4-Day Ultimate Rhino Tracking & Big Five Safari in Uganda | Murchison Falls & Budongo

Your adventure begins as your guide from Oikos Safaris meets you at your hotel in the morning. You’ll embark on a scenic drive to Murchison Falls National Park, with an exciting optional stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route.

Once home to rhinos, Uganda’s population was tragically wiped out in the early 1980s due to poaching and civil unrest. However, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has been working tirelessly for over a decade to restore the population of both black and white rhinos. Here, you’ll have the rare and unforgettable opportunity to embark on a walking safari with these magnificent creatures, getting up close and personal with them in their natural habitat. Walking mere feet from rhinos is a thrilling experience that few are fortunate enough to enjoy.

After lunch at the sanctuary, you’ll continue your journey to Murchison Falls National Park. Upon arrival, you’ll enter the park and make your way to your lodge, where you can relax and prepare for the exciting days ahead.

Accommodation: Tilenga Safari Lodge or similar (Bed and Breakfast).

After an early breakfast, head out for a morning game drive across the vast plains of Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park, covering 3,893 square kilometers. The park is teeming with wildlife, and you’ll have the chance to see a wide variety of animals, including lions, giraffes, hartebeests, buffalo, and elephants. For bird enthusiasts, the park is also home to fascinating species such as the secretary bird and the black-chested snake eagle.

In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing boat trip along the Nile River to the base of Murchison Falls. Here, the mighty Nile thunders through a narrow 7-meter gap, plunging 43 meters into Lake Albert below. The banks of the Nile are alive with wildlife, including crocodiles, hippos, and a variety of other animals that come to drink from the river. For those seeking an extra adventure, there’s an option to disembark and hike to the top of the falls for a panoramic view of this natural wonder.

Accommodation: Tilenga Safari Lodge or similar (Bed and Breakfast).

Enjoy another early morning game drive across Murchison Falls National Park, where you’ll have the opportunity to spot more wildlife, including lions, giraffes, buffalo, and elephants. The park’s diverse ecosystems make it a haven for both animals and birdlife. After your game drive, visit the top of Murchison Falls for breathtaking views before continuing your journey to Budongo Forest, home to Uganda’s largest population of chimpanzees.

Accommodation: Budongo Forest Lodge or similar (Bed and Breakfast).

After breakfast, you’ll head out for an exhilarating chimpanzee tracking experience in the Budongo Forest. The forest’s network of trails will lead you to habituated chimpanzees, where you’ll witness their fascinating behaviors as they swing from tree to tree and interact with one another. This exciting experience allows you to get up close to these intelligent primates in their natural environment. After your chimpanzee tracking, you’ll continue your journey to Kampala/Entebbe, marking the end of your unforgettable adventure.