6 Days safari in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Park takes you to two of Uganda’s most visited and amazing wildlife conservation areas. Expect to spot all of the big 5 (Lions, Rhinos, Buffaloes, Leopards, Elephants), warthogs, giraffes and the Jackson’s hartebeests. Apart from the mammals, you will get a chance to visit the top of the great Murchison falls and also have stops at the equator for memorable photos.
While at Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will track chimpanzees at the Kyambura Gorge. If you miss 
seeing some of the mammals during the game drives, expect to spot them during the boat cruise at Kazinga Channel. More on the two national parks: –
Murchison Falls National Park is found in the northwestern part of Uganda. It is part of the wider Murchison Falls Conservation Area which includes Karuma and Bugungu Wildlife Reserves. A key feature of the park is the famous Murchison falls. The falls are formed when the Nile river flows through a narrow gorge before dropping down in a thunderous roar. The park consists of woodlands, riverine forests and savanna which are home to chimpanzees, giraffes, lions, elephants, hartebeests, leopards, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and other antelope species.
Queen Elizabeth National Park on the other hand is found in Western Uganda. The distance to the park from Kampala is 400 kms. Queen Elizabeth National park includes, the Kyambura Gorge and the Maramagambo forest. The park is famous for its beautiful landscape including deep craters, crater lakes and salt lakes. Queen Elizabeth national park is home to chimpanzees, lions, leopards, crocodiles, hippopotamus, Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, elephants and several antelope species. Queen Elizabeth national park is also famous for its tree climbing lions.
Key Activities
- Visiting the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Games drives
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge
- Spotting tree climbing lions
- Boat cruises at the Kazinga Channel and on the river nile
- Visiting the top of the Murchison Falls
Trip Summary
Day 1: Pickup – Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2: Morning Game Drive – Launch cruise on the river Nile
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park with stops for sightseeing and photography
Day 4: Morning game drive at the Kasenyi plains – Boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge
Day 6: Spot tree climbing lions in Ishasha – Transfer to Entebbe or Kampala
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup from Kampala or Entebbe – Drive to Murchison falls National Park
A driver from Mission Africa safaris will pick you early in the morning after your breakfast and then start the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. You will pass 
through Kampala city and then to the Uganda countryside as you observe the rural people going about with their daily lives. You will pass through several small towns as well as Luwero and Nakasongola districts. Luwero is famous for hosting the National Resistance Army (current government) during their guerrilla war with the government forces in the early 1980’s. Nakasongola is cattle keeping corridor and you should see a lot of long horned Ankole cattle grazing by the road side. Do not forget to ask the driver to stop for you briefly in one of the small markets to check out the local fruits.
You will stop at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to track white Rhinos. This sanctuary was opened to protect the last remaining rhinos in Uganda after most had been wiped out of Uganda’s national parks by poachers. You will learn a lot about the mammals and what is being done to protect them worldwide. If all goes according to plan, the breeding programme at the sanctuary will help increase the number of rhinos to a point where they will be reintroduced back into the national parks.
After visiting the sanctuary, you will have lunch and proceed to the Murchison falls national park. First stop will be at the top of the Murchison Falls. You will watch as the river Nile squeezes itself though a narrow gorge before plunging itself into several hard rocks before making a final free fall and continuing its way to Egypt through South Sudan.
Dinner will be at the Sambiya Lodge Bandas for Budget travelers, Pakuba Game Lodge for mid-range travelers and Paraa Safari Lodge for the Luxury traveler.
Day 2: Game drive in the morning – Boat cruise on the river Nile
Wake up early in the morning and take breakfast as you wait for the driver to come and take you for the game drive. The game drive will be close to the banks of the river Nile. Here you will spot antelopes, lions, elephants, cape buffaloes, warthogs, jackals, Oribi, giraffes, hyenas, the Uganda Kob and leopards. Watch out for the nocturnal animals going back to their dens after hunting at night. There is a lot of bird activity in the morning as they get excited in anticipation of a new day of feeding.
After completing the game drive, the Driver/Guide will take you back to your lodge for lunch and refreshments before going for the afternoon boat cruise. The boat cruise goes upstream and ends at the bottom of the Murchison Falls close to a place named “Devils Cauldron”. The boat cruise at the river Nile offers opportunities to spot many of Africa’s famous creatures. This area has one of the greatest concentration of hippos and crocodiles in Africa. You will spot elephants, Uganda Kobs, waterbucks, countless other antelopes and water birds. Birders will be impressed with the collection of birds on offer including the elusive Shoebill stork, Goliath heron, Pelicans, bee-eaters, Egyptian geese, kingfishers, cormorants and hornbills. The trip ends with a breathtaking view of the Murchison falls from the calm waters.
Dinner will be at Sambiya Lodge Bandas for Budget travelers, Pakuba Game Lodge for the mid-range traveler and Paraa Safari Lodge for the Luxury traveler.
Day 3: Full day Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park with stops to see the country side
Wake up at your leisure and take breakfast before starting your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. We don’t expect you to be bored with the journey. This is an opportunity to observe a developing country and let your opinion be known to the Guide/Driver of what needs to be done to make things better. That aside, take time to admire the naturally beautiful countryside in western Uganda.
Dinner and Overnight at Simba Safari Lodge or Buffalo Safari Lodge for budget travelers. Mid-range travelers will stay at Katara Lodge while luxury travelers will go for Mweya Safari lodge.
