4 Days Hot air balloon safari in Murchison falls national park

This 4 days hot air balloon safari in Murchison falls national park will give you an opportunity to explore Murchison falls national park which is the largest protected area in Uganda. The national park is divided into two sectors by River Nile that is the northern and southern sector. The northern sector offers great views of wildlife species like lions, leopards, giraffes, warthogs, buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, hippos, Nile crocodiles, bird species among others which are seen during the game drive and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. The southern sector harbors wildlife species including primates like chimpanzees, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys among others which will be seen during chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest. During your safari you will also participate in a breathtaking hot air balloon activity where you will have aerial view of the park, animals, trees among others.

Highlights of the 4 days hot air balloon safari in Murchison falls national park

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park

Day 2: Hot air balloon experience and afternoon boat cruise

Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking

Day 4: Departure to Kampala

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 of the 4 days hot air balloon safari in Murchison falls national park

Transfer to Murchison falls national park, upon arrival at Entebbe international airport on the first day of your 4 days hot air balloon safari in Murchison falls national park you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Murchison falls national park. The national park is located in northwestern Uganda and the journey takes about 5 to 6 hours drive. On your way you will have en-route lunch and great views of the landscape, homesteads, beautiful scenery, roadside markets among others. upon arrival in the park you will drive directly to the top of the falls where you will have spectacular views of the waterfall, beautiful scenery, bird and animals species. After the top of the falls drive you will transfer to the lodge where you will check in, have dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Hot air balloon experience and afternoon boat cruise

Hot air balloon, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 4 days hot air balloon safari in Murchison falls national park you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the starting point near Paraa lodge for the briefing about the rules, regulations and safety of hot air balloon. After the briefing you will start flying up in the air where you will have views of the park, sunrise, tree tops, savannah vegetation, River Nile, Lake Albert, animals grazing in the savannah plains among others. After the hot air balloon experience you will be served a special continental bush breakfast with a bottle of champagne organized by chefs from Paraa lodge, you will also be awarded a certificate to show that you participated in hot air balloon activity in Murchison falls national park.

After the bush breakfast you will meet up with your driver guide and go for a game drive in the park. during the game drive you should look out for animals like elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, leopards, warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda kobs, bird species like black bellied bustard, secretary birds, open billed stork, hornbills, grey crowned crane, goliath heron among others where after you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.

Boat cruise, after lunch you will drive to Paraa jetty for an exciting boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. The scheduled boat cruise starts at around 2:00pm and takes about 2 to 3 hours, during this adventurous activity you will have an opportunity to cruise near animals like hippos and crocodiles in water, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks among others along the shores drinking water, aquatic bird species such as the pied and malachite king fisher, fish eagles, Bee-eaters, Herons, cormorants, papyrus gonolek among others. The boat will take you to the bottom of the falls where you will opt for an adventurous top of the falls hike. Hiking to the top of the falls is strenuous and takes about 45 minutes therefore it requires you to be physically fit. During hiking you will enjoy splashes of the water, listen to roars of the water, view beautiful scenery among others and when you reach on top of the falls you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking, on the third day of your 3 days fly in safari to Murchison falls national park you will have an early breakfast, carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Budongo forest for chimpanzee trekking. Budongo forest is located in the southern part of Murchison falls national park and harbors different wildlife species including primates, birds, mammals, butterflies, tree species, moth among others. Chimpanzee trekking starts with a briefing about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking at the headquarters and after the briefing you will start trekking in the forest with a park guide who will be sharing information about chimpanzees. Trekking of the chimpanzees takes 30 minutes to 4 hours or even a full day depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move deep into the forest in search of food especially during the dry season.

During trekking you will be able to view other primate species like l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, bird species, tree species, butterflies among others and once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to take photos, record videos, learn more about their habits, behaviors, lifestyles among others. After spending one hour with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters, meet up with your driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Departure to Kampala

On the last day of the 4 days hot air balloon safari in Murchison falls national park, you will have a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey back to Kampala. On your way you will have a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary the only rhino sanctuary in Uganda which offers rhino trekking an interesting activity that gives you an opportunity to view rhinos in their natural environment. After rhino tracking you will continue the journey with en-route lunch and upon arrival in Kampala your guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or at any place of convenience.

End of 4 days Hot air balloon safari in Murchison falls national park

Tour includes

Boat cruise fee
Hot air balloon
Chimpanzee trekking permit
Hiking to the top of the falls (optional)
Rhino tracking
professional English speaking driver guide
Park entrance fee
Full board accommodation
Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
Vehicle and fuel
Bottled water

Tour excludes

International air flight tickets
Visas
Optional activities not included on the itinerary
Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.