Big Five, Mountain Gorillas & Nile River
Overview
We love to share the knowledge of our featured destinations and to showcase the best of the region’s wildlife, landscapes, activities, people, culture and history. Click on the icons below to learn more about this self-drive safari:
Expedition Map
Itinerary
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Meet your Drive Into The Wild team at your Entebbe hotel. After completing our Arrival In Country procedures, we depart for Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is home of the only white rhinos in Uganda. Not only can you find rhinos, but other wildlife including leopard, giraffe, antelope, aardvark, warthogs, zebra, colobus monkeys, and 300+ bird species, including shoebill stork and golden crested crane, call Ziwa their home. There are a good selection of activities on offer, ranging from rhino trekking, birding tours and nature hikes, to night-time nature walks, shoebill treks and canoe rides.
Upon arrival at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 4:30 hours.
Meals: Dinner included, breakfast and lunch at own arrangement.
Accommodations:
PREMIUM: Ziwa Luxury Chalets
DELUXE: Ziwa Luxury Chalets
STANDARD: Ziwa Guest Rooms
OUR TENTED CAMP: Available
When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices. In the meantime, have a look at a sample of our popular accommodations.
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After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest National Park. Bisected by the Victoria Nile River, Murchison Falls National Park is where Ernest Hemingway's aircraft crashed in 1954 whilst on a sightseeing trip. The park is also the location where the 1951 Oscar nominated movie 'The African Queen', starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, was filmed. The park is home to an abundance of wildlife and the famous Murchison Falls, known locally as Kabalega or Kabarega Falls.
Upon arrival at Murchison Falls National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 3:30 hours.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.
Accommodations:
PREMIUM: Nile Safari Lodge
DELUXE: Paraa Safari Lodge
STANDARD: Murchison River Lodge
OUR TENTED CAMP: Available
When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices. In the meantime, have a look at a sample of our popular accommodations.
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After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Murchison Falls National Park. Activities include game drives, boat cruises, bird watching, and hiking to the top of the falls.
Murchison Falls National Park is home to a range of wildlife including lion, leopard, hyena, elephant, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, hartebeest, chimpanzee and over 460 bird species. An alternative activity, is a scenic boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls, where the mighty Nile River thunders its way through a 6 meter gap forming a 45 meter high waterfall, before flowing into Lake Albert. The boat ride typically last for 3 - 4 hours and stops very close to the 'devil's cauldron', an ideal spot to take pictures of the majestic falls.
All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Murchison Falls National Park).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Accommodations:
PREMIUM: Nile Safari Lodge
DELUXE: Paraa Safari Lodge
STANDARD: Murchison River Lodge
OUR TENTED CAMP: Available
When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices. In the meantime, have a look at a sample of our popular accommodations.
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After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Kibale National Park.
Kibale National Park is one of Africa's greatest rainforest reserves, famous for its variety of primates and bird populations. Located in one of Africa’s most breath-taking landscapes that forms the Albertine Western Rift Valley, the national park contains one of the most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau.
Upon arrival in Kibale National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 5:00 hours.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.
Accommodations:
PREMIUM: Ndali Lodge
DELUXE: Primate Lodge
STANDARD: Turaco Treetops
OUR TENTED CAMP: Available
When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices. In the meantime, have a look at a sample of our popular accommodations.
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After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities or explore Kibale National Park. Activities include chimpanzee tracking, primate walk, or a visit to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
Transfer to the park headquarters for chimpanzee tracking. Home to 13 primate species, Kibale Forest contains one of Africa's largest concentrations of primates, including chimpanzees, colobus and vervet monkeys, and over 320 species of birds. Kibale’s most popular activity is the Kanyanchu Primate Walk, where 13 species of primates can be found. Kanyanchu’s chimps have been tracked since 1993 and the chances of locating them are excellent. Guided walks start at 8am and 2pm and typically last an average of 3 hours.
All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Accommodations:
PREMIUM: Ndali Lodge
DELUXE: Primate Lodge
STANDARD: Turaco Treetops
OUR TENTED CAMP: Available
When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices. In the meantime, have a look at a sample of our popular accommodations.
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After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park.
As Uganda's second largest and most popular savannah parks, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the best place to see lions in the country. The park has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park in Africa. Its ecosystems, which includes lakes and wetlands, sprawling savanna and forests, make it the ideal habitat for lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, 10 primate species including chimpanzees, and over 600 species of birds.
Upon arrival at Queen Elizabeth National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 2:00 hours.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.
Accommodations:
PREMIUM: Elephant Plains
DELUXE: Mweya Safari Lodge
STANDARD: Buffalo Safari Lodge
OUR TENTED CAMP: Available
When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices. In the meantime, have a look at a sample of our popular accommodations.
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After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Queen Elizabeth National Park. Activities include game drives, boat cruises and bird watching.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the Ishasha sector’s famous tree climbing lions, where when your guide shouts ‘lion’, you should definitely look up! It is also possible to see leopard, elephant, buffalo, jackal and various antelope species. Whilst on a Kazinga Channel boat cruise it is possible to spot elephant, hippo, buffalo, crocodile and water birds, along with storks, caimans, monitor lizards, fish eagles and weaver birds on a Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Accommodations:
PREMIUM: Elephant Plains
DELUXE: Mweya Safari Lodge
STANDARD: Buffalo Safari Lodge
OUR TENTED CAMP: Available
When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices. In the meantime, have a look at a sample of our popular accommodations.
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After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Declared a UNESCO’s world heritage site in 1994, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to one of Uganda's oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, protecting roughly half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas, with 23 habituated groups for tourists to visit. The park also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including elephants, antelopes and primates such as chimps and baboons. Bwindi offers some of the finest montane forest birding in Africa, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
Upon arrival in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 2:30 hours.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.
Accommodations:
PREMIUM: Gorilla Forest Lodge
DELUXE: Silverback Lodge
STANDARD: Mahogany Springs
OUR TENTED CAMP: Not available
When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices. In the meantime, have a look at a sample of our popular accommodations.
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After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or go mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Mountain Gorilla tracking starts with a briefing at 8am at the park headquarters. After the briefing you depart with the guide and rangers to find the mountain gorillas. The time spent tracking gorillas in Uganda depends and varies from half an hour to eight hours depending on the gorilla movements. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and its inhabitants is a fascinating and very rewarding experience. Once the gorilla families have been found, your visit with these great apes lasts for one magical hour.
All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Accommodations:
PREMIUM: Gorilla Forest Lodge
DELUXE: Silverback Lodge
STANDARD: Mahogany Springs
OUR TENTED CAMP: Not available
When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices. In the meantime, have a look at a sample of our popular accommodations.
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After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Lake Mburo National Park.
Lake Mburo is Uganda’s smallest savannah park, but it is definitely worth a visit. Whether exploring on foot, by boat, or on a game drive, Lake Mburo National Park offers an up-close safari experience, where visitors can enjoy stunning wildlife encounters without the crowds. The park is home to a multitude of wildlife including zebra, impala, buffalo, leopard, hyena, jackal, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birds, including papyrus gonoleks, warblers and the blue-headed coucal.
Upon arrival in Lake Mburo, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 6:00 hours.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.
Accommodations:
PREMIUM: Lake Mburo Camp
DELUXE: Mihingo Lodge
STANDARD: Rwakobo Rock
OUR TENTED CAMP: Not available
When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices. In the meantime, have a look at a sample of our popular accommodations.
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After breakfast, pack your vehicle and depart for Entebbe International Airport, for your onward travel arrangements.
Alternatively, consider extending this trip by adding one of our Extension Ideas (enquire for details) to this program.
Driving Time: 6:00 hours.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Be Inspired
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Your Team
We specialise in designing one-of-a-kind self-drive safari adventures, taking great pride in our ability to plan and execute every trip to perfection. We offer two types of expeditions for customers to choose from:
Escorted are group trips led by our founders, Richard and Kristin, supported by their on-the-ground expedition crews and travel specialists located in our regional offices in Kigali, Kampala and Nairobi.
