Murchison falls National Park is situated in the North western part of Uganda. It is the largest and most-visited national park in Uganda. The Park lies at the Northern end of the Albertine Rift valley spreading inland from the shores of Lake albert round the Victoria Nile up to the Karuma Falls with 3840 Sq. Km acres of Land, With 748S Km of Bungungu Wildlife Reserve, 720 S Km of Karuma Wildlife Reserve and is bisected by Victoria Nile from East to west for a distance of about 115 kilometres, Here the Murchison Falls National Park is best known for the most powerful waterfall in the world. Every second, the equivalent of 200 bathtubs full of water is forced through a gorge less than seven paces wide. The pressure is so great that the ground trembles around it. The waters of the Victoria Nile plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley channels through a narrow cleft where the Nile River cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor before flowing out toward Lake Albert as a placid river whose banks are dense with hippos, crocodiles, waterbuck and buffaloes making A cruise upstream of the Nile to the Falls an unforgettable experience
Murchison falls National Park contains riverine woodland, wetland savannah, tropical forest, Borassus palms, and acacia trees. The park hosts 70 mammal and 450 bird species and an ambitious recovery plan is underway. Large herbivore numbers have doubled in recent years. Three-quarters of all of the world’s Rothschild giraffes live here, and four of the Big 5 (all but the rhino) survive. The rare shoebill stork calls Murchison falls National Park home, along with a unique antelope called the Ugandan kob. Over 600 chimpanzees live in the Budongo Forest, the largest mahogany forest in East Africa.
When To Visit Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison falls National Park is considered to be an all year-round destination, however, the best time to visit the Park is in the dry season from December to mid-February, and June to July while bird watching can best be done in the wet season when migrant birds have arrived.
Tourists activities / attractions in Murchison falls National park
Game viewing in Murchison falls National Park.
With a wide concentration of wildlife, game viewing is the most done tourist activity in Murchison falls National park and rewards travellers with spectacular game viewing experiences. Game drives are well done in the early morning and evening to catch up with animals browsing and hunting before retiring for day and night rest. Expect to see numerous animals such as giraffes,elephants,buffaloes,Uganda,Kobs,warthogs,waterbucks,elands,lions,leopards,cape-buffaloes,hippos,Jacksonhartebeest, crocodiles, red-tailed monkeys, patas monkeys, oribis among others.
Boat cruise in Murchison falls National Park.
The boat cruise in Murchison falls National Park starts at Paraa jetty. There is a morning cruise that starts at 9am and the afternoon which starts at 2pm. The cruise is approximately 2 or 3 hours. Time runs as fast as you get lost in moments of beautiful pictures of Nile crocodiles, hippos and most common on the shores drinking water, antelopes and at times even Elephants. A tour guide will be on the boat giving you detailed information about the various animal habits of the animals that you spot, how they feed, gestation period and many more. Expect to see various bird species such as African fish eagle, pied kingfishers, African jacana, cormorants and pelicans among others.
Bird watching in queen Elizabeth National park
Birding is another activity done here in Murchison falls National Park. The park has got over 451 bird species and these range from Albertine birds, savannah birds and water birds hence making the park more interesting with shoebill stork being the most major attraction among the birds. The best time for bird watching can be done all year round except during April and may which is a heavy rainfall period and watching becomes somehow difficult due to slippery foot paths. Most birds spotted here include the shoebill, African Darter, giant kingfisher, osprey, long -toed plover, grey headed kingfisher, voracious dove, Black-headed lapwing, Abyssinian Ground hornbill rockpratincole, yellow-fronted Tinker bird, martial eagle, silver bird, grey crowned crested crane, sandpipers, pied kingfishers, standard-winged Night jar, Malachite kingfishers, blue-headed coucal among others.
Chimpanzee tracking in Murchison falls National park.
Budongo forest Reserve is the natural habitat for many chimpanzees in Uganda. In addition, over 600 chimpanzees, Budongo is home to a number of other primate species, small mammals, birds and butterflies. This activity involves hiking through the forest with trained rangers and guides in search of the habituated group of chimpanzees.
