6 DAYS MURCHISON NATIONAL PARK & KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Day 1
TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Early pick up from the hotel in Entebbe or Kampala, and by 7am we will be on our way on a long 7 to 8 hour journey through various landscapes in northern Uganda to Murchison Falls National Park.
On our way, we will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino Tracking. The rhinos roam freely on 3,500 acres of land, however they are closely monitored 24 hours a day to protect them from poachers. Tracking and viewing the rhinos usually involves a short drive followed by 1.5 to 3 hours walking and viewing with a ranger. Closed shoes, long trousers and insect repellent are strongly recommended.
Then, continue to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s best known and biggest nature reserve. With the impressive, powerful Murchison waterfall and its remarkable animal populations, this is a must see while visiting the Pearl of Africa. An exceptional boat or Delta safari on the Nile River offers water viewing up close and personal. Always make sure you have your camera ready! The Nile divides the park between the northern and southern sections as it makes its way through multiple rapids and waterfalls to Lake Albert. During the war years, poachers and troops almost wiped out the majority of wildlife, except for the park’s rhino population. Fortunately, all the other wildlife has recovered quickly. A game drive through the park allows you to be eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom. Be prepared to be astounded by the sheer number of elephants you will encounter, along with giraffes, lions, antelope, waterbucks, buffalo, hippos and crocodiles. Game drives take place on the tracks in the northern section of the park which is reached by taking a ferry across the river. This park guarantees adventure!
Day 2
GAME SAFARI AND BOAT SAFARI ON VICTORIA NILE
Rising early is important this day, as we start out by 6:30am for a 4 hour game drive to explore the park and see the early risers and predators coming from their hideouts.
This drive will take your breath away, and a professional ranger with extensive knowledge of the park and its inhabitants will join you for the drive. Not only will you see incredible numbers of wildlife, but you will discover some of the park’s ecosystems with different scenery of dense woodland, expansive savannahs and rolling grasslands. This is the best time for viewing Jackson’s hartebeests, lions, giraffes, waterbucks and different species of antelope. The park is especially known for its massive elephant population, huge array of bird species & big herds of buffalo.
The 3 hour afternoon boat safari towards the Murchison Falls travels along the Victoria Nile to the base of the falls, and reveals breathtaking scenery and numerous wildlife from the moment you step onto the launch to the moment you step off.
You will be watched closely by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffalo, water birds (over 450 different species), monkeys and all the other (also thirsty) wildlife along this world renowned waterway. For those who enjoy hiking, step off the launch near the falls and hike to the top (about 1 hour hike) to be guaranteed breathtaking, heart stopping views in the Pearl of Africa. Your tour guide will be waiting at the highest point to drive you back to the lodge for dinner.
Day 3
BOAT SAFARI ON DELTA AND GAME SAFARI
The Nile delta is the area where the Victoria Nile flows into lake Albert. The banks of the delta are home to hundreds of bird species including the rare and prehistoric shoebill stork and papyrus endemic species. This boat safari through the delta is a must do for every birdwatcher. While on this approximately 5 hour tour, you will be served “brekkie” while enjoying beautiful scenery as we head to lake Albert, where you will see fishermen in canoes with catches of tilapia fish, local people fetching water from the Nile and of course wild game. Keep an eye out for elephants, hippos and crocodiles too, as the river is their bathtub! Remember also to look up, as the treetops are full of monkeys — eastern fringed monkeys and baboons. The boat trip starts early in the morning during the soft light, which are golden hours for photographers, and the light lasts until about 10am when it becomes brighter. This is the time to relax, sit back & enjoy! Another game drive in the afternoon searching for more exciting wildlife might be exactly what you want, or you can relax at the lodge.
Day 4
To Kibale Forest
The drive to Kibale Forest is indescribably beautiful, passing through tea plantations and lush green countryside which characterizes so much of Uganda. On arrival at the forest, you will enter a completely different world… some serious monkey business!
Kibale lies just outside the colonial town of Fort Portal and is a dense tropical rainforest. This park is considered one of the highlights of any Uganda trip, as huge numbers of primates inhabit this area. A visit to one of the habituated chimpanzee groups is a must see, and the rare red colobus, the black and white colobus, red tailed monkey, olive baboon, blue monkey and l’Hoest’s monkeys are regularly see here.
Day 5
CHIMPANZEE TRACKING AND SWAMP WALK
Chimpanzees share 98% of human genes which makes them our closest living relatives. In Uganda there are approximately 5,000 chimps left in the wild. The chimpanzee tracking experience is along well maintained walking trails, and there is also a wonderfully diverse concentration of other primates, more than in any other forest in East Africa: red colobus, red-tailed guernon, white-nosed monkey, gray-cheeked mangabey, blue monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey and the black and white colobus. During this tracking and swamp walk adventure you may see olive baboons, bush babies and nocturnal pottos. A 1 hour, professionally guided eye-to-eye contact experience with the chimpanzees in this jungle will be a life-changing experience for many.
The Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary features 8 primate species, over 200 bird species and many reptiles. During this 2-3 hour walk, there will be many animals to see, however, the highlight of this particular walk, will be catching a glimpse of the famous Great Blue Turaco. This sanctuary is operated by KAFRED, a registered community-based organization, with the fee charged for the walk used to support community development programs such as schools, and hospitals.
Day 6
An 8 hour drive to the airport in Entebbe will give you plenty of time to take last minute pictures and relive some of the highlights of your adventure in the Pearl of Africa.