The Uganda 14 day self-drive all-parks circuit is the most comprehensive hire vehicle trip available in East Africa — visiting all of Uganda’s major national parks from Kampala in a single clockwise loop that covers over 2,400km and every significant wildlife habitat in the country. The Uganda 14 day self-drive includes Murchison Falls (the Nile and the boat trip), Kibale Forest (chimpanzees), Queen Elizabeth (Kazinga channel and tree-climbing lions), and Bwindi (mountain gorillas) — the complete Uganda wildlife list in a single trip. A Kidepo Valley extension can be added for 3 to 4 more days but requires a separate northern detour and is treated here as an optional add-on. This guide gives the day-by-day structure, the distance between each park, the overnight sequence, and the full 2027/2028 cost estimate for two adults doing the Uganda 14 day self-drive.
The Uganda 14-Day Self-Drive Circuit: Day by Day
- Day 1: Kampala — vehicle collection, provisioning, accommodation in Kampala or Entebbe
- Day 2: Kampala to Murchison Falls (285km north via Gulu-Masindi approach or Kampala-Karuma-Paraa, 5 to 6 hours). Afternoon at Murchison.
- Day 3: Full day Murchison Falls — morning north bank game drive (lion, elephant, giraffe), afternoon Kazinga boat trip upstream to the falls (USD 35 per adult)
- Day 4: Murchison Falls — morning south bank game drive (Kasenyi plain), optional second boat trip. Depart afternoon toward Hoima for overnight (140km, 2 hours).
- Day 5: Hoima to Kibale Forest (160km, 2.5 hours via Fort Portal). Check in, prepare for chimp trek. Night at Kanyanchu campsite.
- Day 6: Kibale Forest — 8am chimp trek (USD 200 permit), afternoon Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk (USD 10 — excellent primate and bird diversity outside the main park)
- Day 7: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth (65km, 1 hour south). Check in, afternoon Kasenyi plains game drive.
- Day 8: Queen Elizabeth — morning boat trip on Kazinga Channel (9am departure, USD 30 per adult)
- Day 9: Queen Elizabeth to Ishasha sector (50km south, 1 to 1.5 hours). Afternoon Ishasha tree-climbing lion search. Ishasha campsite overnight.
- Day 10: Ishasha to Bwindi Buhoma (85km, 2 hours). Check in, collect gorilla trek briefing information from UWA.
- Day 11: Bwindi — gorilla trekking (8am briefing, USD 800 per person permit). Afternoon rest.
- Day 12: Optional second Bwindi day (additional gorilla trek permit or village community walk). Alternatively: Bwindi to Lake Mburo (240km, 4 hours via Kabale-Mbarara). Lake Mburo afternoon game drive.
- Day 13: Lake Mburo to Kampala (235km, 3.5 hours). Return via Mbarara and the A1 highway north.
- Day 14: Kampala — vehicle return, debrief, depart.
Total Uganda 14-Day Self-Drive Cost (Two Adults, 2027/2028)
- Vehicle hire (Land Cruiser Prado, 14 days x USD 145): USD 2,030
- Fuel (2,400km circuit, 13L/100km, 312L, USD 1.45/L): USD 452
- Gorilla permits (2 x USD 800): USD 1,600
- Chimp permits (2 x USD 200): USD 400
- Park entry fees (all parks, 2 adults, estimated): USD 800
- Boat trips x2 (Murchison USD 70, Kazinga USD 60): USD 130
- Accommodation (12 nights camping avg USD 25/person): USD 600
- Food (self-catering, 14 days avg USD 15/person/day): USD 420
- Total Uganda 14-day self-drive (2 adults): approximately USD 6,432
- Per person: USD 3,216
