Murchison Falls National Park deserves to be at the top of the bucket-list of anyone anyone spending a few days in Africa. Not only is it Uganda’s biggest wildlife destination, covering 3,840km2, it has one of the best savannahs where you can encounter over 76 mammal species including buffalos, lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes. It is also endowed with Budongo, a dense tropical jungle where chimpanzee trekking excursions come alive. The birdlife is excellent too, with water dwellers such as shoebills and fish eagles found alongside more unusual species such as the Secretary Birds. In total, the park has 476 recorded species. A striking feature of the Murchison is the thunderous waterfall after which it is named.
Day 1. Pickup from Airport and Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison is just four hours’ drive from Kampala. As such, if you fly into Uganda before 9am, it is possible for you to head to the park directly and arrive in time before its gates close at 6am.
The main stopover for this journey is Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you will have a bushwalk in pursuit of the second biggest mammal species on earth after the elephants, the rhinoceros. In this case it is the Southern white species. At this vast ranch found in central Uganda, you will find over 25 of them. They are currently undergoing rebreeding ahead of their re-introduction into the National Parks.
On arrival at the Murchison Park, you will check into your lodge. You are free to spend the rest of the day resting as you take in views of the surrounding scenery. At night, you will be treated to a camp fire experience under the stars.
Overnight stay at any safari lodge of your choice!
Day 2. Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo forest
Located in the Southern wing of Murchison, Budongo is our country’s most important refuge for wild chimpanzees, supporting the second biggest population, currently estimated at around 800. As such, you stand great chances of seeing more than one family of chimps during your trek. The dense jungle is one of the most ecologically diverse forests in Sub-Sahara Africa. It is endowed with 465 plant species recorded, inclusive of giant mahoganies that are as tall as 60m. One of the most fascinating moments here is watching chimps as they enthusiastically drum their (mahogany) buttress roots while trying to communicate to one another. You have a good chance to seeing them at ground level for much of the day as they groom each other and chill out.
Second Activity: Boat cruise on River Nile and Hike to top of the falls
This two hour sightseeing boat cruise takes place along the shoreline of River Nile, offering up-close views of hippos and crocodiles sunbathing. As the day gets hotter, different mammal species congregate here to quench their thirst, a perfect opportunity for you to get their picture. It is such a heart-warming to watch elephants as they splash water on their cute babies while making the most of family time. At the end of this relaxing cruise, you will pursue a 45 minutes hike that offers different perspectives of Africa’s most powerful waterfall. The trail is easy to negotiate and the higher you go, the better the views. The guides will often take you to strategic vantage points off the tracks to get the best views of the entire park.
Day 3. Morning Game drive
The massive herds of elegant giraffes in Murchison’s savannah are a sight to behold, and the birdlife in the swampy areas of the park is both colourful and plentiful. But it’s the lions that steal the show as they hunt for prey. They move with amazing speed and agility that will leave you feeling like you are in the middle of a national geographic shoot. Murchison Falls National Park deserves recognition as an incredible wilderness region where great herds of elephants and buffalos graze alongside herds of several Uganda kobs.
After lunch, you will depart for Kampala or Entebbe International Airport.
