This 5 Days Murchison falls national park safari features rhino tracking in Ziwa rhino sanctuary, game viewing in the park, boat cruise on the Nile and chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest and Delta boat cruise. A 5 Days Murchison falls national park completes your opportunity to see the BIG 5 GAME that is Rhinos, lions, Elephants, Buffaloes and leopards and other animals like the Giraffes, antelopes, hippos and crocodiles. Murchison falls national park is the largest national park in Uganda separated in 2 sectors that is norther and southern sectors. The fall of River Nile in the park support boat cruise experiences offering views of the great Murchison falls which the world’s most powerful waterfalls. The Murchison falls is characterized by eternal war between rocks and water and the waters violently compress through a narrow 7 meters’ gorge, spraying misty droplets along their wake over a 50 meters’ radius to a spot that is called the “Devil’s cauldron” This creates a permanent rainbow over the battlefield and causes a continuous roar. Visitors can visit the top and bottom of the falls on a boat trip on the River Nile. This trip features en-route visit of the Ziwa rhino sanctuary which is the only home of the rhinos in Uganda. It is located in Nakasongola district just on your way to Murchison falls about 3 hours to reach the park. Also features chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest. This is the largest rain-forest in Uganda and is one of the best places for chimpanzee trekking and birdwatching. We book your accommodation, transportation and park activities.

Safari highlights

Day 1: Pick up and transfer for Murchison Falls National Park – Top of the Falls

Day 2: Game drive & boat cruise along the Nile

Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest – evening game drive

Day 4: Delta boat trip and community tour

Day 5: Rhino tracking – transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe – Departure

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer for Murchison Falls National Park (5-6 hours) Top of the falls visit game drive

Depending on your location in Kampala, you will meet with Elephant Whispers Safaris representative and your driver guides for a briefing then depart for Murchison falls national park. Upon entering the park via the Kichwabanyobo gate and connect to explore the top of the falls before you connect to your booked lodge with en-route evening game drive.

Accommodation based on full board: 

• Nile Safari lodge/Paraa Safari Lodge for luxury option
• Pakuba Safari lodge/Murchison River Lodge for mid-range option
• Heritage Safari lodge/Red Chilly Rest Camp for budget option

Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise at the bottom of the falls

After an early breakfast at the lodge, meet your safari driver guide and connect for a morning game drive. The activity takes about 2-3 hours depending on animals available, and you will find animals including elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and waterbucks.

After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch. Later afternoon at 2 pm, go for a launch cruise on the along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater. You will spend take viewing the falls at the bottom while taking pictures then later return to meet your drive and connect back to your lodge and a relaxed evening. After viewing the bottom of the falls, sail back to meet your driver who will transfer you back to your lodge with en-route game drive. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Optional activity: Top of the falls hike;

After viewing the fall from the bottom, you have an opportunity to hike to the top of the falls. However, this hike is quite tuff so you need to be physically fit to hike to the top of the falls. This hike offers better opportunities to view the falls at different viewpoints. Since the hike is difficult and quite steep, you will only hike on-way and you will meet with your driver at the you of the falls. Thereafter, drive back to your lodge.

Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest – evening game drive

After having early morning breakfast, drive to Budongo forest for Chimpanzee tracking in Kaniyo Eco tourism site in Budongo forest which is the biggest mahogany forest in East Africa and a home to about 80 habituated chimpanzees. You will arrive very early so that you can start the forest walk in search of the chimpanzees, you will also enjoy the view and sound of birds and you will spend about 2-4 hours in search depending on their movement. Once finding them, you will stay for one hour with them watching them eat, rest and play.

Return to the lodge for lunch and spend your afternoon relaxing at the lodge. After the adventure, connect for lunch. Later in the evening connect for a game drive to expand on your chances of seeing missed animals, at this time of the day, the animals are so active, so meeting them is very possible especially the lions and leopards. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at either lodge as above

Day 4:  Delta boat trip (bird watching) and community tour

After your breakfast, connect for your morning boat trip to the delta, this boat is interesting in that it increases your chances to see the shoebill stock and animals as most of them converge at the delta for water. It’s a 3-4 hours’ experience before your return to your lodge for lunch.

Later afternoon, visit the community around the park where you learn about the way of life of the people staying around the park, you will also be entertained in songs and dances. Before night fall, Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.

Day 5: Rhino trekking and transfer to Entebbe and Departure

After morning breakfast, check-out of the lodge and drive out of the park for a 2 hours’ drive to Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino trekking experience. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, you will be briefed about the experience then take 2-3 hours finding and viewing the rhinos. Thereafter, have your lunch and then proceed back to Kampala. You will be dropped off at a location you advise or at Entebbe airport for your onward flight back home. End of the tour