The Big Five In 4 Days
Seek out the ‘Big 5’ savannah wildlife on the savannah plains of Murchison Falls National Park and take a walk on the wild side to view Uganda’s only population of rhino. View herds of buffalo, elephant and giraffe alongside prides of lions and the solitary leopards, which you’ll track with expert rangers on Murchison Fall’s savannah plains. Discover the course of the mighty river Nile, with water safaris to spot hippo pods and Nile crocodile at the base of the thundering Murchison Falls waterfall and downstream to the Victoria Nile delta home to the elusive Shoebill on the edge of Lake Albert.
Itinerary - The Big Five In 4 Days [TACP4-003]
Day One
Rhino Tracking
Transfer from Entebbe to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Estimated journey time: 4 hrs
Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to seek out the rhinos living in the safety of this semi wild reserve. You’ll trek over the grassland and through the African bush on foot with a ranger to visit Uganda’s most endangered creature, the Southern White Rhino. Your ranger is very experienced and knowledgeable about the rhinos and will be able to identify each individual and tell you about their characteristics, as well as give you more information on the effort recover Uganda’s rhino population. This is the only place in Uganda where the rhino survives and breed with the hopes of one day being introduced to Murchison Falls National Park. All the proceeds from your visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary go towards funding the rhino’s future.
Estimated excursion time: 1 hour
Transfer from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Murchison Falls National Park. Estimated journey time: 4 hrs
Day Two
A Game Drive, a Water Safari & a Waterfall Hike
Explore the Buligi game tracks which crisscross the savannah between the branches of the Victoria and Albert Nile in the northern sector of the park. These game circuits offer the highest density of wildlife viewing of anywhere in the park. The landscape in the park is stunning offering views over the savannah, as wind your way through Acacia scrub and grasslands dotted with palm trees. You’ll be joined by a knowledgeable Uganda Wildlife Authority guide, to give your highest chance of tracking down the savannah predators. They will help you track down specific wildlife such as Rothschild giraffes, lions, elephants, herds of buffalo, Jackson’s hartebeest, bushbucks, Uganda kob, warthog, waterbuck and if you're lucky, you'll spot the elusive leopard. Towards the end of your game drive you’ll be able to stop off at the hippo pool on the Victoria Nile delta where you’ll see the hippos wallowing in the shallows and calling to each other across the water.
Estimated excursion time: 3 hours
Embark on a water safari on the river Nile and cruise upstream to the base of Murchison Falls waterfall. Also known as Kabalega Falls, this is one of the most popular activities in the park and offers fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities. As you cruise up the river you will be able to view giant Nile crocodiles basking in the sun, hippo pods calling to each other across the water and a multitude of bird species living and nesting on the riverbanks. A variety of game species such as buffalo, waterbuck, elephants and Uganda kob can also be viewed on the riverbanks as they come down to the drink and cool off in the heat of the day. After three hours you will reach the base of the thundering falls where the White Nile surges through a 7 metre wide gap in the rock face, cutting through Fajao Gorge and falling 43 meters to continue its journey through the park.
Estimated excursion time: 3 hours
On reaching the base of Murchison Falls you’ll disembark from the boat and be guided up the trail to the top of the falls, a 45min hike. From the path you’ll get fantastic views from several vantage points over the Murchison Falls and twin seasonal waterfall, Uhuru Falls. On reaching the top you can marvel at the splash and rainbows of the Nile crashing through a seven-metre gap in the rock face, with cooling sheets of spray being given off by the falls. You will meet your driver / guide at the top of the falls who will then drive you back downstream.
Estimated excursion time: 1 hour
Day Three
A Nile Delta Cruise & a Game Drive
Take the water on a boat cruise to the Victoria Nile delta where the river Nile empties into Lake Albert. As you meander downstream you’ll get the chance to spot elephants, giraffe, waterbuck and crocodiles on the river banks as well as hippo pods calling across the water until you reach the edge of Lake Albert. The delta is birders paradise and is particularly known as the habitat of the iconic shoebill, listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as ‘vulnerable’. On reaching the delta the experienced guides accompanying you will try to find this rare prehistoric looking bird. You will also be able to seek well as many other bird species living in the delta including the saddle billed stork, goliath heron, African skimmer, African jacana, malachite kingfishers. After around 4 hours on the water you will make your way back upstream and disembark from your boat.
Estimated excursion time: 4 hours
Explore the plains of the northern sector of the park with a focus on the lesser known tracks near to Pakuba. With your Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger and guide you can take a detour from the typical game tracks to visit the old Pakuba Lodge, Idi Amin’s now derelict state lodge and private residence. These ruins are set in a prime location, offering beautiful views down to the river Nile and Blue Mountains in the distance. The building has long been reclaimed by the wild, now being heavily overgrown by vegetation and is a favourite haunt of the hyaena!
Estimated excursion time: 3 hours
Day Four
A Game Drive & Transfer
Explore the Buligi game tracks which crisscross the savannah between the branches of the Victoria and Albert Nile in the northern sector of the park. These game circuits offer the highest density of wildlife viewing of anywhere in the park. The landscape in the park is stunning offering views over the savannah, as wind your way through Acacia scrub and grasslands dotted with palm trees. You’ll be joined by a knowledgeable Uganda Wildlife Authority guide, to give your highest chance of tracking down the savannah predators. They will help you track down specific wildlife such as Rothschild giraffes, lions, elephants, herds of buffalo, Jackson’s hartebeest, bushbucks, Uganda kob, warthog, waterbuck and if you're lucky, you'll spot the elusive leopard. Towards the end of your game drive you’ll be able to stop off at the hippo pool on the Victoria Nile delta where you’ll see the hippos wallowing in the shallows and calling to each other across the water.
Estimated excursion time: 3 hours
Transfer from Murchison Falls National Park to Entebbe. Estimated journey time: 5 hrs
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