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Murchison Falls Budget Safari Tours
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda's most alluring destination for those seeking a short budget safari that doesn't include gorilla trekking. This scenic park is also a great add-on to a longer holiday itinerary that does incorporate a visit to Uganda’s gorillas. Attractions include the explosive waterfall for which the park is named and the wildly tropical stretch of the Nile River that bisects the park as it flows toward Lake Albert. When it comes to wildlife viewing, an itinerary that combines Murchison Falls with the nearby Budongo Forest and Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch provides you with a decent chance of seeing all the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) as well as chimps and shoebills in the course of one short, affordable trip.
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10-Day Tailor-Made Holiday & Tour in Uganda –Big 5 Safari
$3,040 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Entebbe Airport (Entebbe), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe (End)
Home To Africa Tours and Travel
5.0/5 – 283 Reviews
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3-Day Breathtaking Uganda Safari to Murchision Falls NP
$880 to $1,100 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Murchison Falls NP, Entebbe Airport (Entebbe), Kampala (End)
Kubwa Five Safaris
5.0/5 – 132 Reviews
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3-Day Murchison Falls Wildlife Trip, Ziwa Rhino Tracking
$723 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Entebbe (End)
Moroka Expeditions
4.9/5 – 16 Reviews
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9-Day Uganda Safari Itinenary
$2,915 pp (USD)
Uganda: Shared tour (max 14 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Cottage
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth NP), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Express Safaris
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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11-Day Uganda – Primates – Big Five and Night Game Drives
$2,860 to $3,190 pp (USD)
Rwanda & Uganda: Shared tour (max 5 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Entebbe Airport (Entebbe), Entebbe (City), Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Murchison Falls NP, Fort Portal (Town), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Mgahinga Gorilla NP (Gorillas), Kigali Airport (End)
Nature Responsible Safari Uganda
5.0/5 – 10 Reviews
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7-Day Best of Uganda Gorilla, Chimp Tracking & Wildlife
$3,025 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Hoima (Town), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe (End)
Lulu Safaris Uganda
4.9/5 – 91 Reviews
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3-Day Murchison Falls Budget Tour (Big Five of Africa)
$787 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Murchison Falls NP, Entebbe (End)
Hooves of Africa - Photo Safaris
5.0/5 – 3 Reviews
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8-Day Murchison Falls and Gorilla Tracking Budget Safari
$2,882 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Entebbe Airport (End)
Pumba Adventures Tours and Travel
5.0/5 – 13 Reviews
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12-Day Gorilla and Chimps Trekking and Game Drive Safari
$3,102 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kampala (City), Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Scb Tours and Travel
4.6/5 – 31 Reviews
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3-Day Murchison Falls Classic Wildlife Experience
$935 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Green Zones Safaris
5.0/5 – 11 Reviews
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18-Day Total Experience Uganda Adventure
$5,688 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Mabamba Swamp, Jinja (Town), Sipi Falls (Highlight), Mt Moroto, Kidepo Valley NP, Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Kyambura Gorge (Chimps), Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth NP), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Naseeb Safaris Uganda
5.0/5 – 11 Reviews
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17-Day Uganda Gorilla Safari & Wildlife Tour
$5,445 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Jinja (Town), Sipi Falls (Highlight), Kidepo Valley NP, Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo NP, Kampala (City), Entebbe (End)
Pamoja Tours and Travel (Entebbe, UG)
4.8/5 – 51 Reviews
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15-Day Tailor Made Big Five Safari and Hiking Mt Rwenzori
$5,147 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut & Lodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Entebbe Airport (Entebbe), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Kasese (Town), Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe (End)
Azas Safaris
4.7/5 – 50 Reviews
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3-Day Murchison Fall Budget Tour
$640 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Peak Cruise Safaris
5.0/5 – 28 Reviews
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3-Day Uganda Budget Safari with Big Five and Primates
$2,171 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Murchison Falls NP, Budongo Forest (Chimps), Entebbe (End)
Beautiful Safaris Uganda
5.0/5 – 38 Reviews
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3-Day Discovering the Big Five Safari
$633 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Kampala (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Bright Safaris Uganda
5.0/5 – 47 Reviews
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9-Day Gorillas, Chimps & Classic Africa Wildlife Safari
$2,782 pp (USD)
Uganda: Shared tour (max 3 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe (End)
Epic Uganda Vacation
4.9/5 – 28 Reviews
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18-Day Great Ugandan Safari
$5,349 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Jinja (Town), Sipi Falls (Highlight), Moroto (Karamoja), Kidepo Valley NP, Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe (End)
Vibrant Holiday Safaris
4.9/5 – 34 Reviews
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3-Day Murchison Falls Big 5 Safari
$770 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Entebbe (End)
Kaara Adventures
5.0/5 – 47 Reviews
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15-Day Best of Uganda's Wildlife Adventure
$5,224 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe (End)
Shoebill Safaris
4.8/5 – 20 Reviews
6 Questions About Murchison Falls Budget Safaris
Answered by
Philip Briggs
Philip is an Africa-specialized travel writer who first visited Uganda in 1988. He has returned on numerous occasions to research his Bradt Guide to Uganda (first published in 1993 and now in its 10th edition) and to lead wildlife tours and bird-watching safaris.› More about Philip
6 Questions About Murchison Falls Budget Safaris
Are affordable budget trips available to Murchison Falls National Park?
