5 days exploring Uganda’s oldest and largest national park as well as the primate capital introduces visitors to the big five animals, at least 10 species of primates, antelopes, Rothschild giraffes and wide range of savannah, woodland, forest, aquatic and wetland bird species.
This safari begins in Entebbe/Kampala then leads visitors to Murchison falls National Park in the north-western part of the country and finally to Kibale Forest National Park in the western side of Uganda before returning back to Kampala/Entebbe.
Day 1: Travel from Entebbe/Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park
Regardless of your location in Kampala or Entebbe, you will be picked-up by our Company representative (your safari driver) to start the journey to Murchison falls National Park. This 6-7 hours’ journey involves a number of en-route stops at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, about 3 hours’ drive from the Capital for a chance to track the country’s only Rhino population in the wild.
Finalizing the rhino tracking adventure leads you to your Lunch, which you will have at Kabalega Diners, few minutes’ drive from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Proceed with your scenic drive to Murchison falls National Park, accessing it through one of its entrance gates and it’s from here that your game drive starts as you head to your booked safari lodge.
Day 2: Incredible game viewing experience and boat cruise
Very early in the morning breakfast is served at the Lodge, then head for the morning game drive along the northern plains of Murchison Falls National Park where majority of Africa’s savannah wildlife species such as Cape buffaloes, African bush elephants, Rothschild giraffes, common warthogs, Topis, Defassa waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and many others. End this game drive after 3-4 hours of exploring the different ecosystems, admiring the beauty of this wilderness and encountering wide range of wildlife species.
Take a break from this rewarding game viewing experience to have Lunch and in the afternoon undertake a boat cruise along the Nile River to the bottom of the falls with rich views of numerous hippos and crocodiles along the pristine sandbanks, with different elephants, Uganda Kobs and buffaloes drinking or lazing, drinking or bathing along the banks.
The boat cruise leads you to the banks of the River where you will eventually disembark from the boat to start the 45-60 minutes’ hike to the top of the falls. This hike allows stunning views of the falls, Devil’s Cauldron where it falls and the rainbow symbol on its top. Find your driver back at the docking point and connect to the same place of stay (as previous night) for dinner/overnight stay.
Day 3: Connect to Kibale Forest National Park via Hoima and Fort Portal cities
Embark on a journey to Kibale Forest National Park after breakfast with occasional stop en-route to enjoy breathtaking views especially the Albert flats and Escarpments, the far flung views of Rwenzori Mountains, the countryside and oil City of Hoima where you will make a stop for lunch. Continue with the journey through Fort Portal City and continue to your Lodge.
Day 4: Adventurous Trek for chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and Bigodi community tour
After a hefty breakfast, continue to Kanyanchu Visitor Center with your packed lunch, drinking water and trekking gear. Meet other trekkers for briefing by a Park Warden on the dos and don’ts of the activity before entering the forest to search for the chimpanzees. The search for chimpanzees in Kibale Forest takes 1-3 hours and on finding them, your viewing/observation as well as photographing experience lasts only one hour.
Trekking chimpanzees is the highlight of the trek but other inhabitants of the forest such as the black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, forest elephants, grey-cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys and different bird species will be encountered during the trek.
In the afternoon after lunch and relaxing be driven to Bigodi wetland Sanctuary on the edge of Kibale forest for another riveting wildlife and bird watching experience.
The guided walks through this wetland Sanctuary lasts 2 hours and brings visitors closer to wetland bird species such as the Papyrus gonolek and Great blue Turaco among others. Explore some of the community projects resulting from tourism development then return to your Lodge.
Day 5: Travel back to Kampala/Entebbe
With your bags leave Kibale Forest National Park for a transfer to Kampala. First have short tours of the Amabere Caves and nearby Crater Lakes, then Lunch in Fort Portal before continuing to the Capital. This marks the end of the 5 days Murchison & Kibale National Park Safari.
