For many, a road trip to Uganda is a dream come true but a visit to the western part of the country is what makes the overall adventure memorable.

Western Uganda is well known to be home to Uganda’s popular national parks and game reserves where you will be able to spot various wild species as they roam freely in their habitat and the various cultures.

From the giant Mountain gorillas in both Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park and all the way to the primate capital – Kibale Forest National Park where you will be able to spot the various chimpanzees and other primates as they roam freely in the lush green forest, this part of the country has a lot to offer.

Below are the top destinations or routes you can copy for a memorable road trip in Uganda.

Kampala/Entebbe to Murchison Falls

This is a popular route amongst travelers and the best starting point for your Uganda holiday. Murchison Falls is situated in the north west of Uganda and the country’s leading and oldest national park.

En-route to this national park, you will have the opportunity to go rhino tracking at Ziwa rhino sanctuary and then proceed inside the park where you can hike to the top of the falls (Murchison Falls – also known as the world’s most powerful waterfall).

While in the park, you can go on a game viewing experience where you will spot a number of wildlife species as they roam freely in open savannah. These include lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants, several antelope species and much more.

A boat ride experience gives you an up close experience of the waterfall as it pours from the cliff. While on the boat cruise, there other wildlife species that you definitely don’t have to miss spotting and these include hippos, the Nile crocodile, species of birds and much more.  

Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National park

This is yet another rewarding destination to visit on your road trip. Kibale is referred to as the primate capital because of its vast number of primate species that live within the boundaries of this national park. There over 13 primate species to see here but the highlight of your safari will be the chimpanzee species that you will spot as they play on tree branches and more.

While here, you can as well make a stopover at the Bigodi wetland sanctuary that’s home to various species of birds and other primates. It’s here that you can witness how local brew is prepared and also get a chance to interact with the locals on how coffee is prepared.

Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Your next destination on your western Uganda circuit is Queen Elizabeth National Park situated just 4hrs away from Kibale. This is popularly known to be home to the tree climbing lions that can be seen in the isasha sector of the park.

While here you will get the opportunity to have a look at the various species as they move in open savannah and this does include herds of buffaloes, antelopes, elephants, species of birds, leopards, warthogs and much more.

Proceed and go on a boat ride on Kazinga channel where you will see the Nile crocodile, several species of birds, a school of hippos among other wildlife species on the banks of the Lake.

Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Situated in the south west of Uganda, Bwindi is one of the popular destinations in Uganda where travels can visit for a memorable experience and is well known to home to mountain gorillas – the giant species that can only be seen in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

To be able to see these magnificent gentle creatures you will need to have purchased a gorilla trekking through a licensed tour operator from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and each permit goes for $800 per person for foreign non-resident, $700 for foreign residents and 300,000/= for East African citizens.

It’s a complete lifetime experience to have a closer look at these species as they feed their young ones, play and interact with each other deep in the forest and a must do activity while in Uganda.

Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo National Park

You can choose to end your western Uganda circuit through this popular route that introduces you to Africa’s deepest lake and also Lake Mburo where you will only spot the zebras as they roam in the park freely.

This route also introduces you to the Ankole cattle farms where you can see the long horned cattle as they graze, the banana plantations and scenic views of the green hills and valleys.

Finally you will make a stop at the equator sign in Kayambwe before making an end to your western trip in Kampala or Entebbe.

To drive across this route, you will need a reliable 4×4 rental car that is well equipped and strong to conquer the tough terrains in this part of the country. Some of the vehicle you can choose from include; Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser V8, safari van, safari Land Cruiser, Toyota RAV4, Saloon cars and much more.