Uganda Highlights (2 weeks)

1. I've hired vehicles from Drive Uganda for self-drive on four occasions and found them to be excellent. Their hire rates are on the website. You may be able to negotiate a lower rate if you are having it for a long time.

2. Gorilla permit is steep at US$500 but it is absolutely worth it. There is nothing to compare with it and nowhere else but this region to do it. It has to be done.

3. Uganda is not a huge country so you can do a lot in two weeks without too much driving. For me, must sees are:
   Gorillas in Bwindi
   Kibale Forest chimps
   Murchison Falls (better animals and boat trip than QE but do both if you like) - allow at least two full days
   Jinja
   Sipi Falls and Mt Elgon

Doing them in that order makes a nice trip. I've done similar in less than ten days but was a bit rushed.

Other places, like Lake Mburo, Lake Bunyoni and Mabira Forest you can do en route to the others. There is not much to see at Sempaya Hot Spring so I would give that a miss. I haven't been to Semliki but friends have said it is worth a look.

There are lots of good accommodation options and most won't be too busy. Try not to be in Murchison over a weekend when there will be more ex-pats up from Kampala.

It's a great country with great people.

I've spent a whole week with them recently (1st to 9th december). I recommand you the world famous guide Abdu, a very professional person, always taking care of your comfort and your points of interest. He knows every one every where. Don't think his the kind of man focusing on money or business with relationships : This guy is unique. I've spent 800 $ for a toyota RAV4 with Abdu (the driver if we can call him like that but obviously he's much and much more), plus 1100 kms for 7 days. Lake M'buro is fabulous because there's quite no tourist around there, people used to bypass it because of lack of lions and other'big five'. Check out my pictures at lake Mburo.

http://www.tidjani-bencheikh.com/

Edited by: blt01

Edited by: blt01

Jinja and murchison falls are awsome; jinja has so much to do... kibale forest i found a total waist of time... you stand around ont he groudn while they jump around in the trees... i got closer to chimps in the islands of lake victoria,without havign to pay heavy fees.
uganda's so small you can get around real easy for real cheap. Mbale is also a place i'd suggest

Hi,

Just returned from Uganda and loved it.

Bus travel from Rukingiri to Kampala cost 15000Ush - a fun but long experience.

Private car hire from Jinja to Kampala, and having the driver wait around all day for us cost 110000Ush.

Private car from Kampala to Entebbe cost 40000Ush - probably ripped off here but it was late and I wanted to get to the hotel before dark.

I wouldn't drive there myself. It must be an acquired skill with roads being busy, falling apart and the only road rule is give way to the bigger vehicle. 330km took me 7 hours in a private taxi and 10 hours on the bus.

Hope it helps

As the others have said, Lake Bunyoni and Jinja are nice places.
In my opinion, the Gorilla's are a once in a lifetime see.
In 06 I saw them in Ruhingiri in Rwanda.
A permit was obtained a few days earlier in Kabale town, near Lake Bunyoni.
So, if you can't get permits for Bwindi, try for Ruhengiri in Rwanda.

Hope this helps.

Edited by: Dagsadoo

I just came back from a trip 3 weeks ago. I went rafting in Jinga and that was a great experience (though you need to put on a lot of waterproof sunblock). I only stayed in Lake Bunyoni for 1 day, but it was beautiful. The lake is really close to the border of Rwanda so you guys might want to consider checking out both countries in your two weeks. I did the Gorilla Trek in Rwanda (for also about the same price). The climb really pits you against nature and the gorillas were really awesome too :)

Thank you all so much for your input, this is a huge help! :)