News reached the Ugandan Web that the Uganda based Chobe Safari Lodge that is owned and operated by Marasa Africa, part of the Madhvani Group of Industries, announced the first walking safaris in Murchison Falls National Park. The walking safaris were developed in tandem with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) which will provide an armed UWA Ranger to accompany the safaris. “We worked with UWA to build a watering hole and natural salt lick around which the nature walks could take place,” said Roni Madhvani, Marasa Africa’s Managing Director.
At 1480 square miles, Murchison Falls National Park in Northwestern Uganda is the country’s largest national park and the location of famous Murchison Falls, where the River Nile is forced through a narrow gorge to plunge 140 feet to a frothing pool below.
The Park is home to four of the Big Five; buffalo, elephant, lion and leopard (the fifth, the rhino, can now be seen at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, just 40 miles to the South). It is also home to an amazing array of birds, some 300 different species, many with spectacular plumage, implausibly wide wingspans, or so architecturally clever they build elaborate “condo” nests in the acacia trees.
Experiencing a walking safari is entirely different than viewing the bush or plains from a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Safari-goers can sense the pulse of Africa, listen to its silence and its sounds, and feel the thrill of being a heartbeat away from danger.
The Chobe Safari Lodge/Uganda nature walk takes about an hour and a half. Likely sightings include elephants, giraffes, buffalos, herds of kob (Uganda’s national animal), wart hogs and such birds as the black-bellied bustard, spar-winged lapwing, sacred ibis, Brewster’s warbler, gray heron, the mysterious Hadada ibis, little egret, the pied kingfisher and many more.
Also to be seen are crocodiles and hippo in the River Nile that forms part of the walking safari.
The new and luxurious five-star Chobe Safari Lodge, located in a little-known section of Murchison Falls National Park, is becoming one of Uganda’s key tourist destinations for adventurers, anglers, and aficionados of river-scapes. It comprises 36 elegant guest rooms, 21 luxury tents, four suites and a Presidential Cottage.
A state-of-the-art Conference block can host up to 100 guests and is fully equipped for business meetings. The lodge enjoys breathtaking panoramic views of the River Nile, coupled with the sounds of its frothing rapids.
The Package:
A stay at Chobe Safari Lodge: room rates start at US$ 275 a night for a double (US$ 325 for full board) and Tent rates start at $195 a night (US$ 220) for full board.
Cost for Walking Safaris at Chobe Safari Lodge:
- US$20 total for overseas visitors, including UWA Ranger/Guide fee
- US$15 total for foreign residents, including UWA Ranger/Guide fee
- East African citizens pay Ush10,000 including UWA Ranger/Guide fee
For more information about the walking Safari contact Experience Africa on Tel: +256 772 072909
