6 Days Safari in Murchison Falls, Kibale and Bwindi National park

Day 1: Pickup and transfer to Murchison falls National Park with a s stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Day 2: Game drive in Murchison Falls and afternoon boat cruise

Day 3: Transfer to kibale National Park

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and a visit to the Batwa pygmies

Day 6: Departure to Entebbe or Kampala

Day 1: Pickup and Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Stop at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary

The driver from Mission Africa Safaris will pick you up from your hotel or at the airport to start the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. The journey to the national park involves passing through several districts and towns including Luwero, Nakasongola and Masindi. Luwero is famous as a former war zone. It is where the current government launched a Guerilla war which eventually led to the overthrow of the government of Tito Okello. Nakasongola has amazing countryside with numerous farms and longhorned Ankole cattle feeding by the roadside. If you haven’t tasted local Ugandan fruits, then you should ask the Driver/Guide to stop for you along the road so that you check out some of the fresh fruits on offer. Fruits in Africa are very tasty because they are exposed to more sunlight.

You will stop at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. This sanctuary was established to protect Uganda’s last remaining Rhinos and help increase their numbers so that they can be reintroduced in the wild. Uganda had Rhinos in most of her national parks but extensive poaching wiped them all out. By the late 1970’s it was almost impossible to catch sight of Rhinos in the wild. While at the sanctuary, you will be in the company of experienced Guides. The Guides will show you around and share important information about the Rhinos and why it is important to protect them.  The sanctuary is a large establishment with opportunities for nature walks, primates viewing and birding.

After visiting the Rhino sanctuary, you will continue to the nearby town of Masindi for lunch before proceeding to the national park. On reaching the park, you will be taken to view the amazing and famous Murchison Falls. Watch as the Nile river squeezes though a narrow gorge before pouring its waters downstream in a thunderous roar. After this experience, the driver will lead you to the hotel/lodge for refreshment and relaxation as you wait for dinner.

Dinner and overnight will be at Paara Safari Lodge/Chobe safari lodge for luxury travelers. Pakuba Lodge, Fort Murchison River lodge and Murchison River Lodge are our mid-range lodges. Budget travelers will stay in either Yebo safari camp or Red Chili Rest Camp.

Day 2: Go for a morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise by the river Nile

Wake up early and take breakfast as you wait for the Guide to take you for the morning game drive to see animals going out for the day and others retreating to their dens after a busy night of hunting. Murchison Falls National Park has an amazing collection of wildlife. Expect to see hyenas, giraffes, elephants, lions, buffaloes, water bucks and many others. There are more Roskilde giraffes here than any other national park in East Africa. Birders will be impressed with the variety on offer. This is where you can spot the shoebill stork, ibis, marabou stork, egrets and kingfishers. You may choose to have a picnic along the river banks as you listen to the beautiful sounds of birds and animals like hippos.

Once you finish the game drive, the Driver/Guide will take you back to the lodge for lunch before going for the afternoon boat cruise on the river Nile. The boat cruise starts lower stream and ends at the very foot of the Murchison falls. While here you will be amazed by the sheer beauty of the area, the animals and the mighty waterfalls. Expect to see crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, water bucks and elephants drinking and bathing along the river banks. This area has one of the greatest collection of birds in Uganda. Water birds dominate here and you should be able to see King fishers, fish eagles, goliath herons, weaver birds, cattle egrets, bee eaters and so much more. You might even spot some migratory species that you are familiar with back home. The crowning moment is observing the waterfalls from the bottom. This incredible scenery must be captured on camera so that you show them to your family and friends back home.

Dinner and overnight will be at Paara Safari Lodge/Chobe safari lodge for luxury travelers. Pakuba Lodge, Fort Murchison River lodge and Murchison River Lodge are our mid-range lodges. Budget travelers will stay in either Yebo safari camp or Red Chili Rest Camp.

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Nature walk at the Bigodi wetland sanctuary.

You will wake up at your leisure to begin a long but fascinating journey through Uganda’s countryside. The journey takes you through several towns and major trading centers where you will be able to experience life in Uganda’s rural areas. Prepare to drive past schools, country homes, markets, major tea/banana plantations, cattle farms, rivers, lakes and much more.

