9 Days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari

This 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari is an interesting safari which will take you to Murchison falls national park, Pian upe game reserve, Sipi falls and Kidepo valley national park which is located in northeastern part of Uganda in Karamoja region between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya. During the safari you will engage in exciting activities like cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the local Karamojong people and game drives where you will be able to enjoy great views of animals including lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, elands, oribi, Uganda kobs, Jacksons hartebeest, cheetah, mountain reedbuck, caracal, giraffes, greater and lesser kudu, dik-dik and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls where you will be able to view large concentrations on hippos and Nile crocodiles in waters.

Highlights of the 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park

Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo valley national park

Day 4: Morning game drive and Karamajong cultural tour

Day 5: Full day game drive in Kidepo valley national park

Day 6: Morning game drive and transfer to Pian upe game reserve

Day 7: Morning game drive and transfer to Sipi falls

Day 8: Hiking Sipi waterfalls and coffee tour

Day 9: Departure to Kampala

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park

Depending on your location on the first day of the 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Murchison falls national park. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours drive and one the way you will enjoy great views of the beautiful scenery, landscape, countryside, views of Karuma falls and a stopover in Masindi town for lunch. After lunch you will proceed to the park and upon arrival you will go for an evening game drive where you will be able to view animals like giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks among others. After the game drive you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Morning game drive

After an early breakfast on the second day of the 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive where you will be able to view animals when they are most active. During the game drive you will be able to view animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda kobs, giraffes, warthogs, lions, leopards, hyenas among others. After the game drive you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.

Afternoon boat cruise

After lunch your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for an amazing boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. During the game drive which takes about 2 to 3 hours you will be able to view animals like elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks among other which will be drinking water along the shores, view hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, aquatic bird species like hornbills, cormorants, kingfishers, fish eagles, bee-eaters among others. After the boat ride you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo valley national park

On the third day of the 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari, you will have breakfast and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to Kidepo valley national park. On the way you will enjoy views and en-route lunch, upon arrival in the park you will continue to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Morning game drive and Karamajong cultural tour

Morning game drive,

After an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to go for a morning game drive in Narus valley which is also known as a water provision point. The Narus valley attracts large numbers of animals like buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs among others which will be drinking water in the valley. You will also be able to view different bird species like ostrich, Karamoja apalis, scarlet chested sunbird, Abyssinian ground hornbill, secretary bird among others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.

Karamajong cultural tour

After lunch you will go for an interesting cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the Karamajong who live in the neighboring villages. During the cultural tour you will be able to learn about their culture, tradition, way of living, visit the Karamojong Manyattas, enjoy their traditional songs, dances among others. After the cultural tour you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Full day game drive in Kidepo valley national park

Morning game drive

After breakfast on the fifth day of the 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge for go for a game drive in Kidepo valley where you will be rewarded with great views of wildlife species including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elands, reedbucks, oribi, giraffes, Uganda kobs, kudus, elephants, bushbucks and different bird species including ostriches. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.

Afternoon game drive to Kanangorok hot springs

After lunch you will go for an afternoon game drive to Kanangorok hot springs which is one of the best areas in Kidepo valley national park where you can sit, relax and enjoy views of the beautiful landscape, interact with the local people, view different bird species, plants among others. After the Kanangorok hot springs drive you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Morning game drive and transfer to Pian upe game reserve

Morning game drive

After breakfast on the sixth day of the 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge for go for a game drive in Kidepo valley where you will be rewarded with great views of wildlife species including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elands, reedbucks, oribi, giraffes, Uganda kobs, kudus, elephants, bushbucks and different bird species including ostriches. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch where after you will check out and start the journey to Pian upe wildlife reserve. Upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Morning game drive and transfer to Sipi falls

Morning game drive

After an early breakfast on the seventh day of the 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian Upe wildlife safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to go for a morning game drive in the reserve where you will be able to view animals when they are most active. During the game drive you will be able to view animals like oribi, zebras, mountain reedbucks, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, waterbucks, roan antelopes, view hyenas looking for a morning hunt among others which will be grazing in the open savannah plains, view different bird species such as ostriches, secretary birds, yellow billed shrike among others.

After the game drive you will drive back to the lodge for lunch where after you will check out and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Sipi falls. On the way you will spectacular views of the beautiful landscape, traditional homesteads and upon arrival you will check into the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Hike Sipi waterfalls and coffee tour

After breakfast on the eighth day of the 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian Upe wildlife safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for an adventurous Sipi falls hike which takes about 4 hours or even less depending on your level of fitness. The waterfalls measure 100meters high, 75meters and 85 meters, during the hike you will enjoy panoramic views of Mt Elgon, Karamoja region, views of the farmlands among others. After the waterfall hike, you will transfer to the lodge for lunch.

Coffee tour

After lunch you will go for a coffee tour where you will visit the local coffee farmers, the coffee plantations, visit the processing plant where you will learn about the coffee process for example removing husks, roasting the beans and the last process where you will enjoy a cup of coffee. After the coffee tour you will return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Departure to Kampala

On the last day of the 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari, you will enjoy a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer back to Kampala. On the way you will have en-route lunch and continue the journey to Kampala arriving early evening and upon arrival your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of advise.

End of 9 days Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Pian upe wildlife safari

Tour includes

Park entrance fees/ game drives
Boat cruise fees
Karamajong cultural tour
Hiking Sipi waterfalls
An English speaking driver guide
Full board accommodation
Pick up and drop off
4 WD pop up safari vehicle and fuel
Bottled drinking water

Tour excludes

International air flight tickets
Visas
Optional activities not included on the itinerary
Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.