What To Do In Murchison Falls National Park That Makes It A Famous Africa Safari Destination

Murchison Falls National Park is one of the still unspoilt locations on the African continent with exclusively natural scenery. This park is crossed by River Nile, which makes one of most powerful flows of natural water at the Murchison Falls.

Murchison Falls National Park boasts astounding views of exotic Flora and fauna. By taking the exhilarating game drives, you immerse into the true meaning of rich wildlife game parks in Africa.

The history of Murchison Falls appear in the write ups of early explorers like Sir Samuel Baker who named it after Sir Roderick Murchison who was then president of Royal Geographic Society.

In 1907, Sir Winston Churchill boated, circled and hiked to Murchison Falls national Park that he named kew garden and zoo on an unlimited scale. He considered setting up a footbridge across the Murchison falls with ten pounds which he did in 1960. After two years however in 1962 the footbridge was washed down by floods.

At the moment, Murchison Falls National park occupies about 3840 square kilometers of land and water. During the 1970s and 1980s poaching heat the park losing a huge number of animals including Rhinos whose last appearance happed in 1980s.The Rhinos are being rehabilitated at Ziiwa Rhino sanctuary and so far good results have been achieved.

Murchison Falls National Park has impressive climate with temperatures averaging 29 degrees centigrade 0r 85 degrees F. March to May are usually wet seasons while June- September, December to February are normally dry seasons all factors kept constant.

Highlights Of What To Do In Murchison Falls National Park

Game Drives in Murchison Falls National park

Launch Trip to Murchison Falls

Top of The Falls in Murchison Falls National Park

Birding in Murchison Falls National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Murchison Falls National park

Spot Fishing In Murchison Falls National Park

Nature Walks Murchison Falls National Park

Trip to the Delta

Game Drives in Murchison Falls National park

Rising up early morning for game drives in Murchison Falls National park or late afternoon is the most rewarding during Uganda safari. Driving through the tracks of Buligi area that is west of Paraa up to the Delta area, is exciting wildlife hangout point. This is where Victoria Nile passes through the Northern tip of Lake Albert to become Albert Nile.

River Nile is the lifeblood of Murchison Falls National Park supporting numerous wild lives. Over 76 mammals have so far been recorder to be residents of this park and the list is still growing.

Some of the animals you may have a chance to spot include herds of cape buffaloes, Rothschild giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeests, lions, tree pangolin, leopards, oribi, Defassa waterbucks, bush bucks, aardvark, striped skink, bush-tailed porcupine, savanna Hares, bell’s hinge back Tortoise, red and black striped snakes, forest cobras, green bush vipers, yellow-winged Bat, sitatungas, Bohor Reedbucks to mention but a few.

Launch Trip to Murchison Falls

The highlight of Murchison Falls National Park activities is the launch trip to the Murchison falls. Approaching from the east, Victoria Nile races down 80 km of white water staggering over a bed of rocks before furiously squeezing through a 6 meters wide bend. The water crashes and bursts through the gorge to produce a thundering roar.

The River Nile water then plunges down a 40-meter high cliff to touch the rift valley floor. On a clear day, a rainbow may form right before your eyes.

Each day, the Uganda Wildlife Authority launch trip departs the pier at 0900 hours and 1400 hours with a number of tourists for about 3 hours return trip.

Look over for riverine birds that love feeding on the freebies of the banks. You may get to spot African Cuckoo cuculus gularis, African skimmer Rynchops flavirostris, Black-Kite Milvus migrams, Alpine Swift Apus melba, Senegal plover Vanellus lugubris, zebra waxbill Amandava Subflava, white-winged tern childonias feucopterus and others.

A number of wild animal love quenching thirst and cooling off the day’s heat from the banks of River Nile. You may have a chance to spot hartebeests, elephants, giraffes, cape buffaloes, statungas, oribi and others.

Serried huge Nile crocodiles and schools of hippos decorate River Nile waters.

You feel a change in boat turbulence as you approach Murchison falls and when you look over on the water surface, a foamy appearance approaches.

Top Of The Falls In Murchison Falls National Park

To feel the dramatic power of River Nile water, you can hike to the top of the falls from the launch trip in Fajao gorge.

This hike may take between 45 minutes to 60 minutes of your time. Here you get to see hear, and feel all the waters of mighty River Nile rigorously staggering over a bed of rocks and explode through 6 meters wide gap in the cliff.

In case you are on private launch trip arrangement, you may walk back to the boat or can be collected by the vehicle at the top.

For this arrangement, you need to be escorted by the Uganda Wildlife authority ranger guide.

Visiting the top of Murchison falls can also happen on arrival. The Murchison Falls is about 15 km of the Masindi main road. You can view them from three dramatic points

The most interesting is the top of the falls where River Nile thunders through a narrow canyon of about 6 meters wide. You can use a fifteen minutes climb to Baker’s point where you can enjoy the front view of River Nile churning through the gorge.

Another fall is the Uhuru falls which you can see too.

The third point is to hike down into the gorge from Baker’s point to the Devil’s Cauldron which is the turbulence pool at the base of the Murchison Falls.

Trip to the Delta in Murchison Falls National park

Another placid boat trip in Murchison falls National park is the voyage to the Delta point. You sail through the papyrus delta passing Victoria Nile into Lake Albert.