“Yes. Murchison Falls National Park is a popular destination for budget safaris out of the capital Kampala or nearby Entebbe International Airport. Stand-alone Murchison Falls safaris generally range in duration from 2 to 4 days. They often include chimp trekking in Budongo Forest and/or a visit to Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, both of which can be done en route to or from the park. Also available are longer itineraries (7 to 14 days) that travel more widely in Uganda and incorporate a visit to Murchison Falls.”
1How many days are recommended for a budget Murchison Falls trip?
“The most usual duration for a stand-alone Murchison Falls budget tour is 3 days, but 2-day and 4-day itineraries are also offered by many operators. Given that the drive there and back requires at least 6 hours, a 2-day safari will be very rushed and is not recommended unless you absolutely cannot extend the trip any longer. A 3-day safari will be more relaxed as it effectively doubles the time you spend in the park. In our view, 4 days is even better, especially if you want to track chimps and visit Ziwa en route.”
2What animals might I see on a Murchison Falls budget safari?
“You can expect to see a good variety of African wildlife on a Murchison Falls budget safari. The national park is home to four of the Big Five (no rhino). You are almost certain to see elephant and buffalo, along with hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds, on the popular boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls. Lions are regularly observed on game drives north of the Nile, and leopards are present but more secretive. Other common wildlife includes Rothschild’s giraffe, defassa waterbuck, Uganda kob, oribi, patas monkey and olive baboon. For bird-watchers, the boat trip to the delta formed by the Nile as it empties into Lake Albert provides one of the best opportunities anywhere in Africa to see the rare shoebill. Farther afield, the main road to Murchison Falls bisects Budongo Forest, one of the most reliable chimp trekking sites in Uganda. A worthwhile short diversion en route to Murchison Falls is Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, where rhino (the only member of the Big Five not present in the national park) can be tracked on foot.”
3Can you describe a typical day on a Murchison Falls budget trip?
“Every day will be different. On the first day of your budget safari, an early start from Entebbe or Kampala should allow you to reach your lodge by lunchtime. In the afternoon, you'll probably join a boat trip on the Nile upstream to the base of Murchison Falls. The next morning it’s typical to do a game drive, setting off as early as possible to improve your chances of seeing big cats. On a 2-day safari, you will return to Entebbe or Kampala after your game drive, possibly stopping en route to look for rhinos at Ziwa. On a longer safari, you will have time to do other activities over the next day or two. These might include a visit to the spectacular viewpoint at the top of Murchison Falls, a morning boat trip to the Nile delta, additional game drives, or chimp trekking in Budongo Forest.”
4What is the best time of the year for a Murchison Falls trip?
“Murchison Falls is a year-round destination and there is no truly bad time to visit. In terms of wildlife viewing, marginally the best time for a budget safari is the main Dry season, which runs from December to February. These months are also good for bird watching, as Palearctic migrants from Europe and Southeast Asia are present in Uganda from November to April. However, January and February can be uncomfortably hot, with midday temperatures routinely soaring above 33°C/91°F. The Wet season, which usually starts in March and runs to November, tends to be more comfortable climatically, and the scenery is lusher and greener from June onward. June and July are optimal in terms of relatively low temperatures and rainfall. If you will also be tracking gorillas and/or chimps while in Uganda, you might want to factor in the best months for these activities. Gorilla trekking is best from December to February and June to August. Chimps are easiest to track from December to March and June to July.”
5How much does a Murchison Falls budget safari cost?
“The typical price of a cheap 2- to 4-day Murchison Falls safari is around US$230 to US$300 per person per day. This will usually include accommodations at a simple rest camp or tented camp, meals, transport, and park entrance and activity fees. It will exclude drinks, tips and any activities listed as optional. Expect to pay slightly more for a package that includes chimp trekking in Budongo Forest or rhino trekking in Ziwa.”
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