Murchison Falls Safari with Nile Cruise & Rhino Stop

Summary

Family Wildlife Adventure from Kampala with River Safari

This is your chance to track rhinos at Ziwa Sanctuary, cruise beneath Murchison Falls on the Nile with a local guide, and spot elephants or giraffes on safari drives. With meals included and family-friendly lodges along the riverbank, you’ll collect moments you’ll remember long after you’ve left Uganda behind.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the dust on my hands after we stopped at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary — it clung to everything, even my shoelaces. Our guide, Moses, had this way of spotting rhinos before anyone else. He’d just point quietly and suddenly there they were: heavy, slow-moving shapes in the tall grass. I tried to take a photo but honestly, I just watched. The air smelled sharp and green, like crushed leaves. My daughter whispered that one of the rhinos looked like a “prehistoric tank,” which made us all laugh.

Driving into Murchison Falls National Park felt like crossing into another world. We passed through the Luwero triangle (Moses told us a bit about its history — not all cheerful, but important), then finally reached the top of the falls. The sound was wild — water smashing through this tiny gap in the rocks, spray everywhere, and you could feel it on your face if you stood close enough. I didn’t expect to feel so small standing next to the Nile. Later that evening, we took the boat cruise as the sun started dropping behind the trees. Hippos grunted somewhere nearby; crocodiles slid off muddy banks almost silently. There was this moment when everything went quiet except for birds flickering over the water — kingfishers, maybe bee-eaters? I’m still not sure.

The next morning was all early light and coffee that tasted faintly smoky (maybe from the firewood?). We set out for a game drive across open savannah — giraffes moving in slow motion against a pink sky, elephants clustered under acacia trees. Moses kept stopping so we could watch buffaloes or try to spot lions (no luck with leopards though). My son counted hippos until he lost track somewhere past fifty; apparently there are thousands along this stretch of river. Lunch back at our lodge felt extra good after all that bumping around — simple food but plenty of it.

It’s funny how some details stick: red dust on my jeans, or how our guide always waved at other drivers like old friends. On the way back toward Kampala I kept thinking about that first glimpse of Murchison Falls — loud and wild and nothing like any photo I’d seen before.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Drive to Murchison Falls Park

• Drive through Luwero triangle
• Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Stop at top of Murchison Falls
• Evening sundowner boat cruise
• Check-in at lodge along Nile River

Day 2 — Game drives and bird watching

• Morning game drive at the Delta
• Look for lions, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes
• Spot hippos and Nile crocodiles
• Bird watching for kingfishers, bee-eaters, shoebill
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Drive back to Entebbe/Kampala

Top questions

How long does it take to get from Kampala to Murchison Falls?

It’s usually about 5–6 hours by road from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park, including stops.

Are meals included during the safari?

Yes, breakfast and dinner are included during your stay; lunch is provided at your lodge.

Can children join this safari tour?

Yes, children can join if accompanied by adults; child rates apply when sharing with two paying adults.

What animals might we see on this day trip?

You may see rhinos at Ziwa Sanctuary plus elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles and various birds in Murchison Falls Park.

Is hotel pickup available from Kampala?

Yes, pickup from your accommodation in Kampala is included in this tour package.

What’s included

Your trip includes hotel pickup in Kampala, entry fees for both Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Murchison Falls National Park, guided game drives and river cruise with a knowledgeable local guide, plus breakfast and dinner each day along with comfortable overnight accommodation near the Nile River before returning home.