Murchison falls National Park, What is Unique About The Uganda safari here

Murchison Falls National Park as a Uganda safari destination is the only National Park crossed by River Nile and the Nile flows 120 kilometers of the park. The park has some of the most interesting points of the entire River Nile course which is the longest River in the world covering a distance of over 6500 kilometers. During a Uganda safari to Murchison Falls National Park you enjoy wildlife abundance, mesmerizing drama of Murchison Falls, a plethora of birds, stunning scenery and more. Request For A Qoutation

Murchison Falls National Park is one the oldest Uganda National Park covering more than 3893 square kilometers and the core of Uganda’s largest protected are. Murchison fall national park is part of an extensive wildlife conservation are togethers with Karumu wildlife reserve and Bugungu Reserve occupying 5072 square kilometers.

The park protects priceless natural treasures including herds of elephants, prides of lions, giraffes, bushbucks, reedbucks, hartebeests, leopards, more than 450 bird species, schools of hippos, huge Nile crocodiles and more.

During the launch cruise to Murchison Falls or hike to the top of the falls, you get to feel the power of River Nile which squeezes its entire course through a 7 meters wide gorge and furiously burst out creating a cloudy appearance. The roar of the 300 cubic meters of water per second falls can be heard long before spotting the Murchison falls.

Anglers have plenty of fresh water fish species to catch in Murchison Falls National park. Some of the freshwater fish living in Murchison Falls National park include Nile perch, tilapia, catfish, mud fish, lung fish and more.

The beauties around Murchison Falls National Park prompted some iconic figures in the world to nickname it “a kew garden and zoo in unlimited scale”. Some iconic figures have been to Murchison falls National park including Winston Churchill in 1907, Sir Samuel Baker a great explore  and wife in 1864, British Royals in 1930s, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian in 2016 and more.

 What activities To Do in Murchison Falls National Park During Uganda safari

The launch Cruise in Murchison falls National Park

Enjoying the view of Murchison Falls National Park from the waters is one of the most outstanding activities in the park. From the comfort of the Launch, you get to watch an array of wild animals that make their way to the marshy banks of River Nile including herds of elephants, towering giraffes braising on acacia trees, herds of buffaloes that love wallowing and more.

You hear the echoes of Murchison Falls through surrounding landscape and trembling earth surface long before getting closer to the majestic falls. As you come closer to Murchison Falls, you are showered by misty spray effect from the falls first as rainbow dance through the spray on a clear day. River Nile plunges down the 43 meters high cliff to continue with the rest of the course. Enjoy the raw power of River Nile up close and carefully capture photos of this amazing phenomena.

Game Drives in Murchison falls National park

Driving through the tracks network in Murchison falls National Park is an opportunity to see a number of wild animals that find comfort in spending time in this park during the Uganda safari.

Murchison Falls national Park is home to more than 76 mammals including lions, elephants, Oribi, Rothschild giraffes, leopards, buffaloes, hartebeests, bushbucks, reedbucks and more. Murchison falls national Park is one of the few destinations in the world where Rothschild giraffes are living.

From the water, you get to spot more wild animals including pods of hippos, serried crocodiles that often bask on the banks and more.

Birding in Murchison falls national park

The choice of Uganda safari to do birding in Murchison falls national Park is an opportunity to enjoy a number of birds. More than 450 bird species have been recorded as residents of Murchison Falls National Park. Some of the resident birds of Murchison falls National park include Blue naped Mousebird, Black-headed Gonolek, Vitelline Masked Weaver and Green-winged Pytilia, white-backed Night Heron and more.

During the launch cruise, you get to spot huge colony of cliff nesting red throated bee eaters. They created holes in the escarpments that over look River Nile.

Sports fishing on Uganda safari to Murchison Falls National Park

During Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park, you can choose to do sports fishing on Victoria Nile. You need to purchase a fishing permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority and hire a boat for the time you are on the River. River side fishing on River Nile is allowed too but you need to be in company of an armed ranger guide.

Anglers need to carry own fishing equipment to be comfortable during this adventure. Some of the fish species you may catch include huge Nile perch live in the turbulent waters below the falls, cat fish, Lungfish and more.

Chimpanzee Trekking On Uganda Safari In Murchison Falls National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Murchison falls National park happens in Kaniyo Pabidi forest which is about 8 kilometers from the Kichumbanyobo Gate from Masindi side. For briefing, tourists gather at the Pabidi tourism center them track the endangered chimpanzees but along the way you may encounter other primates, several forest birds and more.

Kaniyo Pabidi forest has some of the few fully grown naturally growing Mahogany tree species.

Nature walks while ion Uganda safari In Murchison Falls National Park

A guided nature walk in Murchison Falls National Park forests can be arranged on request. The Rabongo forest is a tropical Riverine forest is situated in a grassland area south east of Murchison Falls national Park.

During the guided forest walk in Rabongo forest, you may spot red-tailed monkeys, baboons, black and white colobus, chimpanzees and more. An array of forest birds including Puvel’s Illaposis, Chocolate backed Kingfisher, White thighed Hornbill and more.

