6 Day Safari In Kidepo Valley And Murchison Falls
This 6-day safari in Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley is designed for those who are interested in seeing all the big five mammals in two of Uganda’s largest national parks. Uganda is blessed with incredible biodiversity and landscape. The best way to know this is by visiting both the remote Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Park. Kidepo Valley National Park is considered Uganda’s true hidden gem. It has a greater variety of animals than any other national park. The park is found in the remote northern part of Uganda at the border between Uganda and South Sudan.
Kidepo is still relatively unexplored because of its remoteness and past insecurity in the surrounding areas. Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda’s close answer to Kenya’s Masai Mara and the Serengeti in Tanzania. If the government combined Kidepo with the Pian Upe, Bokora, and Matheniko wildlife reserves, Uganda could have a national park that stands toe to toe with the best in Kenya and Tanzania. Kidepo Valley National Park was described by CNN as one of the very best Africa has to offer.
Murchison Falls National Park, on the other hand, is the largest in Uganda. It is closer to the capital Kampala and stands out because it is the only park in Uganda where one can see all the big five mammals. The park has the largest population of Roskilde giraffes in East Africa. It is possible to combine game drives with chimpanzee tracking at Budongo forest or a visit to the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.
The distance between Kampala and Kidepo is about 575 kilometers. The tour package is designed in such a way that you won’t have to travel for all this time in one go when starting or ending the trip. There will be stops at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, Gulu, and Kitgum to allow you to rest as you complete the journey in shorter phases.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1:Visit the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary
A Driver Guide from Africa Safaris Tours will pick you up from the airport or your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala and brief you about the tour. You will then start the journey to the park. The journey to Murchison Falls National Park is interesting because you will be passing through amazing countryside. Passing through this part of Uganda is an opportunity to observe the locals working on their farms or doing business by the roadside. You may ask the Guide to stop briefly for you to buy some of the tasty local fruits. Tropical fruits are naturally sweet and nutritious because they are exposed to more direct sunlight. As you continue your journey to the Murchison Falls, you will notice that there are a lot of pastoral communities by the roadside. These pastoralists sell their milk products by the roadside at very reasonable prices for Ugandans returning from long trips to the countryside
DAY 2: Game Drive at the Northern end of the park – Boat cruise at the bottom of the Murchison Falls.
You should wake up early in anticipation of a great day of activity. Enjoy a hearty breakfast and then prepare for a game drive on the northern side of Falls National Park. Expect to see Uganda Kobs, giraffes, elephants, lions, the Topi, and other antelopes. The game drive will last for three hours, after which you will return for lunch and relaxation. The boat ride on the River Nile is in the afternoon.
You will spot large elephants bathing in the river, water bucks, bush bucks, crocodiles, hippos, antelopes, and countless water birds. The key thing about the boat ride is that it ends at the foot of the Murchison Falls. Prepare to be amazed by a great view of the Murchison Falls. You will see as the Nile River drops 50 meters down from a narrow gorge, producing a thunderous roar. After this amazing part of the day, you should return to your lodge for dinner and overnight in Paara Safari lodge or Chobe Safari lodge for Luxury travel. For mid-range travel, you will stay at or Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge. As a budget traveler, you should be very comfortable in Red-Chilli, Sambiya River Bandas, and Budongo Eco-lodge.
DAY 3: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
After all the fun at the Murchison Falls National Park, it’s time to depart and prepare for the next adventure. Have breakfast and wait for the Guide/Driver to start the journey to Kidepo Valley National Park. You will stop in Kitgum to have lunch. This will be a long journey, but we hope that the amazing countryside will keep you engaged and alert. The landscape is always changing as you pass through pockets of diminishing forest, Savannah grasslands, and water bodies. Much of Northern Uganda was a no-go area 15 or so years ago. The Joseph Kony Rebellion deeply affected the people and landscape. You will notice vast areas without human settlements because whole communities had to abandon their villages for fear of the dreaded Konyi.
Arrival is in the evening. If you choose to sleep in tents, then you will go to the park headquarters and check your tents as you prepare for the night game drive. During the night game drive, you will look out for hunting lions, leopards, and night birds. After completing your night game drive, you will return to your tent for dinner. Those who wish to spend the nights in standard cottages will stay at.
Apoka Rest camp or Apoka Lodge (Luxury).
DAY 4: Game Drive in the morning at the Narus Valley – Visit the local Karamojong community
Wake early in the morning and take breakfast as you wait for the Guide to take you for the game drive. The game drive will be done at the Narus Valley before the sun comes up. The Narus valley is named after its only permanent water source – the Narus River. The valley is home to the largest herd of buffaloes in the world.
Look out for leopards, cheetahs, and lions before they go into secluded areas to escape the sun’s heat. Cheetahs, Wild dogs, and ostriches can only be seen in Kidepo Valley National Park, in Uganda. The game drive also offers opportunities to see jackals, waterbucks, zebras, bushbucks, hyenas, jackals, klipspringers, elands, and Jackson’s hartebeests, among other antelopes. Kidepo Valley, like most national parks in Uganda, is a birders’ paradise. The ostrich is the largest, but you will also encounter rare species that are only seen in semi-arid regions. Prepare your camera and binoculars for a truly amazing birding experience and look out for secretary birds, Bustards, and the Karamoja Apellis.
Once you are done with the game drive, you will be taken for lunch as you prepare for the next activity. The afternoon activity is a cultural experience with one of Uganda’s most famous indigenous tribes in Karena and Kapedo. The Karamojong are one of the tribes that have not wholly embraced modern culture. They are nomadic pastoralists whose lives are centered around their cattle. The Karamojong believe that all cattle in the world belong to them. They believe that all cattle in other communities or countries were stolen from them in the past. Cattle rustling by the Karamojong to seize back their lost cattle from other tribes caused insecurity in the region 15 years ago. When they learnt how to use guns after seizing them during one of the government takeovers, they became a menace to the neighboring tribe. The current government was forced to disarm them, eventually bringing peace to the region.
With the Karamojong, you will learn about their ancient culture and their love for their animals. You can buy beautifully made beads and other crafts for souvenirs from them or take part in their afternoon dances.
Overnight and Dinner will be at the Luxury Apoka Safari Lodge, Apoka Rest camp, or one of the UWA tents for budget travelers.
DAY 5: Morning Game Drive/Visit Hot Springs
Wake early for your breakfast and go for the second game drive in another section of Kidepo. This time you will go and see Kidepo’s famous hot springs. Expect to encounter ostriches around the area. Their numbers are threatened by poachers from South Sudan, but the park authorities seem to be doing a good job of protecting them. Watch out for the animals previously mentioned and others you might not have seen. Get out of the car and go for a nature walk in the company of a ranger to discover the beautiful scenery and amazing landscape of Kidepo Valley National Park. After the game drive and nature walk, you will start the Journey to Kitgum from where you will spend the night.
Dinner and overnight will be in Kitgum.
DAY 6: Departure for Kampala
Wake up early at your leisure, depending on your flight schedule, and take breakfast as you prepare for the journey back. The Guide/Driver will begin the journey back to Kampala through Nakasongola, Masindi, and Luwero.