5 Days Murchison Falls Safari – Uganda

This 5 days safari offers you a classic African wildlife safari in Murchiosn falls national park combined with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park.

Murchison Falls national park is the most popular destination for wildlife safaris in Uganda as visitors to the park are assured of incredible wildlife sightings that are best seen while on the full day game drives in the park. The park is also a birding hot spot for specialist birders while on their birding in Uganda excursions as the park hosts 650 species of birds including 14 of the Sudan-Guinea Biome species.

Kibale National park located in western Uganda is one of Uganda’s most popular national parks as it is home to the chimpanzees in Uganda. The park formerly a forest reserve that was established between 1926 and 1932 received National Park status in 1993. Today the national park welcomes visitors to various tourism actives with the chimpanzee trekking adventure being the most popular tourist activity in the national park. Kibale forest national park covers an area of 766 square kilometres and this area is mainly covered by a moist evergreen forest.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Kampala or Entebbe, Travel to Murchison fall national Park and Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Your driver guide will pick you up from your hotel and then travel to Murchison falls national park. The drive takes you through the small trading centers as you will see locals in these centers going on with their day. You will have a stopover for rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. The sanctuary hosts 32 white rhinos and you will walk along the trail led by your ranger guide. You will spend 1 hour with the rhinos watching them and taking photos. After this trek you continue with the journey. On arrival at the park you transfer to the lodge, check in and have dinner.

Journey time: 6 hours

Accommodation: Baker’s Lodge (Luxury), Murchison River Lodge (Mid-range), Fort Murchison (Budget)

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Morning Game Drive, Boat Safari and Hike to the top of the falls

You will leave the lodge as early as 6am for the morning game drive. Game drives are done in the northern section of Murchison falls national park which has a large concentration of the park’s wildlife. Animals to look out for include elephants, giraffes, lion, warthogs, buffaloes, patas monkey, olive baboons, Uganda kobs, water bucks, hyenas and bush bucks.

In the afternoon you will on a boat ride on River Nile where you have opportunities to look out animals like crocodiles, hippos, monitor lizards, elephants, antelope species and water birds. The animals usually come to the the river to drink water and cool off in the afternoon.

The boat ride takes you to the base of the water falls here you will get off the boat and start the hike to the top of the falls. The hike takes about 45 minutes – 1 hour. The top of the falls offer breathtaking views and opportunities to take great photos.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Today you transfer to Kibale forest national park that is often referred to as the primate capital of East Africa. On arrival your driver guide will take you to some of the fort portal crater lakes that have spectacular views of the areas surrounding the national park. Proceed to the lodge, check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Journey time: 5 hours

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge (Luxury), Turaco Treetops (Mid-range), Chimpanzee Guest House (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi wetland walk

Have breakfast at the lodge early in the morning and then your driver guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing from your ranger guide. After the briefing you start the journey in to the rain forest as you look out for the chimpanzee, man’s closest relatives. Once you locate the chimps you will spend one hour with them as you watch then hop around the tree branches, feed,play and feed their young ones. You will also be able to capture great shots of the chimpanzee during this time. Bird species and other monkeys can be seen while on the chimp trek.

In the afternoon you will go on the Bigodi wetland walk which is a community run initiative that takes you in to the Bigodi wetlands. Here you will look out for monkey species like black-and-white colobus, red-tailed and red colobus. You will also look out for bird species with the most commonly sighted being the Great Blue turaco.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Travel back to Kampala

You will have breakfast at the lodge today and then start the journey back to Kampala.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

What to carry for the Chimpanzee Trek

• Hiking boots
• Sunscreen and Hat
• Camera with extra batteries
• Rain Jacket
• Insect repellant
• Long sleeved shirt and long pants

Safari Package Includes:

• Chimpanzee Trekking
• Game Drive and Boat ride
• Safari vehicle and Fuel
• English Speaking tour and driver guide
• Park entrance fees
• Drinking water in the car
• Accommodation as listed in itinerary

Safari Package does not Include:

• Insurance
• International Flights and entry visa charges
• Optional activities
• Tips and laundry services at the lodge