3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Rhino Tracking
This 3-day Murchison Falls safari with rhino tracking combines two of Uganda's most rewarding wildlife encounters in one trip. First, you track endangered white rhinos on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Then you head north to Murchison Falls for game drives and a Nile boat cruise to the base of Africa's most powerful waterfall.
Why Choose a Murchison Falls Safari with Rhino Tracking
Uganda lost its wild rhino population decades ago. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has spent years reversing that, reintroducing white rhinos and preparing them for eventual release into the country's national parks.
This Murchison Falls safari with rhino tracking stops at Ziwa on the way north. That gives you an on-foot rhino encounter you won't find inside Murchison Falls National Park itself.
From there, you settle into two nights at Paraa or Chobe Safari Lodge for classic game drives and a boat cruise to the falls.
Your Murchison Falls Safari with Rhino Tracking at a Glance
| Day | Itinerary | Accommodation | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kampala to Murchison Falls, via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary | Paraa or Chobe Safari Lodge | L, D |
| 2 | Murchison Falls: Game Drive & Boat Cruise | Paraa or Chobe Safari Lodge | B, L, D |
| 3 | Murchison Falls to Kampala | — | B, L |
Day 1: Kampala to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Pickup from Kampala is at 8:00 AM. We depart for Murchison Falls National Park on a panoramic drive northwest through the Luwero Triangle.
Along the way, we stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Opened in 1998, it works to reintroduce black and white rhinos into Uganda's protected areas while educating local communities about poaching and conservation.
The rhino tracking walk takes 1 to 2 hours. You'll get genuinely close to these animals on foot, a rare opportunity in Uganda and the centerpiece of this Murchison Falls safari with rhino tracking.
From Ziwa, we continue on to Murchison Falls National Park and check in at Paraa or Chobe Safari Lodge. Lunch and dinner are included.
About the park: Murchison Falls Protected Area comprises Murchison Falls National Park along with Bugungu and Karuma Wildlife Reserves. The park takes its name from the falls themselves, where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge before flowing on as a placid river lined with hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, and buffaloes.
Wildlife across the park includes lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, and chimpanzees. Birders should watch for a wide range of species, including the rare shoebill.
Your lodge: Paraa Safari Lodge sits high above the falls on the north bank of the river, with genuinely striking views over the Nile. Set among landscaped gardens, it blends comfort with a strong sense of place, and remains one of the park's most established properties.
Day 2: Murchison Falls, Game Drive & Boat Cruise
An early morning game drive takes you through the park's northern sector. Expect strong chances of spotting giraffes, lions, hartebeests, elephants, and Cape buffalo. Birdlife includes the black-chested snake eagle, blue-naped mousebird, secretary bird, swallow-tailed bee-eater, and the striking silver-headed agama.
After the drive, we return to the lodge for a late breakfast and time to relax.
After lunch, a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile takes you to the base of Murchison Falls, where the river plunges through a narrow crevice and drops 40 metres. En route, expect sightings of Nile crocodile, pods of hippo, waterbuck, and a wide variety of birdlife. Overnight at your lodge, full board.
Game drives run through the Buligi, Albert, and Queen's tracks north of the Nile, with strong wildlife activity around the Nyamsika Cliffs. Drives run roughly four hours. The best times are 6:30 AM or 4:00 PM.
Launch trips run two routes. The shorter trip, from Paraa to the foot of the falls (17km) and back, takes about three hours. The longer route to the Delta (28km) takes four to five hours, with similar wildlife sightings along the way. Boats depart daily at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM, with special timing available on request.
Day 3: Murchison Falls to Kampala
A morning visit to the top of the falls, then departure back to Kampala.
End of safari.
Continue Planning Your Trip
Want this trip without the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary stop? See our 3-day Murchison Falls wildlife safari, focused purely on Murchison's game drives and the Nile. Managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Murchison Falls remains Uganda's largest and oldest national park.
Explore more sample safari itineraries, use our Build My Safari tool to customize this trip, or contact us to check availability and pricing for your travel dates.
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