3 Days Murchison Falls Wildlife Safari

Safari highlights

• Game drive on the Nile's northern bank for elephants, giraffes, buffalo, lions and antelope
• Launch cruise along the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls, with hippos, crocodiles and birdlife
• Hike to the top of the falls, where the entire Nile squeezes through a gap about 7 metres wide
• Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white rhinos on foot
• Excellent birding, including the chance to spot the shoebill in the Nile delta area

Itinerary route map

1. Kampala
2. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
3. Murchison Falls National Park

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 01
   Day 1 Kampala / Entebbe to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

   Depart early in the morning and head north on the Gulu highway through Luwero and Nakasongola. The road gradually moves from the busy central region into quieter countryside with farmland and small trading centres. About halfway you reach Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where southern white rhinos are being bred and protected as part of efforts to restore the species to Uganda.

   At Ziwa you join a ranger on foot to approach the rhinos, which graze quietly in open bush. Because you walk, you get a rare opportunity to see these large animals at close range and learn about their care, their behaviour and the conservation programme. The visit takes about two hours, and the activity fee is paid separately.

   After lunch you continue to Masindi and then on to Murchison Falls National Park, entering the park through its southern gate. The final section passes savannah where you may see your first giraffes and antelope. You arrive at your lodge by late afternoon, with time to relax, enjoy views over the Nile, and have dinner.

2. 02
   Day 2 Morning game drive and Nile launch cruise

   Start before sunrise with a game drive on the northern bank of the Nile, where the open plains are rich in wildlife. Early morning is the best time to see animals, and your guide tracks fresh signs. Typical sightings include elephants, Rothschild's giraffes, buffalo, Uganda kob, hartebeest and waterbuck, and with luck lions or even a leopard resting in the shade.

   After returning to the lodge for breakfast and a short rest, you board a launch for the famous cruise along the Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls. The trip takes about three hours and moves slowly so you can enjoy the riverbanks. Look for pods of hippos, large Nile crocodiles and elephants coming to drink, as well as many bird species.

   As the boat nears the falls, the river narrows and the roar of water grows louder until you see the Nile spilling through the Devil's Cauldron. Birders should watch for pied kingfishers, African fish eagles, Goliath herons and, with good fortune, the rare shoebill in the delta area. You return in the afternoon for dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.

3. 03
   Day 3 Top of the falls and return to Kampala / Entebbe

   After breakfast you drive to the top of Murchison Falls for a short hike along a well-marked trail. From the viewing area you can feel the spray as the whole Nile is forced through a rock gap only about seven metres wide, before plunging more than forty metres into the pool below. It is a thunderous and photogenic sight.

   Allow about one to two hours for the walk and photographs, and wear sturdy shoes because the path can be wet and rocky. Your guide explains the geology of the Rift Valley and the history of the falls, which were named after Sir Roderick Murchison by explorer Samuel Baker in the 1860s.

   You then begin the return journey, crossing the Nile by ferry and driving south through Masindi, with lunch on the way. Plan to arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the evening, depending on traffic. Your driver-guide drops you at your hotel or the airport and wishes you well for the rest of your trip.