5 Days Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari

The 5 Days Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari offers an unforgettable journey through Uganda’s most iconic wildlife destinations. Carefully designed, this safari allows you to explore Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and most visited park, as well as the wildlife-rich Queen Elizabeth National Park.

At Murchison Falls, you will be amazed by the incredible diversity of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, giraffes, hippos, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, and numerous bird species. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth National Park offers thrilling experiences such as classic game drives, optional lion tracking, and a scenic boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, renowned for its dense concentration of wildlife and birds.

Additionally, this safari includes a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild, completing your experience of Uganda’s legendary Big Five.

Safari Highlights

• Day 1: Pick-up and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
• Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on the Nile
• Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 4: Game drive or lion tracking and Kazinga Channel boat cruise
• Day 5: Final game drive and departure to Kampala

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Depending on your arrival time, a professional driver-guide from Experiya Tour Company will pick you up from your hotel, the airport, or any pre-arranged location. After a brief safari orientation, you will begin the scenic journey to Murchison Falls National Park in north-western Uganda.

Along the way, you will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an exciting rhino-tracking experience. This guided walk, lasting about an hour, provides a rare opportunity to observe rhinos up close in their natural habitat.

You will then continue the journey with a stop in Masindi Town for lunch before proceeding to the park. Upon arrival, check into your lodge, enjoy dinner, and settle in for an overnight stay.

Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Boat Cruise on the Nile

After an early breakfast, you will set out for a morning game drive, starting around 6:30–7:00 a.m. Explore popular wildlife tracks such as Buligi, Victoria, and Albert, where you may spot elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, leopards, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, and Jackson’s hartebeest.

After returning to the lodge for lunch and a short rest, embark on a scenic boat cruise on the River Nile from Paraa Jetty at approximately 2:00 p.m. Over the next 2–3 hours, enjoy remarkable views of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, and waterbucks along the riverbanks. In the water, you may encounter hippos and Nile crocodiles, while numerous bird species such as cormorants and African fish eagles soar overhead.

The cruise continues to the base of Murchison Falls, where you will marvel at the power of the Nile as it forces its way through a narrow gorge. For those feeling adventurous, an optional 45-minute guided hike to the top of the falls offers incredible views, refreshing water sprays, and the thunderous roar of the waterfall. Afterward, your driver-guide will transfer you back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Following an early breakfast, check out of the lodge and travel south to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This full-day journey includes lunch en route and scenic stopovers for photography and stretching.

Along the way, enjoy stunning views of tea plantations, rolling landscapes, local homesteads, Lake George, and the majestic Rwenzori Mountains. Occasionally, wildlife such as antelopes and elephants can be spotted within the park. Upon arrival, check into your lodge, enjoy dinner, and spend the night.

Day 4: Game Drive or Lion Tracking and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

After breakfast, set out for a morning game drive or an optional lion tracking experience in the Kasenyi Plains, famous for its predator population and open savannah landscapes. During this drive, you may encounter lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, and bush pigs. Bird enthusiasts will enjoy sightings of papyrus gonolek, white-backed night heron, yellow-throated cuckoo, red-chested sunbird, and white-winged warbler.

After returning to the lodge for lunch, enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel in the afternoon, which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. Lasting about two hours, the cruise offers opportunities to see hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and waterbucks, alongside abundant birdlife, including martial eagles, pelicans, African skimmers, spoonbills, fish eagles, cormorants, and kingfishers.

The afternoon also includes visits to Lake Katwe, a volcanic salt lake where local communities extract rock salt using traditional methods, and Lake Munyanyange, a hotspot for birdwatching with flamingos, pied avocets, black-winged stilts, black terns, and gulls. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Final Game Drive and Departure to Kampala

Begin your final day with a relaxed breakfast before heading out for a last game drive, offering one final chance to spot wildlife. Afterward, exit the park and journey back to Kampala, enjoying lunch en route. A memorable stop at the Equator in Kayabwe allows for photos and souvenir shopping.

Finally, your driver-guide from Experiya Tour Company will drop you off at Entebbe International Airport or any preferred location in Kampala.

Safari Inclusions

• English-speaking professional driver-guide
• All park entrance fees
• Full-board accommodation
• Pick-up and drop-off transfers
• Safari vehicle and fuel
• Boat cruises on the River Nile and Kazinga Channel
• Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Crater lakes tour
• Bottled drinking water

Safari Exclusions

• International air tickets
• Visa fees
• Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as souvenirs, drinks, laundry, and tips