A self-drive Uganda trip is a wonderful way to explore the “pearl of Africa”  as the roads are well maintained, they wind through spectacular scenery, and there is little traffic out of the overcrowded Kampala city centre. You can explore entirely at your own pace and drive to the camps and lodges we have pre-booked for you

There’s nothing quite like the freedom of a self-drive holiday, pile as much luggage as you like into the trunk of the car and travel at your own pace. This flexibility is perfect if you want to get a real feel of Uganda and then have the option to stay for as long or as short as you like!

Our travel experts will help you in planning the best self-drive Uganda routes and provide you with all the information you will need for a Uganda self drive road trip. However, when you reach your chosen camps, expert guides with specialist local knowledge will take you into remote areas on foot or in four-wheel drive vehicles.

Whether you plan to see mountain gorillas within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park to spot the world’s most powerful waterfall among the other destinations, a self drive road trip will get you there with ease.

Be rest assured that on your roadtrip in Uganda, you will get a memorable experience  unique features where you can enjoy a self-drive Uganda safari as part of your overall trip.

Advantages of a Uganda self drive safari

Contrary to some people’s assertions, a self-drive holiday abroad is not as daunting as you might imagine.

We earmark a few reasons why Uganda is ideally suited and the best place you can consider for a self-drive holiday, as well as outlining some practical considerations.

Why a self-drive Uganda safari:

• You decide the overall pace of the holiday.
• You have the total freedom and flexibility to get to places off the beaten track, and then spend as much time as you want there.
• You can enjoy greater comfort and privacy.
• Uganda in general has an excellent road network so getting around should pose no problem.
• We can arrange all aspects of your self-drive, including flights, accommodation and car rental. All you need do is turn up at the airport.

Useful information about self-drive in Uganda

Uganda’s roads

Uganda’s main roads have tar surfaces and these have improved over the years. Some of the routes that have been newly constructed and improved include; Kampala to Kasese routes, Fort portal Kabale and north to Masindi and Gulu. The rest of the network is gravel. The gravel roads are well graded and generally in good condition in the dry season.

In the rainy season, however, the roads are slippery. All the gravel roads are well signposted and as there are only a few roads to choose from, it is very hard to get lost. As you drive along, you will find a number of road side restaurants and motels where you can stop over for a roadside snack. Since there’s very little traffic up country, you’ll find you can stop at the side of the road whenever you wish to enjoy the view or take a picture.

Driving distances and time

Distances are large in Uganda and we recommend you set off early in the morning and drive at a leisurely pace, enjoying the journey as you go. By leaving early, you can enjoy the first part of your drive in the cool of the day, and we have often seen animals on or beside the road at this time. You can aim to arrive at your next lodge in time for lunch and then have the afternoon either to relax, explore at your own pace or join a guided activity.

We always recommend that you have a set itinerary that guides on when and where you will need to visit on a particular day.

Cars

It is possible to self drive around Uganda in an ordinary car, but we usually recommend a 4×4 vehicle for a hassle free experience. We will discuss with you what type of car you’d like, taking into account the number of people in your party, how much luggage you have and the route you are taking. In the rainy season, we always recommend a 4×4 because these are strong enough to go through the tough terrains

Self-driving advice & tips

We have been arranging self-drive trips to Uganda for years and offer a few small touches to make your trip easier and more comfortable. Some of the extras you can consider to add on your trip include a rooftop tent, camping gear, an electric fridge and much more.

Planning

All our specialists have driven extensively around Uganda. We will plan a route carefully, taking into account what you’d like to do and keeping an eye on the driving distances and times.

Maps

On arrival in Uganda, you will be given a fully annotated map with your route highlighted and your lodges marked.  You can as well use Google maps as this is accurate as well and will get you anywhere you’d like to go on your self drive road trip.

Phones

It is always useful to have a mobile phone and Uganda’s network coverage is improving each year. We will provide you with our emergency phone number as well as the phone numbers for your accommodation, and our ground-agents. It is always worth checking with your mobile phone provider about its coverage in Uganda, and ensuring the roaming function is switched on.

You can as well ensure that you have local SIM Card that you can get upon arrival in the country or from the various network service providers in the country.