You have high chances of potting several animals like herds of elephants, giraffes, cape buffaloes, defassa waterbucks. An array of birds loves enjoying this area including the shoebill.

This trip may take between four to five hours but very scenic and exciting too.

Birding in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison falls national park is a birder’s haven with over 451 bird species recorded so far. The list is still expanding as noted by ornithologists on uganda birding safaris. This is attributed to the varied vegetation zones that favor the birds to thrive.

Uganda’s birding adventures match no other African country because of the amazing diversity of habitats. This is also reflected in the ever-burgeoning Murchison falls National Park bird list. Lots of superb birds make a visit to Murchison Falls National Park which makes it a must attend Uganda birding destination.

A stroll through the dry thorn scrub between the Red chilli Rest Camp and ferry crossing may give you chance to see silverbird, Black-headed Gonolek, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Black-headed Batis, Green-winged Pytilia, Blue-naped Mousebird and several others.

Even norcturnal birds are plentiful in this Murchison Falls National Park especially around the main road south of Paraa, Afew of them you may spot include spectacular nightjar like long-tailed and pennant winged, standard-winged Nightjar, verreaux Eagel-Owls and others

Chimpanzee trekking in Murchison Falls National park

Chimpanzees are the closest relatives of humans with a DNA of about 98% to that of humans. In Murchison falls National Park, you have chances of doing chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi forest.

This forest is about 8 km from Kichumbanyombo Gate right on Masindi Paraa road. This forest has some of the still existing old giant mahogany and ironwood trees.

To do chimpanzee trekking, you need to book with Kaniyo Pabidi Tourisn Site which is under the Jane Goodall Institute. This is an international chimpanzee conservation nonprofit organization.

Sport Fishing In Murchison Falls National Park

In Murchison Falls National park are designated spots where regulated sport fishing can be arranged. You need to book a permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority. carry own equipment and hiring a boat and boat captain is very helpful.

You may get to catch some of these fish types like Nile perch in 2002 a 108 kg nile perch was landed at close to the foot of the Murchison Falls. Other fish types you may catch include cat fish, lung fish and others.

Nature Walks Murchison Falls National Park

With an escorting ranger guide, you can walk through Rabongo forest. This is a tropical riverine forest situated in a grassland southern part of Murchison Falls National Park.

You may have the chance to spot a number of other primates like black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, blue monkeys and several others.

With an escorting ranger guide, you can walk through the trail from Paraa down the river go passed the gullies and low hills. You may get to spot a number of animals too like.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Murchison Falls National Park In Uganda

All year round Murchison Falls National park is open to tourist visits. The drier months however are more open for wildlife view and birding. The period of June to September and December to February are usually dry and grass generally lower exposing animals.

During the launch trip, chances of the rainbow forming before you are more open during the dry season. The River Nile water is more sparkle clearer during the dry seasons when the flow of River Nile is more composed with not so many other inlets bringing in dirty water. Silt is sieved to the bottom of the Riverbed.

What Is the Cost Of Uganda Safari To Murchison Falls National Park

The cost of a Uganda tour to Murchison Falls National Park has a universal price the park Fees. Every boy has to pay park fees to enter Murchison Falls National Park and enjoy its beauties. At the moment Park entrance fees to Murchison Falls National Park cost is $45 per person per 24 hours.

Some other factors that make up the cost of Uganda Safari in Murchison falls National park depend on the number of people travelling with, activities to do in the park, additional parks to combine with Murchison Falls National park, the safari package to select for this uganda safari and others

How To Behave during a Game Drive In Murchison Falls National Park

Follow the instructions given by the ranger guide before starting the game drive

Do not dangle your legs out of the vehicle during the game drive because you may attract predator.

Never get out of your Vehicle too during the game drive without an escorting game ranger. This is because the wild is best known by its occupants who can snap on you when you least expect.

Do not litter the wilderness with garbage because this is a National Park. Keeping the wild environment for sustainability is required.

Never feed the wild animals because they must look for own food. When you keep feeding them they may turn to human provision which is unsustainable.

Shouting at wild animal or hooting at them during game drives is forbidden. This may scare them yet many others wish to spot them

 Off-track driving is forbidden because you may hurt the small animals that you may not see.

Avoid wearing colors that may attract insects like Tsetse flies. Colors like blue, white and black may attract these insects.

The vehicle you use on safari must be in good mechanical condition. This is because tracks are sometimes slippery and impassable especially during the severe wet seasons. Getting stuck in the middle of the park is dangerous.

No carrying anything from the game parks without permission from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Wild animal material trafficking is forbidden worldwide.

What To Pack For Uganda Safari To Murchison Falls National Park

A camera to take photos and memories of your experience in Murchison Falls National park

 Pair of binoculars to see far ranging features.

Insect repellant to smear with and keep away stinging insects.

A safari hat with a large brim to protect your hair from dust

Safari attire especially convertible trousers and shirt to wear during the tour.

Warm wear to use in the morning and late evening when it gets so cold.

First Aid kit for emergency needs.

Sunglasses to protect your eyes from strong sunrays.

Safari boots and flip-flops to use during the game drives.

Toiletries’ in case your lodge does not provide them.

BOOK SAFARI NOW