Un-escorted are led by you, supported remotely by our regional office teams. We plan an itinerary especially for you, make all accommodation bookings, and create a mapped out route for you to follow.
Accommodations
We offer the choice of Premium, Deluxe and Standard accommodations, in addition to Drive Into The Wild’s very own mobile Tented Camps across East Africa.
When choosing accommodations, we can suggest a wide range of properties where you can stay. Let’s arrange a call so we can discuss the suitable hotels, lodges and camps with you.
A sample of our popular accommodations:
Driving
Due to the distances we travel whilst on a self-drive safari, long driving days will sometimes be required in order to explore off-the-beaten track destinations.
We spend a minimum of 2 nights in each destination, which gives our customers time to relax and recuperate, enjoy the property facilities, participate in activities and prepare for the next driving day.
On the days where long drives are required, we leave at 8am in the morning, drive for 2 - 3 hours, stop for a 2 hour lunch-break, and continue for another 2 - 3 hours in the afternoon before reaching our destination.
Prices & Dates
The price of your self-drive safari is calculated by your choice of vehicle, the travel dates (high vs. low season), number of participants and accommodations.
Your travel dates are determined by the type of self-drive safari you select. You can choose between escorted or un-escorted, as listed below:
Escorted:
Next available scheduled trip:
22 NOVEMBER - 02 DECEMBER, 2025
Contact us for additional dates in 2025
Un-Escorted:
When do you want to travel?
We will plan a travel itinerary especially for you.
travel notes
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Kenya Climate
Kenya is generally warm all year round, with temperature fluctuations mainly determined by altitude. One of the most popular times to visit Kenya is from July to September, which coincides with the Great Migration. A good time to see baby animals and migratory bird species is typically from December to February.
The approximate seasons are January to March, short dry season; April to June, long wet season; July to October, long dry season and November to December, short wet season. During rainy seasons there are fewer tourists, and the landscape is strikingly green and lush.
Language & Currency
Kiswahili and English are the official languages of Kenya. Kiswahili is spoken by most Kenyans, with English fluency varying outside of major towns and cities. There are over 65 languages spoken throughout Kenya, which mainly belong to the various Bantu and Nilotic tribal populations.
The local currency is the Kenyan shilling, which divides into 100 cents. US dollars are often accepted; local currency is best for tipping and small purchases. Hotels in tourist areas generally accept credit cards; however, surcharges are commonplace. Remote lodges often accept cash only. When making payments in US dollars, many businesses only accept notes that are dated 2013, or newer. Access to cash machines is available in most major towns, and exchanging currency can be done in banks and foreign exchange bureaus.
Health
At least 6-8 weeks before departure, please visit your local health care provider or travel clinic for any vaccination requirements and to discuss any other potential health risks, such as malaria (where applicable). All travellers should ensure they have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place.
Visas
All foreign nationals will require a Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for entry to Kenya. Please check with your local Kenyan Embassy or our travel team for further information. ETAs can not be obtained, on arrival, at any port of entry.
The Kenyan government has introduced an online eTA application system for issuing eTAs in advance of travel. Travellers should carry a printed copy of their eTA to present to immigration officials.
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Rwanda Climate
Rwanda has a year-round tropical highland climate. Temperatures vary by location and altitude, with little variation throughout the year. Rain is commonplace in Rwanda. The driest months are June to mid-September and the wettest from mid-February to May and mid-September to mid-December.
The dry season sees cloud cover and light rainfall. Roads and paths tend to be easier to navigate during this period.
Language & Currency
The official languages of Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, French, English and Swahili. Generally all Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda. French, English and Swahili is widely spoken in tourist areas, with varying degrees of fluency.
The local currency is the Rwandan franc, which divides into 100 centimes. US dollars are widely accepted; local currency is best for tipping and small purchases. Very few places accept credit cards outside of the major hotels in Kigali.
Access to cash machines is available in most major towns, and exchanging currency can be done in banks and foreign exchange bureaus.
Health
At least 6-8 weeks before departure, please visit your local health care provider or travel clinic for any vaccination requirements and to discuss any other potential health risks, such as malaria (where applicable). All travellers should ensure they have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place.
