Murchison falls Big 5 Savannah and Jinja Tour
Home »Murchison Falls, is a waterfall on the Nile. At the top of Murchison Falls, the Nile forces its way through a gap in the rocks, only 7 meters wide, and tumbles 43 meters, then flows westward into Lake Albert. Murchison houses the famous African big four (lion, leopard, elephant, and Cape buffalo) and to complete the African BIG 5 game animals, you’ll stop over at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to visit the last of the white Rhinos. Winding up with the Nile Source tour is for those who are already in the country either as foreign residents, visitors who have flown in for business and meetings, or citizens who want to enjoy the tourist attractions of their country as part of their holiday to unwind. You will visit the source of the Nile River, participate in the white water rafting and finish with a visit to the historical town of Jinja.
Safari Highlights
- Ziwa Rhino tracking
- Murchison falls
- Game drive
- Boat launch on the Victoria Nile
- Chimp trekking
- Boat cruise the Source of the Nile
Day 1- Visit Love Uganda Foundation
Upon arrival you will be picked by our representative and take to Love Uganda Foundation, where you will spend of the afternoon before retiring at.
- Forest Cottages (Both Budget and Mid-range, one Bed and Breakfast)
Day 2- Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Set off after breakfast at 7 am, head North through the districts of Luweero and Masindi through their traditional farms and villages, Stopping at Ziwa Ranch Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking. Head to Masindi town for lunch en-routes and re-fueling after proceed to Murchison falls National Park. Go straight to tour the Top and bottom of majestic falls, where the Nile crashes through a 7 metres gorge to the falls 45 metres. Numerous scenic viewpoints are a photographers’ delight on this Murchison Falls safari. The most impressive view is of the foaming waters rushing into the gorge with a deafening roar. You will return to your lodge for your dinner and overnight at.
- Redchili Rest Camp/Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget)
- Fort Murchison Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Parkside Safari Lodge (Mid-range)
Day 3- Game drive and Launch cruise
You will wake up very early and set off at 6.30am for a sunrise game drive in the Nyamsika plateau to see the Cape buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, Uganda kob, hartebeest and waterbucks. You may also spot oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, shy sitatunga, bush duiker, warthog and bush pig plus large carnivores including lions, leopards and spotted hyenas. Chimpanzees and olive baboons head the list of six species of primates found in the park. Crocodiles and hippos will be seen along the banks of the Nile. Some of the more common birds that can be seen include goliath heron, Egyptian geese, pelican, bee-eaters, kingfishers, hornbill, cormorant, saddle-bill stork and the rare shoebill stork.
You will return to your lodge for a late breakfast and some relaxation before setting off in the afternoon for a boat cruise on the placid Victoria Nile, upstream, to the base of the falls. En route you will see hippos, crocodiles, water buck and a wide variety of birds including the unusual shoebill stork. The boat stops just tens of meters from the “Devil’s Cauldron” for pictures to be taken of the photogenic and majestic Murchison Falls. You will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at
- Redchili Rest Camp/Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget)
- Fort Murchison Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Parkside Safari Lodge (Mid-range)
Day 4- Chimp tracking and transfer to Jinja
After breakfast we head to Budongo forest located within Murchison falls national park for chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo usually starts with briefing from the information Centre at the Budongo Eco Lodge. The forest has well established trails to allow visitors spot the chimps as well as other smaller primates and birds. Chimpanzee trekking is done in two shifts –morning and afternoon. The Chimp communities roam very close to the Budongo Eco lodge on most days of the year. However, during certain periods of the year, they wander way in search of fruits and water. During these periods of food scarcity, finding them is not always guaranteed. The success rate of seeing chimps is still very high, only bettered by Kibale forest national park. For the best possible chance of spotting the chimps, Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo lasts for an average of 3 hours. After locating the chimp community, visitors are only allowed one hour with them.
After this experience we drive back to Kampala. Leave the park, have a stop in Masindi for lunch and continue with the journey then connect to Jinja Town to visit the source of the mighty Nile, Africa’s longest river. You will arrive in the early evening and relax at your lodge until dinner time. Alternatively, you can go on a short walking tour of Jinja before your overnight stay at the
- Budget-Paradise Hotel Jinja.
- Mid-range-2Friends Hotel
Day 4- Jinja –Source of the River Nile and optional White Water Rafting
Eat breakfast and then go on a brief drive through this historical town before exploring the source of the river Nile by boat. You will then spend the rest of the day rafting (optional) before heading back to your hotel in Kampala or to the airport for your flight home.