This 2 Days Murchison Falls Safari : takes you to Murchison Falls National Park “the most powerful water falls” in the world. In general, this gives you an opportunity to explore Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area.
In addition, the park hosts over 76 animal species and over 451 bird species. The park is situated in the northern part of Albertine Rift valley. Besides, its also a place where the massive Bunyoro escarpment combine into the vast plains of Acholi land.
Highlights
- Visit the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.
- Top of the falls.
- Game drive & game viewing.
- Boat cruise.
Overview
Day 1: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park-Top of the falls-Boat Cruise
Day 2: Game drive-Ziwa Rhino sanctuary-Back to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Murchison Falls National park – Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, you will be picked by one of our respective from Great Nest Image Safaris. You will have lunch in Masindi town and thereafter, proceed to the park. As you enter the park, you will drive straight to the top of the falls. Upon arrival, you will have a walk to the stop of these falls that makes Murchison Falls National Park so famous.
Interestingly, this is a place for the most memorable pictures and taking in of the sounds and sights of the falls. As a matter of fact, you will also have the views of the rainbow that does not disappear, created by the mist of the falls. The top of the fall is spectacular, being so close to the falls and seeing the splendor from the top is such a wonderful experience. Later you will check in your lodge and thereafter head to the dock for your launch cruise.
This will take around 3 hours and while on the cruise, you will view different animals. Animals to spot here include; crocodiles, hippos and other animals like the elephants, waterbucks, buffalos as they quench their thirst at the banks of the river. However, there are also different bird species like kingfishers, herons, fish eagles etc. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge (Full board)
Day 2: Game drive – Ziwa Rhino sanctuary- Back to Kampala
After an early breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and go for a dawn break game drive. This gives you a chance to spot the magnificent wildlife and bird life of the park. Here expect to see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, lions to mention but a few. However, on a lucky day you can spot the leopards. Later you will exit the park, en-route Masindi town for lunch. After, you will proceed to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a home to over 30 endangered Southern white rhinos in their natural habitant. Depending on the location of the rhinos, it requires a drive to the areas where they are before taking the bush trek. You may also encounter some wildlife species like Uganda kobs, oribis, reed bucks, water bucks among others and different bird species. Afterwards embark on your journey back to Kampala/Entebbe.
Meals: breakfast
End of safari
Best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park
Watching wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park is generally interesting. However, this is best done during the Dry season, from December to February. However, January and February. On the other hand, during the Wet season from June to November and Park can also be visited.
| Status | Solo | 2 Pax | 4 Pax | 6 Pax | 8 Pax | 10+ Pax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $1100 | $850 | $800 | $750 | $700 | $600 |
| Mid-range | $1500 | $1300 | $1000 | $850 | $800 | $750 |
| Luxury | $2000 | $1500 | $1350 | $1250 | $1150 | $1050 |
Included
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation including fuel
- All activities (included in the itinerary)
- All accommodation (included in the itinerary)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Bottled drinking water
- Park entry fees
Excluded
- International flights
- Personal items
- Extra meals
- Extra accommodation
- Tips
SAFARI TRANSPORT
Standard 4X4 Safari Vans/Land cruisers
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari van and Land cruisers with open roof tops customized for game viewing and photography. Each Safari van/Land cruiser comes with a professionally trained driver/guide with fuel for the whole safari. On top of that, each client is entitled to a window seat and can take up to 8-10 people. We also have very comfortable super customs which can carry up 6 people with their luggage. We also have small vehicles like Alphads, Harrier and much more that can carry 4-5 people.
Optional activities
Bird watching
One of the top forest birding sites in Uganda, Kaniyo Pabidi protests a similar range of species to Budongo Forest. However, the best place to look for birds is around the lodge, especially the gallery forest along the main road which offers good views. Birds to watch out for include; Narina trogon, kingfishers, hornbills, common shrike-flycatcher, sun birds, chestnut wattle-eye etc. A local specialty is Puvel’s illadopsis which is quite common in Kaniyo Pabidi, but known from no other locality in East Africa. Birding half day costs UD$20 per person while full day costs UD$35 per person.
Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest -Kaniyo Pabidi Forests
Kaniyo Pabidi supports two chimpanzee communities, each estimated to number around 90 individuals. The one closest to Budongo Eco Lodge has been habituated for tourist visits since the late 1990s. This tracking consists of 6 guided groups, each comprising up to 3 people at 08:00 then at 14:00. A full day habituation experience allowing up to two people starts a minimum of 6 hours starting at 07:00. Chimpanzee tracking for half day costs US$85 per person while habituation costs UD$155 per person.
Sport fishing
There is good fishing along the Victoria Nile, with large Nile perch and tiger fish offering the main challenge. Here, local fishermen claim to have netted specimens weighing up to 160kg. A sport fishing permit can be bought from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or through our company and costs US$50 per person for one day.
Base of the Falls
The 3 hour launch trip to the base of Murchison Falls has been Murchison Falls National Park’s most popular attraction. This has been there since the Queen Mother made the inaugural voyage in a spanking new boat back in 1959. Starting at Paraa, the boat cruises slowly eastward along an archetypically African stretch of the Nile, fringed by borassus palms, acacia woodland and mahogany stands, before finally docking in a small bay a few hundred metres away from the cashing waterfall. Game viewing along the way is excellent and expect to see animals like crocodiles, Hippos, giraffe, waterbuck, elephants. And also different bird species like the saddled-billed stork, African skimmers, African jacana, African fish eagle not to mention but a few.
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