What Activities To Do In Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park With family

As family on Uganda safari to Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can participate in game safaris, launch trips, chimpanzee trekking and more. Both Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park are engaging Uganda safari destinations.

Uganda is a country endowed by nature and it is from a visit to Murchison falls National Park that Winston Churchill in 1907 got to describe the park as “kew garden and zoo on unlimited zoo.” The beauties around Murchison Falls National Park are still intact and amazing to visit with family. Request A Qoutation

From Kampala or Entebbe, the time to get to Murchison Falls National Park is about 5 hours drive and to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 7 hours drive.

Each of Murchison falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park have plenty to enjoy but the time you have on holiday may be the factor to stop you from engaging in all of them.

Brief details about Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison falls National Park which is the largest Uganda National Park lies astride River Nile at the northern edge of the Albertine rift and seats on an area of about 3893 square kilometers. The park was recognized as a game reserve in 1926 with the aim of protecting the savanna and in 1952 elevated to a National Park.

The Murchison Falls from which the park gets its name is one of the highlights of the park where Victoria Nile water races over a bed of rocks for 80 kilometers, squeezes through the 6 meters wide bend before vigorously bursting out. In 1894, one of the great explores Sir Samuel Baker named the falls pointing out that it is the most important part of the entire river Nile course.

In terms of Fauna, Murchison Falls national Park is home to about 76 mammals, 450 bird species, chimpanzees in Kaniyo Pabidi and more.

Brief Details About Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park sits on the floor of the Albertine Rift valley, a diversity of wildlife and scenery that will excite any visitor. From the floor to Rwenzori rangers, Queen Elizabeth National Park stretches on the floor of the rift valley covering an area of about 1978 square kilometers. Queen Elizabeth National Par was recognized as a National park in 1952.

The park is home to more than 95 mammals, over 605 bird species and more. The stunning features on the floor of Queen Elizabeth National Park are amazing to see. The Kazinga channel is the primary game viewing spot in the park and a link between Lake Edward and lake George. The Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the tree climbing lions that are often seen in the fig trees or cactus.

What Uganda safari activities to do as family in Murchison Falls National park and Queen Elizabeth National Park

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Launch trips on Uganda safari

A Launch trip on Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park is amazing where you get to watch the strongest falls in the world as river Nile pushes its entire course through the 6 meters wide canyon then cascade the 43 meters high cliff. From the comfort of your launch you get to watch wild animals that move to the shoreline to quench thirst or enjoy a bath especially on a hot day. Teeming hippos and crocodiles are regularly seen in water.

Before Murchison Falls comes into view, you feel its power as it makes the earth tremble even from as far as a mile away. When facing the Murchison Falls, you may witness a rainbow form right before your eyes especially on a bright day, form a cloudy appearance, river Nile water rapidly races down the 43 meters high cliff and more.

A launch trip on Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National park is relaxing as you get to identify a variety of wild animals that flock the shoreline to feed on the supplies on the shallows. A plethora of birds are seen on the banks of Kazinga channel all year including some foreign migrants. After a game drive under the scotching sun, the launch trip on Kazinga channel of Queen Elizabeth National Park is relaxing.

Game Drive on Uganda safari

An early morning or late afternoon game drive on the tracks of Murchison falls National park gets you to see a variety of a wild animals including lions, oribi, hartebeest, leopards, giraffes, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, bush bucks and more.

While on game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park, you may get to see Uganda kobs, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, lions, leopards, elephants, mongoose and more. A drive in the crater lakes area is amazing where you get to see more than 23 crater lakes both wet and dry.

Chimpanzee trekking on Uganda safari

The Kyambura gorge on the floor of Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a chimpanzee community that live in the forested part of the gorge that is situated in about 100 meters deep. You can choose to join the morning 0800 hours or afternoon 1400 hours chimpanzee trekking session in Kyambura gorge.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi forest of Murchison falls National park is exceptional as you get to walk passed some of the few leftover fully grown Mahogany trees in Uganda. The forest is home to other primates like black and white colobus, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and more. An array of forest birds is often seen along the way. You need to book a chimpanzee trekking permit for Kaniyo Pabidi.

Note that the age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is 12 years and beyond so as a family on Uganda safari participants must be of this age and over.

Birding on Uganda safari

Both Murchison Falls National park and Queen Elizabeth National Park are some of the best birding destinations in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park hosts about 605 bird species whereas Murchison Falls National park is home to more than 450 bird species.

Uganda in general is home to over 1000 bird species a list that is unmatched. When planning a Uganda birding safari, do not forget to include a birding guide so that you can enjoy the best experience. Carry a birding guide book too.

