This 6 Days Big Five and Wildlife Safaris with major focus on watching the big five mammals, and wildlife is a choice of visiting Murchison in combination with Kidepo. It’s a trip to the northern side of the country which is mainly for wildlife safari encounters. On this trip expect to explore the tourism potentials of northern Uganda taking you to Uganda’s furthest national park ‘Kidepo Valley National Park, and to Uganda’s largest and most visited national park ‘Murchison Falls National Park. On this trip expect to encounter the Big Five and a lot of ildlife species and special Karamoja people and their culture. The trip start from Kampala goes to Kidepo round to Murchison and comes back to Kampala.
The means of transportation is road using the land cruiser 4×4 safari vehicle and the accommodation is midrange lodges/hotels. Every day of the trip starts with breakfast, has lunch en-route and ends as planned in the detailed itinerary.
Trip Summary
- Day1: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
- Day2: Game Drive and Karamoja Community Visit
- Day3: Transfer to Murchison Falls en-route to Aruu waterfalls
- Day4: Explore Murchison (game drive and boat cruise)
- Day5: Budongo Forest Nature Walks
- Day6: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & Transfer back to Kampala
Major activities
- Game drives, rhino tracking, waterfall visits, top of the falls, boat cruise, Karamoja community visit, and Budongo forest nature walk, and Aruu waterfalls.
Destinations;
- Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Aruu waterfalls, and ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Accommodation;
- Midrange
Transportation;
- 4×4 Land Cruiser with rooftop pop-up
Detailed Trip
Day1: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
The first day of the trip will start with a full drive to Kidepo Valley National Park in northeastern Uganda. This is the furthest national park in Uganda, and using the northern route through Kampala-Gulu-Kitgum-Kidepo you need about 11 hours of driving to reach the park. With lunch en-route in Gulu will reach Kidepo in the late evening hours. Check-in at your lodge and relax for the next day.
Accommodation: Adere Safari Lodge (half-board)
Day2: Game Drive and Karamoja Community Visit
Today enjoy a picnic breakfast and embark on a drive into Kidepo wilderness to search for rich rewards of the park. A drive at Kidepo brings you to Uganda largest savannah open landscape view packed with several wildlife encounters. This game drive brings you to watching larger herds of zebras, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, elands, duikers, Jackson’s hartebeest, buffalos, elephants, and schools of giraffes, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards, lions, and many bird species. This game drive is at nearest Narus valley which hosts the largest concentration of wildlife life due to the presence of Narus River and wetland.
After lunch time, take a drive to Lorukul village which is just at the boundaries Kidepo Park. The cultural village brings you to understand the Karamajong people lifestyle. On this cultural tour you will experience and engage in local dance and singing, interesting tales among others. Then return to your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Accommodation: Adere Safari Lodge (full-board)
Day3: Transfer to Murchison Falls en-route to Aruu waterfalls
Today will take an early drive to Murchison Falls National Park but consider an en-route to Aruu waterfalls. The mazing waters sometimes they call out for craziness, some of the people visiting the falls take moment to swim, or allow waters to flow over you for lifetime photograph moments. With lunch en-route will continue on your drive through Gulu to Murchison Falls National Park. Reaching the park, check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Twiga Safari Lodge (half-board)
Day4: Explore Murchison (game drive and boat cruise)
After breakfast, drive for an early morning game drive on the northern section through different driving tracks searching for varieties of wildlife rewards including lion, elephants, buffalo, leopards, wild dogs, warthogs, several antelope species giraffes, zebras among so many animals plus different bird species among which include shoebills stork, very many land and aquatic bird species all are seen through drives in the savannahs decorated with woods. Among the common drive are the one going through pakuba tracks and those going to the delta. The game drive takes not beyond 3 hours, so you return and take a rest at your lodge with lunch.
Afternoon hours, at 3pm there is a boat launch which goes through the Victoria Nile sailing to the bottom of the falls. This boat launch is gifted with a lot of sightings among which are waterweeds harboring several aquatic lives includes hippos, crocodiles, monitor lizards, also you sight cliffs, watch land mammals drinking water and feeding at the river bank, and other are seen lousily relaxed.
Accommodation: Twiga Safari Lodge (half-board)
Day5: Budongo Forest Nature Walks
This morning consider a relaxed morning drive to Budongo forest located towards the southern gate of Murchison (Kicumbonyobo gate). Will take on a guided nature walk through this tropical rainforest, this is rewarding with a lot of wildlife sights. The Budongo forest adds much on the Murchison ecosystem and favorable to complement your safari with unique sights like baboons, red tailed monkeys, black and whited colobus monkey among others. Also expect watch as many bird species, those interested in butterflies it’s a great ground. The trek will depend but can last for 2 to 3 hours. Afterwards will drive back to your lodge, relax for the rest of the day.
Accommodation: Twiga Safari Lodge (half-board)
Day6: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & Transfer back to Kampala
This morning check-out of your lodge, will take a brief visit to the top of the falls, this rewards with sights of how huge waters force into a narrow gorge fuming throughout as it pours to form a brownish bubbling at the bottom and enjoy a moment of taking photographs at the top, and also take a short hike. Then embark on a drive back to Kampala via Masindi, and will en-route at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking which confirms your list of Big fives suppose you watched the rest in the category. The track takes about 2 hours, filled with a lot of wild encounters like antelopes, birds and many more.
With lunch en-route at Kabalega dinner, continue on your drive back to Kampala reaching by late evening hours. Drop off will be at your hotel/lodge in Kampala/ Entebbe or at Entebbe International Airport for your next flight back home.
Trip inclusive;
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- All trip fuel
- All meals and soft drinks
- All Park entrances and activities
- Accommodation
- Driver guide
Exclusive;
- Visa and air ticket
- Laundry
- All hard drinks
- Souvenirs
- Tips
- All international flights