Mount Elgon National park
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Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most stunning and diverse safari destinations in Uganda perfect for safari lovers and nature enthusiasts, the park is the oldest and largest conservation area in Uganda, covering savannah, woodland, and riverine forests. The park features the most dramatic scenery in the country, which includes the most powerful falls, Victoria Nile, and vast savannah plains. It lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where bounding escarpments fade into the anonymous expanses of north Uganda.
Murchison Falls National Park was gazetted in 1952, covering an area of 3,860 square kilometers making it the largest protected area in Uganda. Today it forms the core of the even larger Murchison Falls Conservation Area (5,072 square kilometers) including Karuma and Bugungu Wildlife reserve.
Murchison Falls
The Murchison Falls are the prime tourist attraction in Murchison Falls National Park, these falls are the world’s most powerful waterfalls and one of the reasons why the park receives thousands of visitors a year. The park is named after these beautiful waterfalls found on the River Nile, the falls presents a theatrical battle between the water and the packed rocks display a large volume of water powerfully squeezing through a narrow 7 meter gorge before plunging over 40 meters below into a 50 m radius water pool. The powerful force of the water results into a loud roar and water spray around the fall.
Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is home to array of wildlife including four of Big Five, lion, elephants, buffaloes and leopards. Rhinos once lived in Murchison Falls National Park when it was opened but the last one was killed in 1983 by poachers. Other animals in Murchison Falls National Park include crocodiles, oribis, Uganda Kobs, grey duikers, warthogs, waterbucks, hartebeests, hippos and several primate species including chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys found in the forested section of the park.
The Patas monkeys are endemic to Murchison Falls National Park.
Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
With over 450 bird species, Murchison Falls National Park is ranked among the best birding areas in Uganda. The park hosts array of bird species including the Goliath Heron, African Quail-Finch, the elegant Grey Crowned Cranes, Blue-headed Coucal, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Swamp Flycatcher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Squacco Heron, Silver bird, African Jacana, Piapiac, Sandpipers, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Denham’s Bustard, Weaver Birds, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Malachite Kingfishers and the Black-billed Barbet among several others.
What to do in Murchison falls national park
Game Drives
Boat Cruise
Bird watching
Hiking and Trekking
Game Drives
Game Viewing
Home to 76 species, Murchison Falls National Park offers some of the most incredible game viewing safaris in Uganda. Game drives mainly take place in the northern part of the park, which is dominated by open savannah grassland, this region has a number of tracks used during game drives including Albert Delta Track, the Buligi Peninsula Track among others.
Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park last for 3 to 4 hours and are offered as morning and afternoon game drives. Some of the animals to lookout for include lions, leopards, giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs and many bird species.
Boat Cruise
Boat Cruise
In Murchison Falls National Park, there are two boat cruises to choose from, each heading in a different direction along the Nile that cuts through the park.
The Alert delta takes off from Paraa and leads you down the Nile towards the shores of Lake Albert. Sail for about 28 km, taking between 4-5 hours. The morning session is best for bird spotting, particularly the pre-historic – looking shoebill stork. The afternoon cruise is perfect to watch the sun as it slowly set over boundless grasslands, as game and water life can be seen down by the riverbanks.
The Launch trip, leaves Paraa sailing upstream towards the Murchison Falls. Once reaching the falls, you will witness the water cascading through a small 7-meter gorge, creating an almighty splash and carrying mist through to the boat. As you glide along the water, passing pods of hippos and bathing elephants, the 3-hour trip will not feel long enough.
During both the boat cruises, you will likely spot birds, game and crocodiles sunbathing on the side of the bank.
Bird watching
Birdwatching
Murchison Falls National Park is among Uganda’s best birding spots with over 451 bird species which include; Albertine rift endemic birds, water birds and savannah birds. Bird watching in Murchison Falls National Park is among the most interesting experience to do on a Uganda safari, there are several birds to do including the Gray crowned crane(Uganda’s National bird), Giant Kingfisher, Giant Heron, Shoebill stork, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Nightjars, Marabou stork, Black headed lapwing, Back-bellied Bustard among others.
Hiking and Trekking
Hiking and Trekking
In Murchison Falls National Park you can go for a hike to the top of Murchison Falls, or enjoy a nature walk through Kaniyo Pabidi or Rabongo Forest. Visitors are only permitted to walk on designated trails.
The top of the falls hike starts with a boat ride to “The Baker Point”, named after the British explorer, Sir Samuel Baker. The guided hike takes 45 minutes. You will walk through rolling hills, surrounded by the verdant countryside, and a plethora of birds. As you meander through the park, the ever-present thunder of the crashing falls gets louder and louder, until it surrounds you completely.
Once you reach the top, you will see the Nile forcing its way between a narrow 7 meter gorge, before plunging 43 meters off the cliff and into the pool below. After witnessing the dramatic falls, explore the diversity of the wildlife calling the par home as you hike through Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo Forest. Alongside chimpanzees, you will like spot olive baboons, white and black colobus monkeys, red tailed moneys and blue monkeys among others.
How to Get to Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park can be accessed by road and by Air.
By Road – It takes approximately 4-6 hours (305 km) to drive to Murchison Falls National Park headquarters at Paraa (85km from Masindi). The most direct route to Murchison Falls National Park from Kampala is through the southern gates (Kichumbanyobo and Masindi South Gate). Alternatively, the northern gates (Purongo or Takigate – Packwach) are also a gret option, although longer in distance, they take you straight to the most interesting sections of the park.
By Air – it is possible to fly to Murchison Falls National Park y chartered aircraft or the daily scheduled flight from Kajjansi Airfield near Kampala. The flight is just under one hour. Pakuba Airstrip is the most convenient Airfield because of its proximity to the park headquarters and the main accommodations. You can also fly to Chobe or Bugundu.
Best Time to Visit Murchison Falls National Park
The best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park for a safari is during the dry season that is from December to February and June to September. In this period, wildlife is easier to spot as they congregate around the remaining watering holes and the vegetation cover is thin.
The dry season presets favorable weather conditions for game drives and sightseeing.
Where to stay in Murchison Falls National Park
From luxury lodges on the banks of the Albert Nile, to eco-lodges nestled deep in Budongo Forest. There are a variety of accommodation options in Murchison Falls National Park ranging from budget, midrange to luxury. These include
- Pakuba Safari Lodge
- Paraa Safari Lodge
- Baker’s Lodge
- Budongo Ecolodge
- Twiga Safari Lodge
- Murchison River Lodge
- Nile Safari Lodge
- Chobe Safari Lodge among others.
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