Murchison Falls Safari: Game Drives & Chimp Trek

Game drives, a Nile boat ride to the falls, and a forest search for chimpanzees

A 3-day safari from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park combines two game drives on the northern bank, a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile to the base of the 43-meter falls, and a half-day chimpanzee trek in Budongo Forest's gazetted area. Pickup from your Kampala accommodation is included, along with park fees and an English-speaking guide; the itinerary moves between wildlife viewing and forest trekking without requiring you to arrange transport or entry logistics.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

• Pick up from Kampala accommodation
• Drive northwest to Murchison Falls NP
• Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for nature walk
• Have lunch along the way
• Proceed to Murchison Falls and view from top
• Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 2 — Game drive and boat cruise

• Early morning breakfast
• Game drive on northern banks of River Nile
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Boat ride on Nile to foot of Murchison Falls
• Return to lodge and relax
• Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 3 — Budongo chimpanzee trek and return

• Early morning breakfast
• Transfer to Budongo Forest for primate trek
• Lunch after trek
• Drive back to Kampala

The Experience

The tour starts with a six-hour drive northwest from Kampala. On the way, you stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a nature walk among the breeding population of these endangered animals, then break for lunch before arriving at Murchison Falls. You'll see the Nile River forced into a seven-meter crevice and plunging 43 meters below, viewable from the top of the falls. Overnight accommodation at Pakuba Safari Lodge sits inside the park.

Day two splits between land and water. An early morning game drive covers the northern banks of the Nile, returning to the lodge for lunch. The afternoon boat cruise takes you upriver past hippos, crocodiles and multiple bird species, ending at the foot of the falls where the water thunders down—the vantage point is built for photographs. You return to the lodge as the day winds down.

On the final morning, you transfer to Budongo Forest for a half-day primate walk in the gazetted trekking area. The forest holds black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees. After the trek and a quick lunch, the drive back to Kampala takes the evening, arriving after dark.

What’s included

• Pickup from your Kampala accommodation with an English-speaking guide.
• national park entry fees.
• overnight lodging at Pakuba Safari Lodge inside the park for two nights.
• two game drives on the northern bank.
• a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile to the base of Murchison Falls.
• a half-day chimpanzee trek in Budongo Forest's gazetted area.
• and a nature walk at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on the drive in.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Wild Jungle Trails Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you're flying into Kampala and want game drives, a Nile boat cruise, and forest chimpanzee trekking all in one three-day loop with hotel pickup included.

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Top questions

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

The northern bank game drives in Murchison Falls National Park put you in range of hippos, crocodiles and a variety of bird species; the boat cruise on the Nile offers the same wildlife viewing from the water, with the added vantage of approaching the animals from the river itself.

How long is the chimpanzee trek in Budongo Forest?

The chimpanzee trek in Budongo Forest is a half-day activity on the final morning, conducted in the gazetted trekking area where black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees inhabit the forest.

What's included in the price of this safari?

The tour includes pickup from your Kampala accommodation, all national park fees, an English-speaking guide for the full three days, and overnight lodging at Pakuba Safari Lodge inside Murchison Falls National Park; meals and gratuities are separate.

How much driving is involved on the first day?

The first day is a six-hour road drive from Kampala to Murchison Falls, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a nature walk and a lunch break along the way.

Do I need to be very fit for the chimpanzee trek?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels; the chimpanzee trek is a half-day forest walk in the gazetted area, and the minimum age for the tour is 15 years old.