Overview
This brief yet exciting safari takes you to Uganda’s largest national park. It has a lot to offer with activities ranging from amazing game drives, boat cruises to the falls, birdwatching, and beautiful landscapes and you get to have a walking safari with the rhinos!
Highlights
- Activities: game drives, walking safaris (with a guide) & boat trip
- Game drives: pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle & pop-up roof minivan
- A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Itinerary
A Safari guide will pick you up from the airport and start the drive to the legendary Murchison Falls National Park. This park is one of Uganda’s largest conservation areas, boasting 76 mammal species and 451 bird species that thrive in the open savannah and tropical forests. You will have an en-route visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to the southern white rhinos. While here you will enjoy a walking safari to see the rhinos. After lunch, you will continue to the park and proceed to your lodge. You will enjoy an evening game drive in the park.
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to have a game drive. You will drive in the open African savanna in search of lions, leopards, hyenas, buffalos, elephants, Jackson hartebeest, oribis, waterbucks, and Uganda kobs, and spot various bird species. This is a beautiful drive across savannah, borassus palm forest, and grassland down to Lake Albert. In the afternoon, you will ride a boat to the bottom of the falls. You will enjoy these spectacular falls where the Nile squeezes through a 7-meter gap. After that, you will be able to drive back to the lodge.
Today, you will drive to the top of the falls to enjoy the spectacular view of the falls and thereafter proceed to Kampala and connect to Entebbe Airport. Entebbe International Airport connects with your onward evening flight back home.
The Trip Cost Includes
- Park fees
- (For non-residents)
- All activities
- (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation
- (Unless listed as an upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation
- (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals
- (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water
- (On all days)
The Trip Cost Excludes
- International flights
- (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Personal items
- (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees.
- Some meals
- (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Frequently asked Questions
- Murchison Falls National Park is famous for the powerful Murchison Falls, where the Nile River squeezes through a narrow gorge and plunges 43 meters. The park is also known for its diverse wildlife, including elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and various bird species.
- The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the Big Four (lion, elephant, buffalo, and leopard), Rothschild’s giraffe, hippos, crocodiles, warthogs, and several species of antelopes. Over 450 species of birds can also be seen, including the rare shoebill stork.
Popular activities include:
- Game drives to view wildlife.
- Boat cruises on the Nile to the base of the falls.
- Hiking to the top of Murchison Falls for spectacular views.
- Bird watching and fishing along the Nile.
- Chimpanzee trekking in nearby Budongo Forest.
The best time to visit is during the dry season, from December to February and June to September, when wildlife is easier to spot around water sources. The wet seasons (March to May, October to November) can also offer lush landscapes and fewer tourists, but some areas may be harder to access.
- The park is about a 4-5 hour drive from Kampala, Uganda’s capital. Visitors can also fly to the park’s airstrips (Pakuba or Bugungu) from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield.
The park offers a range of accommodations, from luxury lodges like Paraa Safari Lodge and Chobe Safari Lodge to mid-range options like Murchison River Lodge, and budget camping sites. Most lodges provide excellent views of the Nile and easy access to park activities.
- Yes, guided tours for game drives, boat safaris, and chimpanzee trekking can be arranged through lodges or tour companies. Local guides are knowledgeable about the wildlife and terrain, making the experience more informative.
