4 Day / 3 Nights – Murchison Falls National Park

Meet your safari guide and transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The drive time is approximately 5 to 6 hours from Entebbe. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located north of Kampala in the Nakasongola district of Uganda, The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in the country with wild rhinos. Presently home to twenty two southern white rhinos, the sanctuary offers rhino trekking, shoebill trekking, canoeing, bird watching, and night walks. Tourists may also spot a range of other species including Uganda kobs, oribis, bush bucks, and water bucks. The Neolithic looking shoebill stork is one of the most sought after birds in Uganda, and the sanctuary is one of the only places where they can almost always be seen. See over 300 bird species along bird trails through the woods, swamp and savannah, and take a guided night walk, where you will be introduced to extraordinary night sounds and sensations, including a beautifully clear night sky and several nightly creatures.

After 1 hours’ time spent with the Rhinos, depart for Murchison Falls National park. It is approximately a 2 hours’ drive from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Murchison Falls National park. Murchison Falls National park is situated in the North end of the Albertine Rift valley and it is the largest and oldest conservation area in Uganda. Before it became Murchison falls National Park, it was initially gazetted as a game reserve in 1926

Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savannah. First gazetted as a game reserve in 1926, it is Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 species of birds.

The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45 meters over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80 meter stretch of rapids.  The mighty cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert.  This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles.  Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents.

Once in the park, proceed to Pakuba Safari Lodge. Pakuba safari Lodge overlooks the Nile River on the Eastern side of Murchison Falls National Park providing very spectacular views of the tranquil waters as the sunsets in the backdrop of the dense vegetation surrounding the lodge. The rooms are strategically positioned facing the river and the greenery of the park and guests have chances of sighting a variety of wildlife that are diurnal visitors of the lodge from the comfort of their room verandas.

Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge.

Enjoy a morning game drive to Murchison falls national park ,the home to the worldly known big 5 which includes Lions, buffalo, hippo, Elephant and Leopard. Alongside the big five, Murchison falls is a home to so many other mammals like the Uganda Kob, Rothschild’s giraffe and Orbi, antelopes among others.

The Game drive in Murchison falls can be done as either a half day (in the morning/afternoon) or full day activity. Murchison falls is divided into the northern and the southern side, Northern side known as Paraa and the southern side known as Bugungu which is also known as the heart of Murchison.

The major areas of the drive are the Buligi peninsula and the Delta. The Delta area offers visitors an opportunity to see Lions, while the triangle of grassland in the Buligi Peninsula provides an opportunity to see elephant, buffalo, antelopes, and giraffes. This grassland is bound by the Victoria Nile entering Lake Albert with the Albert Nile flowing out of it and Lions, leopards, plus water birds along with hippos can also be spotted here. Much of the southern part is populated with dense bush and forest, where lions and giraffes can also be seen.

Return to the lodge for lunch and a relaxation and later proceed for the Murchison falls trip to the bottom of the falls cruises from the jetty right to the bottom of the falls, the head of the Fajoa Gorge. The boat cruise can be arranged as scheduled or exclusive activity the trip lasts for 3 hours.

The spectacular views have left many short of breath as the water pushes through the narrow seven meter gap down the forty meter cliff as it gushes down to join the waters of river Nile.

The boat trip also offers beautiful sightings of so many residents of the park along the shores of the river Nile like the hippos, crocodiles, elephants as they feed, never can you miss out glimpsing at the buffaloes and antelopes.

The trip is highly recommended for birdwatchers as it a great opportunity to view a variety of so many birds nesting in the cliffs along the river and savanna plains.

Large resident populations of hippo float in the water along the way, groups of crocodile bask on the shore, and herds of elephant, buffalo and antelope can be seen moving along the riverbanks. The river offers spectacular opportunities for bird watchers, with a wide range of water birds and vibrant Bee-eaters nesting in the cliffs along the river’s bank.

Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge.

Wake up early for a morning delta cruise downstream the Nile. The Victoria Nile delta, a 20km voyage downstream from Paraa is home to rare wetland birds including the elusive shoebill and papyrus endemic species. This leisurely cruise aboard a Kingfisher/Alligator boat down to Lake Albert offers the opportunity to spot elephant, hippo and large Nile crocodiles. The trip lasts approximately 4-5 hours and departs at 7 am from a jetty at Paraa on the South Bank of the Nile River.

Return to the lodge for lunch and later proceed for an afternoon game drive.

Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge.

After your breakfast, embark on your journey to Entebbe with an enroute stop over at the top of the falls. Your guide will drive you to the top of the falls and upon arrival at the gazetted area you are welcomed by the thunderous sound even before you sight the waters as you feel your body being cooled down by the cold breeze from the gushy water. The activity is done on foot, following the mighty sound with your guide, you hike down to the top of the falls. The magnificent view leaves many overwhelmed with joy and excitement as the water purges out of a seven meter gorge, gushing down a forty meter cliff to join the longest river in the world – River Nile.

After an hour at the top of falls with a short hike to the bottom of the falls, allow yourself to be sprayed by the sparkles of water from the big volume and bask in the cool mist around you.

The views are spectacular and the spray of the falls, really refreshing. The walk takes approximately 45 minutes and requires average fitness.

Proceed out to Entebbe.

End of services.