The overview
This four-day safari takes you to explore the best of Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s most famous and frequented parks, Budongo Forest, and the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Â This itinerary includes activities such as a hike to the top of Murchison Falls, morning and afternoon wildlife drives, an afternoon launch cruise, chimp trekking in the Budongo forest, and rhino tracking at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
The safari highlights
- Morning and afternoon game drives
- Boat cruise
- Hike to the top of the falls
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Rhino tracking
The detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pickup and transfer from Kampala to Murchison falls national park and stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track the Rhinos
After breakfast at your Kampala hotel or residence, our driver guide will pick you up and take you on a 315km trip northwest to Murchison Falls Park. The journey will last 5 to 6 hours and will take you past ever-changing scenery, crowded roadside markets, and peaceful rural villages. You will drive through the spectacular flat landscapes of central Uganda before breaking off at Nakitooma to connect to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you will arrive in the sanctuary offices where you will be instructed on rhino tracking and how to behave in the company of rhinos. Take a thrilling 2-hour rhino tracking excursion on foot on defined routes with the support of armed rangers to encounter Southern white rhinos in their natural habitat.
Following your exciting time in the sanctuary, continue with the drive to Murchison Falls National Park, with a stopover in Masindi for lunch. When you get to the park, you can ascend to the top of the waterfalls for views of the Nile as it compresses through the canyon and snap incredible photographs. Check into the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay in the evening.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 2: Morning game drive and an Afternoon boat cruise
After an early breakfast, go on a 3-4 hour game drive through the park’s northern sector, which features undulating savanna grassland interspersed with spectacular stands of Borassus palms, acacia trees, riverine woodland, a diversity of animals, and unusual birds. You are going to be able to spot early morning risers and predators such as lions, leopards, and hyenas when they return to their dens after overnight hunting over the early morning game drive. Expect to see warthogs, Uganda kobs, lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, bush pigs, bush duikers, sitatunga antelopes, Rothschild giraffes, and hyenas among other animals during the game drive. Watch for rare bird species such as Abyssinian ground hornbills, Secretary birds, Grey-crowned cranes, and Denham’s bustard, among others.
After the game drive, return to the resort for leisure and lunch. At 2 p.m., you will embark on a 3-hour boat voyage eastward through an archetypally African stretch of the Nile River, surrounded by Borassus palms, acacia bush, and mahogany stands. Look out for dozens of Nile crocodiles skimming along the surface of the water, as well as pods of hidden hippos bursting the surface to grab a look at you. Elephants and buffalos can be seen quenching their thirst on the riverbanks, along with a variety of waterbirds such as the incredible, pre-historic-like Shoebill, the well-named Goliath heron, Saddle-billed stork, African jacana, Squacco heron, and African fish eagles. When you reach the bottom of the falls, you begin the walk to the top of Murchison Falls. These are possibly the world’s most powerful waterfalls! They are part of Africa’s largest river, which is 50 meters wide, falls squeezing through a 7-meter-wide gap and falling 45 meters down, snap amazing images. Return to the lodge for some rest, dinner, and sleep.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest and afternoon game drive
Rise up early for breakfast and drive to Budongo Central Forest for chimp trekking. You will be briefed about the chimp population in the area, how to behave in their presence, and what to expect. While trekking through the Budongo forests in search of chimps, expect to see the greatest collection of Mahogany trees in Africa, some of which are over 100 years old, as well as primates like olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, and other birds. Chimpanzee trekking takes roughly 3-4 hours, with 1 hour spent in the company of the chimps. During this time, you will enjoy watching the chimps play on tree branches, groom each other, make nests, and snap great photographs.
Return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation, you will return to the park’s Paraa section for an afternoon game drive to explore the park and track any animals you may have missed on the initial game drive. Return to the lodge for rest, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 4: Transfer back to Kampala
Check out of the resort after a relaxing cup of coffee and begin your journey back to Kampala, stopping for lunch en route. When you arrive in Kampala, the driver will take you to the airport for your booked flight back home or to the hotel, bringing this safari to a close.
Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch