3 Days Murchison Falls Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Rhino Tracking at Ziwa and Drive to Murchison Falls
Your 3 days Murchison Falls safari begins at about 7:00 am with a pick-up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. Drive north through farmland, villages and roadside markets to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, about 3 hours away.
Ziwa is the only place in Uganda where you can see wild rhinos. With a ranger, you track southern white rhinos on foot, often getting within a safe distance of a mother and her calf.
The sanctuary is breeding rhinos to one day return them to Uganda's national parks, and your visit supports that work.
After tracking, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Masindi, such as the popular Kabalega Diner, then continue to Murchison Falls National Park. You arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon, in time to relax, take in the views and enjoy dinner.
Accommodation: Budget: Hornbill Bush Lodge or Red Chilli Rest Camp | Midrange: Sambiya River Lodge, Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge | Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge or Nile Safari Lodge
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise to the Falls
After an early breakfast, set off on a 3 to 4 hour morning game drive on the plains north of the Nile. This is the best area of the park for wildlife.
Look out for Rothschild's giraffes, elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, Jackson's hartebeest and, with luck, lions or a leopard. Birders can spot the Abyssinian ground hornbill, saddle-billed stork and many more.
Return to your lodge for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon, board the boat at Paraa for the highlight of your 3 days Murchison Falls safari: a cruise of about three hours up the Nile to the foot of Murchison Falls.
Along the way you pass pods of hippos, huge Nile crocodiles, elephants and buffalo drinking at the water's edge, and birds such as kingfishers, bee-eaters, African fish eagles and Goliath herons.
The boat stops in view of the falls, where the Nile crashes through a rocky gap only about 7 metres wide. Return to your lodge for dinner.
Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 1
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Top of the Falls and Return to Kampala
After breakfast, check out and drive to the Top of the Falls. Here you stand beside the narrow gorge as the entire Nile forces its way through and plunges about 43 metres into the pool below, often with a rainbow in the spray.
It is one of the most powerful sights in Africa and a perfect end to your trip.
Then begin the drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, with a lunch stop on the way. You arrive in the early evening, ending your 3 days Murchison Falls safari.
Meals: Breakfast
Optional Extras for Your Murchison Falls Safari
- Nile Delta cruise: a morning boat trip to the Lake Albert Delta, one of the best places in Uganda to see the shoebill.
- Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest: add a morning chimp trek on the way into the park. See chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest.
- Extra night: turn this into a relaxed 4-day trip with a second game drive. See our 4 Day Murchison Falls Wildlife Safari.
Is a 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari Enough?
Yes. Three days is our recommended minimum for Murchison Falls.
It gives you time for the main highlights, a game drive, the boat cruise and the Top of the Falls, plus rhino tracking at Ziwa, without rushing. A 2-day trip is possible but involves a lot of driving. If you have more time, add chimps in Budongo or a second game drive.
The best time for this safari is the dry season, from December to February and June to September, but it runs all year. Read more in our complete guide to Murchison Falls National Park and our list of lodges in Murchison Falls National Park.
What to Pack
- Light, neutral-coloured clothing and a warm layer for early mornings
- Comfortable walking shoes for rhino tracking and the Top of the Falls
- Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and insect repellent
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens
- Passport and yellow fever certificate
Book Your 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari
Tulambule Uganda Safaris is a licensed, 100% Ugandan-owned tour operator, running Murchison Falls safaris since 2014.
Tell us your dates, group size and preferred lodge, and we will send you a clear quote, usually the same day. Call or WhatsApp +256 782 915 447 or +256 703 171 855, or email info@tulambule.com.
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