Itinerary
Day One: Depart Kampala for Murchison Falls National Park , Rhino Tracking and enter the park
The 3-Day Murchison Falls National Park Safari tour begins at 07:00 at your hotel in Kampala. Our professional guide-drive will meet you at the hotel to go over the details of the tour, providing a schedule and pick-up times for all included activities. Your guide will also answer any burning questions that you may have, can also assist with booking optional activities and endeavor to assist you get the very best time of your tour.
An early morning start for the scenic drive north to Murchison Falls with a visit to the Rhino sanctuary - the private / government run, non-profit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, 7,000 hectares of suitable Savannah and native woodlands.
The black and white rhinos were indigenous to Uganda’s Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks until 1982 when they were completely wiped out due to widespread poaching during the Idi Amin era. Now, thanks to the combined effort of several private and public bodies, they are making a comeback.
Founded in 1998, Rhino Fund Uganda worked to reintroduce black and white rhinos into Uganda. The not-for profit organization run a breeding program, as well as working to educate communities on these endangered giants, the problem of poaching and the need for environmental conservation.
In the Rhino Sanctuary you will have a safari-hike to the rhinos which will give you the opportunity to view them at close range.
Tracking these enormous creatures on foot through the Savannah and swamps is a thrilling experience, and your specialist guide will share his expert knowledge on these impressive animals. The guides know each of the nine rhinos by name, from the huge, battle scarred males to the gentle females resting in the shade with their calves. Presently the sanctuary is home to fifteen southern white rhinos.
The non-profit sanctuary is also home to an assortment of rescued animals – from a pair of colorful grey-crowned cranes to a tiny antelope, making it a wonderful and educational place to visit for both adults and children.
The rhino tour at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary lasts for 1 – 2 hours.
After having had a delicious lunch at the sanctuary’s restaurant you continue to Uganda's largest national park (3 hrs driving).
Drop your luggage at the lodge and enjoy an evening game-drive. Return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Look out for our resident warthogs, hippo and other wildlife around the camp! Enjoy dinner and drinks around the camp fire when weather permits.
Day Two: Full Day Wildlife Viewing in Safari Van and Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, start the early morning game drive through Murchison Falls National Park. In the early morning hours animals are the most active, the sun is not yet so bright and temperatures are cooler. It offers the best time to spot wild animals.
This morning game-viewing is undertaken in our vehicle with either open sides or van has a pop-top hatch use to view animals and photographic opportunities at close proximity, with guiding by friendly Uganda rangers. Your game drive will be in the northern part of the park.
Cross over on the bridge to the Northern bank of the Nile river, taking along a packed breakfast from the lodge. Enjoy a 4-hour game drive around the Buligi game tracks, which stretch between the Victoria and Albert Niles, and down to the Nile-Lake Albert Delta. Most of the park’s game and birdlife can be viewed from here, but please note – nothing is guaranteed!
During the safari game drive you get chance of viewing a wide variety of African big game - Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Giraffe, Hartebeests, leopards, different species of antelope and many tropical birds and many more.
3-hour boat cruise along the Victoria Nile to the base of the Falls.
In the afternoon after your lunch, take a boat trip on the placid Victoria Nile, upstream to the base of the Murchison Falls from Paraa. The trip presents an astonishing display of wildlife and culminates with the memorable frontal view of the Falls. The total cruise time is 3 hours.
From the boat, sightings of elephant, hippo, buffalo and even water buck coming down to the river to drink are common. There are also abundant Nile crocodiles and a wide variety birdlife-like the unusual shoebill stork to be seen.
An experienced guide accompanies each cruise and has good knowledge of the wildlife and local history of the area.
