Discover the real Uganda in the car. We hired with 4×4 Car Hire Uganda for approx. 5 weeks. We hired a land cruiser in order to get to the more remote regions such as Kidepo Valley National Park en route the eastern region around Moroto.

We were not disappointed with our trip. The country is beautiful and our land cruiser, quickly nicknamed as ‘the tank’, due to its size and petrol usage, but it brought us everywhere.

Maike brought the car to us in Entebbe and whenever we had a question we could use what’s app or call him. That way he could bring us news about road conditions and we could ask him how to handle certain things on car behavior or mechanical.

Uganda isn’t a big place, when compared to Congo but the roads can be arduous and a strain on the cars. But we had an amazing trip with our 4×4 through national parks, marvelous landscapes and Karamoja region. Muddy tracks between Kidepo, Kotido and Moroto, and so long travel times.

Hours and hours on heavily corrugated roads take their toll on anyone, car included. Luckily we could ask Maike about the car and quick fixes and he is very responsive and quick thinking. Our first 4×4 driving experience was sometimes a little bit scaring but we will keep unforgettable memories.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo was my favorite park in Uganda, Kidepo is by far the most difficult to reach (unless you fly) but absolutely worth the time and effort to get there. Ringed by mountains, this short-grass savannah-filled valley in the far northeast of the country is one of the loveliest places in not just Uganda, but all of East Africa; yet it is seldom visited, allowing a primeval wilderness vibe that can’t be topped elsewhere in Uganda.

Wildlife watching is good year-round with healthy populations of the Big Five (except for a lack of rhino) and many species not found elsewhere in Uganda such as cheetahs, aardwolves, ostriches, and greater and lesser kudus.

Moroto

We also visited Moroto. A stunning view of mount Moroto. We camped for a night. The showers had no pressure for a while and were cold. The bar is very good and is a local hub. For better fun filled tours to pian upe, rich culture of the karimojong and the Kadam Mountain. The tour is the ultimate combination of physical endurance, teamwork ánd many interesting and beautiful encounters with the proud inhabitants of this area.

We were welcomed with dance and songs, rituals and laughter. It was really impressive. Theo, is a strong group of really hardworking people who were able to show hospitality even under rough conditions.

Murchison Falls National Park

To see the Nile squeeze through an impossibly narrow seven-metre gap, a requisite of this park is to take the three-hour boat trip. At first the sludgy brown river was placid and we were steered from shore to shore through hippo pods and past sandbanks with some pretty contented-looking crocodiles (thanks to an ever-resent menu of Nile Perch).

But the river soon gathered momentum and we were faced with the sight of a ferocious wall of white water dropping some 40 metres into the deservedly named Boiling Pot.

I didn’t find game viewing in the rest of the park especially rewarding, but nevertheless, saw plenty of Uganda kob, as well as hartebeest, giraffe and buffalo in the park’s palm-dotted hills, and I imagine wildlife is naturally drawn to the river in the dry season. It’s the fury of the Nile that is the park’s greatest appeal.

Kibale National Park

Kibale is the epicenter of primate trekking in Uganda. The park is home to 13 different primate species with habituated chimpanzees, rare L’Hoest’s monkeys and the threatened red Colobus being the big three. However, most tourists come here because a visit to Kibale almost guarantees them a chance to see very relaxed chimps going about their daily business.

Because this is one of the most popular spots for chimp treks in East Africa, the result is they’ve become extremely habituated over time and I like this from a quality of sightings and purely photographic point of view.

Primate densities are high and chimps are abundant, so few leave this park without having enjoyed a good sighting of these often-elusive primates that are in fact our closest relatives. Birders will also enjoy spending some time here and the variety of forest types will ensure they probably add a few lifers to their bird lists.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The best way to get an early feel for Queen Elizabeth National Park is to join the two-hour boat cruise up the Kazinga Channel, which runs between Lake George and Lake Edward.

Bird life is fantastic but the whole journey, especially if you go at sunset, is filled with sightings of watering elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocs and various antelope. Queen Elizabeth is about 2000sq km and some of the outlying country (at greatest distance from the lakes) is extremely wild and barely traveled.

It can take some serious 4×4 driving to get to some parts of the park but is worth the mission if you have the opportunity to explore these areas. The possibility to look out the roof window or even to climb on the roof was magic for the kids.

We warmly thank Mike for his help and we strongly recommend this rental for anyone wishing to organize a self-drive trip in Uganda. Excellent value. I would rent from Car Rental Uganda again due to the staff and competitive pricing when compared to others in the country.