Game drive experience in Murchison falls national park 2022; Murchison falls national park is the largest and one of the most visited game drive destinations located in northwestern part of Uganda. The national park was gazetted in 1952 which makes it one of Uganda’s first national park and it covers a total land area of 3,840 square kilometers which is comprised of savannah grassland, wood land, riverine woodland and forest patches. Murchison falls national park is a home of over 76 mammal species including buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, leopards, oribi, Uganda kobs, Jackson’s hartebeest, bushbucks, duikers, waterbucks, primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, patas monkeys, olive baboons and over 450 bird species including the elusive shoebill stork.
Game drives in Murchison falls national park are best done in the northern part of the park as that’s the area that harbors large concentrations of wildlife species.
Game drives can either be done very early in the morning at around 6:0 am when animals are more active, in the afternoon at around 2:00pm and at night where you will be able to view nocturnal animals which become active at night. Game drives in Murchison falls national park are carried out in comfortable 4 WD pop up safari vehicles with a professional driver guide who is well conversant with game drive track. During the game drive experience, you will follow different game tracks like Buligi track, Victoria track and albert track where you will be able to view different animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, oribi, Uganda kobs, warthogs, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest among others which will be feeding in open savannah plains, view predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, civet, porcupines, nightjar among others.
Cost of game drive in Murchison falls national park
Day game drives in Murchison falls national park are not charged as long as you pay entrance fees which cost 45 USD per person for foreign non residents, 35 USD per person for foreign residents and 25000 UGX per person for East African citizens when using private vehicles.
Night game drives in Murchison falls national park costs 30 USD per person for foreign non residents, 20 USD per person for foreign residents and 50,000 UGX per person for East African citizens when using private vehicles. When using a Uganda Wildlife Authority a night game drive in Murchison falls national park costs 40 USD per person for foreign non residents, 35 USD per person for foreign residents and 40,000 UGX per person for East African citizens. During the night game drive, only pre-registered vehicles will undertake night game drives and use of UWA guides is mandatory.
Best time to go for game drive experience in Murchison falls national park 2022
Game drives in Murchison falls national park can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February because during this period, there is less rainfall in the national park therefore vegetation and grass will be short which helps you to view different animals clearly, access roads and game drive tracks will be dry and passable and many animals will gather around the water bodies to drink water which gives you an opportunity to view abundant wildlife species and take photos.
How to get to Murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park is located in northwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means where by you will drive from Kampala via Masindi and then to the park headquarters which takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive in a 4WD safari vehicle.
Murchison falls national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book scheduled or charter flights with Aero link Uganda or Bar aviation from Entebbe international airport or Kajaansi airfield to Pakuba, Bugungu or Chobe airstrips and then connect to the park headquarters.
Where to stay during your game drive experience in Murchison falls national park
There are a number of accommodation facilities in Murchison falls national park where you can stay during your Uganda game drive safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Nile safari lodge, Pakuba safari lodge, Fort Murchison lodge, Sambiya river lodge, Budondo Eco lodge, Twiga safari lodge, Chobe safari lodge, Murchison River lodge, Parkside safari lodge, Red Chilli rest camp, Geo-lodges shoebill campsite, Yebo safari camp, Bamboo village safari lodge, Heritage safari lodge among others.
Other activities in Murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park offers other interesting activities that travelers can engage in apart from game drives such as boat cruise to the bottom of the falls and Nile delta, sport fishing, chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest where you will be able to spend one hour with the chimpanzees, bird watching, hot air balloon experience, cultural tour, guided nature walk among others.
Game drive is an exceptional activity in Murchison falls national park that can be combined with gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park. For more information, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website to book an affordable Uganda safari package.
