For 5 days and 4 nights, you will enjoy a tour in Kibale and Murchison Falls National Parks in Uganda. This itinerary gives you a chance to trek eastern chimpanzees in the wild and also see the Big Five animals. These include lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes. You will also visit the powerful Murchison Falls, enjoy a boat cruise, and take part in a cultural visit during these 5 days.
Murchison Falls National Park, in northwest Uganda, is 3,840 square kilometers in size. Kibale National Park, in the west, is 795 square kilometers. Both parks are in the Albertine Graben and are home to many species found only in this region. Kibale is also known as the “Primate Capital of the World” because it has a large number of primates, including 13 different species.
Apart from the endangered chimpanzees, Kibale also has Uganda mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, Angolan colobus monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, L’hoest’s monkeys, bush babies, and more. In Murchison Falls National Park, you can see other animals such as Rothschild’s giraffes, Defassa hartebeests, oribis, and warthogs, besides the Big Five.
Your 5-day Kibale & Murchison Falls tour starts and ends in Kampala. The tour package includes lunch, accommodation, transport (during the tour), meals, activities, and a guide.
5-Day Uganda Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park and rhino tracking
- Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon launch cruise
- Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park, Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves, and Crater Lakes
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trek and Bigodi Village tour
- Day 5: Toro Kingdom Palace and travel back to Kampala
Detailed 5-Day Uganda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park & Rhino Tracking
You will be picked up by our driver to travel to Murchison Falls National Park using the Kampala–Gulu highway. This journey takes about 5 to 6 hours, with stops for interesting experiences. First, you will visit Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch in Nakasongola District. Here, you will track southern white rhinos and take photos of them in the wild. This may take about two and a half hours.
Besides rhinos, the ranch also has other large animals to see. You might spot Rothschild’s giraffes, warthogs, leopards, and waterbucks. After the rhino experience, continue to Murchison Falls National Park with lunch on the way in Masindi town. Enter the park after registration at the entrance.
When you reach your lodge, check in and freshen up. You can enjoy a drink by the pool. Have dinner and spend the night at the lodge.
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon launch cruise
On the second day, wake up early and have breakfast. Go to the northern sector of the park for a morning game drive. You will have the chance to see African lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, Defassa waterbucks, Uganda kobs, Lelwel hartebeests, and more. Take photos of the animals and the beautiful green grasslands.
Return to the lodge to freshen up and have lunch. In the afternoon, go for a boat cruise that starts at the Paraa jetty. The boat takes you to the base of the Murchison Falls and then back. This calm boat ride lets you see hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, olive baboons, and many birds.
After the boat cruise, return to your lodge and relax. Enjoy your dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park, Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves, and crater lakes
Wake up and have breakfast as you get ready for a 5 to 6-hour journey to Kibale National Park. Check out of your lodge and begin the drive southwest, covering about 253 km through Hoima and Kyenjojo Districts. You will stop for lunch in Fort Portal.
In the afternoon, visit the Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves, also known as the “Breasts of Nyina Mwiru.” These caves are known for their traditional stories and interesting rock formations. Learn about the stalagmites and stalactites and how they were formed. Take photos and hike to see crater lakes such as Lake Kigere. You may also see birds in this area.
After the tour, continue to Kibale National Park. When you arrive, check in at your lodge, rest, and enjoy dinner and an overnight stay. Get ready for your chimpanzee trek the next day.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trek and Bigodi Village tour
Wake up early and have breakfast. Head to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre by around 7:00 a.m. Attend a briefing by a ranger who will guide you on how to trek a habituated chimp group. An experienced ranger and an armed ranger will lead you into the forest.
Once you find the chimpanzees, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them from a safe distance of about seven meters. Watch them as they play, eat, groom, and interact. After the trek, return to the starting point, where your driver will be waiting. Head back to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit the local communities near Kibale Forest in Bigodi Village. These communities help protect the forest and its animals. Visit the women’s group that teaches how to weave baskets and mats. You can buy some of their crafts as souvenirs to support their work.
You will also enjoy local music and dancing, with people playing traditional instruments. Learn a few words in the local languages, Rutooro or Rukiga. Some elders will share stories about their culture, customs, and way of life.
Visit the Bigodi Wetland, where you can see many primates and birds. Look for black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, and others. Birds such as the great blue turaco and shoebill are also found here. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Toro Kingdom Palace and travel back to Kampala
Wake up and have breakfast. Check out of your lodge and visit the Toro Kingdom Palace in Fort Portal City. Learn about the history of the Batooro people and their ancestors. You will see many cultural items and learn their importance in Toro culture.
Then start your journey back to Kampala, which is about 277 km from Kibale National Park. Enjoy lunch along the way. When you arrive in Kampala, you will be dropped off at your hotel or at Entebbe International Airport if you have a flight. This is the end of your 5-day Kibale and Murchison Falls tour in Uganda.
Visit Kibale National Park in Uganda with these recommended Uganda chimpanzee companies or inquire with us below to book your tour directly through this website.
