5 Days Murchison Falls Wildlife Safari and Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

Safari highlights

• Game drives and a Nile launch cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
• Hike to the top of Murchison Falls
• Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park
• Visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on the way north
• Drive through tea country and Fort Portal highlands

Itinerary route map

1. Kampala
2. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
3. Murchison Falls National Park
4. Kibale 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 drive to Kibale

   After breakfast you drive to the top of Murchison Falls and hike a short trail to the viewpoints, where the Nile funnels through a gap of about seven metres before dropping into the gorge. The power and noise of the water are impressive, and the spray cools you in the morning heat. Allow one to two hours here.

   You then leave the park and start the cross-country journey to Fort Portal and Kibale. The route goes through Masindi, Hoima and Kyenjojo, with lunch on the way. This is a long drive of about eight to nine hours, but it passes through varied scenery, from savannah and farmland to the tea estates near Fort Portal.

   You reach your lodge near Kibale in the evening and settle in for dinner. Your guide will brief you about tomorrow's chimpanzee tracking, including what to wear and carry. After a long day of travel, an early night is recommended so that you are fresh for the forest. A good night of sleep will help you enjoy the forest tomorrow.

4. 04
   Day 4 Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park

   After breakfast, you go to the Kanyanchu briefing, where rangers explain the tracking rules and divide visitors into small groups. Kibale Forest is among the best places in Africa to see chimpanzees, and the community here is well habituated. Each group is led by a ranger guide and trackers who have located the animals earlier.

   The trek lasts from one to several hours, depending on the chimpanzees' location. When you find them, you can spend up to one hour observing them as they feed, groom and call to each other. The forest also shelters red colobus, black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys and many bird species. The experience is quiet and often emotional, and it is one that many visitors describe as unforgettable.

   In the afternoon you can rest at the lodge or take a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a short distance away. The raised trails pass through papyrus and forest, where you may see monkeys and birds such as the great blue turaco. Proceeds support local community projects and conservation.

5. 05
   Day 5 Kibale to Kampala / Entebbe

   After breakfast you check out and begin the return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. If time permits, your guide can stop at a viewpoint over one of the crater lakes or at a tea estate for photographs before you leave the Fort Portal area. These stops add a pleasant finish to the safari.

   The drive takes roughly five to six hours with a lunch stop at a roadside restaurant. You follow the same route through Mubende and Mpigi, and your guide can suggest craft stops if you wish to buy souvenirs. The traffic on approach to Kampala may be heavy, so keep this in mind if you have an evening flight.

   You arrive in the evening and are dropped at your hotel or the airport. Your driver-guide ensures that all luggage is accounted for and answers any last questions about onward travel. The safari ends here, and you leave with memories of face-to-face encounters with our closest living relatives. Thank you for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure.