4 days Murchison falls safari and chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest

This 4 days Murchison Falls National Park safari combines a wonderful safari experience in the warm savannah plains and a thrilling chimpanzees trekking adventure under the cool canopies of Budongo Forest. Being able to experience two different environments within minutes is a nice adventure.

Located along the river Nile, Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s biggest game park, covering a wide range of habitats which host lots of wildlife. The savannah plains and grasslands in the northern part of Murchison Falls National Park are one of the best spots to see wild animals in Uganda, including giraffes, lions, antelopes, elephants, buffaloes. The Nile is also home to several water animals such as hippos and crocodiles plus attracts several other animals as a source of water for drinking.

In the south Murchison falls National Park covers a portion of Budongo Forest, the largest forest in East Africa and home to Uganda’s second largest population of chimpanzees. The forest offers an amazing chimpanzee trekking adventure at Kaniyo Pabidi area which is located inside the boundary of Murchison Falls National Park.

Highlights of this 4 days Murchison Falls safari:

– Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest
– Game drives
– Boat cruise along the Nile
– Hike to the top of the Murchison Falls
– Optional rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary

Trip itinerary

Day 1 – travel to Murchison falls national park overnight in Budongo Forest

You will be picked up from Kampala or Entebbe and travel to Murchison Falls National Park. This a 6 hour journey. You will overnight at Kaniyo Pabidi in Budongo forest and sleeping to sounds of the forest such as the screaming of the tree hyrax, birds, and pant-hoots of the chimps which may be heard in a distance, triggers an incredible sense of being so close to nature.

Optional tour activity:

Rhino tracking at Ziwa rhino sanctuary: along the way you can visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary which hosts the white Rhinos and it is only place in Uganda with rhinos in the wild. The guided Rhino tracking which is done on foot is 1 hour long and in addition to the Rhinos there are other animals on the sanctuary that you may see, such as the antelopes.

Accommodation: Budongo Eco Lodge (midrange)

Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 – chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest and transfer north

You shall have breakfast, meet your guide for briefing and set off into Budongo forest for the chimpanzee trekking adventure. This group of chimps is quite large, numbering about 80 individuals. The terrain is relatively flat so do not expect hard trek, unless if they far away from Kaniyo Pabidi which is normally the case around the month September when there is less food in their territory and have to search from farther away. You will spend at most one hour with the chimps.

You will have lunch and leave the cool forests for the warm savanna in the north of the park.

Budget: Fort Murchison Lodge

Midrange: Twiga Safari Lodge

Upmarket: Paraa Safari Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 – game drive, afternoon boat cruise and Murchison falls hike

Early rise and have a hot cup of tea or coffee with a snack at 6am and set out for the game drive in the savannah. This will be a 4 hour safari of traversing several tracks in the northern part of the park. Animals t be missed include buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, warthogs, and many types of antelopes. Other possible sightings but not guaranteed include the much sought after cats such as; lions, hyena, leopard, and jackals.

You will return to the lodge and after lunch go for the boat cruise on the Nile to the base of the Murchison Falls. This is a 2 hour cruise and offers wonderful sightings of hippos, crocodiles, monitor lizards, several water birds. At the base of the falls you shall leave the boat and go on a 45 minutes hike to the top of the Murchison falls. This is one of the biggest highlights of the trip. The river Nile squeezes through a small cleft about 7 meters and emerges with an explosion before plunging into a whirlpool pool 43 meters below and continuing on a smooth flow. You meet your tour driver at the top of the falls and transfer back to the lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – game drive and transfer back to Kampala

Today you may have another morning game drive before continuing out of the park and transfer back to Kampala.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch