Explore Uganda Savannah Bonanza: Murchison Falls $ Queen Elizabeth National Parks

This Package introduces you to the two largest and oldest game reserves in Uganda. These two game reserves protect the much sought after “big 5” animals, including lions, elephants, hippos, buffaloes and leopards and much more fascinating fauna. Flanking the Victoria Nile some 300km northwest of Kampala, Murchison Falls National Park is the largest protected area in Uganda, and one of the most exciting. It protects a portion of untamed African savannah bisected by the mighty river Nile. The park is named after the dramatic Murchison Falls, where the world's longest river, the Nile explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below , the boat cruise upstream leads to the spectacular water fall, where the river is forced though a 6meter gap lined with rocks. The thundering water leaves with you with an unforgettable experience.

From open savannah to rainforest, from dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it is little wonder that Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world. Almost 130 mammal species and a remarkable 606 bird species makes this superb safari territory, with elephant, a profusion of hippos, the elusive giant forest hog and handsome Uganda kob all regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula - which also boasts a marvelous waterfront setting in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains. The melting glacier waters of the mountains create a vast wetlands system comprising of two main lakes, George and Edward, as well as the connecting Kazinga channel. Thousands of hippos populate the lake shores. Open savannah dotted with acacia and Euphorbia trees provide habitant primates.

ITINERARY
Day 1
Depart Kampala for Murchison Falls National Park. You will have an Enroute stop in Masindi town for lunch before proceeding to the park. Keep alert for wildlife that you will view on your drive to Nile Safari Lodge. The rest of the day will be spent at leisure as you recuperate from the long journey. Explore more of the surroundings and enjoy the delightful scenery. From your own private balcony suspended over the mighty River Nile a massive expanse unfolds. Hundreds of weaver nests occupy overhanging trees, while the silent ripple of water whispers untold secrets. Giant Nile crocodiles bask on sand banks, hippos snort with contentment from their watery home, whilst elephant herds wade through the papyrus islands in search of food – and all this from deck of your own room. There is an excellent swimming pool with a serene view over the Nile where you can cool off as the park often gets considerably hot.
Dinner and overnight at Nile Safari Lodge

Day 2
In the afternoon when the sun is best positioned for photography, you will have a nature walk to the top of the Murchison Falls. Only here can one truly appreciate the staggering power with which the Nile crashes through the 43 meter narrow gap in the Rift valley escarpment, not to mention the deafening roar and voluminous spray associated with the phenomenon. It was at this point that the great explored stood and marveled at the sheer beauty of the falls thereby naming them after the president of the Royal Geographic Society in 1864. Return to the Nile Safari lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3
After an early breakfast, you will have a game drive through the delta circuit, reputably known for high concentrations of wildlife. The drive will lead you to a grassy peninsular, bordered by the delta of the Victoria Nile to the south and the Albert Nile to the north. There are kob breeding grounds, where you can view herds of Uganda kob and common prides of lions which stick close to their prey. Other antelopes you will see include Defassa waterbuck, Jackson’s hartebeest and orbi. Great herds of giraffe also occupy this area. Buffalo herds, hippos, and elephants are also common. Birds found here include the rare shoebill stork, Abyssinian ground hornbill, crested crane, saddle-billed stork, Denham’s bustard and the Senegal thickknee among other various water and savannah grassland birds.
Return to the lodge for lunch. The rest of the day will be spent at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at Nile Safari Lodge

Day 4
Today you will go for the superb launch cruise on the Nile. The 3 hour trip will be done in the afternoon. In addition to taking you close to the base of the waterfall, the launch trip follows a stretch of the Nile with a compelling African atmosphere, fringed by borassus palms, acacia woodland and stands of mahogany. Game viewing is excellent. You could see hippos in their hundreds, some of the largest crocodiles left in Africa, small herds of buffalo, waterbuck, and kob and as often as not giraffe, bushbuck and monkeys. Elephants are frequently observed playing in the water often within a few metres from the launch, and fortunate visitors might even see a lion or leopard. The birdlife on the papyrus-lined banks is stunning, with the top prize being the shoebill. Other birds to be seen include the African fish Eagle, Goliath heron, saddle-billed stork, African Jacana, Pied and malachite kingfishers,
African skimmer, Piacpiac, rock pratincole and many more.
Dinner and overnight at Nile Safari Lodge

Day 5
Depart Murchison Falls after breakfast for Fort Portal town, which lies between the two parks. The drive will take you through lush scenic countryside of rolling hills and deep crater lakes, past traditional homesteads and farms. Fort-Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon. You will break the journey here and spend the rest of the day at leisure preparing for the onward drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 6
Arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is one outstanding beauty, spreading across more than 1,900 square kilometers of virtually untouched land, endowed with lush vegetation and rich wildlife. Every where you look you are rewarded with a breath taking view of the grand designs of Mother Nature. The melting glacier waters of the mountains create a vast wetlands system comprising of two main lakes, George and Edward, as well as the connecting Kazinga channel. Thousands of hippos populate the lake shores. Open savannah dotted with acacia and Euphorbia trees provide habitant primates and other animals. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 7
After breakfast you explore more of the national park and its diverse flora and fauna on a game drive. The Kasenyi plains support the largest concentration of game in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will take you through an extensive area of short-grass savannah interspersed with solitary euphorbia trees and small clumps of thicket. This plain is one of the most important breeding grounds for the Uganda Kob-thousands congregate here at times- and it is also frequented by numerous buffalo and bushbuck. The two or three well-fed lion prides resident in this area are generally quite easy to find, at least for the first 1 or 2 hours after sunrise, after which they tend to retreat into the shade of thicker bush. The plains also support an interesting selection of grassland birds, including grey-crowned crane, red-throated spurfowl and yellow-throated longclaw, while abandoned lion kills often attract flocks of squabbling vultures and more occasionally spotted hyenas. Return back to the lodge for lunch. The rest of the day will be spent at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 7
After lunch you will have a launch cruise to the mouth of the Kazinga Channel. Elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, Uganda kob, and large hippo schools can be seen on a daily basis and giant forest hog, leopard and lion can be seen from time to time. Monitor lizards and crocodiles are also viewed here. Water birds are plentiful, including the water thicknee, yellow-billed stork, various plovers, pink-backed pelicans, black-headed gonolek and white bellied cormorants can be viewed. Return back to Mweya Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 8
After a leisurely breakfast you will visit the Maramagambo forest in the southeastern part of the park. Many surprises await visitors in the extensive rainforest. On the trail expect to see plenty of monkeys-most commonly the black-and-white colobus monkey, red-tailed and vervet monkeys. Birdlife includes a fascinating variety of forest greenbuls, sunbirds and woodpeckers. African Rock Pythons are often observed in the crevices of the Bat’s Cave floor using bats as their main source of food. The cave is near the picturesque Blue Lake and the Hunters cave. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 9
Depart the park for Kampala after a leisurely breakfast. You can stop over in Mbarara for lunch before proceeding.

Day 10
Day of departure. You will be transferred to the airport for departure flight.