7 Days Big 5 & River Nile Adventures
The meandering Victoria Nile and the dramatic Murchison Falls neatly bisecting Uganda’s largest park, you’d expect a wide range of animals at Murchison Falls and you’d be right. It’s a stunning habitat for wildlife and it’s where to go in Uganda for classic big game species. Combine the beautiful picturesque River Nile landscape with Adventurous activities in one memorable holiday.
A visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary ensures that you get up close with Africa’s Big 5 heavyweights
Destinations Visited: Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park, and Jinja City.
Day 1: Welcome to Uganda
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, meet our representative, greet, and transfer to your hotel for overnight and relaxation.
Day 2: Rhino Trekking/ To Murchison Falls National Park
Your safari begins on a high; you will head out North West of Uganda to Murchison Falls National Park. En route, you will trek rhinos at the Ziwa sanctuary- this Rhino reserve is a true success story of the revival of rhinoceros after the extreme poaching that killed the last rhino in Uganda in 1982. Doing this guided trek gets you “up close and personal” with these special animals that are among Africa’s signature ‘Big Five’ animals. After your rhino-tracking excursion, proceed to Murchison Falls N.P.
Before checking into your lodge, you drive to the top of the Murchison Falls with magnificent views below. See where the world’s longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below.
Day 3: Explore Murchison Falls National Park:
In the morning, head out on a game drive when the animals are most active since it’s not so bright and temperatures are cooler. This is a good time to spot wild animals. A drive through the park brings you eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom: elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope, and many tropical birds.
In the afternoon, a 3-hour Boat Cruise along the Victoria Nile will lead you to the base of the Murchison Falls. Along the way, you will be able to view a wide variety of birds and wildlife; numerous hippos, elephants, and crocodiles, as well as breathtaking scenery.
Day 4: To Jinja
Bid farewell to Murchison Falls National Park and transfer to the Eastern part of Uganda to Jinja town – home of the mighty River Nile. Jinja is famously known as the Adventure Capital of East Africa for her long list of adrenaline activities that include white water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping, quad biking & horseback riding among others. Here the Nile River begins its journey from Lake Victoria up to the Mediterranean Sea.
Day 5: River Nile Adventures
Today you have the whole day to yourself to optionally choose what activities you would prefer to indulge in in this adventurous city.
White Water Rafting
On arrival at the rafting base, you will meet your fellow rafters and guides and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Note: Rafting is a physical activity that requires you to eat up.
After an initial briefing, you will be fitted into the life jackets and helmets before heading down the river to the start point. Once at the river’s edge, you will receive a detailed safety briefing. As the river meanders through beautiful scenery, the rafts guide you into the mighty challenges of some of the biggest and safest white-water rafting.
You stop before all the rapids to explain the planned route to ensure maximum fun and safety. Midway through the trip, on one of the flat pools, you will be served biscuits and Uganda’s famous juicy pineapples. Once you have eaten to your fill and sated your thirst, you head off for some more action. Calm stretches of water separate the rapids – perfect for getting your breath back, taking a swim, and enjoying the scenery.
If at any time, you feel you would prefer to join the safety boat or where possible, walk around and then rejoin the raft, kindly let your guide know and they help you out with this.
Quad Biking
Follow the Nile downstream from Bujagali and then away from the riverbank, through farmland, forest, and small villages in rural Uganda. Stop at various viewpoints and points of interest. You have the opportunity for brief stops in some of the small villages and trading centers for a chance to meet the people living in the area as well as great photo opportunities along the route
Sundowner on the Nile
In the evening, you get to watch the sun as it settles over the shores of the River Nile and enjoy the sites of the river and rapids through the largest free-flowing pools of calm water and riverine forest. Get to see birds such as the African Eagle, kingfisher, monitor lizards, otters, and sometimes even some owls as well as fishermen as they cast out their nets for the night catch.
Optional activities by the Nile,
- White water rafting (full & half day
- A horseback safari
- Quad-biking
- A day of whitewater kayaking on the river
- A sundowner cruise on the Nile
- A visit to the source of the Nile
- Big Game mini-golf.
- A visit to Jinja market
- Village walk.
- Sport fishing on the Nile
Day 6: Zip-lining/ To Entebbe
Today you head back to Entebbe town the starting point of your safari. En route, enjoy an exhilarating Super Skyway in the Mabira Forest- the biggest remaining tropical forest in Central Uganda. Experiencing the Mabira Forest canopy just makes you behave like a monkey! The Mabira Forest Super Skyway is a canopy “zip-line” system that sends you soaring between the tallest trees in the rainforest.
Day 7: Departure
Depending on the time of your departure flight, today morning you can simply relax or explore the town of Entebbe before departing to the airport from where you’ll catch your departure flight onwards.
Optional Activities in Entebbe
- Visiting the Zoo
- Behind the Scenes Activity (Feeding animals at the zoo)
- Visiting Ngamba Chimpanzee Island
- Visit the Botanical Gardens
- Sundowner Cruise on Lake Victoria
- Cheese & wine tasting Sundowner Cruise on Lake Victoria
- Cruises on Lake Victoria (Motorized canoe Boat)
This marks the end of what we hope will be an adventurous trip.