5 Days Rhinos, the Nile and Murchison Falls Safari

Your safari begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel or residence in Kampala or Entebbe. After a briefing from your driver-guide, you travel north through the countryside, passing local trading centres, farmland and rural communities on the way to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

At Ziwa you meet the sanctuary guides for a briefing, then set out on a guided rhino-tracking walk with trained rangers. The sanctuary protects and breeds southern white rhinos in Uganda, and tracking them on foot at a safe distance is a chance to learn about their behaviour, habitat and the conservation work behind their recovery.

After the walk you have lunch at the sanctuary or a nearby restaurant, then continue to Murchison Falls National Park. You check in at your lodge and relax with views of the surrounding wilderness before dinner.

Rise early for breakfast, then head out for a morning game drive in the northern savannah sector of Murchison Falls National Park, when many animals are active and the plains are still cool. Your guide helps you identify wildlife as you search for elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kob, hartebeest, waterbuck and warthogs, and for lions resting in the grass or hunting on the plains.

Return to the lodge for lunch and a rest, with time to enjoy the views or watch birds around the property. In the afternoon you head out again, either to a different part of the park or back to areas where wildlife was seen earlier, with softer light for photography and more explanation of animal behaviour and the ecosystem. You return to the lodge for dinner and to share photographs from the day.

After breakfast at the lodge, you go to the Nile for one of the park’s signature experiences, a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile towards the base of the falls. Look out for pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles basking on the banks, and elephants and other animals coming to drink, along with a rich variety of birds that your guide can help you identify.

As you approach the falls, the river narrows and the current builds towards the rocky gorge. The boat usually goes to the lower falls area, and the exact stopping point and time depend on operating conditions and safety instructions.

After the cruise and lunch, you visit the top of Murchison Falls, subject to access and park conditions. From the viewpoints you see the Nile forced through the gorge, with spray, noise and views over the landscape. You return to the lodge in the afternoon or early evening for dinner.

After breakfast you head out on another guided wildlife drive. The extra day lets you explore at a relaxed pace and improves your chances of seeing species that were elusive earlier. Your guide chooses the route from recent sightings, track conditions and the day’s wildlife activity.

Depending on the season, you may see elephants moving between feeding grounds, giraffes browsing on acacia trees, buffaloes gathering on open grassland and antelope grazing in herds, and your guide points out birdlife, tracks and signs of activity along the way.

Back at the lodge for lunch, you can spend the afternoon relaxing, photographing the landscape, or arranging an optional activity such as a guided nature walk where offered and permitted, birdwatching or a cultural visit with a local community. You can also add a further game drive. Optional activities should be arranged in advance and may cost extra. You then enjoy dinner at the lodge.

Enjoy your final breakfast at the lodge, then check out and begin the journey back to Kampala or Entebbe. Depending on your departure time and the lodge’s location, there may be time for a short morning activity or a last look at the landscape before you leave the park.

You travel south through farms, rural settlements and trading centres, with a lunch stop on the way while your driver-guide shares insights into Uganda’s landscapes and culture. You arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the late afternoon or evening, depending on traffic and road conditions, and are taken to your hotel, residence or agreed departure point.