Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest protected areas with 3,879sqkm. The park is a composition of other reserves of Budongo forest reserve, Bugungu reserve and Karuma wildlife reserve.
Located in northern Uganda, one of wildlife rewarding parks with special encounters among which are the Big Five. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile and the river joins Lake Albert forming two sections of the northern and southern sections. Here the both forrm Uganda’s largest delta the Albert Nile delta, this is one of the attraction sections of the park known to accommodate the largest number of animals in the park.
Murchison Falls National Park has become one of the most popular and is the most visited in the last decades. The secret of the park’s popularity dwells in the mighty Murchison falls where the Victoria Nile pours on the rigged crops forming thunderous roars. This eco-system accommodates over76 mammal species, about 451 bird species.
The Victoria Nile waters plunge 45m over the remnant rift valley wall for theatrical Murchison Falls. Then the river slopes throughout the rich biodiversity stretches 80km stretch of rapids right from Karuma to Pakwach Bridge. The waterfall drains its older energy forming a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. Frequently several mammals are seen raring at the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are dual citizen in water and on land.
The Murchison eco-system has survived and continue facing several threats. The 2019, hydro power dam construction proposal which was rejected due to conversationalist pressure. And currently the crude oil mining preparation and construction of the EACOP is a threat beyond imaginable measures.
Murchison Falls National Park can be regarded a center of all round circuit trips. It can connects easily to the northern eastern and western Uganda. It’s one of the parks that would not even miss on your safari travel itinerary to Uganda.
Safari adventure activities
Wild Game Drives
Southern and East African most catching adventure activity. A safari to Uganda without a game drive is considered incomplete. A game drive at Murchison Falls National Park introduces to unique and larger views of wildlife. The game drive adventures at Murchison Falls National Park is done on the northern section. Mainly is done around Pakuba tracks that leads to the delta point, here just expect the largest wildlife viewing more than from any other park in Uganda.
Encounters here can include Big five, several species of antelope species, giraffes, warthogs and many wild games seen while grazing in an open grassland. The best time to take rewarding game drive is morning hours and the evening sun setting hours. Along the game drive expect views of unique landscapes of savannah dotted with acacia and palms, mammals, birds, valleys, and many several encounters.
Boat cruise trip
A launch cruise 2nd highlight of adventure safaris at Murchison Falls National Park. The boat launch leads to watching bottom of Murchison Falls and the cruise covers at least 17 km. sights at the banks of River Nile embrace schools of Hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, giraffes besides a variability of birds among are herons, cormorants, ducks, bee-eaters, fish eagles, kingfishers and shoebill in rare cases and view of beautiful cliffs along the ride.
The boat ride to the bottom of Murchison falls from Paraa and back can last for about three hours. Can decide in the same way to take a boat trip to the Delta. This is very rewarding with wildlife viewings and can last for about 4/5hr. There are two scheduled boat trips 9am and 2pm daily to the bottom of the falls. However, on special arrangement can be made with Park management at any preferred time of the client.
Hiking to the top of the falls
Hiking trail starts right from the top of the falls, take a slope and hike back. The hiking experience is sometimes accompanied with birding for interested parties. The sloping leads almost to the bottom of the falls and it’s an amazing experience amidst the roars of the mighty Murchison. At the top of the falls gifts with a number of undertakings including Campsites, picnic sites, and walking safaris are provided here.
Nature Walks
Nature walks takes you closer to nature watching varieties of animals and birds. The guided nature walks at Murchison falls protected area is done at the top of the falls, Rabongo Forest and at Kaniyo Pabidi in Budongo Forest.
Sport Fishing
One of the special arrangements done in the park. sports fishing is done along the flowing Victoria Nile. Sport fishing is catch and release and the main catch include Nile Perch and tiger-fish where the Nile perch can weigh up to 50kg. Sport fishing is more convenient at the section below the falls extending to the delta. Normally the number of people carrying out spot fishing has to be regulated on the different designated spots and this requires those interested in this activity to make an earlier booking.
Chimpanzee tracking
The Murchison southern extension of Budongo forest reserve shelters the Chimpanzees. At least chimpanzees here are habituated to enhance their tracking adventure. Chimpanzee tracking starts at 8am at Budongo Eco lodge the tracking starting point. The tracking can last for about 30 minutes to 4 hours in according to the location of the tracked family. Trackers have an hour experience in the presence of chimps when encountered. During dry season sometimes it becomes hard to track and watch the chimpanzees as they extend far in searching for food. So, it’s not a guarantee that you can track and find the chimpanzees at Bundongo.
Bird watching
The bird checklist records about 451 bird species, and about 19 are unverified species is headed in desirability by the shoebill. The shoe bill can watched on the stretch of the river between Nile Safari Camp and the estuary into Lake Albert.
A variety of water-associated birds are inexhaustible along the river, and raptors make a strong company on the checklist with 53 species recorded.