Murchison Falls 3-Day Private Wildlife Tour from Kampala

Three days tracking wildlife from the Nile's edge to Uganda's most powerful waterfall

A 3-day private tour from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park with a live guide, two nights of accommodation and all transport included. You drive through Uganda's districts to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track rhinos and birds, then enter the park for evening and early-morning game drives. A five-hour boat journey takes you downriver to the base of the falls, and you finish by hiking to the top before returning to Kampala.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Murchison Falls Park

• Meet and greet guide
• Drive 3 hours through districts
• Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Lunch stop in Masindi
• Continue to park and check in
• Evening game drive
• Return to lodge for overnight

Day 2: Explore Murchison Falls Park

• Early morning game drive
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Afternoon boat cruise to falls
• Optional hike to top of falls
• Return to lodge for overnight

Day 3: Return to Kampala

• Breakfast and check out
• Visit top of Murchison Falls
• Drive through Masindi for lunch
• Return to Kampala or airport

The experience

The route starts in Kampala with pickup and a three-hour drive through different districts and vegetation zones to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you spend two hours tracking rhinos on foot and watching birds. After lunch in Masindi, you continue to Murchison Falls National Park and check into your lodge. That evening, a game drive lets you see nocturnal animals (elephants, giraffes, hippos, warthogs, oribis) as the sun sets over the park.

Day two begins before dawn with an early-morning game drive, when animals are most active. You'll see lions, antelopes, heart beasts and over 450 bird species that live in the park, including African darters, ospreys and kingfishers. After returning to the lodge for lunch, you board a boat for a five-hour journey downriver: three hours against the current to the base of Murchison Falls, where the Nile drops with tremendous force, then two hours returning with the water flow. Along the way, you watch elephants, antelopes, crocodiles and hippos come to the water's edge. You can either boat back to the lodge or hike to the top of the falls and return overland.

On the final morning, you have breakfast and drive to the top of the falls: a location so unexpected that the view, crowned by a rainbow, feels like a surprise even though you've come for it. After viewing the falls, you're driven back through Masindi for a lunch stop, then returned to Kampala or the airport depending on your schedule.

What’s included

• Two nights of accommodation at Sambiya River Eco Lodge.
• private guide in multiple languages.
• all transport from Kampala including the three-hour drive to Ziwa, entry to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, park entry and the five-hour boat journey to Murchison Falls.
• evening and early-morning game drives.
• and pickup from your hotel or location in Kampala.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (25 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 70 years) · Youth (19 to 24 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by AFREEK TOURS AND TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Kampala without a car and want the wildlife and the falls in one trip. The private guide and included transport mean you don't arrange anything after pickup. The three-day span fits the drive, the game drives and the boat journey without rushing any of them.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (19 to 24 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What animals will I see on the game drives at Murchison Falls?

Murchison Falls harbors elephants, giraffes, hippos, warthogs, oribis, lions and antelopes, plus over 450 bird species including African darters, ospreys and kingfishers. The early-morning drive is when most animals are active and visible.

How long is the boat journey to the base of the falls?

The boat takes five hours total: three hours going downriver against the current to reach the base of the falls, and two hours returning with the water flow back to the lodge. Along the way you see more wildlife coming to drink and feed at the water's edge.

What happens at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary?

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a two-hour stop on the drive from Kampala where you track rhinos on foot and watch birds. It's the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild.

Do I have to hike to the top of the falls, or can I return by boat?

You choose: after the boat journey to the base of the falls, you can either hike to the top and return overland to the lodge, or take the boat back. Both options end at the lodge for the night.

Where do I stay during the tour?

You stay at Sambiya River Eco Lodge for two nights: one after arriving on day one, and one after the boat and falls on day two. The lodge is your base for the game drives and boat journey.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a private guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language; all transport from Kampala; two nights of accommodation; and pickup from your location. Meals beyond breakfast and lunch stops, tips and personal shopping are not included.