6 Days Uganda Safari – Murchison and Kidepo National Park

This 6 days safari will offer you the ultimate African safari experience in Uganda as it takes you to 2 great national parks that is Kidepo Valley National park and Murchison falls national park. This Uganda wildlife safari will have you go on game drives to look out for wildlife including the big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino), giraffes, jackals, hippos,olive baboons, vervet monkeys,pattas monkeys and several antelope species among other animals. You will also have an experience of a boat safari on Victoria, Murchison waterfalls and Karamojong cultural tour.

Kidepo valley national park is located north-east of Uganda and the park is commonly referred to as the true African wilderness with its rugged mountains and excellent game viewing across the savanna plains. Kidepo valley national park is the most remote of Uganda’s national parks and has been recognized by CNN travel as one of the best destination for wildlife safaris in Africa

Murchison falls National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Uganda and is well known for its thunderous and mighty Murchison falls. The national park is the perfect destination on your Uganda safari as it is popular for game viewing with its abundant wildlife that can be sighted in the gazetted area and along the River Nile.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up, Travel to Kidepo Valley National Park

Today you begin your 6 day safari as your driver guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala. Your driver guide will pick you up at 6am as the journey to Kidepo national park is long hence the early start. You will have stopovers along the way to stretch and have lunch. The journey to Kidepo is via the Gulu highway and takes about 10-11 hours to arrive.

Accommodation

Luxury – Apoka Safari Lodge

Mid – range – Kidepo Savannah Lodge or Adere Safari Lodge

Budget – Kidepo Savannah Lodge – Tents

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Full Day Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park

After breakfast at the lodge you will head in to the park for full day game drives. You will start with a game drive in the Narus valley which hosts a variety of wildlife in Kidepo. Common animals to look out for include elephants, large herds of buffaloes, zebras, side-stripped jackals, giraffes, hyenas and several antelope species. You will also look out for cats including lions, cheetah and leopard.

After that you transfer to Kidepo valley for another game drive in this section of the park. The kidepo valley has fewer animals but offers stunning views of the rugged landscape of the park, Kanangorok hot springs and you will also look out for ostriches while here. Your day ends with transfer back to the lodge after a fulfilling day of game drives in Kidepo.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Guided Nature walk and Karamojong Cultural Tour

Today morning you will go for a guided nature walk in the park. The walking safari offers you amazing views of Kidepo landscape and you experience the wildlife of Kidepo on foot. You leave for the nature walk at 7am guided by your ranger guides.

You will return to the lodge have lunch and then visit the Karamojong people in the afternoon. This cultural tour will take you in to the community of the karamojong and give you a look in to their culture, traditions and way of life. You will visit their “manyattas” which are their local homesteads and you will engage in their traditional dances. The Karamojong are cattle keepers so you will visit their kraals while on the tour. 

Optional Activity: Hike to Mount Morungole to visit the IK tribe

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Travel to Murchison falls National Park

Today you will check out of your lodge in Kidepo and then begin the journey to Murchison falls national park. The drive is through the small trading centers in Uganda and offers spectacular views of the Northern Uganda mountain scenery. On arrival in Murchison you are transferred to your lodge for check in.

Accommodation:

Luxury – Chobe Safari Lodge

Mid – range – Pakuba Safari Lodge

Budget – Fort Murchison

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: 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 which will take place in the northern section of the park. Murchison falls national park has a large concentration wildlife and the animals to look out for while on this game drive include elephants, giraffes, lion, warthogs, buffaloes, patas monkey, olive baboons, Uganda kobs, water bucks, hyenas and bush bucks. On a lucky day you might have a chance of spotting the leopard however this is a rare sighting.

In the afternoon you will head for a boat ride on River Nile at 2:00pm. Animals that can be seen while on the boat cruise include crocodiles, hippos, monitor lizards, elephants, antelope species and water birds. The animals usually come to the river to drink water and cool off under the afternoon scorching sun. The boat continues to the base of the water falls where you get off the boat and start the hike to the top of the falls.. The top of the falls offer breathtaking views and opportunities to take great photos of the water falls and the vast landscape of the national park. The hike takes about 45 minutes – 1 hour. Your driver guide will be waiting for you to take you back to the lodge after this experience.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Travel from Murchison fall national park to Kampala via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino trekking

After an early breakfast you check out of the lodge and start the drive back to Kampala. You will have a stop for rhino trekking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.The sanctuary currently has 32 white rhinos which can be seen on this trek. You will be led along the trail with your ranger guide. After the rhino trek you proceed with the journey to Kampala.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

What to carry

• Sunscreen
• Light clothes
• Insect repellant
• Sunglasses and hat

Included in the Safari Package:

• Transport in a 4WD Safari car and Fuel
• Full board Accommodation as mentioned in itinerary
• Activities as listed in the itinerary
• Park entrances
• Drinking water in the car

Excluded in the Safari Package:

• Optional Activities
• International Flights
• Tips to guides or staff
• Uganda visa charges
• Insurance (Travel and Medical)
• Other personal Expenses