Uganda Safaris

8-Day Kidepo & Murchison Falls Uganda Safari

This adventure covers four incredible destinations: Kidepo Valley National Park, Sipi Falls, Murchison Falls National Park, and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Starting in Kampala, the route passes through Jinja for a boat trip at the Nile’s source, then heads to Sipi Falls to admire the cascades tumbling down Mount Elgon’s slopes. From there, travelers head north into Kidepo Valley National Park for game drives, cultural encounters, and birdwatching.

Wildlife of Kidepo
Kidepo is Uganda’s only park where cheetahs and ostriches can be spotted. It also hosts large buffalo herds, elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, patas monkeys, caracal, eland, oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, lesser kudu, mountain reedbuck, and Uganda kob, totaling 77 mammal species. White rhinos are expected to be reintroduced soon.

Birdlife of Kidepo
With over 470 recorded species, Kidepo ranks second only to Queen Elizabeth National Park for bird diversity. Highlights include the ostrich, kori bustard, Jackson’s hornbill, golden pipit, purple grenadier, pygmy falcon, chestnut weaver, little bee-eater, rufous chatterer, and red-and-yellow barbet. Onward Journey; From Kidepo, the trip continues to Murchison Falls National Park for a boat cruise and more game viewing, including hippos, crocodiles, lions, elephants, and giraffes. It concludes at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary with white rhino tracking.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 — Kampala to Mbale via Jinja The safari kicks off with a morning drive east, pausing at Sezibwa Falls, once a cherished retreat of Buganda’s kings. Next stop is Jinja, where the Nile begins its journey — a boat ride here offers a close look at the source before lunch in town. The afternoon drive to Mbale passes through lush rice paddies and banana plantations before settling in at the lodge for the night.

Day 2 — Mbale to Moroto via Sipi Falls and a Karamojong Village After breakfast, head toward Moroto with a stop at Sipi Falls for photos and a short hike. Arrive in Moroto for lunch and check-in, then spend the evening visiting a Karamojong village — a cattle-herding community known for its distinctive culture and traditional homesteads (manyattas). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 — Arrival in Kidepo Valley National Park Following breakfast, drive to Kidepo, arriving early afternoon for lunch and check-in, followed by an evening orientation to the park’s wildlife. An early-evening game drive reveals elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and various antelope, alongside birds like the Abyssinian roller and secretary bird. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 — Hot Springs and Cultural Tour Set out on a morning game drive along the northern track in search of ostriches and cheetahs, continuing to Kanangorok Hot Springs near the South Sudan border. The route crosses the Kidepo River, rich with birdlife and game. After lunch back at the lodge, the afternoon is devoted to a guided cultural visit to a Karamojong village — a community whose nomadic pastoral traditions echo those of the Maasai — including a lively traditional dance performance.

Day 5 — Drive to Murchison Falls National Park An early breakfast precedes the drive to Murchison Falls via Kitgum, with a lunch stop in Gulu — a town that has rebuilt itself significantly since its war-torn past. Arrive at the lodge near the park for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 — Morning Game Drive and Boat Cruise to the Falls An early start (with breakfast or a packed meal) sets up prime wildlife viewing before the day heats up. The game drive turns up lions, hyenas, leopards, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, waterbucks, patas monkeys, bush pigs, warthogs, oribi, the kob mating grounds, and birds such as the African grey hornbill, northern carmine bee-eater, and shoebill stork. After lunch, an afternoon boat cruise to the base of the falls offers close-up views of hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, and birdlife, plus a dramatic vantage of the falls themselves. An optional evening game drive rounds out the day.

Day 7 — Final Game Drive and Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary One last morning game drive brings a final chance to see giraffes, lions, elephants, and more before departing Murchison Falls. The journey continues to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary — Uganda’s only spot to see rhinos roaming freely in the wild — with lunch en route and dinner at the lodge.

Day 8 — Rhino Tracking and Return to Kampala/Entebbe After breakfast, track white rhinos on foot during the morning hours when they’re most active — an ideal time for close encounters and photography. Afterward, check out and begin the drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, marking the end of the safari.