4-Day Murchison Wildlife Safari Uganda

March 6, 2024

4-Day Murchison Falls Wildlife Safari Uganda

The 4-Day Murchison Falls wildlife safari takes you to Uganda’s oldest national park, Murchison Falls. You’ll go for game drives, chimpanzee trekking, and visit the top of the magnificent waterfalls, and the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Honeymooners, families, and large and small groups can all undertake this tour. Children are welcome but they don’t qualify for chimpanzee trekking. Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest wildlife conservation area. It is the only park where one can spot all the big 5 mammals. You can see the Rhinos at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The park is 305 kilometers away from Kampala city by road. However, you can also access it using a chattered flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi. The park consists of savanna grasslands, woodlands, and Riverine forests.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is home to 76 species of mammals and 451 bird species. It is part of the wider Murchison Falls Conservation Area. The area also includes Karuma and Bugungu wildlife reserves. The river Nile passes through the park leaving behind the Murchison Falls (from which the park derives its name). The Murchison Falls is a key attraction in the park. It forms when the Nile passes through a narrow 8-meter gorge before forming several rapids leading to a final thunderous fall.

After this major fall, the river continues flowing calmly until it reaches Lake Albert. The stretch between the falls leading towards Lake Albert is remarkable for providing one of East Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacles. While on a boat cruise to this section of the Nile, visitors can see a variety of wildlife. This includes hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and giraffes drinking by the river banks.

Safari Overview

Apart from the boat cruise, tourists can also spot the animals while on a game drive on land or using hot air balloons. This 4-Day Murchison Wildlife Safari Uganda will start in Kampala or Entebbe. It’ll then continue to the park with a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. After tracking the Rhinos, you will continue straight to the top of the Murchison Falls. You will go for game drives, boat rides, and chimpanzee trekking in the following days. By the end of your 4-day trip, you would have spotted elephants, giraffes, oribis, hippos, and the Uganda Kob. You’ll also have spotted hartebeests, buffaloes, lions, crocodiles, chimpanzees and so much more. For a longer safari, you might find our 6-day Gorilla and Murchison Falls wildlife safari. Alternatively, you can opt for a 10-day Uganda Adventure Safari package that is more interesting.

Safari Highlights of the Tour

Visiting the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Game drives

A boat cruise

chimpanzee trekking in Budongo

Summary Itinerary of the 4-Day Murchison Wildlife Safari Uganda

Day 1: Pickup and Drive to Murchison Falls with a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

On Day 2: Morning game drive and a boat cruise up to the bottom of the falls

Day 3: Boat ride at the Nile Delta and afternoon Game drive.

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest and transfer back to Kampala.

Detailed Itinerary of the 4-Day Murchison Wildlife Safari Uganda

Day 1: Pickup – Visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Continue to Murchison Falls National Park

Our Guide/Driver will pick you up from the airport or your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala. He will brief you before starting the journey to the Murchison Falls National Park. Enjoy the drive as you observe the African countryside and small towns like Luwero and Nakasongola. Nakasongola is a cattle-keeping corridor and the vast herds of long-horned cattle that graze close to the roadside will amaze you.

Luwero is where the National Resistance Army (current government) started a rebellion that toppled the government of Tito Okello. Undoubtedly, You may ask the Guide/Driver to stop briefly at one of the markets. This will help you to mingle with the locals and check out some of the tasty local fruits. The common ones include mangoes, oranges, pineapples, bananas, and maize.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Your first main stop is at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This sanctuary was established to protect the few remaining white rhinos in Uganda after 99% were killed by poachers. Rhinos once roamed the national parks in Uganda but extensive poaching wiped them out. It was easier to kill them for their valuable horns because they had no fear of humans like the other large mammals.

The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has also embarked on a breeding project to increase the number of Rhinos. Later, UWA will reintroduce them to the national parks. The sanctuary is also great for birding, primates viewing, and spotting antelopes. After tracking the rhinos, you will proceed to have lunch at the nearby Masindi town

After Masindi, you will proceed to Murchison Falls National Park and proceed straight to the top of the falls. Spend some time here as you marvel at the magnificent waterfall. The falls are formed when the river Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge and drops with a thunderous force. Take as many photos as possible so that you can share them with your friends. The driver will then take you to your hotel for rest, refreshments and a later evening walk if you have time.

Dinner and overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Red Chilli Lodge

Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Launch Cruise on the Nile

Wake up early, have breakfast, and prepare for a very eventful day. The driver/Guide will pick you up and take you for a game. You will be able to see lions, leopards, giraffes, the Uganda Kob, buffaloes, oribi, jackals, and elephants. Also, you will see warthogs, Jackson hartebeests, hyenas, and countless birds. Look out for the early morning risers and predators like leopards returning to their dens after hunting.

After the four-hour game drive, you will go back to the lodge for lunch, refreshments, and relaxation. You will then prepare for the Afternoon boat cruise. While on the cruise you will spot crocodiles, hippos, and most of the animals you’ll have already seen while on your earlier game drive. They will be drinking water and bathing by the shores of the river. This part of the river Nile offers some of the best birding spots in Uganda.

Watch out for the Shoebill storks, Goliath herons, hornbills, yellow-billed storks, pelicans, and bee-eaters. Also, watch out for kingfishers, Egyptian geese, and African fish eagles. The boat cruise ends at the bottom of the Murchison Falls. It is a great time to take some great photos to show your friends back home.

Dinner and overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Red Chilli Lodge

Day 3: Boat ride at the Nile Delta and afternoon Game drive.

Wake up early and have breakfast as you wait for the Guide/ Driver. He’ll take you to come and take you for another 4-hour boat ride to the Nile Delta area. This area is popular for its amazing collection of wildlife including lions, bushbucks, elephants, and buffaloes.

This time, the boat goes downstream where you will encounter amazing wildlife and birds. You will pass through vast swamps and wetlands with countless water birds. After this boat cruise, you will get back on land, have lunch, and go for another game drive. Meanwhile, the game drive will be in a different section of the park. This is a chance to see any wildlife you might have missed out on during the first game drive and boat rides.

Dinner and overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Red Chilli Lodge

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest and transfer back to Kampala

Wake up early and go for the briefing at the forest offices. You will know the chimpanzee group to trek, group, and you’ll get a ranger to be your leader. Chimpanzee tracking in the Budongo forest can take up to 5 hours and you will have only one hour with them. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo is special because it has fewer crowds.

Also, there are higher chances of interacting with international researchers for more information about the primates. Budongo forest is also one of the best places for birding in Uganda. While tracking the chimpanzees, watch out for the birds, other smaller primates, and the ancient mahogany trees. The driver will start the journey back to Kampala after tracking the chimps. You will have lunch on your way (to Masindi or Luwero town) back. If you reach early, you can request a Kampala city tour.