The 5 days Murchison Falls and Kibale safari combines game viewing in Murchison Falls National Park and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park. These are 2 of Uganda’s 10 magnificent parks and Murchison Falls National Park is the largest of all. It is a stunning savanna protected area where you will engage in game drives and boat cruise.
Murchison Falls National Park protects diversity of wildlife ranging from buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, antelopes, warthogs, elephants, lions to an estimate of 451 bird species. Kibale Forest National Park is positioned in Kabarole district, Western Uganda and shelters 13 primate species and these include about 1500 chimpanzees plus L’Hoest’s monkeys, olive baboons, red colobus monkeys, Mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys. This wildlife and chimp trek tour starts and ends in Kampala/Entebbe.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Entebbe / Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park
Have a hefty cup of tea or coffee and after, transfer to Murchison Falls National Park one of your main destinations to explore during this 5 days Murchison Falls & Kibale safari. This park is in Northwestern Uganda, 4-5 hours’ drive and in your full-size 4×4 car, make a stop visit at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track the only remaining white rhinos.
Lunch stop will be in a hotel in Masindi town then you get to Murchison Falls National Park via its southern gate; Kichumbanyobo gate. Enjoy the remarkable view of playful baboons at Kaniyo-Pabidi / Budongo Forest enroute then don’t miss the breathtaking view of Murchison Falls as it forces itself in a narrow rock of 7meters. Later, a relaxed dinner and overnight stay will be had at the booked lodge.
Day 2: Game drive & launch or boat cruise
Have a tasty and leisurely breakfast early morning. Later, go game drive on Northern circuit of Murchison Falls National Park taking you 2-3 hours. The park is well known for huge concentration of wildlife majority of which will be spotted, ranging from African bush elephants, buffaloes, lions, Rothschild giraffes, leopards, birds and others. Retreat from your game drive to be served lunch before embarking on 2:00pm launch trip to the bottom of Murchison waterfalls. Enjoy amazing view of hippos, basking Nile crocodiles at banks of Nile, aquatic birds especially bee-eaters, kingfishers, fish eagles and many more.
Day 3: Murchison Falls – Kibale Forest National Park via Hoima, about 7-8 hours’ drive
Wake up and have a leisurely cup of tea or coffee then check out of your lodge. Take 7-8 hours’ drive to Kibale Forest National Park in your 4×4 vehicle.
Along the way, the trip allows you to enjoy breathtaking views of countryside sceneries, lovely landscapes especially the rift valley escarpment. Lunch break will be in Hoima Oil City before proceeding to your lodge in Kibale Forest.
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking
Kibale Forest National Park is the primate capital of the world and undoubtedly the leading chimpanzee tracking paradise. Start your day with an early morning breakfast and after, assemble at Kanyanchu Tourist Centre for briefing on chimp tracking rules at 7:00am.
From 8:00am, leave Kanyanchu for your morning chimpanzee tracking experience that takes 2-4 hours inclusive of 1 hour of magical encounter and photo taking. Other species of primates to sight here include the red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Vervet monkeys plus beautiful butterflies, birds and a lot more.
Lunch will be provided after your chimpanzee trek and have afternoon exploration at Bigodi Wetland. This swamp sanctuary lets you spot diversity of primate you may have missed out while on chimp trek in Kibale Forest. These range from L’Hoest’s monkeys, Vervet monkeys, baboons, red colobus monkeys to black and white colobus monkeys plus birds especially the Great Blue Turacos.
Day 5: From Kibale Forest National Park back to Kampala/Entebbe
After a delicious breakfast, leave your lodge for Kampala/Entebbe, about 5-6 hours’ drive through Fort Portal Tourism City, Rwenzori mountains, Mbarara and the equator in Mpigi district. Lunch will be offered enroute and not to miss the scenic tea plantations.