Once you reach your hotel, check-in and freshen up as prepare for a guided walk a the Bigodi wetlands sanctuary. The sanctuary is one of the best places to spot primates in Uganda. You will encounter Black/White Colobus Monkeys, Baboons, Red tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Mangabeys and L’Hoest monkeys. Apart from monkeys, expect to see bush pigs, antelopes and bush backs.

The walk is not all about monkeys and animals. The Bigodi swamp is one of the best places for birding in Uganda. If you still need more proof by now, then you must visit the Bigodi Swamp.  There are over 374 bird species thriving in the wetland including water-thick-knee, hornbills, yellow billed egrets and Hamerkop.

After visiting the swamp, the walk continues to the local villages and homes. The main purpose is to allow you interact with the people and understand how they make ends meet.  You will see them in the gardens, some tending to their domestic animals or cooking food at home. Your Guide should be able to explain to you everything and how their lives are linked to the swamp and Kibale National Park.  After visiting the village, the Guide should take you to visit the crater lakes in the region.

Dinner and overnight at Papaya Lake Lodge or Primate lodge for luxury travelers. The mid-range hotel is Kibale forest camp while the budget option is Chimpanzee forest guest house.

Day 4 Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Wake up early to take your breakfast and wait for the Guide to take you to the park office for briefing. During the briefing, you will be told what to expect and how to prepare for the activity. Tracking chimpanzees is done in groups. Only 6 visitors may track a chimpanzee group. The Ranger will lead you all the way. The experience tracking chimpanzees is different from gorilla trekking in many ways. Chimps are very vocal, stubborn and unpredictable. They tend to spend a lot of time on top of trees when compared to gorillas (they prefer to stay on the ground). Chimps are very mobile and you will have to follow them as they swing on top of trees even after locating them. Eventually they will settle down.

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale takes about three hours. Finding the chimps depends on the season. The chimps tend to move a lot during the dry season as they search of scarce fruits and water. The rainy season is a season of plenty and the chimps don’t need to move out into the forest much. They are easier to find without having to move long distances. However, it is important to note that chimps sometimes go out to patrol their territories even during the wet season of plenty. In this case you may need to follow them for longer distances. The great thing about chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest is that there are several habituated chimpanzee groups. You can always be assigned a community that is easier to track. While tracking the chimps, expect to spot baboons, Vervet monkeys, Blue monkeys, Red tailed monkey, elephants, bush pigs, butterflies and birds.

You are allowed only one hour with the chimps. This one hour can prove to be even more exciting than when with the gorillas – That is if you can find them in a good clearing and on the ground. You will observe members of the community grooming, breastfeeding, fighting and playing. The rangers know each individual chimp by name, their history and position within the group. They will advise you to keep away from certain individuals. Flash photography is not allowed. After being with the chimps for an hour, the Ranger will lead you back to the park offices. You should find our Guide ready to take you back to the hotel for lunch and then start the journey to Bwindi.

Dinner and Overnight at Buhoma community Rest camp for budget travelers, Rushaga Gorilla Camp for mid-range lodges and Ichumbi Gorilla lodge for luxury.

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi – Visit the Batwa pygmies or go for a community walk

Begin the new day with heavy breakfast as you wait for the Guide/Driver to take you to the park offices for briefing. Briefing is carried out by the park wardens to ensure that visitors are prepared for all aspects of gorilla trekking. The wardens and rangers will ensure that you have carried everything you need for a comfortable experience – drinking water, hiking boots, rain jackets and hiking sticks.

Gorilla groups are allocated based on several factors among which include age, level of fitness and the overall choice of the individual traveler. It is important to note that Bwindi impenetrable forest is large. Do not expect to see only gorillas. We are talking about a park with over 345 species of birds, chimpanzees, baboons, forest antelope, bush pigs and elephants to mention but a few. Tracking mountain gorillas in Bwindi can take between 30 minutes to 8 hours depending on the location of the gorilla group. Once you find the group, you are allowed only one hour with the primates. Gorillas are very peaceful and organized primates. They are not as stubborn as chimps. They are too heavy to climb trees and prefer to foliage on the ground. Gorillas do not eat meat like chimps. Individual members are very loyal to the dominant male and there is far less chaos among group members. A gorilla family has similar arrangement with that of humans. While with the gorillas, avoid taking flash photos, keep a distance of 5 meters to avoid spreading diseases. The dominant silverback could charge if he thinks you are a threat to the group.

