A 5 Day Upmarket Murchison Falls Park Big 5 Safari
Big 5 Wildlife – Primates – Birds – Scenery of Murchison Falls Park and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
This Private 5-Day Luxury Murchison Falls Park Big 5 Safari provides the best opportunity for seeing the Big 5 Plus in Uganda which includes trekking Rhinos on foot and spotting the elusive Shoebill Stork, the plus being the Chimpanzees that you will trek in Budongo Forest.
Murchison Falls Park is the best all-around option for a wildlife safari in Uganda from Kampala. This 5-Day upmarket Safari combines Rhino and Chimpanzee Tracking, Wildlife, a Wildlife Boat Cruise on the River Nile along with best upmarket lodge locations in the park.
This is a Big-5 Plus Safari since it comes with Chimpanzee Trekking. One of the critical features of this safari is the shorter Drive-times rather than 5 1/2 straight drive times from and to Kampala, this safari breaks those down into more relaxing drives.
Though we suggest lodges, in the Case of Paraa Lodge we can use the exclusive Baker’s Lodge. However, that involves crossing the Nile for Game Drives.
Day 1 – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Amuka Lodge:
We depart your hotel in Entebbe at 6:30 AM if you are staying in Kampala at 7 AM. The drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is 3-hours from Kampala.
Upon arrival, before checking in at Amuka Lodge, trek the Rhinos on foot. This is a 1 1/2 hour to 2-hour trek with knowledgeable Rangers who will guide you within 10 meters to these magnificent, Endangered Animals that you will see here. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a conservation effort that will result in the release of some of the Rhinos into Murchison Falls Park at a time in the future.
Check into Amuka Lodge and have lunch.
During the late afternoon take a boat ride and explore Lugogo Swamp which is one of the Better Spots in Uganda to see the elusive ancient appearing Shoebill Stork. They usually are found fishing for lungfish at the edge of the swamp. There are other Water Birds you will see here, hopefully also some otters, the semi-aquatic Sitatunga Antelopes, Bushpigs and other wildlife during your paddled boat ride through the swamp.
Meal Plan: Lunch-Dinner
Lodge: Amuka Lodge
Day 2 – Murchison Falls Park – Paraa Safari Lodge:
After Breakfast, we head for the Paraa area of Murchison Falls Park. This is a 3-hour drive, we cross the River Nile using a Vehicle Ferry to the Wildlife side of the Park and check into Paraa Lodge where there are a variety of choices when it comes to rooms.
There are not many Wildlife Parks where the River Nile flows through it, Murchison Falls Park is in a category all by itself with the River Nile which creates here the most powerful waterfall in the world as it tumbles down the Western Rift Escarpment and continuous to flow toward Egypt,
During the late afternoon, we take the first game drive. Your Land Cruiser is equipped with a pop-up roof. Murchison Falls has the largest population of Africa’s largest Giraffe, the Rothschild, also called Nubian, Baringo or Uganda Giraffes. There are also large Elephant herds, Buffaloes, thousands of Antelopes, Lions, Leopards, and more. A game drive is about 3-hours in length.
Meal Plan: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner
Lodge: Paraa Safari Lodge
Day 3 – Murchison Falls Park
Early morning Game Drive before or after Breakfast. Game Drives begin at dawn, which is around 6:30 am. Instead of a Game Drive, you can take the Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride at sunrise.
During the Afternoon, it is one of the highlights in the Park, the famed Nile River Boat Safari to the bottom of the falls. This is your chance to see the large Nile Crocodiles on the banks of the Nile, Pods of Hippos frolicking in the water, Water Birds in abundance. The Boat Ride up to the Falls is purposely on the slow side for you to take pictures of the Elephants that come to bathe and water, Buffaloes, Antelopes and at times the rare Shoebill Stork.
At the bottom of the falls, you have the choice to remain on board and return by boat to Paraa, or you can disembark and hike up the side of the Falls on a guided hike. When you reach the top, you are met by your driver who returns you to the lodge after you cross the River Nile by ferry.
Famous Visitors from History that visited Murchison Falls Park:
Samuel and Florence Baker where the first to discover Murchison Falls, their boat was capsized by a Hippo, and they were stranded on the Banks until rescued by their expedition party. Winston Churchill in 1907 walked down the trail that most walked up in 1907 and boarded a boat at the bottom of the falls and sailed down the Nile toward Khartoum. Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart were here for the making of the Movie “the African Queen.” Ernest Hemingway’s plane crashed at the falls after getting snagged in an old Telephone Wire. One cannot leave out Idi
Optional Sunset Boat Ride: You have the option to take a Sunset Boat Ride while in the Paraa Area of Murchison Falls Park. This can be done on either one of your evenings in the Paraa area. Sunset over the ancient River Nile, there is nothing that compares.
Meal Plan: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner
Lodge: Paraa Safari Lodge
Day 4 – Murchison Falls Park – Chobe Safari Lodge:
Morning Game Drive in the Paraa area of the park and then we continue through the park toward Chobe Safari Lodge. The journey is about 2 1/2 hours and is like a Game drive, and there is a lot of wildlife to be viewed along the way.
Check into Chobe Safari Lodge which is an African Lodge of Distinction. President Museveni of Uganda has been a frequent visitor, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian were here in October of 2018 on their visit to Uganda where Kanye West did a recording along the River Nile.
Afternoon Game Drive or you can choose a Nature Walk in that area of Murchison Falls Park. Both the game drive and the Nature Walk are both about three hours in length. This is one of the few areas where you can take a Hike with Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers.
Meal Plan: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner
Lodge: Chobe Safari Lodge
Day 5 – Budongo Forest – Chimpanzee Tracking:
Breakfast and a Morning Game Drive near Chobe Safari Lodge and then drive to Budongo Forest where you arrive near Lunchtime. Budongo is the largest Mahogany forest in East Africa. Illegal Logging is a constant threat to the forest due to the value of the timber that is found here. If Budongo Forest were not part of Murchison Falls Park, the forest would not be what it is today.
Enjoy Lunch at the Budongo Eco-Lodge, which is a mid-range lodge in the forest.
After Lunch, it is Chimpanzee Tracking in East Africa’s largest Mahogany Forest. Budongo Forest is also an excellent spot for birders – it is part of the Murchison Falls Wildlife Reserve.
The Jane Goodall Institute monitors the Chimpanzees here – the Chimpanzees are habituated for Visitors – meaning that they will continue their activities while you observe them
The trek is about a three-hour walk with guides and trackers bringing your up close to our closest cousins – the chimpanzees. You should wear jeans or long trousers, long-sleeved shirt, stout walking shoes or boots, a broad-brimmed hat is good, also a day-pack where you can carry at least a liter of water.
There are other primates that you will see here and countless birds, and if you are a lover of Butterflies, this is one of the best areas in Uganda for Butterflies.
Afterward, we drive back to Kampala arriving after 8 pm in the city at your lodging, longer if we drive you to Entebbe Airport.
Lodging arrangements can be made for you either in Kampala or Entebbe.
Murchison Falls Park Big 5 Safari includes: All activities listed except it notes – optional. All Lodgings listed and it is full board. Bottled water is in the vehicle. It includes – Toyota Land Cruiser with Pop-Up roof for best game viewing. English-speaking Driver – Guide with extensive knowledge about Uganda, Wildlife, Culture, and is customer service orientated. It does not include Drinks at lodges such as alcohol or sodas, laundry, tips.
If you are interested in this Private Luxury Murchison Falls Park Big 5 Safari please contact us