BOOKING A SAFARI IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Murchison falls National Park is known as the largest National Park in Uganda sitting on the area covering 3840 km (1503 sqm), was first gazette in 1926 and established in 1952 now as the Uganda’s oldest and largest National Park. The Park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plugs 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating dramatic Murchison falls, the middle center of the park as is the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. Murchison Falls National Park sits on Lake Albert, in the North West Uganda.
This Park is known for its most powerful falls in the world as every second, the equivalent of 200 bathtubs full of water is forced through a gorge less than seven paces wide. The pressure is so powerful making the ground trembles around it. Sir Samuel Baker named it Murchison Falls after the Geologist Roderick Murchison as Samuel Baker and His Wife Florence Baker were the first who sighted the falls as Kabalega Falls locally consists of the main drop, and the smaller, more vertical one to North as Uhuru falls.
WILDLIFE IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Murchison Falls National Park is the home of four out of five ‘’ lions, buffalo, leopard and elephants as the park is home to over 76 Mammal Species such as herds of buffaloes’ are easily spotted during game drive in the buligi plains, notably with 556 bird species ,51 reptiles, with great number of the African Elephants. With its availability of unique wildlife, it has adventure species like the endangered Rothschild giraffes, bushbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, crocodiles and Kobs.
Rich in primates over 800 chimpanzees in the forest of Budongo forest and the Kaniyo Pabidi forest, the blue and red-tailed monkeys can be spotted, the black and white colobus monkeys the olive baboons can be sighted as more.
Murchison Falls National Park is also known as birding destination with over 451 species of birds recorded as the rare shoe bill stock on the banks of Lake Albert Delta, the Goliath heron and pairs of the elegant Grey crowned cranes which is Uganda’s National Bird.
Activities to do in murchison falls national park while on safari
Chimpanzee trekking Budongo forest
Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity in this forest followed by nature walks and little birding, over 600 chimpanzees (pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) call Budongo forest home with habituation experience of 2 to 3 years to be completed and only carried out in the wet season during the month of March to May and October. This forest is located in Masindi District and is considered as part of Murchison National Park covering area of 826 square Miles, located in the North of Uganda’s capital city Kampala making four hours’ drive using road transport as one can access it through air via Pakuba Air Field.
The Chimpanzee trekking permit habituation for Budongo Forest Reserve costs $130 per person Non-Foreign Resident and $120 per person to Foreign Resident and $90 for Residents, this chimpanzee habituation allows to stay with the chimpanzee for four hours as you study, learn, site, interact, observe their behavior’s.
Game drive safari in murchison falls park
Game drive is one of the top leading activities carried in Murchison Falls National Park, visitors explore savannah plains in their vehicles with the professional guide. the activity usually done in the Northern banks of the park since it harbors a lot of wildlife concentration, usually game drive is done during morning hours from 6:30 am and evening from 4:00 pm.
As you head to the game drive you follow different game tracks i.e., Albert, Buligi, Janet and Victoria where you spot different wildlife, primates, birds like the Egyptian plover among, you will be able to do night game drive according to your request to explore savannah grasslands at night with spotlight torches for clear viewing of the nocturnal animals as you are accompanied by Armed Uganda Wildlife Authority Range who assists to spot porcupines,genets,bushbabies and more .Game drive is done through the year though best time is during the dry months i.e. July, June, August, September and other dry months in the year.
Game drive in Murchison Falls National Park cost $20 per person for FNR and $15 to FR then 20000ugx for Residents using private vehicles, incase guests wish to use Uganda Wildlife Authority vehicle’s they pay $30 for FNR, $25 FR and 30000UGX for residents, Traveler’s who do self-drive game drive pay $10 FNR, $10 FR and 50000ugx for Residents and when using Uganda Wildlife Authority vehicles, they pay $40 FNR, $35 FR and 40000ugx for Resident.
Boatcruise safari in murchison falls national park
The boat cruise starts from Para dock and sails to stream towards the falls, the boat sails from number of hippo schools floating the water, herds of buffaloes aside or the banks of the water. The boat launch twice a day from Para at 9:00 am and 2:00 am and you will be briefed by a well-trained ranger/guide, costing $30 for FNR, $25 for FR and 30000ugx for Residents and usually runs 2- 3 hours covering a stretch of 17 km as scheduled. visitors enjoy fresh air from the green surrounding environments as they across nature beauty of the park.
Birding safari in murchison falls national park
Murchison Falls National Park is known for its rare and occasional bird habiting as includes Grey crowned crane, Giant king fisher, Giant heron, Rare Shoe bill stock, Abyssinian ground hornbills, Nightjars, Marabou stock, Black headed lapwing, Back-bellied bustard and more with over 556 bird species across the park. Birds like the blue napped mouse birds can be spotted near para and red chill lodge through the dry thorn -scrubs while others are seen on the boat on the Nile. Birding can be done on guided walks orb on the vehicles along the Nile also boat cruise will enable you to lots of birds likes of blue spotted doves, abdim stork, the African black cracked this makes it to have a unique bird selection.
When is the best time to do birding in murchison falls national park
This can be done any time through the year however best done in January to march also December to February though august to October have most rains making the trails slippy and muddy causing delay in carrying birding activity in the park and the best birding safari can be planned by best recommendable tour company like Beautiful Safaris Uganda.
Accommodation in murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park being the largest park in Uganda and due to high number of visitors who visits the park has made to grow and establishment of different lodging and accommodation especially between the Albert Nile, Paraa and the Victoria Nile, for the budget travelers Murchison falls national park has kaniyo pabidi camp and Rechill camp as luxurious accommodation one head to Chobe safari lodge, para lodge, Ikolom lodge .From luxury lodges on the banks of the Albert Nile ,to eco lodges nestled deep in the Budongo Forest there is no shortage of great accommodation in Murchison falls with its magic stunning views made the accommodation best of the bests
How to get to murchison falls national park
Murchison Falls National Park is located in the North part of Uganda and one can reach by road transport by means where visitors drive from Uganda’s capital city Kampala through Masindi town to the park quarters taking 5 -6 hours’ drive, to one can access the park through air by booking charter flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Air Field and connect to Pakuba Air Field then connect to the park by road means. Though most direct route is from Kampala through southern gate (kichumbanyobo and Masindi south gate) Alternatively, the Northern gates (Purongo or Tagi gate -Packwach) also are great option, through longer distance, they take you straight to the best most interesting sections of the park.