After spending time with these majestic relatives of ours, you should them go back to the hotel for relaxation and rest before going for the afternoon visit of the Batwa. The Batwa were the original inhabitants of Bwindi and Mgahinga forest. They lived for thousands of years as hunters and forest gatherers. Unfortunately, they were seen as a threat to the gorillas and other wild creatures in the forest. The government drove them out of the forest without fully integrating them to the outside world. To this day, most Batwa have never fully adapted to life outside the forest. They still dream about the freedom and good old days living in the forest where food was plentiful and they didn’t have to work so hard to survive. Some of the Batwa have embraced the opportunities presented by tourism and will show you their old hunting skills while telling stories about their former lives in the forest.

If you have already visited the Batwa before, you can ask to be taken to visit other communities or attend local dance, art and cultural shows. Another option is to take a village/community walk and see the local schools, churches, souvenir shops and drinking places. Finally, you can just venture into the forest with a Guide and check out the waterfalls, small primates and birds.

Dinner and Overnight at Buhoma community Rest camp for budget travelers, Rushaga Gorilla Camp for mid-range lodges and Ichumbi Gorilla lodge for luxury.

Day 6: Departure to Kampala or Entebbe

After five days of much activity, you should be tired and eager to go home with good stories about Africa and Uganda. Wake up at your own time and take breakfast as you prepare for departure. The journey and route back to Kampala will not be the same as the one used before. There will be a stop for lunch at the Igongo cultural center in Mbarara. Another stop will be at the equator crossing for photos and refreshments before continuing to Kampala or Entebbe.

End of Safari

The safari includes

1. Transport in a 4X4 tour vehicle
2. An experienced English speaking Guide/Driver who will be at your disposal throughout the safari
3. Full Accommodation for 5 nights
4. All meals during the safari
5. Drinking water in the safari vehicle
6. Park entrance fees
7. Gorilla permits
8. Chimpanzee permits
9. Cultural encounter with the Batwa or nearby communities

Tour Exclusions

1. Accommodation on the day before and after the safari
2. Drinks, other beverages and laundry services,
3. Visas and flights,
4. Tips to our Guide, rangers, wardens or hotel staff

Murchison River Lodge: This family owned mid-range facility is built on the southern banks of the Nile river and offers an amazing scenery to residents. It overlooks the river Nile, some papyrus islands and the Murchison falls national park. Residents can catch glimpses of hippopotamus in the river and some park animals that come to the lodge compound frequently. All the cottages are self-contained and built with private balconies. Visitors can also opt for self-contained safari tents. You can be allowed in if you have your own tents. The lodge will help you set up a camp fire and allow you use the bathroom facilities at the lodge.  Murchison River lodge has a restaurant, a bar, a large swimming pool and craft shop. The craft shop is built close to the parking area and is open to visitors daily. It contains local crafts that were gathered from different Ugandan artists.

Papaya Lake Lodge: This luxury lodge is found close to both Kibale and Queen Elizabeth national park in the district of Fort Portal. It overlooks the beautiful Lake Lyantonde and has amazing views of the great Rwenzori mountains. Papaya Lake Lodge was owned by international travelers who after visiting the country, decided to settle down and build a high quality lodge. The lodge has 9 cottages including one for a large family. The cottages are built with great craftsmanship using local materials (grass roof, rocks and wood). Each cottage has two beds, stone bathrooms and a balcony with chairs. The family cottage has two floors, three bedrooms, a living rooms (with a fireplace), a large bathroom and a veranda. Among the facilities offered at the lodge are free Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, dining area and bar.  The restaurant serves both international and local food. Most of the ingredients are grown from the local gardens outside the lodge. Papaya river lodge is perfect for those who have come for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale and a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge has both Luxury and mid-range rooms that are clean and well maintained. All the rooms are self-contained with high quality locally made furniture, hot showers, bathrooms, working tables and so much more. The lodge is built in a calm environment with beautiful scenery and landscape. Ichumbi Gorilla lodge is very close to the park gate in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. You can have amazing views of the park and vast forest from the comfort of your rooms or balcony. Ichumbi Gorilla lodge has twin, double and family rooms with free Wi-Fi and hot water. The lodge provides breakfast in bed, has a restaurant and bar where residents can taste Ugandan beer and vodkha. Ichumbi Gorilla lodge is an excellent choice for those who are tracking gorilla groups at the Rushaga sector of Bwindi forest.