Diverse landscapes, wonderful wildlife and warm people, Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa for good reason. From venturing into the jungle to witness mountain gorillas in their natural habitat to seeking out and encountering lions, giraffes, buffalos on game drives, Uganda has so much to offer nature-loving tourists.
In Uganda, tourism is focused on the country’s diverse, awe inspiring landscapes and wildlife, attracting visitors from all over the world to see the roaming residents of the savannah and the country’s famous gorillas luxuriating in its cloud forests.
That pesky pandemic, however, has disrupted travel here, with safari and conservation tourism particularly hard hit. In fact, it’s estimated that the country’s tourism industry will decline by 52% in 2021 and will lose $1.6 billion a year if tourists stay away because of the impact of the virus and its subsequent travel restrictions.
The importance of keeping this industry alive, thereby supporting the vital conservation work that tourism helps fund, is so important. As The National Geographic explains, “Without visitors to Africa’s wilderness areas, funding to protect local communities and wildlife will quite likely continue to erode”.
While here in the UK, we’re still not sure when we can travel abroad, we can start making speculative, hopeful plans to visit places like Uganda once restrictions are lifted, and help keep conservation programs alive.
One of the best ways to explore Uganda and enjoy all it has to offer first hand is by planning a self-drive tour of the country. However, such a trip takes a lot of planning and preparation. Best get started early, then. To get the ball rolling, here’s 4 experiences you shouldn’t miss on a self drive tour of Uganda.
GO ON A GAME DRIVE
If you’re planning a holiday based around the idea of ‘safari’, then what you’re thinking of is actually more commonly termed a ‘game drive’. As you’ve probably guessed, a game drive involves driving in search of game. Not ‘game’ in the British sense of Tories tracking down a wild animal to shoot for dinner, but rather, a game drive is all about seeing wild animals in their natural habitat.
Generally speaking, a game drive is a more rugged, less escorted version of a safari, with game drives taking place in Uganda National Parks and Wildlife Reserves; there are ten of each, or twenty in total.
Generally speaking these drives are divided into three types:
- The early morning game drive, which starts early in the morning, say at 6:00am and lasting untill around 10:00am, at which point you return to the lodge for breakfast and relaxation.
- The late afternoon/early evening game drive, which tends to begin at around 3:00 pm and finishes as the sun sets, at around 7:00 pm .
- Then there are game drives that are only done at night. These are rarer, and require a park ranger to accompany you. The vehicle you’re in must have spotlights to guarantee visibility and safety. These night time game drives are traditionally more expensive.
GORILLA TREKKING EXPERIENCE
To the Southwest of the country, on the border with Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, lies Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, also known as “The Place of Darkness” due to its dense treetops.
People come here to see mountain gorillas, and any nature lover exploring the country should place a trip to Bwindi at the top of their itinerary. To locate the mountain gorillas, visits are led by park rangers in groups of eight; once found, you can observe these majestic primates for an hour in safe, peaceful silence.
When it comes to permits, you do need to apply well in advance. There are strict laws and restrictions to ensure the safety and health of the wild gorillas, so daily viewings are limited.
To help support the local community, hire a porter. Usually, local residents and sometimes reformed poachers will guide and navigate you through the park’s terrain, all in search of that elusive mountain gorilla.
CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
According to Uganda Car Rental, if you’re looking to gain a deeper understanding of the people of Uganda and their history and heritage, then a visit to Kidepo National Park is a must. Here, you’ll find the Ik people, one of the smallest ethnic groups in Africa; coming close to them will give you a once-in-a-lifetime insight into one of Africa’s most unique tribes.
In the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you can also visit the Batwa tribe, and learn about the community’s hunter-gatherer culture. Many of these small communities welcome guests, and should you choose to visit, you’ll be richly rewarded with displays of traditional hunting methods, and an insight into the amazing music of the region, played on traditional wooden instruments or drums fashioned from animal-skin.
THE BOAT CRUISE
Yes, we know you’re on a driving tour, but that doesn’t mean you should forgo all other modes of transport while in Uganda. To do so would be to miss out on some of the country’s most exciting wildlife!
You’ll have to leave behind your safari jeep for this one. A boat cruise is one of the top tourist activities in Uganda, offering a chance to see the wildlife of the country up close and personal along your journey. Uganda has various boat cruise destinations including Lake Victoria, Source of the Nile, Murchison Falls National park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Bunyonyi, to name but a few.
Taking a cruise in Uganda will give you a glimpse into the country’s water-based wildlife, including crocodiles, hippos and even monitor lizards! Reason enough to step off terra firma and dip your toes a while, don’t you think?
SOME TOP SELF DRIVE TIPS
- The most popular option is to rent a land cruiser with a rooftop tent.
- For an easy experience, hire a driver and tell him or her every stop points you plan to make.
- On a self-drive tour, ensure that you have an up-to-date map. You can download current maps online or from Google Maps to help direct you to your places of interest. Using downloaded Google maps can be of great help especially if you arrive in places and find you have no network connection.
- Most Ugandan roads are not of international standard and driving on them requires concentration, focus and a little endurance.
Oh, and if you’re looking to expand your tour of the country, then check out these 7 IDEAL places to visit in Uganda for some more itinerary inspiration!