For the best chimpanzee trekking experience in Murchison falls National Park, you will want to book guided walk through Budongo eco lodge. You will have a chance to walk through the largest natural mahogany forest in East Africa and spend an hour with the chimpanzees as they go about their daily life.
Sport fishing in Murchison falls National Park
The banks of the Nile below Murchison falls National Park provide exciting challenges to anglers. Living within strong currents and highly oxygenated water is the Nile perch. There is a chance to land a massive catch; adventurous fishermen target the large Nile perch and cat food fish. Permits are required to fish and you must be accompanied by Uganda wildlife Authority rangers.
Hiking and nature walks in Murchison falls National Park
The vast landscape and varied scenery of Murchison falls National Park can be explored on foot. Trails through Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo forest sighting of many primates and birds. While around the Nile Delta, 2-4 hour guided swamp walk offers possible sightings of the shoebill when the water libel is low. Afternoon boating upriver, you will also hike 45 minutes through the woodland to the top of Murchison falls National park for a completely different experience of this magnificent waterfall.
Budongo forest: is located in the south-west part of Murchison National park. The has a diversity of over 350 bird species,289 butterflies,24 mammals species and 465 plants. The forest also has various primate species which had about 800 chimpanzee individuals. The forest is an eco-tourism site with some habituated groups which are open to visitors for tracking.
Rhino tracking in Murchison falls National park
If you want to get a glimpse of the lost “Big five” mammals in Uganda, add Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to your itinerary. The rhino population in Uganda dramatically dropped due to the poaching and previous civil conflicts. Ziwa sanctuary is currently home to 32 white rhinos. While there are no rhinos living freely in any of the National park, At Ziwa rhino sanctuary, you will have the opportunity to explore the sanctuary with a ranger guide. You can track these magnificent and endangered rhinos on foot to see them in their natural habitat.
Hot Air balloon ride in Murchison falls National Park.
What better way to see Murchison falls National park than from above! Dream Balloons can make that happen and promise an unforgettable safari experience. You can choose to go for a sunrise safari which includes a bush breakfast or sundowner safari. During the hot air balloon ride, you will spend an hour taking in the bird-eye view of the park. Dream balloons can carry up to 8 passengers at a time. They have a growing fleet of hot air balloons and you eventually be able to take trips with up to 16 passengers at once.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Murchison falls National Park.
This is a full day activity with chimpanzees in the forest. The activity starts early morning before chimpanzees come out of their nests until the evening when get back to their nests.
Bush camping in Murchison falls National Park: offers you a true African wilderness. You can hire a waterproof tent, sleeping bags, mattresses and a lamp. Insect repellent is very important.
The Murchison falls in Murchison falls National Park.
This is the main attraction in Murchison falls National Park. It’s unique in a way that it is the strongest water fall in the world. It’s at these falls where big volumes of Nile waters with a lot of force is forced into a narrow gorge of 7 metres wide falling from the height of 45 metres forming a roaring sound of waters. Water hitting itself on the rock and foam on the water surface at the bottom of the falls.
Ccultural experiences in Murchison falls National park.
In Murchison falls National Park, you can enjoy cultural performances from the Mubako dancers at Boomu women’s group Banda. Boomu women group offer cultural experiences to the communities to experience the lifestyle of the local people living around Murchison falls National Park. Farm tours and food processing experiences will always add to your exploration of the traditional lifestyle of this community.
Where to Stay in Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodations in Murchison falls National Park ranges from budget lodges, mid-range lodges and luxury lodges like the Chobe Safari lodge. Paraa Safari Lodge and Nile Safari Lodge are among the luxury facilities, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge and Fort Murchison Safari Lodge are mid-range facilities while the Boomu Women’s Group Bandas, Red Chilli Rest Camp, Yebo Safari Camp and Parkside Safari Lodge are the budget facilities.
How to Get to Murchison Falls National Park
By Road: From Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park it is about 4h 30 mins via Kampala – Masindi route (282 km) or 5h 30min via Kampala-Hoima Road.
By air the Park Can be accessed from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe International airport by charter to chobe airstrip.
