Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s oldest and largest conservation area, covering an area of 3,840 Km² and home to over 451 bird species (including the highly sought after and rare shoebill stork) and 76 different mammal species.
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s oldest and largest conservation area, covering an area of 3,840 Km² and home to over 451 bird species (including the highly sought after and rare shoebill stork) and 76 different mammal species, including giraffe (which cannot be viewed in Queen Elizabeth National Park). Other game sightings regularly include lion, elephant, hippo, leopard, buffalo, hyena, warthog and various antelope.
One of the highlights of this trip is the mighty River Nile, which bisects the park and is forced through an 8m² wide cleft in the rock at Murchison Falls, plunging into the Devil’s Cauldron below. The trip also takes in rhino tracking at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, south of Masindi, allowing a possible viewing of all the classic Big 5 game animals – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino.
Hey Hey
Red Chilli Hideaway, Butabika, Kampala
07:15
7.15 Please be at the Red Chilli reception by 7.15am at the latest. Depart at 7.30am in a customised pop-top safari minibus with driver/guide (max 8 passengers per trip).Take a brief break in Masindi, before proceeding into the park.
14.00 Arrive at the Top of the Falls, where you may take your packed lunch if you have not already enjoyed it en route! (Please bring your own packed lunch or order from Red Chilli when booking your trip.) Take a guided walk around the thunderous Murchison Falls, with an optional mini-hike to view the sister falls, Uhuru, which were created in 1962 when the river burst its banks.
16.30 Travel on to the Red Chilli Rest Camp on the south bank of the Nile at Paraa (approx arrival time 17.30). Accommodation consists of safari tents with twin beds, including bedding and shared bathroom facilities (but not towels). Upgrades to ensuite bandas with solar hot water are available on request (please enquire for pricing/availability). Look out for our resident warthogs, hippo and other wildlife around the camp! Enjoy dinner and drinks and a camp fire when weather permits.
6.45 Depart for the ferry crossing to the North Bank, taking along a packed breakfast from Red Chilli. Enjoy a 4-hour game drive around the Buligi game tracks, which stretch between the Victoria and Albert Niles, and down to the Nile-Lake Albert Delta. Most of the park’s game and birdlife can be viewed from here, but please note – nothing is guaranteed!
11.00 Take the ferry back to the South Bank and enjoy lunch and a well-deserved break at Red Chilli Rest Camp.
14.30 Depart for a 3 hour boat cruise along the Victoria Nile to the base of the Falls, Along the way, you will be able to view a wide variety of birds and wildlife, including numerous hippos and crocodiles – as well as breathtaking scenery. Cold drinks are for sale on board.
17.30 Your driver/guide will meet you off the boat and take you back to Red Chilli for another night in the camp.
8.00 Depart Paraa for Nakitoma, south of Masindi.
11.00 Arrive at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to 15 white rhinos, as well as 20 other species of wildlife. The rhinos roam freely on 3,500 acres of land, although they are closely monitored 24 hours a day to protect them from poaching. Tracking and viewing the rhinos usually involves a short drive followed by 1.5 – 3 hours walking and viewing with a ranger. Closed shoes, long trousers and insect repellent are strongly recommended. Enjoy a picnic lunch after tracking, before returning to Kampala.
18.30 Arrive back in Kampala between 17.00 and 18.30, depending on traffic.
WHAT WE SUGGEST YOU BRING: A photocopy of your passport, including the visa page; torch; malaria prophylaxis; insect repellent; sturdy walking shoes and long trousers for chimp tracking; plenty of drinking water/snacks; any other personal affects, light coloured clothing (NB There are tsetse flies in the park, which are attracted to blue or dark-colours!)
Standard shared safari tents with twin beds & shared bathroom facilities.
Upgrade to basic banda with twin beds, mosquito net, light and fan with shared bathroom facilities.
Upgrade to en suite banda with twin/double beds, mosquito net, light, fan & solar hot water & charging facilities.
Please see the map with the rough route of the safari. If you click on the “view large map” icon in the top right hand side of the map, you can select a day by day route. (Please note only road transportation is shown on the map)
We saw them all! Leaving early morning at seven am from Red Chilli Kampala we headed up to Murchison Falls. The car ride is long, but the driver was excellent and made the most of it. Telling little stories of the places we drove through and stopping whenever we needed it. The camp is charming and has everything one needs for a three-day trip. The food is lovely- they have three options you can choose from for dinner,
and you order a packed breakfast the next day. Be aware that they only take cash- so make sure you bring enough. You go to the top of falls for a quick hike and get to experience the incredible power of the water and scenic views. On the safari drive you get to see so many animals, and we had the experience of a lifetime: Lions, hyenas, giraffes ( my new favorite animal), rhinos, elephants and so so many hippos! The big five is an excellent option for a budget traveler, and I would highly recommend it.
Why not chat with us on WhatsApp or give us a call on our reservations hotline. Alternatively send us an email: reservations@redchillihideaway.com
