3 Day Murchison Venture

Overview

Exploring the Beauty of The Pearl of AfricaOverviewThis is a 3-day safari departing from and returning to Kampala, Uganda. It is a compact but adventure-packed introduction to Uganda's largest and oldest national park, Murchison Falls National Park with a stop at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch on the way.Experience LevelModerate. This trip is suitable for most travelers with a reasonable level of fitness, but it is not a relaxed, sit-back safari. Key physical elements:Rhino tracking on foot at Ziwa; walking through bush to locate rhinos.Hiking to the Top of the Falls : a guided walk, not a strenuous climb, but on uneven ground.Optional rafting on the Nile : this is a high-adrenaline activity and requires swimming ability and good health.Game drives and boat trips : mostly seated, accessible to most ages.The trip is not wheelchair-accessible as described, and the hiking and rhino tracking components require basic mobility. It is well-suited to first-time safari-goers, solo travelers, couples, small groups and large groups who want a short but intense wildlife and adventure fix.What Makes It Unique1. Four of the Big Five in one short trip.Murchison Falls National Park is one of the few places in Uganda where you can see lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo, and the Ziwa stop adds rhinoceros meaning this 3-day trip gives you a realistic shot at all of the Big Five.2. Rhino tracking on foot : a rare experience.Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch is Uganda's only place to see wild rhinos, and tracking them on foot is far more intimate and exciting than a standard game drive. You get a real sense of the animal's size and presence.3. The Nile's most dramatic moment.The Top of the Falls hike puts you at the point where the entire Nile, 6,000 km from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean forces itself through a 7-metre gap and plunges 43 metres. It is described in the quote as "the most exciting thing to happen to the Nile along its 6,000km journey."4. Two different perspectives on the falls.You experience the falls from the top on foot (Day 2 morning) and from the bottom by boat (Day 2 evening). Very few short safaris offer both angles.5. The world's largest population of endangered Rothschild's giraffe.Murchison Falls National Park is the best place in the world to see this subspecies, which can be found in Uganda.6. Birding on a world-class level.With several bird species including the elusive shoebill, this trip appeals strongly to birders, not just general wildlife enthusiasts.7. Adventure add-on: rafting the Nile.The optional rafting on Day 2 turns a wildlife safari into a proper adventure trip. This is not a standard inclusion on most 3-day Uganda safaris.8. Efficient use of a short break.In just 3 days from Kampala, you get rhino tracking, game drives, hiking, birding, a boat safari, and optional rafting.

Day by Day

1. 1
   

   Day 1

   Arrival and welcome briefing

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   Early morning: Depart Kampala and drive north toward Murchison Falls.

   Morning/early afternoon: Stop at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch for rhino tracking on foot. This is one of the few places in Uganda where you can track rhinos ,you drive and walk to locate them, then observe them up close on foot. You will likely also see antelope, monkeys, and birds on the ranch.

   Afternoon: Arrive at Murchison Falls National Park .

   Evening: Evening game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. This is prime time for wildlife viewing :temperatures cool, light softens, and animals become active. Expect possible sightings of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, antelope, and monkeys.

   Photos from this day

   

   • Night game drives
   • Rhino tracking

   Main destination

   Murchison Falls national park

   Overnight

   Mama washindi lodge

   Meals included

   Dinner, Lunch

   Drinks

   Non-alcoholic drinks included

2. 2
   

   Day 2

   Magic in Murchison Falls

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   Early morning: Hike to the Top of the Falls : a guided walk to the top of the 43m-high Murchison Falls, where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge. This is the park's centrepiece and one of the most dramatic sights on the entire Nile.

   Morning: Bird watching in the park. Murchison has several recorded bird species, including the shoebill, Abyssinian ground hornbill, white-crested turaco, and red-headed lovebird.

   Afternoon (optional): White-water rafting on the Nile : an adrenaline-heavy optional activity near the source of the world's longest river.

   Evening: Boat trip upriver to the base of Murchison Falls.

   • Boat trip
   • Birding
   • Hiking

   Main destination

   Murchison Falls National Park

   Overnight

   Mama washindi lodge

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Drinks

   Non-alcoholic drinks included

3. 3
   

   Day 3

   Departure

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   Early morning: Final game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, described in the quote as often becoming the favorite part of the safari, with animals out and active.

   After departure: Drive back to Kampala, arriving in the capital.

   • Game drives

   Main destination

   Kampala

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

What’s Included

Getting There

• Starts and ends in Kampala.
• Fly to and from Entebbe International Airport (EBB).
• You book your own international flights.
• A transfer from and back to the airport is included.
• Extra nights before or after the trip can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You will be picked up from the airport or your place of stay. Additional nights can be arranged at an extra cost

1. 1Arrival and welcome briefing, Murchison Falls national park
2. 2Magic in Murchison Falls, Murchison Falls National Park
3. 3Departure, Kampala

Traveller Reviews

Offered By

Savanna Quest Uganda

Local operator based in Uganda

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