Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National park is one of the fine wildlife destinations and national parks in Uganda, the park is part of The Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA) comprising of Murchison Falls national park, Bugungu and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserve. The park is famously known for being a place where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge and cascades down to become a placid river whose banks are inhabited by hippos and crocodiles, also for form Murchison Falls – the world’s most powerful falls.

 

Murchison Falls National Park formerly known as the Kabalega National park is one of the most visited parks in Uganda found in the northern Uganda, north east of the capital Kampala, and extends its boundaries to several districts within and beyond the Bunyoro Escaroment including Nwoya, Masindi, Kiryandongo and Buyisa. The park is found on the northernmost reaches of the Albertine Rift Valley with its terrain bisected by the Victoria Nile.

Murchison Falls national park was first gazetted in 1927 covering an area of 3,840 square kilometers which makes it the largest park in Uganda, the park’s vegetation is characterized by savannah, riverine forest and woodland.

 Attractions in Murchison Falls

The Nile and Murchison Falls

Murchison Falls – The world’s most powerful falls and River Nile are the main attractions in Murchison Falls national park, the streams of River Nile are habitats to hippos and crocodiles found along the sand banks and several species of other animals that come to drink water and bathe.

Murchison Falls are formed as a result of River Nile forcing its way through a 7 meters wide gorge to plunge 43 meters below into a pool, the powerful water fall creates a thunderous roar with a splashing cloud of fog offering a very breathtaking view worth enjoying.

The Falls can be observed on a launch trip up the stream, there are two sessions with a morning launch trip starting at 09:00 and afternoon trip starting at 14:00 every day.

To get the most spectacular view of the falls is on top where you will get sights and sounds of the falls.

Rabongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests

Kaniyo Pabidi Forests is situated 8 kilometers inside of Kuchumbar Gate and are located in the Southern part of Murchison Falls Conservation Area, the forest is a home to primates including chimpanzees and offer visitors an opportunity to see other primates such as the blue monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys among others. Kaniyo Pabidi Forest is also a home of a variety of birds including yellow-footed flycatcher, white thighed hornbill and Ituri batis and many other wildlife species such as Cape Buffaloes, lions among other which are seen during guided nature walks.

 Budongo Forest

Budongo Forest is another amazing site in Murchison Falls national park found in the southwestern part of the conservation Area close to the park and is continuous with Kaniyo Pabidi Forest, and is encompassed by farmlands and villages on the other side.

Budongo Forest is a home to a huge diversity of flora and fauna including over 287 butterfly species, 360 species of birds and 24 species of mammals and 460 species of flora.  In the forest, there is the Royal Mile which is a well maintained road stretch displaying various species of trees and is popular for its excellent bird watching opportunities.

Buligi Area

The Buligi Area is a great game viewing Area dominated by savannah grasslands located between the Victoria Albert Nile, the area boasts excellent views towards the western rift valley beyond Lake Albert in the DRC.

Adrive from the Paraa passes the Delta Point and it takes about 3 to 4 hours, morning and afternoon game drives are the best times for game drives.

Flora and Fauna

Murchison Falls National Park is dominated by woodland, wetland, savannah and tropical forests that are habitat for over 76 mammal species and over 450 different bird species.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Murchison Falls national park is a home to over 76 mammal species including large mammals, these animals include hippos, Rothschild’s giraffe, warthogs, Cape buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, Hartebeests, elephants, hartebeests among others.

Birdlife

Murchison Falls national park is one of the amazing Important Birding Areas in Uganda hosting over 450 bird species including popular species such as rare shoebill stork. Other birds include the Goliath Heron, African Quail-Finch, the elegant Grey Crowned Cranes, Blue-headed Coucal, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Swamp Flycatcher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Squacco Heron, Silver bird, African Jacana, Piapiac, Sandpipers, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Denham’s Bustard, Weaver Birds, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Malachite Kingfishers and the Black-billed Barbet among several others.

Murchison Falls national park’s forests inhabit several species of primates including over 800 chimpanzees, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys among others.

Activities In Murchison Falls National Park

Game viewing (Game drives)

Murchison Falls national park is a great destination for Uganda wildlife viewing safaris, this experience is done on morning and afternoon game drives with guidance of a Uganda Wildlife Authority Ranger.

Through the pop up roof of your vehicle and open windows you will be able to see various animals including Rothschild Giraffes, Elephants, Buffaloes, antelopes, lions, leopards, warthogs, Savannah birds and more.

Game drives in Murchison Falls national park normally last for 3 hours

Boat Safari on River Nile

Boat / launch cruise on river Nile is another highlight in Murchison Falls national park, the boat ride leads to the bottom of the falls, during the boat cruise you will enjoy watching various animals such as Nile crocodiles, hippos, elephants and many birds.

When you reach at the bottom of the falls you will enjoy magnificent scene of the falls as they squeeze through the narrow rock gorge.

Hot Air Balloon Safaris

Murchison Falls national park is one of the 2 national parks in Uganda where hot air balloon safari are done, this safari activity offers aerial views of endless savannah plains of the park. Hot air balloon starts as early as possible so that you catch the sunrise, from the sky you will enjoy views of the park filled with herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes and also predators as they return from hunting.

At the end of the hot air balloon, you are treated to a champagne bush Breakfast set in the savannah fields of Murchison Falls national park.

Birding  

Murchison Falls national park is one of the best birding locations in Africa and a recognized Important Birding Area in Uganda with over 450 bird species, the park is a birder’s delight as it hosts a wide variety of birds ranging from Savannah birds, water birds and forest birds.

Birding in Murchison Falls national park can be done from a safari vehicle or nature walk along the Nile or through the forests, some of the birds you should look out for include Goliath Heron, African Quail-Finch, the elegant Grey Crowned Cranes, Blue-headed Coucal, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Swamp Flycatcher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Squacco Heron, Silver bird, African Jacana, Piapiac, Sandpipers, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Denham’s Bustard, Weaver Birds, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Malachite Kingfishers and the Black-billed Barbet among several others.

Getting There

To get to Murchison Falls National park it will approximately 5 hours from Kampala on a drive of about 305 kilometers, from Masindi Town it is a distance of 58 kilometers to Paara which is the shortest route.

A longer or direct route to Murchison Falls national park is approximately 135 kilometers taking you through the Budongo Forest route that will provide you with magnificent views overlooking Lake Albert from the direct position of the Rift Valley Escarpment over Butiaba.

You can also access Paara from the north through Chobe Gate, Karuma Falls along with Tango Gate that s close to Pakwach, the route covers an area of about 25 square kilometers to Paara.

There are also domestic flights to Murchison Falls National park from Entebbe International Airport orKajjansi airstrip to Pakuba Airstrip, from the airstrip it is a drive of 13 kilometers from Paara.

Accommodation in Murchison Falls national park

In Murchison Falls national park there is a variety of accommodation options ranging from campsites, lodges, hotels and guest house which are found either inside the park or outside.

These accommodations include

• Kaniyo Pabidi Camp
• Red Chill Rest Camp
• Nile Safari Camp
• Paara Safari Lodge
• Sambiya River
• Shoenill Camp Site
• Yebo Safari Camp
• UWA Campsite
• Chobe Safari Lodge
• Murchison Safari Lodge
• Boomu Women´s Group Bandas
• Budongo Ecolodge