7 Days Murchison Falls, Semliki & Kibale Forest

Drive to Murchison Falls National Park beginning from Kampala using the Bombo road route; a drive that will take approximately 5 hours. Along the way you will see the well known Luwero triangle, which currently has developed into a small town having a trading center famous for its painful history of the Baganda mass murder. Drive on and stopover for lunch at Masindi Hotel. You will drive through Budongo forest as well as Kaniyo Pabidi. On arrival in the park, proceed to the top of the waterfalls; it is a very breathtaking site for unwinding and adventure.

Set out on an early morning game drive through the park to look for elephants, Uganda kobs, giraffes, lions, water bucks, hippos and buffaloes, plus a diversity of bird species. Return to the lodge for breakfast as well as wait for lunch while taking nature walks around the park and later enjoy a boat cruise in the afternoon to the bottom of the falls to see a diversity of wildlife on the riverbanks drinking water. You will see various antelope species, crocodiles, water bucks, hippos, elephants plus buffaloes among many others on the shore, in addition to a diversity of water bird species that make this a renowned birding paradise. The waterfalls display a natural beauty unmatched to no other place in the whole world. The 7-meter gorge together with a 43m drop of these falls results into a thunderous roar and a gorgeous rainbow in a cloud of water spray which leaves several tourists yearning.

After breakfast leave for chimpanzee trekking within Budongo forest which takes approximately 3 to 5 hours. Budongo forest is as well known for its special Mahogany tree species which are very tall. In addition, there are numerous primates including the forest galago, red-tailed monkeys, potto as well as blue monkey, in addition to several bird species like the yellow-footed eye catcher and the white-thigh horn-bill.

Drive to Semliki and head to Bundibugyo to enjoy this spectacular drive with views of Lake Albert and the legendary Mountain Rwenzori ranges. This park is situated in Bundibugyo district along the western border of Uganda with the Democratic Republic of Congo near Lake Albert. The park has a great location within western Albertine Rift valley region and occupies the eastern section of Ituri forest connecting Uganda with Congo River separated by river Semliki. Semliki is a site for ornithologists with approximately 400 species of bird mainly forest birds, approximately 300 species of trees have been recorded here and more than 52 mammal species including 11 diurnal species. In the night you will have a spot-lit game drive, only one of this nature in the whole of Uganda and see the thin white-tailed mongoose, very small night jars plus several cats.

Visit the highlight in Semliki, referred to as the Sempaya hot springs. These natural springs have a geyser shooting high from an 8 meter-wide hole at a very high temperature. Of its kind, this is the largest in the whole of Uganda. On this very trail, you may identify a couple of bird types such as the blue breasted kingfisher plus Frasier’s ant-thrush in addition to primates such as the grey checked mangabey plus the red-tailed monkey. Proceed to Mungilo waterfall to see some other fascinating birds, particularly ideal for birders. In the late afternoon after lunch, take a boat ride on Lake Albert, a wonderful lake and see the various water animals then later head back to Semliki Safari Lodge where you will spend the night.

Head to Kibale another favorite tourist destination. Enjoy the beautiful drive southwest through Fort Portal where you will have a lunch break. See the Toro Kingdom palace, the eating places, Royal tombs, the mosque and several shops however drive on to Kibale, only a couple of kilometers ahead. This national park has the biggest number of primates in the whole of East Africa such as Chimpanzees, black & white Colobus monkeys, the blue monkeys plus baboons. After lunch, take a guided nature walk in the Bigodi swamp sanctuary, a place ideal for birders. The Papyrus Gonolek plus the Blue Turaco can easily be seen among other 137 bird types. In addition, there is a great array of colorful butterflies which highlights an assortment of plants and animals in the forest.

Following breakfast, wake up early to track chimps near Kanyanchu. This can take you half a day. There are primates in the area like the golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, baboons, white and black Colobus monkeys, grey checked mangabeys, red Colobus, blue monkeys and pottos. Other animals involve forest elephants unique from the common type, giant forest hogs and a striking tree species. Later, return to Kampala with lunch along the way and this will end our safari.