Activities in Murchison Falls National Park; Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s most popular national park located in the northwestern Uganda region and is the country’s largest and oldest national park measuring approximately 3,893 square Kilometers. The park is divided by the Victoria Nile from east to west for a distance of about 115 kilometers. Fact, the park has got remarkable tourist attraction ‘’Murchison Falls’’ where the waters of the Nile flow through a narrow gorge only 7 meters wide before connecting 43 meters.
Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 76 species of mammals and 450 bird species. The park can be accessed in about 5 hour’s drive from Kampala to reach the main visited destination. Alternatively, you can connect to the park by daily domestic flights from ‘’EBB’’ Entebbe International Airport, to Kidepo valley National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park landing at Pakuba Airstrip and Bugungu Airstrip. More so, Murchison Falls National Park offers a wide range of excellent tented camps and safari lodges to accommodate visitors on their safaris.
Well, the park is managed by the Ugandan Wildlife Authority a governmental body that governs all Uganda National Parks and Reserves.
Attractions in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park offers memorable life experiences while visiting the different regions and engaging in different activities offered. Below are the remarkable tourist attraction to see and do while on safari here.
Wildlife; Murchison Falls National Park has comprised of different vegetation zones that cover different animal species which are habitant of open savannah and woodland. Animal species to see include; hippopotamuses,Rothschild’s giraffe, Cape buffalo, Warthog, Uganda kobs, Jackson’s hartebeest, and elephants among others.
Birdlife; The park is truly a paradise for birders with a variety of bird species such as Shoe bill, Crowned crested crane, Giant kingfisher, Goliath Heron, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Nightjars, Marabou stork, Giant kingfishers, yellow-billed stork, African fish eagle, Great cormorant among others
Murchison Falls; Murchison Falls was once called the Kabalega falls and the name is where the park got its name. The falls have become popular offering magnificent views to the tourists thus making their way through a narrow gorge. Around the area, you enjoy memorable photography and rewardable views.
Water Bodies; The park is surrounded by several water bodies that are to say; Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, and the Victoria Nile River which can be seen once on a visit to the park.
Activities in Murchison Falls National Park
Game drives; The park is home to a diversity of animal species that can be adventured along the game drive. Game drives in Murchison can be carried out in three sessions; morning, evening, and night game drives. The morning session is the most memorable one because in the morning animals can be active and a rewardable time to see big cats before they return to their hideouts including; herds of buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, Rothschild giraffes, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, crocodiles many more.
Boat Cruises; The park offers two different boat cruises which are carried out at the bottom of the waterfalls and upstream boat cruises. All the boat cruise begins at Paara Jetty which starts at 9 am and the one in the evening starts at 2 pm and last for 3 hours. While cruising, you will be able to see water species, animals like hippopotami, elephants, waterbucks, buffaloes, kobs, and giraffes among other bird species like shoe bill, saddle-billed stork, goliath heron, and cattle egrets among others. You will have a chance to cruise near the devil’s cauldron and enjoy memorable photography among others.
Hike to the top of the falls; Visiting Murchison Falls National park never leaves the park without hiking at the top of the fall because its top offers an impressive view.
Nature walks: Travelers on tour to Murchison Falls National Park, can engage in nature walk that offers different attractions. Nature walks in Murchison can be done through the Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo forests or even take a short walk around Sambiya River Lodge, however, large animals and bird species can be encountered.
Rhino Tracking /Ziwa Rhino sanctuary; While driving to Murchison Falls National Park, you can have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary the only home for rhinos. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was created in 2005 to avoid the extinction of the white rhinos in Uganda. Currently, there are about 40 individuals and other animals including antelopes, crocodiles, monkeys, and hippopotami among others. Rhino tracking starts with a briefing and then is escorted by the guide into their natural habitat where you will experience their feeding patterns, and how they survive as well as view beautiful of the nature.
Chimpanzee Trekking; Chimpanzee trekking is an impressive activity done in Budongo forest home to over 800 individuals. The activity can take 30 to 5 hours to trek through a beautiful forest and once are allocated one hour is given to you to learn how they live, feed, play, hunt, and groom their young ones.
Bird watching; The park is home to various bird species and some birds include; Ituri Batis, Pavel’s Illadopsis, Sabine’s Spine tail, Cassin’s spine tail, Pygmy crakes, Kingfishers, White-spotted Fluff tail, Ituri Batis, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul, Crown Eagle, Cassin’s Hawk-eagles among others.
Where to stay in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Fall National Park has a comfortable range of beautiful accommodation hotels and lodges that ranges from Luxury, Mid-range, and Budget.
Budget Accommodation; Parkside safari lodge, Murchison backpackers.
Mid-range Accommodation; Pakuba safari lodge, Sambiya River lodge, Fort Murchison Lodge, Budongo eco-lodge
Luxury accommodation; Paraa safari lodge, Chobe safari lodge Nile safari lodge.
Travelers on an Uganda safari to Murchison Falls National Park can combine it with a visit to Bwindi Forest National Park for Gorilla Trekking Tour.
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