7 Days Murchison Falls, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and Budongo Chimpanzee safari

This 7 days Murchison Falls, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Budongo Chimpanzee safari is an adventurous Uganda safari taking you on a tour in Murchison Falls National park – Uganda’s largest national park and a host for Murchison Falls – the most powerful waterfall in the world.

Murchison Falls national park is located in the northwestern region of Uganda, this park is one of the finest wildlife destination in Uganda hosting 86 mammal species and 450 bird species.

In addition to Murchison Falls national park, you will also visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an encounter with Rhinos on rhino tracking experience, visit the Murchison Falls and Budongo Forest where you will encounter chimpanzees.

Highlights of 7 days Murchison Falls, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and Budongo Chimpanzee safari

Day 1: pick up and transfer to Murchison Falls national park with rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary

Day2: full day game drive and visit to the top of the falls

Day 3: morning game drive and launch cruise

Day 4: boat cruise and hiking at the bottom of the falls

Day 5: chimpanzee tracking in Bundogo forest

Day 6: morning game drive and rest at the lodge

Day 7: return to Kampala

Detailed itinerary of 7 days Murchison Falls, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and Budongo Chimpanzee safari

Day 1: pick up and transfer to Murchison Falls national park with rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary

You will be picked from Entebbe International airport upon arrival or at the Hotel in Kampala by our driver – guide, he will give you a short briefing about to expect on the safari and then transfer to Murchison Falls national park in the North Western region of Uganda. From Kampala to Murchison Falls national park it is a drive of approximately 4 hours, along the way you will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking – an experience on you encounter rhinos on foot in their nature habitat. Rhino tracking experience lasts for 1 hour and after the trekking, you will continue to Murchison Falls national park using The Gulu High – way to connect to Masindi Town where you will have lunch.

Proceed to Murchison Falls national park with a drive through the beautiful Budongo Forest where you will spot baboons alongside the road, you will head to your lodge, check in, have an evening of resting, dinner and overnight at Paara safari Lodge (Luxury) and Pakuba safari lodge (Midrange).

Day2: full day game drive and visit to the top of the falls

Wake up early for breakfast then transfer to the northern Nile Delta Nile for a game viewing experience, while driving game viewing tracks running through the savannah plans, expect to see a variety of wildlife species including cape buffaloes, waterbucks, lions, Jackson’s hartebeests, Rothschild giraffes, leopards among others.

You will have lunch at your lodge and in the afternoon, return to the park exploring more and enjoying more sights of animals and birds. After the game drive, you will head to the top of the falls where you will watch river Nile squeezing through the gorge of 8 meters to form the most powerful waterfalls in world – Murchison Falls. On top of the beautiful views and thunderous roars of the flowing waters, you will take amazing pictures. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: morning game drive and Delta Boat cruise and Night game drive

Wake up early, have breakfast then meet your safari guide and transfer to the park for a morning game drive which is a perfect time to catch a glimpse of the sunrise, predators as they return from hunting and early risers. Expect to spot a number of animals such as leopards, giraffes, cape buffaloes, zebras among others.

Return to your lodge for lunch and later go for a boat cruise on the Nile Delta where you will be able to get sights of water species such as Nile Crocodiles, herds of cape buffaloes and water birds such as the unique shoe bill stork, herons, cormorants among others along the Nile banks. After the sunset, you will continue exploring the park on night game drive. With a help of a spot light, you will be able to spot predators such as lions, leopards, African wild dogs and hunting action.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: boat cruise and hiking at the bottom of the falls

Wake up early for breakfast then head to the Nile for a boat cruise at the bottom the falls with a mini morning game drive along the way, on the boat cruise you will sail heading to the bottom of the falls.  The boat cruise lasts for about 3 hours, as you cruise on the calm waters you will spot aquatic wildlife including crocodiles, schools of hippos, pythons and herds of elephants.  The climax of the boat cruise is watching the falls from the bottom and taking amazing pictures.

When you reach at the edge of the Nile, you will leave the boat and hike up at the bottom of falls where you will enjoy spectacular views of the falls, splashing water, and thunderous sounds of the falls and take amazing pictures. Return to your lodge for lunch, in the afternoon you will rest at your lodge, take a swim in the swimming pool or take a walk around the lodge.

Day 5: chimpanzee tracking in Bundogo forest

Wake up early for breakfast, meet your safari driver guide and head to Budogo Forest with your packed lunch box. You will hop on a ferry crossing the Victoria Nile to Budongo Forest, you will meet your ranger guide, join other visitors for a briefing session about chimpanzee tracking rules. Under the guidance of a ranger, you will trek into the Kaniyo Pabidi/ Budongo Forest. Chimpanzee tracking experience takes approximately 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzee family on the day of tracking. Once you find them, you will have one hour of watching them and learning their lifestyle as well as taking amazing photography. After the end of the experience, you will drive back to your lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 6: full day morning game drive

Wake up early for breakfast and transfer to the park for a full day game drive with your packed lunch box for an experiential picnic lunch. On this day, you will explore the park’s savannah plains to the fullest on morning and afternoon game drive.

During the game drive, you will enjoy watching various vegetation covers, many birds and animals such as cape buffaloes, waterbucks, lions, Jackson’s hartebeests, Rothschild giraffes, leopards among others.

At lunch, you will enjoy picnic lunch set in the plains of Murchison Falls and you will have your mouth watering meals accompanied by enchanting views of nature and animals. Then go for another game drive exploring the park more. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: return to Kampala

After breakfast, you will checkout of lodge and with en-route game drive you will exit the park and embark on a journey back to Kampala. Along the way you will have lunch, upon arriving in Kampala you will be dropped- off at your Hotel or at Entebbe International airport.

End of 7 days Murchison Falls, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and Budongo Chimpanzee safari

Safari Inclusions

• Night game drive
• Game drives
• Entrance fees
• Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest
• Visiting the top of the falls
• Rhino tracking
• Boat cruise
• 5 nights’ accommodation
• Full board meals