4 days Murchison Falls National Park Safari takes you to you to North-Eastern Uganda and one of Uganda’s two most visited national parks. The Murchison Falls is one of the few national parks in Africa where tourists get to see all of the big 5 mammals (Rhinos are spotted at the Ziwa rhino sanctuary which was established close to the park). The park gets its name from the Murchison Falls. These falls are formed when the river Nile squeezes its way through a narrow gorge as it flows towards South Sudan. The result are spectacular falls accompanied by thunderous roars and amazing rainbow colors. Thousands of international and local tourists visit the park only to see the waterfalls.
The Murchison Falls National park 
has 76 different species of mammals. The vegetation consists of mostly savanna grasslands, woodlands, forests like Budongo and swampy grasslands on the Albert Nile. The Murchison Falls National Park is made up of several sections/sectors where wildlife can be spotted. They include Paraa, Buligi, Nyamiska, Pakuba, Chobe, Rabongo forest, Karuma Wildlife Reserve, Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo forest. Rabongo, Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo forest areas are home to chimpanzees and other smaller primates. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo is very popular with visitors to the park and is an opportunity to observe a creature that has a similar DNA to humans.
Another great attraction while visiting the Murchison Falls National Park is the Nile. The river passes right in the middle park of the park as it makes its way to North Africa leaving behind waterfalls and other remarkable geological features. Because of the Nile, tourists can take part in sport fishing and a launch cruise along the Nile to observe aquatic creatures. You can also check out our 3 days Murchison falls safari package or the 5 days tour of Murchison falls if you are interested in a longer tour. We even have the 2 days Murchison falls tour package for those who are constrained by time.
- Main activities
- Highlights
- Full Itinerary
- Tour Inclusions and Exclusions
- Important Notes
- Packing List
- Lodges and Hotels
Main activities
- Hiking to the top of the falls
- Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo
- Visiting the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Game drives
- A boat cruise
A driver will show up at your hotel or airport for pickup and a briefing. During the briefing, the driver/Guide will share with you details about the trip and how to prepare. You can agree with him on any minor changes that you would like as long as it doesn’t deviate much from the programme. After the briefing, you will start the journey to Murchison Falls National park via Kampala. The journey takes you past Luwero District and then to Nakasongola where you will branch off to visit the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. The sanctuary was established to protect the last remaining rhinos and start a breeding programme to increase their numbers.
and what is being done to protect rhinos worldwide. The Ziwa Rhino sanctuary sits on a large piece of land with incredible biodiversity. Apart from white rhinos, expect to spot antelopes, smaller primates and birds.
After enjoying your breakfast, you will head for a morning game drive at the Nyamsika area. The purpose of this morning game drive is to observe the early risers (birds and mammals) while also looking out for nocturnal animals going back to their dens. The Nyamsika track is thought to be the best game viewing area in Murchison falls national park. It has a wide collection of animals including elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, elands, warthogs and reedbucks among others. You will also observe birds like the grey-crowned crane, goliath heron, yellow billed stork and Senegal thick knee among many others. While on the game drive, you will have many opportunities to take photos as you listen to commentary from either the park ranger or the company driver/guide. The game drive will take about 3 to 4 hours. After completing it, you will go back to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will drive to Paraa dock for the boat cruise along the Nile. This particular boat cruise will be one of the major highlights of your safari. The boat cruise starts downstream and ends at the bottom of the falls. As the boat moves slowly upstream, you will be rewarded with great views of aquatic animals like Nile crocodiles, hippos, waterbucks, elephants and buffaloes drinking on the shores. The boat ride starts at 2pm and end at 5pm.
and pristine wilderness. The area is rarely visited by other tourists because most of them book shorter safaris. It is an excellent area for bird-watching and game viewing. Expect to see more hippos and crocodiles. The birds to look out for are king fishers, flamingos, egrets, flycatchers, geese, plovers and the elusive shoebill stork. By the end of this boat cruise, you appreciate the remarkable biodiversity in the park. The driver will be waiting to take you back to your lodge for relaxation and lunch.
briefing covers topics like what to expect, the packing list, history of the forest and how to handle yourself once you encounter the chimps. You will them head out into the forest to search for the primates. Chimpanzees are very agile and vocal primates. Unlike gorillas, they spend much of their time on top of trees. Finding them is easy because of their loud cries and barks. Once you find them, you will have to very attentive and observant to fully enjoy the one hour with them. Chimps are very intelligent and playful animals that will wow you right from the start. Take as many photos as you can whenever a chance presents itself. On completion of this activity, you will begin the journey back to Kampala or Entebbe. The company driver will drop you at a suitable spot or the airport.
The itinerary is open for adjustments or amendments if requested by the client. If a traveler wants to add some other activities or visit other national parks, adjustments can be made. We try ensure that our tour packages are designed to suit the visitor.
maintained it standards after several renovations and other improvements. It remains an elegant accommodation facility where guests find all the high quality services they would need. There are single, double and twin rooms that are of high quality. Each room is spacious and with a veranda overlooking the Nile river. The food and beverage department prepare both local and continental meals. Book with this lodge if you are looking for the ultimate quality while visiting Murchison Falls National Park. Paraa Safari Lodge is owned by the Madhivani group of companies.
Murchison River lodge: This is a basic lodge which targets low budget travelers. It is situated in the southern part of the park – a few meters to the showers of the Nile. The lodge has bandas and tented camps for guests. Most of them are self-contained while others have shared bathrooms and toilets. Murchison River Lodge also caters for guests who have their own camping gear. If you have your own tents and camping equipment, you will be offered space within the premises. What other amenities does the lodge offer? Murchison River Lodge has a very large eating area for guests with a restaurant serving both international and local cuisines. Book with this lodge is you traveling on budget.
