5 Days big five safari in Murchison falls national park
The 5 days big five safari in Murchison falls national park is an exceptional adventure that will take you to Murchison falls national park which is the largest national park located in north wester park of Uganda. Murchison falls national park is famously known for harbouring the most powerful waterfall in Africa and different animals including elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, giraffes, hippos, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, hyenas, crocodiles, Jackson’s hartebeest, warthogs, oribi among others which will be viewed during the game drives, boat cruise to the bottom of the falls and Nile Delta boat cruise. During the safari in Murchison falls national park, you will also engage in chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest where you will be able to spend one hour with the chimpanzees in their natural environment.
Highlights of the 5 Days big five safari in Murchison falls national park
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park with Rhino tracking
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 3: Nile Delta boat cruise and evening game drive
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest
Day 5: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park
Depending on your location in Kampala/ Entebbe on the first day of the 5 days big five safari, 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 journey takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive and on the way you will have a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking and then continue the journey with another stopover for en-route lunch. After lunch you will proceed to Murchison falls national park and upon arrival in the park you will drive directly to the top of the falls where you will have breath-taking views of the waterfalls, scenery, animals among others. From the top of the falls you will drive to check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Morning game drive and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
Morning game drive,
After an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days big five safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive where you will be able to view animals like buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, warthogs, giraffes, Uganda kobs grazing in the savannah plains with due, view predators like hyenas, lions, leopards among others before going back to their hiding areas, view different birds among others. After the game drive you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.
Boat cruise,
After lunch you will go for an exciting boat cruise to the bottom of the falls which starts at Paraa jetty landing site and takes about 2 to 3 hours. During the boat cruise you will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and crocodiles in water, view animals like elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes along the water banks, view water bird species like fish eagle, kingfishers, cormorants among others. After the boat cruise you will return back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Nile delta boat cruise and evening game drive
On the third day of the 5 days big five safari, you will have breakfast and then meet up with your driver guide and transfer to Paraa jetty landing site for your scheduled Nile Delta boat cruise which takes about 3 to 4 hours. During the Nile delta boat ride, you will be able to view different animals like elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles, variety of bird species including the elusive shoebill stork, enjoy the beautiful scenery among others.
After the boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for lunch where after you will relax at the lodge and later go for an evening game drive in the park where you will get an opportunity to view some of the animals that you might have missed the previous day. After the evening game drive, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest
After an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days big five safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and transfer to Budongo forest for chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the chimpanzees which takes about 2 hours to 5 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view other primates, bird species, tree and plant species and once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviours, habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, fight, hunt, groom young ones, take photos and record videos. After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will drive to the lodge for late lunch and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 5: Departure to Kampala
After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 5 days big five safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey back to Kampala with en-route lunch on the way. Upon arrival in Kampala your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of convenience.
End of 5 Days big five safari in Murchison falls national park
Tour includes
- Park entrance fees/ game drives
- Boat cruise fees
- Rhino tracking permit
- Top of the falls drive
- Nile Delta boat cruise
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- International Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
