We had a great experience! The Rhino Sanctuary, drives through the park, game drives, hike to the falls and boat tour were all wonderful! We saw many animals - rhinos, zebra, warthogs, giraffe, elephants, crocks & a lion! Our guides did a great job! They were knowledgable, kind and fun to be with. The only disappointment was our lodging. It was extremely hot with little to no breeze and was not very clean.
The experience was wonderful. I literally thought to myself as the trek began, “even if we don’t find the gorillas, this is incredibly fun!” Donny was my driver and he was great, offering great insight into Ugandan life and culture. You should make sure not to miss this trip if you come to Uganda!
Had an amazing time on this safari trip and would deffo recommend in coming! They helped me out with everything and I had such a great time with my tour guide! Went on a solo trip and felt completely safe!
I am going to break my review into sections. First I will speak about the tour company Nsheka that ran this tour. I am starting with them because if they did not provide the stellar driver/tour guide Yusuf this trip could easily have been very challenging and a bummer. I was at a location further than the usual pick up locations for this tour and the company accommodated my pick up (for a relatively small extra cost, mainly covering the gas for the extra kilometers). They were at my pick-up location on time even if it meant driving in the middle of the night to get there. Then, when we were doing the game drive, our first go around I didn't see any lions but Yusuf took us back for an evening drive in order to find those elusive big cats which really made the trip feel fulfilled.
Next the excursion itself is totally worth the experience, even if it is a lot of driving. I would also say it is worth it to pay the $50 entrance fee in order to track the rhinos by foot. There is an element of danger doing this because if they spook they can charge but that just made it more exciting! And you can make friends with the people you would be tracking with, which was fun for me as a solo traveler. The game drive starting at sunrise was beautiful, it felt like something out of "lion king". During the drive I saw baboons, buffaloes, multiple antelopes, giraffes, elephants, hyenas, warthogs, birds, and a hippo grazing on land. Then this excursion includes a boat ride where we got to see more hippos and elephants, water birds and crocodiles! The boat also takes you to the bottom of the falls where you can really experience the flow of the current and force. There is also the "hike" (though honestly not a real hike) to the top of the falls which we did on the first day there during sunset and it was magical... and wet. Really a beautiful scene.
Lastly, the lodge that we stayed at, Nkundwa Nile View Lodge, is both in Murchison falls National Park and also not really in the park either. We had entertainment the night we all arrived which was a lovely treat. This is maybe the only low light of this excursion because the set up of the lodge has no Wifi in the individual cabins. And the most distressing thing was my last night there, there was a bat in my cabin, really freaked me out (make sure to get your rabies shots)! Other than those two things the lodge was really nice and the staff was really attentive and tried to help. The lodge also has a pool which is a big plus!
Overall I really enjoyed this excursion and I think it is a great value with some room for customization without it costing too much more. Thanks again to Yusuf for basically being my driver, guide and travel buddy. I had a great time!
My guide, Robert, helped us find all of the Big 5 plus the rarely seen hyenas and jackals! He was very knowledgeable about the animals and the parks. The food was tasty and the lodging was good. The van was a little dated, but it was comfortable and spacious. As a solo traveler, I felt safe and welcome! This tour was true to the advertisement. I highly recommend!
Murchison Falls National Park
5.0
(1,337)
Uganda
Know before you go
Ways to explore
How to get there
When to visit
You will likely stop at multiple observation points while visiting the waterfalls—some drier than others. The cascade emits a lot of mist, so wear waterproof outerwear or have a change of clothes on hand.
There is a hike that leads from the base of the waterfalls to the highest lookout point. If taking this route, expect a lot of uphill walking. Other options for visiting include a boat cruise, so you can see how the Nile River feeds the cascade.
The park charges daily entry fees per person. If staying in Murchison Falls as part of a guided tour, ask if the park fees are included or paid separately.
Don’t expect stellar road conditions inside the park. Some of the routes are unpaved, so a 4WD vehicle is advised.
While the park is family-friendly, and appeals to children and adults of all ages, certain add-on activities have age requirements. For example, chimpanzee tracking is limited to kids 12 and older.