3 days

Murchison Falls NP & Rhino Tracking Safari

Take on the mighty Murchison Falls with game drives and a Nile cruise, then track white rhinos on foot at Ziwa on the way home. The only Ugandan safari that pairs rhinos with the Big Four.

History

Why this place matters

This route pairs two of Uganda's conservation landmarks. Murchison Falls is Uganda's largest and oldest national park (gazetted 1952), where the Victoria Nile is forced through a gorge just 7 to 8 metres wide to create the most powerful waterfall on earth, set in plains roamed by lions, elephants, giraffes and over 450 bird species. On the road back lies Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, established in 2005 and the only place in Uganda to see rhinos in the wild — its growing population of southern white rhinos was reintroduced after poaching wiped the species from the country in the 1980s. Together they make the rare safari where you chase the Big Four by day and track rhinos on foot before heading home.

Day by day

Your 3-day itinerary

1
Transfer to Murchison, Top of the Falls Hike & Evening Game Drive
Murchison Falls NP
You'll be picked up from the hotel at 6 a.m. for the drive to Murchison Falls National Park, with a few stopovers along the way during the 5–6 hour journey, offering beautiful views of the Ugandan countryside. Once inside the park, we head to the top of the falls for a hike, then enjoy a short evening game drive before heading to the lodge for check-in, dinner and an overnight stay.
2
Morning & Evening Game Drives with Nile Boat Cruise
Murchison Falls NP
We set out at 5:30 a.m. with a packed breakfast for an early morning game drive, expecting to see antelopes, elephants, giraffes and buffaloes among others. The drive lasts about four hours, with a short break to enjoy breakfast at the famous Hippo Pool. Afterward we head out for a three-hour afternoon boat ride along the Nile, bringing us up close to animals along the river. Following the boat ride, we drive to Red Chili Camp for lunch and a short rest, then go on an evening game drive to spot any animals we may have missed earlier, ending the day with dinner at the lodge.
3
Rhino Tracking & Drive Back to Kampala
Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
We'll have breakfast by 6 a.m. before setting off for the rhino tracking sanctuary at Ziwa Rhinos. After an exciting trek on foot to see the rhinos, we'll hit the road again, continuing our drive to Kampala and aiming to arrive by 4 p.m., wrapping up a memorable trip.

Lodging

Where you sleep

Day 1 · Eco-Lodge

Red Chilli Rest Camp

Red Chilli was awarded the concession from Uganda Wildlife Authority to manage the Rest Camp in the heart of Murchison Falls National Park in September 2002. Having inherited a bunch of crumbling mud huts, we have spent the last 17 years developing both camps and also enabling budget tourists to experience the beauty of Murchison and other stunning areas around Uganda.

What you'll do

Activities included

Top of the Falls hike Morning game drive Evening game drive Hippo Pool breakfast stop Nile boat cruise Rhino tracking on foot Wildlife viewing

Transparent pricing

What you actually pay for

Per person, in USD. Permits, lodging, transport — itemized. Our fee is a flat 20% on top, never hidden.

Murchison park entrance — 2 days Official UWA Murchison FNR rate, $45/24hrs	$90
Nile boat cruise Official UWA launch rate, per person	$30
Top of the Falls hike Official UWA rate	$15
Game drive guide fee Official UWA day game-drive rate	$25
Ziwa rhino tracking Official UWA Ziwa rhino-tracking FNR rate	$20
Ziwa sanctuary entrance Official UWA Ziwa park-entrance rate	$20
Lodging — 2 nights, full board Red Chili Camp, est. ~$130/nigh	$260
Private 4×4 with driver-guide & fuel 3-day allocation incl. long transfers, est.	$360
Vehicle park entry "Foreign-registered 4×4 incl. MFNP surcharge, est	$50
Subtotal	$870
HIVE service (20%)	$174
Total per person	$1044