5 Day Murchison Falls & Chimpanzee Tracking Experience (Mid-Range)

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your Jumanji Africa Safaris representative who will transfer you to your accommodation in nearby Entebbe Town.

If time of your arrival permits, there will be an important group meeting at 6pm at your accommodation. Please endeavor to attend the meeting.

Meal Plan: Dinner will be a Private Arrangement

Accommodation: The Boma

Today after your early morning breakfast you will be briefed by your guide/driver on the day’s adventures. He will get you at a 4*4 vehicle and drive you North West to Murchison Falls National Park.

We shall make an optional 2 – 3 hr. stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola District where you can get to track the beautiful majestic Southern White Rhinos on foot for a real up-close personal feel but at a safe distance with an experienced game ranger.

Soon after you will continue to drive to Murchison Falls N. P. where you will head to your accommodation for the night at a beautiful, tented             lodge tucked in the bushes of the savannah for a specific wilderness feel. (a true escape from the concrete Jungle)

The journey is approximately 7hrs including 2 – 3 hrs. time spent tracking the White Rhinos

Meal Plan:

• Lunch will be a private arrangement
• Dinner: Twiga Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge

Accommodation: Twiga Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge

Wake up early today and after your breakfast your guide will prepare and drive you to the Northern Sector of the Park.

In the early morning hours animals are the most active, the sun is not yet so bright, and temperatures are cooler. It offers the best time to spot wild animals. Come eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom: elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many tropical birds may all be spotted during the game drive. So, keep your eyes open, they are all there in Murchison Falls National Park!

In the afternoon you will take a boat safari up the Nile River to Murchison Falls. Carefully watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys and all the other thirsty wildlife that the Nile attracts, you will reach the base of the 43-meter-high falls which approach with a thunderous sound. 

After the boat safari you will hike to the top of the falls and from here you can have wonderful view and fantastic photo opportunities surrounded by the roars and gushing sounds of the mighty Nile.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Twiga Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge

Today we shall have morning game drives followed by lunch shortly after which we shall travel to Kaniyo Pabidi Eco Site at Budongo Forest Reserve.

Optional Experiences

Boat safari to the Nile Delta

For the birding enthusiasts, another interesting but more placid activity is the boat trip through the extensive papyrus Nile delta through which the Victoria Nile flows into Lake Albert. Here again there are plenty of animals and birds to see with an excellent chance of seeing the rare Shoebill. This trip takes four to five hours. The lodge can assist with booking seats on the boat. As spaces are limited it is advisable to check availability in advance.

Hot Air Balloon Safari

There is no more thrilling way to see Africa’s incredible landscapes and animals than from a hot air balloon. The team has teamed up with Dream Balloons to make this experience possible.

We shall sleep at the Budongo Eco Lodge, tucked away in the pristine forest. The intimate cabins are perfectly blending with the natural environment, connected by well-maintained walking paths, and constructed with traditional materials for a low environmental impact. Each cabin has a private deck that overlooks the surrounding forest and its rich (bird)life.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Budongo Eco Lodge

Accommodation: Budongo Eco Lodge

Early today we shall have breakfast and set off to the entrance of the Kaniyo Pabidi Eco Site where you will be briefed by the rangers about this amazing experience.

Tracking chimpanzees starts at 8am, get to the site early to avoid inconveniences. The hike takes about 2 to 4 hours, depending on the movement of the chimpanzees. Once the chimps are found you will stay for one hour with these amazing creatures to watch them eating, resting, and playing.  

Sharing 98.4% DNA with humans, chimps are our closest living relatives on earth. No surprise why tracking these amazing creates is such a once in a lifetime experience!

The guides at Budongo Forest are skilled in the art of chimpanzee tracking. They look for clues well hidden in the forest to locate the chimpanzees.

Here are a few examples:

Nests: Chimpanzees use tree branches and foliage to build nests that are used for sleeping. To spot a chimpanzee nest, you must have a keen eye as they often appear to be nothing more than a dense patch of foliage in the forest canopy.

Prints: Chimpanzees travel on the ground in a motion called knuckle walking. This type of movement can leave behind a knuckle print.

Dung: Chimpanzee’s dung can help the guides to determine how recently a chimpanzee has been in the area.

Fruits: When chimpanzees eat, they discard parts of fruits or wads of leaves. These clues help the guides to track the chimpanzees.

Look out for other primates like the Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys, Red-tailed Monkeys, different types of birds, tracks of mammals and much more.

NB: It is important to note that Chimpanzees are wild animals and sometimes can move far deep into the forest for various reason. If this happens and cannot find them, we shall have to settle for their screams and hollers.

We shall return for lunch at Budongo Eco Lodge and hit the road for our journey to Entebbe international airport where you will catch your flight back home.

Please make sure your flight is after 8pm

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

If you choose to stay longer, accommodation will be a private arrangement.