During the guides nature walk in Murchison Falls National Park, you may bypass gullies, low hills and more.  

Hike to the top of Murchison Falls during Uganda safari

Get up close to the point where River Nile generates its drama to form Murchison Falls from which Murchison Falls National Park gets its name. A guided hike to the top of the falls where River Nile first staggers over 80 kilometers bed of rocks first and build power to push through the 7 meters wide canyon.

To get to the top of the falls, there are three view points including

Climbing via the Baker’s point and you get the view the front part of Murchison Falls.

Climb from the Baker’s point to the Devil’s cauldron turbulence pool situated at the bottom of the water falls.

Enjoy the secondary view of the Uhuru falls.

One may disembark from the launch to the Fajao canyon the hike for about 45 minutes to the dramatic Murchison Falls but you need to be in company of a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guide.

Boat trip to the Delta point during Uganda Safari To Murchison falls National Park

A placid boat trip to the delta point in Murchison Falls National Park to the extensive park delta goes through extensive papyrus delta and its through this that Victoria Falls pours into Lake Albert. Keen birders have so much to see along the way with high chances of finding the rare shoebill stork.

 Tip For Uganda Safari In Murchison Falls National Park

• Try to avoid wearing bright colors while on safari in Murchison Falls national Park because you may attract stinging nettles like Tsetse flies which may bite you. Try to avoid colors like blue, black or white.
• Visiting Murchison Falls National Park in the dry season gives you chance to viewing plenty of wild animals when the grass that is June to September and December to January. The wet season that is March to May and November is characterized with high chances of finding infants and the volume of water at Murchison falls is high and more interesting to watch.
• Do not forget to pack some snacks to keep munching on while on Uganda safari.
• Check the list of items to pack on Uganda safari and season you hope to use to travel for this Africa safari.
• Reserve accommodations and transport to use during Uganda safari in advance to avoid running out of the best options at the last minute especially in the peak season that is June to October and December to January.
• The more the merrier having company during the Uganda safari to Murchison Falls National Park makes the trip more interesting. Solo travel to Murchison Falls National Park is also fine too.
• Do not get out of your safari vehicle while on game drive in Murchison Falls national Park especially if you have no escorting ranger guide. The park has predators like lions, leopards, hyenas that may be watching from a distance.

How much is the cost of Uganda safari to Murchison Falls national Park

The cost of Uganda safari to Murchison Falls National Park varies according to category of safari package you choose that is Luxury, mid-range or basic.

Conservation fees are compulsory payments that every tourist visiting Murchison Falls national Park must pay. At the moment, park entrance fees for Murchison falls National Park are $45 per person.

The cost of accommodations to use during Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park also vary. For Luxury accommodations the cost varies from $300 to more per day, Mid-range accommodation costs for Murchison Falls National Park $150 to over and basic accommodations costs from about $50 and over.

Hiring a ranger guide for any private activity costs also vary according to the time you hope to be in the field with the ranger.

The cost of safari activities to do in Murchison falls National Park varies.

What Accommodations To Book In Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison falls national Park accommodations are categorized into Luxury, mid-range and basic. Some of the accommodations of Murchison Falls National Park include Paraa safari lodge, Nile safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Red Chillis Campsite, Sambiya lodge and more.

What is the distance to Murchison Falls National Park

From Kampala or Entebbe the distance to Murchison falls National Park is about 305 kilometers taking about 5 to 6 hours drive.

There are daily domestic scheduled flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi airfield to Pakuba or Bugungu airstrips. Hire a transfer vehicle to your lodge.

What are the guideline for a Uganda safari In Murchison Falls National Park

• Game drives in Murchison falls National Park start early morning and late afternoon as animals retire to their night hide outs.
• Do not drive beyond recommended speed because you may nock down some wild animals. Overriding the wild animals because of over speeding ends in serious penalties.
• Do not push your head out of your safari vehicle or step out from the safari vehicle during the game drives because you may end up being a snack to a watching predator unless in company of an armed ranger guide.
• No travelling with ammunitions during Uganda safari because you may be triggered to kill wild animals. To keep safe follow the guides line of the park and lodges.
• Avoid dumping garbage in the park because this alters the nature of the park where these primates are residents.
• Do not provoke the wild animals or hoot at them while on game safari because you may cause them to charge.
• Ferry crossing in Murchison Falls National Park is per hour except for Lunch break that is about 1300 hours. Ferry crossing ends at 1900 hours.

Is A Uganda Safari To Murchison Falls National Park Worth the Money

Murchison falls National Park is a historical Uganda safari destination endowed with some of the best nature sighting found nowhere else in Africa. The Murchison Falls which flow at 300 cubic meters per second is amazing to watch

While on safari in Murchison falls national Park, you get to engage in a number of activities and not just focused on Wild life sightings. It is a combination of safari activities from Game drives, to launch trips, to birding, chimpanzee trekking, sports fishing and more. Murchison Falls National Park is one of the surviving wildlife conservation area in the world and many have been destroyed and encroached on by human activities. The animals live a natural life with no human influence.