Zebras, Impalas, Topi, Thompson’s gazelle, and other animals.
Accommodation: Mbalageti Camp OR Seronera Wildlife Lodge
DAY 2: FULL DAY GAME DRIVE
Early in the morning you will have your breakfast and go for a full day game drive with a packed lunch. You will spot lots of wild life including the big five of Africa such as (Lions, Leopards, Rhinos, Elephants, and Buffalos). Other wildlife to be spotted will include Cheetahs, Zebras, Grant’s gazelles, waterbucks, Elands, Topis, Hyenas, Kongoni, Hartebeest. If the time is right and by our luck, the Wildebeest migration is incredible to see.
The endless Serengeti plains provides a superb game viewing in the bush all year round. But from the months of February to may a herd of over a million (Wildebeests), along with more than 300000 Thomson’s gazelle and over 200000 Zebras migrate from the Western Corrido of the park as they search for greener pasture. On the same day, you will spot over 500 plus bird species, ranging from the out-sized Ostriches & Bizarre secretary birds in the open grass land, black eagles soaring above Lobo Hill. After are markable full day game viewing, we shall return to the lodge for rest and dinner
Accommodation: Mbalageti Camp OR Seronera Wildlife Lodge
DAY 3: GUIDED NATURE WALK AND TRANSFER TO MWANZA TOWN FOR AN OVERNIGHT
In the morning after your breakfast at the lodge and later go for a guided nature walk. As always to ensure your safety, you will be accompanied with armed ranger and a tour guide. The walk is always 2 to 3 hours covering 9-15km depending on your energy. After the walk, you will transfer to the lodge for lunch and later check out. Transfer to Mwanza town.
Overnight: Hotel Tilapia or Golden Crest Hotel
DAY 4: TRANSFER TO UGANDA VIA MUTUKULA BORDER AN OVERNIGHT AT BUKOBA TOWN
In the morning you will have breakfast and transfer to Uganda via Mutukula border an overnight at Bukoba town. The reason of why you should have an overnight at Bukoba is because of the distance from Mwanza to Uganda which is tiresome. Distance covered 421kms lasting for 8hours.
Accommodation: Victorious Perch Hotel Bukoba
DAY 5: TRANSFER TO LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK AND DO A BOAT CRUISE.
In the morning you will have you breakfast and transfer Uganda Lake Mburo national park entrance gate. The distance from Bukoba to Lake Mburo is 217km lasting for 5hours including the border crossing time. On arrival at the park, you will check in at the lodge, have lunch and later go for a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. Expect to see over 300 birds while on the cruise and wild life at the shores drinking water.
After the boat cruise which will take 2hours. In the late afternoon we shall do game drive in the park. This is also rewarding as we shall see the zebras, buffalos, warthogs, Giraffes, Waterbucks, and cats such as leopard & Hyenas as they come to hunt.
Overnight: Kigambira Safari Lodge (Luxury Style), Mihingo Lodge (Mid-Range Style)
DAY 6: NATURE WALKING THE PARK AND TRANSFER TO ISHASHA SECTOR IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Early in the morning by 7:00, you will have a nature walk until 9am. Later transfer to the lodge for a breakfast and checkout. While at the walk you will get close to wildlife such as Zebras, Giraffes, Elands and other wildlife. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park in the Ishasha sector for bed and dinner. We shall have an enroute meal at Mbarara city. On our arrival at the park in the afternoon/evening, we shall do a late afternoon game drive as we shall see some lions from hunt. Other animals expected to be seen include Kobs, leopards, elephants, and others. The distance to cover is 163km (3hours).
Accommodation: Enjojo Lodge (Mid-Range Style) or Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury Style).
DAY 7: FULL DAY HUNTING FOR THE TREE CLIMBING LIONS
Early morning guided bush walk for a clear interaction with nature. After the walk you will take your breakfast and procced for a game drive in the mid-morning as we aim at hunting the tree climbing lions.
In the afternoon you will take you lunch and checkout of the lodge. We shall transfer to the northern sector of the park. On our drive which at the same time a game drive, we may spot the Tree climbing lions on the fig trees resting and other animals such as Hyenas, African Elephants, Waterbucks, Buffalos, and others.
Breakfast and Lunch at Enjojo Lodge or Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Dinner King fisher Lodge (Luxury Style) OR Enganzi Lodge (Mid-Range Style)
DAY 8: MORNING GAME DRIVE AT KASENYI, AFTERNOON BOATCRUISE AT KAZINGA CHANNEL AND AGAIN LATE AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE.
