South Sudan, Uganda · Safari

7-Day Uganda Safari to Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls

7 Days Round trip from Kampala Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Cross the River Nile and admire Karuma Falls on the journey north
02 Explore Kidepo Valley National Park with game drives in wildlife-rich Narus Valley
03 Visit Kidepo Valley's hot springs and the Uganda-Sudan border
04 Cruise the Victoria Nile to the base of Murchison Falls
05 Track white rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before returning to Kampala or Entebbe

Join this 7-day adventure through northern Uganda, combining the remote wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park with the dramatic landscapes of Murchison Falls National Park. Travel via Kitgum, cross the Nile and admire Karuma Falls, then enjoy multiple game drives in Narus Valley, known for its abundant wildlife and excellent chances of spotting big mammals and predators. Continue to Kidepo Valley's hot springs and the Uganda-Sudan border before heading to Murchison Falls for a Victoria Nile boat cruise and a hike to the Top of the Falls. The journey ends with white rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before returning to Kampala or Entebbe.

Join this 7-day adventure through northern Uganda, combining the remote wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park with the dramatic landscapes of Murchison Falls National Park.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Kampala, Entebbe, Gulu, Kitgum, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Victoria, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Drive from Kampala to Kitgum via Gulu

After breakfast, drive to Kitgum town in Northern Uganda. Along the way, you will have an opportunity to cross the River Nile and see Karuma Falls.
Stop in Gulu town for lunch, then break the otherwise long journey to Kidepo Valley National Park with an overnight stay in Kitgum town.

Day 02

Kitgum to Kidepo Valley and Evening Game Drive

After breakfast, preferably very early in the morning, drive to Kidepo Valley National Park.
On the way, enjoy scenic views of the few hills separating Acholi Land and Karamoja.
You will see the great manyatas along the route, cross a few seasonal rivers, and arrive at Kidepo Valley National Park in time for lunch, relaxation, and an evening game drive in Narus Valley.

Day 03

Morning and Evening Game Drives in Narus Valley

After a warm cup of tea or coffee, drive to Narus Valley for your morning game drive. Narus Valley is popular for mammals such as elephants, giraffes, buffalo, antelopes, zebras, and birds.
As the only permanent water point, many animals come to Narus Valley to drink and feed. It is where you will find the largest buffalo herds that can be found anywhere on planet Earth. The chances of spotting big cats hunting are also very high.
If you are lucky, you may spot the rare cheetah too.
Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation, then head back to Narus Valley for an evening game drive.

Day 04

Extra Narus Game Drive and Kidepo Valley Hot Springs

After breakfast, drive to Narus Valley for an extra game drive to trace wildlife that you may have missed on the two earlier game drives. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation, then continue to Kidepo Valley to visit the hot springs and the Uganda-Sudan border.
If you are lucky, you may also spot the giant ostriches found in this area, though they have been seriously poached by Sudanese hunters. There are seasonal rivers on this side, so if it is the rainy season, be prepared for possible interruptions of a few hours.
Return to the lodge for an overnight stay.

Day 05

Drive from Kidepo Valley to Murchison Falls

After breakfast, drive from Kidepo Valley National Park to Murchison Falls National Park.
Enjoy an en-route game drive through the park's northern section, popularly known as Para, where you will have chances to spot many mammals and, if luck strikes, big cats hunting.
Cross the ferry and stay overnight in the park.

Day 06

Morning Game Drive, Victoria Nile Cruise and Top of the Falls Hike

After an early morning breakfast, cross the Nile by ferry to the northern bank of the park for a morning game drive. Your guide will help you spot elephants, lions, Cape buffalo, Rothschild's giraffe, hartebeest, waterbuck, oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, hyena, and, if you are lucky, the leopard.
Return to the hotel for breakfast and lunch. After lunch, go for a boat safari upstream on the calm Victoria Nile to the base of the falls, stopping just tens of meters from the "Devil's Cauldron".
En route, marvel at the toothsome hippos and crocodiles and, over this 17 km stretch, you may also see elephants, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, and crocodiles. This is also a zone for many bird species such as the Goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican, bee-eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant, and the rare shoebill stork.
There, you leave the boat and begin your quite heavy hike to the Top of the Falls, which takes approximately 1 hour. See where the world's longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment and plunges into a frothing pool 43 m below.
Your driver-guide will be waiting to bring you back to the lodge.

Day 07