5 Days Murchison Falls and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

5 days Murchison falls and chimpanzee trekking safari is an interesting adventure that starts and ends in Kampala. The safari will take you to Murchison falls national park where you will have great views of the big five mammals which include the elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos which are found in Ziwa rhino sanctuary. You will also view other animals like giraffes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, hippos, Nile crocodiles, different bird species among others, during the game drive and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. From Murchison falls national park you will connect to Kibale national park where you will engage in Bigodi swamp walk and chimpanzee trekking an incredible activity that allows you to spend one hour with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

Highlights of the 5 days Murchison falls and chimpanzee trekking safari

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Murchison falls national park
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale national park
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 5: Departure to Kampala

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 of the 5 days Murchison falls and chimpanzee trekking safari

Arrival and transfer to Murchison falls national park, depending on the time of arrival on the first day of the 5 days Murchison falls and chimpanzee trekking 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. Murchison falls national park is the largest and most visited national in Uganda, located in northwestern part of Kampala. The journey to Murchison falls national park takes about 5 to 6 hours drive and on the way you will have a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking, Ziwa sanctuary is the only destination in Uganda harboring the endangered rhinos in their natural environment. After rhino tracking, you will continue to Masindi town for lunch where after you will proceed with the journey to the park, upon arrival you will drive directly to the top of the falls where you will have spectacular views of the waterfalls, bird and animal species, beautiful scenery among others. From the top of the falls you will drive to the lodge, check in, have dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Morning game drive, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Murchison falls and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to go for a morning game drive across the savannah vegetation. The game drive can be done as early as 7:00am so as to catch up with the predators going back to their hiding areas. You will follow different game tracks such as Buligi track, Victoria game track which offer great views of animal species such as elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, lions, giraffes and warthogs, leopards, Jackson’s heartbeats, bird species, take pictures of the sunrise among others. After the game drive you will return back to the lodge for lunch.
Boat cruise, after lunch you will drive to Paraa landing site for the amazing boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. The scheduled boat cruise starts at around 2:00pm and takes 2 to 3 hours ride, during the boat ride you will have great views of the waterfall, beautiful scenery, cruise meters away from large concentrations of hippos and crocodiles in water, other animals such as elephants, buffaloes, antelopes along the river banks, aquatic bird species such as the King fisher’s, Bee-eaters, Herons, papyrus gonolek, cormorants, fish eagles among others. The boat will continue to the bottom of the falls where you will either opt for an adventurous hike to the top of the falls or cruise back to the starting point. Hiking to the top of the falls takes about 45 minutes but strenuous therefore it needs you to be physically fit, during hiking you will have spectacular views of the landscape, River Nile, bird species, listen to the roars of the water, enjoy water splashes among others. When you reach on top you will find your driver guide waiting for you and then transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale national park

Transfer to Kibale: After breakfast on the third day of the 5 days Murchison falls and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kibale national park. It’s a whole day journey and on the way you will have en-route lunch and spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains, smiling people, tea plantations, crater lakes, local people among others. Upon arrival in the park you will continue to check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk

Chimpanzee trekking, after an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Murchison falls and chimpanzee trekking safari your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to Kanyachu Visitors Centre for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park is done in groups of 6 people where each group will be allocated a chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. Chimpanzee trekking takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours or even longer 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 wildlife species like bird species, primates, mammals, tree species among others and once the chimpanzees are located you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their life style, behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, hunt, rest, take photos and record the moments to show people back home after the safari. After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide to return to the lodge for lunch.

Bigodi swamp walk, after lunch you will go for nature walk in Bigodi wetland swamp, where you will be able to view different bird species, like the great blue turaco, primates like black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, tree species, listen to sweet sounds of bird singing in the trees, feel the cool breeze, breath fresh air among others. After the swamp walk, you will drive back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Departure to Kampala

Departure to Kampala: On the last day of the 5 days Murchison falls and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will have a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey to Kampala. On the way you will have a stopover at Igongo cultural center for lunch and another stopover at the Equator where you will take photos and buy some souvenirs. From the Equator, you will continue the journey and upon arrival 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 Murchison falls and chimpanzee trekking safari

Tour includes

Boat cruise fee
Chimpanzee trekking permit
Hiking to the top of the falls (optional)
Rhino tracking
Bigodi swamp walk
Professional English speaking driver-guide
Park entrance fees
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.