You will have your breakfast and go for an early morning game drive by 6:30 am in the Kasenyi plains. This is done so that we see the Cats which are still active on the hunt and as they go back for sleep such as Cheetahs, Leopards, Hyenas Others. Animals to be seen include Kobs, Elands, Impalas, Herds of Buffalos, African Giant Elephants, Warthogs among others and later transfer back to the lodge.
In the afternoon after your lunch at the lodge we shall drive to Kazinga Channel for boat cruise. The boat will last for 2hours. Wildlife to be spotted includes Water predators such as Crocodiles and concentration of Hippos and other wildlife at the shores drinking water such as herds of buffalos, elephants, elands. Birds will be spotted in the sky singing melodies such as African Skimmer, Yellow-billed stork, King fisher eagles and others. After the boat cruise we shall have another game drive as we get back to the lodge for overnight and dinner. On our way expect to see Lions, Buffalos, Elephants, Hyenas, Elands, waterbucks, Impalas among others.
Accommodation: King fisher Lodge (Luxury Style) OR Enganzi Lodge (Mid-Range Style).
DAY 9: CRATER DRIVE AND TRANSFER TO KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK FOR OVERNIGHT
In the morning you will have your breakfast and packed lunch, checkout from the lodge as we transfer to Kibale. Drive in the craters and later we exist the park. On arrival at the lodge in Kibale you will check-in and rest all evening at the lodge as you wait for the next day activity.
The distance from Queen Elizabeth national park is130km(3Hours).
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge (Mid-Range Style) OR Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury Style)
DAY 10: CHIMP TRACKING OR NATURE WALK AND BIGODI SANCTUARY
In the morning you will have your breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters by 8am for briefing. You can either decide to track or habituate the chimps or do a nature walk in the forest. The cost of chimpanzee tracking permit differs from that of chimpanzee habituation. Chimpanzee tracking is when you track and found them, then you will be given an hour (1) to stay with them. But for Chimpanzee Habituation you will stay with them for about 8hours as you stay about them.
In the evening you transfer to Bigodi sanctuary. Here you will do coffee experience with the locals, visit the home of a local healing doctor who uses bush herbs to heal people and visit the Bigodi swamp where you will have a chance to watch number of birds such as the blue turaco birds, and see over 8primate species such as Black & white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys and others.
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge (Mid-Range Style) OR Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury Style).
DAY 11: VISIT THE AMABERE CAVES AND TRANSFER TO ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY FOR AN OVERNIGHT
In the morning you will have your breakfast and transfer to Hoima to visit the Amabere caves. This place is beautiful as you will pass through a water fall to access them. We are here to see the breast like features which are hang on the roof of the cave with whitish/milk like substance tickling out. This certainly is a result of a chemical reaction between water and calcium carbonate. Additionally, forming stalactites and stalagmites, over years. These are called” Amaberega Nyina Mwiru” a local word referring to as “breasts of Nyinamwiru”.
According to an oracle, Nyinamwiru daughter to king Bukuku, would get married and have a son. This boy would de throne his grandfather. Bukuku decided to kill her. He cut off her breasts and threw the min the cave. However, he never knew that Nyinamwiru already nursed a child called Ndahura. This is the boy that made the prophecy true.
After the visit to the caves, enroute meal at Masindi town we shall transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary at Nakasongola district. We shall have a night there as we wait for rhino tracking then next morning.
Accommodation: Amuka Safari Lodge.
DAY 12: RHINO TACKING AND TRANSFER TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK FOR HIKE TO THE TOP
In the morning you will have your breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters for briefing. The activity lasts for 1-3hours according to the level of your fitness. After the track we shall transfer to Murchison falls national park, check-in at the lodge and drive to the top of the falls. We shall have an enroute meal at Masindi. While we reach the top of the falls you will see the roaring of one of the world’s powerful waterfalls which emits over 300 cubic meters per second. You will spend an hour at the top.
Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge (Mid-Range Style) or Nile River lodge (Luxury Style) or Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury Style)
DAY 13: GAME DRIVE AND BOAT CRUISE ON THE NILE RIVER
Early in the morning, you will have your breakfast and go for a morning game drive in the northern sector of the park and river Nile. Here we shall meet a lot of wildlife such as the Lions, Elephants, Buffalos, Leopards, Zebras, Giraffes, Elands, warthogs and others. We shall spend all the morning on a game drive and in the afternoon transfer to the lodge.
After Lunch, the lunch boat cruise will be waiting for you to cruise on the Nile River. The boat will sail for 2hours as you see water predators like the Nile Crocodiles and Hippos, sight wildlife at the shores drinking water and lazing at the shores such as Kobs, Elephants, Buffalos, Zebras among others.
Over 200bird species at the park will also be seen. And some water birds like the shoe bill stork, Giant King fisher eagles, long-toed lapwing, Swamp fly catcher, African eagles and others will be seen swing in the sky as they sing melodies.
Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge (Mid-Range Style) or Nile River lodge (Luxury Style) or Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury Style).
DAY 14: TRANSFER TO KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
In the morning you will have you breakfast, checkout from the lodge and transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park. The park is isolated in the far Northeast of Uganda with its hidden wounders. To access the park, we shall drive through the Karamojong regional and of pastoralist. Enroute meal at Kitgum as you stretch. On arrival at the park in the evening, you will check into the lodge, have a simple drink as you prepare for an incredible African overnight and dinner with the sound of wildlife around.
The distance to cover is 472km lasting for 8hours.
Accommodation and dinner: Adera Safari Lodge (Luxury Style) or Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Mid-Range Style)
DAY 15: FULL DAY GAME DRIVE, VISIT THE KANANGAROK HOTSPRINGS
Early in the morning you will have your breakfast, then have a game drive in the tracks of Apoka and Narus Valley. These tracks are the bases of most of the animals in the park such as over lions, Buffalos, Hyenas, Leopards, Zebras, Giraffes, Kudus, Bushbucks, Foxes, Cheetahs, and others wildlife will be seen.
I fluck is by our side, we may see tree climbing Lions at Apoka but sits rare compared to that of Ishasha. Notable birds will be seen as you on a game drive such as Ostriches, Little bee-eater, Kori bustards, red and yellow barbet birds among other. You will also visit the Kanangarok hot springs which are located in the far northeast of the park. This place is worth a visit. All meals at the lodge
Accommodation: Adera Safari Lodge (Luxury Style) or Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Mid-Range Style)
DAY 16: HIKE MOUNT MORUNGOLE AND VISIT THE IK PEOPLE
In the morning you will have your breakfast and a packed lunch as we shall hike mount Morungole. You will discover beauty hidden from the crowd such as the Unique IK people who have leaved in the mountains for decades, see the culture of the IK people, have a beautiful scenery of the Narus river which originates from the mountains.
Accommodation: Adera Safari Lodge (Luxury Style) or Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Mid-Range Style)
DAY 17: TRANSFER TO MOROTO FOR AN OVERNIGHT AND VISIT THE MANYATTA VILLAGE (KARAMOJONG EXPERIENCE)
In the morning you will have your breakfast and transfer to Moroto. The distance from Kidepo to Moroto is 289 km lasting for 5-6 hours. On arrival at Moroto, we shall check-in at the lodge and have your lunch and relax at the lodge for some hours. In the evening you will visit the Manyatta community and experience the Karamojong culture, listen to their stories while on camp fires and later transfer to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Kara-tunga safari Camp.
DAY 18: TRANSFER TO SIPI FALLS
In the morning, have you breakfast and transfer to Sipi falls. The distance covered will be 177km(3hours). On arrival, you will have lunch and go hike the 3 falls of Sipi river combine with a nature walk. This activity will last for about 3to 4 hours. After transfer to the lodge for an overnight and rest.
Accommodation and dinner at Mbale Resort hotel.
DAY 19: TRANSFER TO THE SOURCE OF RIVER NILE AT JINJA
In the morning you will have your breakfast and transfer to Jinja at the source of river Nile. Distance covered is 146km lasting for 3 hours’ drive.
On arrival you will have go for a boat cruise at the source. The curse will last for 1hour, then have lunch and later go for Horse riding. In the evening you will check-in at the lodge forest and overnight.
Accommodation: Jinja Nile resort or Havens Eco Lodge
DAY 20: NATURE WALK IN MABIRA FOREST AND VISIT THE UGANDA MARTYRS’ SHRINE AT NAMUGONGO
In the morning you will have breakfast and checkout for transfer to Mabira forest. We shall have a nature walk in the forest; the walk will last for about 2 hours. After transfer to Uganda Martyrs Shine at Namugongo. On arrival at Namugongo, you will have lunch and later visit the Shines. The visit will last for 40 mins to 1hour.
Accommodation and dinner in Kampala City: Kampala Serena Hotel or Protea Hotel by Marriot Kampala.
DAY 21: VISIT THE BUGANDA KINGS (KABAKA’S) PALACE AND CITY TOUR.
In the morning you will have breakfast and checkout from the lodge. You will have a city tour all Kampala taking you at the Kings palace (Lubiri) at Mengo, visit the Nakasero market and the taxi park in the heart of the city. Lunch at Café java.
In the evening transfer to Entebbe for an overnight and dinner: Entebbe Palm Hotel or Protea Hotel by Marriot Entebbe.
DAY 22: if possible, departure at entebbe according to your flight schedule. If not, we go visit the mabamba swamp so that we see the shoe bill stork.