The boat stops just tens of meters from the "Devil’s Cauldron". Take pictures of the photogenic and majestic Murchison Falls. Disembark from the boat and take a hike to the Top of the Falls where you can see the Nile's beauty perfected!! Marvel at the Nile -the world's longest river, compressing from 50 meters to squeeze through a 7-metre canyon dropping 40 meters with a thunderous roar creating a beautiful rainbow, a plume of spray and the best thing that happened to the Nile..."The Murchison Falls". After the boat safari you will return back to your lodge
Assuming Guest stayed at Southern Bank – Breakfast 5.30 – 6.15
3 hr Game drive till lunch
12.30 Lunch
13.30 Leave the lodge for cruise
14.00 boat cruise – 3hrs round trip
Hike to the top of the falls (water levels permitting) – 45mins – 1hrs
Pick up from bottom of the falls – Return to lodge
Assuming no Hike to the top of the falls – 3 hour boat journey 17.00 – 17.30
Evening short drive or Night game drive.
NORTHERN BANK
No hike at 17.00, head to lodge, short call and head for evening short GD – 17.30-19.00 or night game drive 18.00
Night game drive – 18.00 to 20.00 or 21.00
Night GD Extra charges apply- Range20 / Park USD 100)
Dinner 21.00 - 21.30
Sleep
Day Three: Forest walk, final game drive & return to Kampala
Start your day with a walk in Pabidi Forest, whose primate residents include l’Hoest's, red colobus, blues, red tailed monkeys and grey cheeked mangabeys.
Your guide will provide detailed explanations, not only about primates, but also on all the forest flora and fauna and will ensure that our walk is both informative and enjoyable. This walk is excellent for bird watching and for seeing primates at close quarters.
After a picnic lunch, return to Kampala arriving late afternoon.
Stop at the town of Bombo at the Nubian Village, where the unique crafts produced by the women in the community are displayed and offered to tourists for sale and also show visitors how village life unfolds day in and day out, how food is being prepared and served, and allow tourists to sample some of the traditional dishes. Learn about western Uganda traditions and enjoy a traditional lunch. Your driver-guide drops you at your hotel/residence
Breakfast at 6:15 Northern Bank
6:45 Departure
7 AM
8.30 AM Kaniyo Padidi
Chimpanzee Tracking: 8.30 – 12pm (2-3 hrs)
Freshen. Proceed to Masindi for lunch 13.30
14.30 Departure – Masindi – Kampala 19.00 (3 hrs drive)
Responsible Tourism:
Home-stay experiences are also possible to let tourists get a hands-on and close-up experience of how life in rural Africa really is. Folklore displays and performances are part of the organized showings for visitors who come for either a home stay or for a shorter visit, a feature reportedly much enjoyed by the "wageni" (visitors). Story telling, henna painting, and hair braiding is also on offer, and in particular female tourist visitors are regularly taking advantage of getting their hair done or having their hands, feet, and arms painted. On sale are woven mats and baskets of various shapes and forms and colours for that matter, displayed at a ‘cultural centre’ and proceeds are used for the development of a local school and to give the women a regular cash flow to support their families. All in all a splendid idea, well executed and beneficial for the locals, as it spreads tourist dollars into the grassroot levels of Ugandan society.
END OF TOUR
3-Day Murchison Falls National Park Safari Tour from Kampala Price per person from, in USD:
| Group Size |
1 pax |
2 pax |
3 pax |
4 pax |
5 pax |
6 pax |
SRS |
| Lodge |
$2016 |
$1386 pp |
$1212 pp |
$1128 pp |
$1074 pp |
$1038 pp |
$80 |
| Mid |
$1956 |
$1314 pp |
$1140 pp |
$1050 pp |
$996 pp |
$966 pp |
$90 |
| Budget |
$1536 |
$1014 pp |
$840 pp |
$750 pp |
$696 pp |
$666 pp |
$55 |
3-Day Murchison Falls National Park Safari Tour from Kampala Accommodation options:
Lodge – Paraa Safari Lodge - full board
Mid – Murchison River Lodge Cottages – full board
Budget – Red Chilli Rest Camp – bed only
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