Visas
All foreign nationals require a visa for entry to Rwanda. Please check with your local Rwandan Embassy or our travel team for further information. Tourist visas can be obtained, on arrival, for all travellers at all ports of entry. Visitors from the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations and Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie are waived visa fees for visits up to 30 days.
For travellers of other nationalities, a visa fee is payable. The Rwandan government has introduced an online ‘e-visa’ application system for obtaining tourist visas in advance of travel. Travellers who choose to arrange their visa prior to arrival should carry a printed copy of their visa to present to immigration officials.
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Tanzania Climate
Tanzania is a year-round destination with the weather varying by location, altitude and season. Picking the 'best time' will depend on your interests, where you are travelling to and for what purpose. Visiting the Serengeti is popular in June and July to see migrating wildebeest and in January and February to see calving.
The approximate seasons are January to February, short dry season; March to May, long wet season; June to October, long dry season and November to December, short wet season. During the rainy seasons, the landscape is lush and green with fewer tourists around.
Language & Currency
Kiswahili and English are the official languages of Tanzania. Kiswahili is spoken by most Tanzanians and Zanzibaris, with English fluency varying outside of major towns and tourist areas. In Zanzibar, many residents also speak Arabic. There are 126 languages spoken throughout Tanzania, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries in East Africa.
The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling, which divides into 100 senti. US dollars are widely accepted; local currency is best for tipping and small purchases. Larger hotels in tourist areas may accept credit cards; however, surcharges are commonplace. Do not rely on using credit cards other than as a backup. Remote lodges often accept cash only. Access to cash machines is limited outside of major towns and cities. Exchanging currency can be done in banks and foreign exchange bureaus.
Health
At least 6-8 weeks before departure, please visit your local health care provider or travel clinic for any vaccination requirements and to discuss any other potential health risks, such as malaria (where applicable). All travellers should ensure they have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place.
Visas
Most foreign nationals will require a visa for entry to Tanzania. Please check with your local Tanzanian Embassy or our travel team for further information. Tourist visit visas can often be obtained, on arrival, at most ports of entry.
The Tanzanian government has introduced an online 'e-visa' application system for obtaining visas in advance of travel. Travellers who require a visa prior to arrival should carry a printed copy of their visa to present to immigration officials.
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Uganda Climate
Uganda is tropically warm all year round, with temperature fluctuations mainly determined by altitude and the presence of lakes. Rain showers are commonplace, with the dry seasons being December to March and June to August. In the south, April is the rainiest month, and the rains can stretch into May.
Although the dry months are more popular for gorilla trekking and birding, you might see more during the wetter months as this is the peak breeding season for wildlife.
Language & Currency
English and Kiswahili are the official languages of Uganda. There are over 40 languages spoken throughout Uganda, with Luganda being the most geographically spread language.
The local currency is the Ugandan shilling. US dollars are widely accepted; local currency is best for tipping and small purchases. Larger hotels in tourist areas may accept credit cards; however, surcharges are commonplace. Access to cash machines is available in most towns, and exchanging currency can be done in banks and foreign exchange bureaus.
Health
At least 6-8 weeks before departure, please visit your local health care provider or travel clinic for any vaccination requirements and to discuss any other potential health risks, such as malaria (where applicable). All travellers should ensure they have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place.
Visas
Most foreign nationals require a visa for entry to Uganda. Tourist visas can no longer be obtained, on arrival, at any port of entry.
The Ugandan government has introduced an online e-visa application system for obtaining tourist visas in advance of travel. Travellers should carry a printed copy of their visa to present to immigration officials.
Plan your Expedition
Are you ready to start planning your self-drive safari adventure? Would you like our team to start working on a suggested expedition itinerary for you?
To provide excellent customer support is always our top priority at Drive Into The Wild. There are to options to get in touch with us:
Complete the Introductory Call form
As part of this option we offer both telephone and video appointments, which can be scheduled at a time to suit you, all from the comfort of your home or office.
Complete the Enquiry form
Whilst completing this form you will be required to answer questions, which will provide us with the required information to start working on your itinerary.