Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, and the northwestern part of Uganda covering an area of 3,840sq.km where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment falls over wide, savannah grasslands. It was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1926, and it is Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds.

The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the rift valley wall, creating the magnificent  Murchison Falls that squeeze their way through the 8m gorge, the core of the park that stretches over 80km rapids. The park is classified as savannah grassland. Murchison falls national park populates over 451 birds including aquatic birds such as shoebill stork, kingfishers, great blue Turaco, goliath heron, and others, and animal species of over 76 including hippos and crocodiles.

The extension of the river Nile provides most of Uganda’s remarkable wildlife exhibitions and regular mammals that tend to visit the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes, and buffaloes, whereas hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds species are permanent residents in Murchison falls national park.

On your 4 day safari to Murchison falls national park, the largest protected area that harbors the strongest waterfalls you will have game drives to look out for the African big five and pay a visit to Ziwa rhino sanctuary for endangered black and white rhinos the only place in Uganda where rhinos are reserved, a boat cruise on the Nile that will take you close to the bottom of waterfalls, this will give you spectacular views of the falls dropping from above. Engage in nature walks or take an evening game drive to spot nocturnal animals such as the leopards,  hyenas, nightjars, and others that come to hunt in night hours.

Trip Itinerary

DAY 1: Travel to Murchison falls National Park

After your morning breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and briefed about the journey to the park which will take about 5 hours, On your way to the park, you will branch off in Nakasongola and have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino tracking. After tracking rhinos, continue for another stopover in Masindi for lunch and then proceed to Murchison falls park entrance where you will encounter some animals like antelopes,  baboons, warthogs, and others.

Resume to the Park and check in to your booked hotel/lodge and take an evening drive on the top of the falls where you can view spectacular waterfalls and enjoy the experience while taking pictures after driving back to the lodge to loosen up the evening, have dinner, and overnight.

Day 2: Game Drives and a Boat Cruise on the  Nile

Have an early breakfast, and your driver together with the park ranger or guide will pick and take you to the morning game drive where you get an opportunity to view animals such as elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks as many as possible, and other wildlife such as bird species including shoebills, giant kingfishers, sunbirds, and others. Game drive is the most popular tourist activity in Murchi This will take around 3-4 hours. After the game drive, go back to the lodge and have a rest and lunch, and embark on the three-hour boat cruise to the bottom of the waterfalls. On the boat cruise you will pass by huge hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, and a variety of aquatic birds beautifying the river banks such as colored kingfishers, shoe billed stork on the way sailing towards the magnificent waterfalls.

Day 3: Birding on the Delta and Game Drives on Top of the Falls

Birders will be in for a thrilling experience during the boat ride on the delta, this is where River Nile adjoins Lake Albert. Make sure your binoculars are ready to capture the exceptional birdlife moment including the shoebill stork, Goliath heron, and gray crowned crane.

In the afternoon, as you leave the Conservation Area, take a tour to Boomu Women’s Group just outside Kichumbanyobo park gate to discover the lifestyle of northwestern Uganda tribes and learn their culture, music, and crafts.

After lunch, pop in the car for a game drive along the Tebito track, finishing with a short walk down to the top of the Falls on the north bank. Spend the night in a lodge in Budongo Forest.

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest

Meet our distant cousins! Get an early start to catch chimps leaving their nests in the Budongo Forest, looking out for other primates and forest bird species along the way.

Meanwhile, you can combine chimpanzee tracking and birding experiences at the same time since the forest harbors over 360  bird species that attracts bird lovers, the renowned Royal mile is a walk to a memorable birding experience. After leaving the conservation area, you drive back to Kampala while looking out for various mammals. However, most of them can be seen feeding in savannah grasslands like a number of antelopes, elephants, and others. You will reach Kampala city in the evening.