Day 4: Game drive at the Kasenyi Plains – Boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel
Wake up early and go for the first game drive at the Kasenyi plains where you will see herds of elephants, hyenas, leopards, lions and various species of antelopes. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best birding spots in Uganda. There are over 495 species of birds recorded in the park including falcons, eagles, raptors, Black-bee eaters and 11 species of Kingfishers.
After completing the morning game drive, you will be taken for lunch as you prepare for the launch cruise at the Kazinga channel. The Kazinga channel of Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best places to spot wildlife in Africa. It has an incredible variety of marine animals. The channel connects Lake George to Lake Edward and is a 
perfect hangout area for many of the park animals. If you are a birder, you will find it hard to find a better place to spot birds. You will see the weird looking Marabou stork, the bronze-tailed starling, crowned cranes and fish eagles. The Hippo population at the Kazinga channel is one of the highest anywhere in Africa. While on the boat cruise you will spot buffaloes, elephants and other predators drinking or bathing in the water.
Dinner and Overnight at Simba Safari Lodge or Buffalo Safari Lodge for budget travelers. Mid-range travelers will stay at Katara Lodge while luxury travelers will go for Mweya Safari lodge.
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early and take breakfast before beginning your journey to Kyambura Gorge. This underground forest is one of the most amazing features of Queen Elizabeth national park. A community of chimps were trapped here when the only forest corridor 
leading to other forests was destroyed by human activity. The chimps could cross to other forest through the savanna but that is too risky considering the dangerous predators roaming the plains. There isolation has caused concern among researchers and conservationists alike because inbreeding could lead to mutations. The Kyambura Gorge is not only home to chimpanzees but also vervet monkeys, colobus monkeys and baboons. The river flowing down the gorge is home to hippos and elephants. During the dry months of the year, several park animals enter into the gorge to look for water and food.
Dinner and Overnight at Simba Safari Lodge or Buffalo Safari Lodge for budget travelers. Mid-range travelers will stay at Katara Lodge while luxury travelers will go for Mweya Safari lodge.
Day 6: Tree Climbing Lions of Ishasha – Transfer Back to Kampala
After all the amazing activities in the park, you should be exhausted. Wake up at your own leisure, take breakfast and prepare for the journey back to Kampala or Entebbe. You will pass through the Ishasha plains to spot the tree climbing lions of Uganda on your way to Kampala. You will be using a different route that will take you to different districts including Mbarara. Watch out for the beautiful scenery and physical features in western Uganda especially Kasese. You should stop for photos at the equator crossing in Masaka. While at the equator crossing, you will have lunch and visit the crafts shops. If this tour is too long for you, then you might need to check out our 2 Days Queen Elizabeth Safari package.
What is included and Excluded
What is Included
- Game drives
- Park entrances
- Ziwa Rhino tracking
- Chimpanzee permits
- Boat cruises
- Lunch and water during transfers
- An experienced English speaking Guide and his/her allowances
- Accommodation for 5 days and meals
- Transportation in a 4X4 Car
- Government taxes
What is Excluded
- Expenses that are personal in nature like phone calls, bar bills, souvenirs, laundry and beverages.
- Air tickets and Visa Fees.
- Tips for the Guide, Hotel staff or park ranges.
- Things that are not mentioned in the itinerary.
Packing List
- A camera and charger to help you take good photos of the animals and beautiful scenery along the way.
- Sunglasses during the dry season to protect you from the strong suns raise in the afternoon.
- Light clothes. A long sleeved shirt and trouser will help protect you from the numerous insects in the tropics.
- A binocular to spot birds and for use while tracking chimpanzees on top of trees.
Lodge and Hotels
Mweya Safari Lodge: Mweya Safari Lodge is a luxury lodge built right at the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park with amazing views of the Rwenzori Mountains. Among the facilities in the lodge are a large swimming pool with a view of the Kazinga Channel. You can watch the animals from a distance as you relax by the poolside. 
Guests can dine from outside the balcony or in the main restaurant. While dining at the verandah you will also be treated to amazing views of the Savannah. The food consists of both continental and local dishes prepared by very experienced chefs. The evenings are full of fun and merrymaking along with traditional dancers who are hired to entertain guests as they enjoy special barbecue. Mweya Safari lodge also has a conference Center and business Center for business travelers to stay in touch with their partners while on safari. Other facilities include a gift shop for souvenirs, guidebooks, clothes, local art and essential items required for a safari.
Katara Lodge: Katara Lodge is built close to the Katunguru gate of the park. The lodge has eight cottages overlooking the Savannah, the Rwenzori mountain ranges and Lake Edward. The cottages are made out of local materials by artists from the nearby village. Katara Lodge is perfect for exploring everything good about Queen Elizabeth National Park. It has a beautiful salt water swimming pool to cool off after a long day out in the wilderness. What separates this lodge from others is its location and the beautiful surrounding scenery. The lodge is surrounded by tropical plants, farmlands and tees which attract hundreds of birds to the lodge area.
Sambiya River Lodge: If you are visiting Murchison Falls National Park and wish to stay in a quality budget lodge, then Simbiya River lodge is highly recommended. The lodge is located close to the top of the Murchison Falls itself. The lodge has a unique charm which is partly because of the beautiful trees and greenery in all directions. Guests can choose from any of the 26 rooms or the family cottage. All the cottages are grass thatched and self-contained with mosquito nets, a fan and verandah. Other facilities include wireless internet and a provision to use Visa and MasterCard’s to make payments at the reception.
