Self-Game Drive Safaris in Uganda
Self-Game Drive Safaris in Uganda: Uganda is a country known for its breathtaking landscape, diverse wildlife, and vibrant culture. One of the best ways to experience all that this East African national park has to offer is through a game drive safari. Self-Game Drive Safaris in Uganda takes you deep into the heart of the country’s national parks and reserves. Where you can see some of Africa’s most iconic animals in their natural habitats. Uganda is open for visitors seeking to go for a self-game drive safari throughout the year but the best time to visit the park is during the dry seasons which run from June to September and then December to February. This is the best month to see a wide range of mammals in the park as well as in the water sources of the park. Uganda is one of the African attractive countries, it’s known as “the pearl of Africa” after British Prime Minister Winston Churchill coined the phrase in reference to the country’s rich landscapes. Uganda is a country in East-Centra Africa, it borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania
One of the best ways to experience the beauty and wildlife of Uganda’s national park is by embarking on a self-game drive safari. This allows visitors to explore the parks at their own pace, taking in the stunning landscape and searching for the many animals that call the park home. Self-Game Drive Safaris in Uganda are conducted without a private sector tour guide or Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Ranger Guide. Game drives can be done in regular 2WD vehicles, although 4WD vehicles are recommended for the more rugged terrain. Uganda’s Savannah National Park has well-maintained roads and tracks that are suitable for self-driving, but it is important to always follow the park’s rules and regulations to ensure the safety of both tourists and wildlife.
Self-Game Drive Safaris in Uganda: Destinations
Self-game drives in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest and oldest national park covering an area of approximately 3,893 square kilometres. stunning natural wonder situated in the northwestern part of Uganda covering districts of Kiryandongo, Masindi, Nwoya, Bilisa among others. Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda offers wildlife tours with about 76 mammal species including Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, and Leopards. Almost 450 bird species can be seen in the park. Aquatic species, butterflies, reptiles, and many more species in the park. The park is home to the world’s stunning waterfalls.
One of the best ways to experience the beauty and wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park is by embarking on a self-game drive safari. This allows visitors to explore the park at their own pace, taking in the stunning landscape and searching for the many animals that call the park home. One of the highlights of a self-game drive safari in Murchison Falls National Park is the opportunity to witness the powerful Murchison Falls themselves. The falls are located in the heart of the national park, where the vile river is forced through a narrow gorge plunging over a 43-meter drop. Visitors can take a boat trip to the bases of the falls for a close-up view or simply admire them from various viewpoints along the riverbanks.
During a self-game drive safari in Murchison Falls National Park, you will have the chance to see the four of the Big 5 animals including lions, buffaloes, leopards and elephants. Other popular sightings include hippos, crocodiles, giraffes and various antelopes. The rolling savannah grasslands of Murchison Falls National Park are home to a variety of beautiful birds such as the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, the second largest Bustard, Denham’s and Black-Bellied Bustard, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Red-necked Falcon, Red-headed, Cardinal and Red-billed Quelea, Northern Red Bishop, Black-headed Lapwing, Spotted Thick-knee, Lappet-faced and the critically endangered and uncommonly attractive White-headed vulture among others , making it a Northern paradise for bird watchers.
Self-Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park situated in the southwestern part of Uganda, is one of the most popular and diverse national parks in the country. The national park is known for its stunning landscape, abundance of wildlife and unique attractions such as the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth National Park offers visitors a truly memorable safari experience. One of the best ways to explore this captivating park is by embarking on a self-game drive safari.
The national park is home to a wide variety of animals including 4 of the Big 5 animals such as lions, leopards, buffaloes and elephants. Other animals include hippos, crocodiles, warthogs, waterbucks, several antelopes and over 600 bird species such as Rufous Billed Heron, Rufous-Breasted Sparrow Hawk, Olive Woodpecker, White-Tailed Ant Thrush, Yellow-Billed Duck, White-Faced Whistling, Red-Capped Robin-Chat, Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Rock’s Martins, Egyptian Goose, Red-Tailed Ant Thrush, Garganey, Hottentot Teal, Hadada Ibis among others.
During your self-game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will have the chance to spot some of the park’s most iconic inhabitants such as the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, as well as leopards, hyena, buffaloes, elephants, and various antelope species. The park is also known for its large concentration of hippos and crocodiles in the Kazinga Channel, which connects lake Edward and Lake George, offering visitors a self-game drive with the marvellous opportunities to witness these aquatic creatures up close.
Self-Game Drives Safari in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the magnificent national parks in Uganda located in the remote Karamoja region in the Kaabong district between the Uganda and South Sudan border. Kidepo Valley National Park is the country’s third largest national park and was gazetted in 1958 due to its beautiful and breathtaking landscape and abundant wildlife species. The park covers a total area of 1442 square kilometres and is comprised of savannah vegetation, hills, and valleys like Kidepo and Narus Valley, Mount Morungole among others.
The park is home to a variety of animals including 4 of the Big 5 African animals such as lions, buffaloes, elephants, and leopards as well as captivating bird species. With its diverse ecosystems ranging from savannah plains to hills, mountains and valleys, Kidepo Valley National Park offers an unparalleled opportunity to spot a wide range of wildlife in their natural habitat.
During your self-game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park, you’ll have the chance to spot some of the park’s most iconic inhabitants such as the elusive cheetahs, leopards and the unique Rothschild’s giraffes. The park is also known for its large herds of buffaloes and elephants as well as a wide variety of antelope species, including the Jackson’s hartebeest and Uganda Kobs.
Self-game drives in Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest national park in Uganda. The park is situated in the western region of Uganda, Lake Mburo is a relatively young lake that was formed around 10,000 years ago, it covers an area of approximately 260 square kilometres. the national park is known for its diverse wildlife, scenic landscape and stunning lake Mburo. One of the best ways to explore the hidden gems of the park is by embarking on a self-game drive safari.
With its savannah plains, acacia woodland and rolling hills, Lake Mburo National Park offers the perfect backdrop for an exciting and immersive safari experience. The park is home to a variety of animals, including a large population of the zebras, elands, impalas, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, waterbuck, several antelopes and over 300 bird species such as Rufous Bellied Heron, Crowned Cranes Brown-Chested Lapwing, White Headed Barbet, White Parot, African Scops Owl, Bare-Faced Go-Away Bird, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Blue-Breasted Kingfisher, Tabora Cisticola, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Blue-Headed Coucal, making it a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiast.
During a self-game drive in Lake Mburo National Park, you’ll have the chance to see some of the park’ most iconic residents, such as zebras, impalas, elands, and giraffes grazing on the savannah plains. The park is also known for a large population of buffaloes and hippos which can be spotted near waterbodies such as Lake Mburo and various watering holes. Bird lovers will also delight in the park’s birdlife, with numerous bird species seen throughout the park.
The cost of a self-game drive safari in Uganda
The cost of a self- gam drive safari in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo and Lake Mburo National Park cost US$ 10 per person for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents and UGX 10,000 per person for East African citizens including Ugandans. This amazing activity is conducted without a private sector tour guide or Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) ranger guide. You will pay Park entrance fees in order to access the national park and it costs $40 for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents and UGX 20,000 for East African residents. However, for Murchison Falls National Park, you will pay Park entrance fees in order to access the national park and it costs $45 for foreign non-residents, $35 for foreign residents and UGX 25,000 for East African residents.