Some of the birds you may spot on Uganda birding safari in either Murchison falls National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park include shoe bill stork, saddle bill stork, yellow-footed flycatcher, Ituri Batis and more.

Nature walks on Uganda safari

In Maramagambo forest of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can decide to take a guided forest walk which marinades you in the aromas of nature. A long the way, you may get to spot other primates including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons and more.  A wide range of birds are often seen lingering through the forest in search for a meal to support them through the day. A bat cave where millions of bats roost during the day emerging out at dusk.

Only Murchison Falls National Park Activities

White water rafting on Uganda safari

While in Murchison Falls National Park, you may decide to embark on white water rafting where you do not need any experience but be open to learning from the instructors on ground. You get to peddle through the rapids on River Nile while on a tube boat.

Sports fishing in Murchison Falls National park

Test your chances by engaging in sports fishing in Murchison Falls National park with family. Do not forget to carry your fishing equipment. Do secure a fishing permit and hire a boat for the time you are at the river. Some of the fresh water fish species you may catch include cat fish, Nile Perch, Lung fish, Tilapia and more.

Ziwa Rhino sanctuary on Uganda safari

A detour to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where Rhino rehabilitation is happening in Uganda is amazing. The plight of the rhinos in Uganda was caused by the endless civil wars that Uganda underwent in the 1980s and below. The beliefs people heard about the Rhinos that led to poaching them to collect their horns.

A visit to the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is support to the conservation of these endangered mammals. Overtime great progress has been registered at the Rhino sanctuary as calves have been born. There is a plan to reintroduce these Rhinos in the Uganda game parks where they used to live in the past.

Hike to the top of the Falls in Murchison Falls National park

Feel the power of River Nile by hiking to the top of Murchison Falls where all the drama is generated. Standing at the view point of Murchison Falls is not for the faint hearted because you are splashes on by the water from the vigorous River Nile, feel the water curve through the old rocks and more.

Queen Elizabeth National park only activities

The crater lakes drive in Queen Elizabeth National park

Enjoy a 27 kilometers drive in the crater lakes area of Queen Elizabeth National park. The crater drive winds through a scenic cluster of both wet and dry craters. Some of the notable crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth national park include lake Katwe an ancient salt mining lake, lake Nyamunnuka with a putrid smell, Blue copper lake, flamingos often seen around craters in Kyambura gorge area and more

Tree climbing lions of Ishasha Area Search

Even though seeing the tree climbing lions is not guaranteed all time while on game drive in Ishasha sector in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National park, expect to see them any time. Visiting the Edward flats in Ishasha sector is an opportunity to spot a wide range of water birds with more chances of seeing the shoebill stork.

Visit the Equator and Queen’s pavilion

Outside Queen Elizabeth National Park are two concrete circles in Kasese where the equator is believed to cross dividing the earth into two parts. You may choose to take photos standing here where you step in both the northern and southern hemisphere.

The historical Queen’s pavilion is a temporary shelter where the Queen and Duke of England where hosted during a visit to Uganda in 1959. In 2007 the Duke of Edinburgh stepped at the same shelter too while on a visit to Uganda.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

From Queen Elizabeth National park, it is quicker to connect to Bwindi impenetrable National Park for gorilla safari. In Bwindi forest, you may choose to do gorilla trekking where you get the chance to have one hour with fully habituated gorilla family or gorilla habituation experience where four hours with semi habituated gorillas is allowed.

You need a to book a gorilla trekking permit from Uganda wild life Authority in advance.

From Queen Elizabeth National park the drive time to Bwindi impenetrable National park is about 3 to 4 hours at a distance of about 160 Kilometers from Mweya area and 64 kilometers via Ishasha sector

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is the Uganda primates haven with about 13 species recoded but the chimpanzees are the most outstanding. You can choose to do chimpanzee trekking where one hour is allowed with a fully habituated chimpanzee troop or chimpanzee habituation Experience where four hours are allowed with semi-habituated chimpanzee community.

Kibale national Park is home to other primates including blue monkeys grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, bush babies, L’Hoest, Potto and more.

Important Notes To take As you Plan A Uganda safari to Murchison falls National park and Queen Elizabeth National park

Carry the right Uganda safari gears

When hoping to do chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, 12 years and over is the age limit.

The best time to do game safaris in Uganda is the dry season that is June to September and December to January when the grass is lower. Do not ignore the wet season which is normally March, April, May and November as chances of seeing infants are more open.

Hire a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle for the Uganda safari in these parks because of the nature of the terrain in this area.

Open your mind to every moment on Uganda safari as it unfolds so do not limit yourself to spotting just a few wild animals.