6 Days Murchison Falls, Chimps & Queen Elizabeth Safari

Drive north via Masindi (approx. 5–6 hours) to Murchison Falls National Park. En route, the landscape shifts from Kampala's red-earth farmland to savannah woodland. Visit the top of the falls viewpoint where the Nile squeezes through a 7-metre gorge and plunges 43 metres into the Devil's Cauldron — the sound is audible before you see the spray.

Check in at your Paraa-area lodge overlooking the Victoria Nile. Rothschild's giraffe browse the southern bank approach; olive baboons and warthogs are common around lodge grounds. Evening briefing on tomorrow's game drive and boat cruise schedule.

Pre-dawn tea, then game drive on the northern bank Buligi circuit — elephant herds, buffalo, Jackson's hartebeest, oribi and Uganda kob are common; lion and leopard are possible at first light. Murchison holds one of Africa's largest remaining populations of endangered Rothschild's giraffe.

Safari activity | Nile boat cruise to Murchison Falls

Afternoon launch on the Victoria Nile toward the base of the falls — hippos, crocodiles, elephant at the water's edge, and Goliath herons along the papyrus banks.

After lunch, board the afternoon launch cruise on the Victoria Nile toward the base of Murchison Falls. Hippos yawning at close range, Nile crocodiles on the banks, and elephant coming to drink make this one of Uganda's classic boat safaris.

Murchison's Victoria Nile supports an estimated 14,000 hippos — the launch cruise passes the highest concentrations near Paraa. Pied kingfishers and red-throated bee-eaters nest in the riverbanks.

After breakfast, long drive southwest (approx. 7–8 hours) via Hoima and Fort Portal to Kibale National Park. The Albertine Rift escarpment and tea plantations near Fort Portal mark the transition from northern savannah to rainforest.

Lunch in Fort Portal with Rwenzori foothill views on clear days. Arrive by late afternoon; optional Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk for red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey and great blue turaco if time allows.

Early briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre, then chimpanzee trekking through Kibale's mature rainforest — typically 2–4 hours of walking with one hour on contact. Kibale holds 13 primate species; pant-hoots often carry through the canopy before you see the group.

Safari activity | Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale

Track a habituated chimp community through mature rainforest with UWA rangers — one hour with the group once located, with excellent chances of loud pant-hoots.

After the trek, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (approx. 2–3 hours) via Kasese. Afternoon 2-hour Kazinga Channel boat safari — dense hippo pods, buffalo and elephant herds at the banks.

Pre-dawn game drive on the Kasenyi Plains — Queen Elizabeth's prime predator territory. Lion prides stalk Uganda kob at first light; leopard, spotted hyena, elephant and warthog are regular. Return for breakfast at the lodge.

Safari activity | Kyambura Gorge chimp tracking (optional)

Descend into the 100-metre-deep gorge for a separate chimp permit — forest-floor trek among fig trees, or swap for a crater-lakes drive near Katwe with flamingos at Lake Munyanyange.

Afternoon optional Kyambura Gorge chimp tracking (separate permit) or crater-lakes drive near Katwe — explosion craters and lesser flamingos at Lake Munyanyange when water levels allow.

After breakfast, optional short morning game drive on the Kasenyi Plains or crater-lake viewpoint near Katwe. Check out and return to Kampala/Entebbe (approx. 6–7 hours) via Mbarara.

Optional Lake Mburo National Park stop en route (add 2–3 hours) for zebra and impala if your flight schedule allows. Lunch en route at Mbarara; airport drop-off for evening departures. Queen Elizabeth to Kampala via the Masaka–Mbarara highway is tarmac throughout.

The Mbarara–Masaka highway is fully tarmac — allow 6–7 hours from Mweya to Entebbe without stops. Shoebill can be added at Mabamba Bay near Entebbe on a pre-departure morning extension.