Roadtripping at your own pace is the best way to experience Uganda, ‘the pearl of Africa’. We rented a 4×4 and explored the southwest of Uganda. This area is known for its green rolling hills, lakes, chimps and the rare mountain gorillas. Our Uganda itinerary included game drives in Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Park, before we searched for the elusive shoebill stork in Semliki Wildlife Reserve. We ended our trip with wildwater rafting on the Nile and relaxed at a lodge in Jinja.

Preparing your own Uganda roadtrip? Let’s dream away and travel to Uganda with these video series.

Start of our roadtrip in Uganda

In the first episode we start our roadtrip in Uganda. We have our first wildlife encounters in Lake Mburo National Park and camp at the shores of Lake Bunyonyi. We hiked to the top of Mount Muhabura. The hike was so intense that we could barely walk the next days. So happy with the relaxing days we had planned at Lake Mutanda. Our stay at Mutanda Lake Resort was a welcome break from camping: peace & quiet and good views.

Gorilla tracking in Bwindi National Park

Next up was the gorilla trekking. Meeting the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat was high on our ‘travel wish list’ and the reason why we chose to travel to Uganda in the first place. Alongside trackers and rangers we search for our assigned gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Once we found them, we spend one hour with them. We could definitely spend all day watching them…

Chimp tracking and more

Gorillas are not the only species of great apes to be found in Uganda. In Kibale Forest we search for chimpansees. They move around faster and can be very loud, so again a special experience. In the days before the chimp trekking, we look for more wildlife in Uganda’s most famous national park, Queen Elizabeth. We make a short stop at the Rwenzori Mountains but for a full-on trekking you need more days. At Semliki Wildlife Reserve we meet the elusive shoebill bird. We end the trip in Jinja with adrenaline-pumping white water rafting. No footage from the rafting, but our hotel pool in Jinja was pretty epic too.

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