What To Expect In Murchison Falls National Park During Uganda Safari

Murchison Falls National Park is natural’s golden trophy on the course of River Nile. This Uganda National park is bisected by River Nile which is the longest River in the world but it flows for about 120 kilometers in the park. In Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is the largest wildlife conservation destination in the country covering an area of 3893 square kilometers. The Murchison Falls National Park lies on the apex of Lake Albert on White Nile.

The name Murchison falls National Park is from the thundering Murchison Falls the iconic feature that outstands in the parks. The Murchison falls are the strongest falls in the world that flow at about 300 cubic meters per second. Locally, the Murchison falls are called Kabalega falls. Murchison

Before forming Murchison Falls, Victoria Nile which is part of the River Nile stumbles over a bed of underlying rocks for about 80 kilometers forming rapids. later, with all the pressure, River Nile squeezes through a narrow bend of a 6 meters bursts out to form a cloudy appearance. With fury, the River Nile water cascades the 43 meters cliff to the bottom which is the devil’s cauldron then carry on with the course towards lake Albert.

Beyond Murchison falls, a game drive on the tracks of Murchison Falls National Park especially the Buligi track that goes through a plain grass land where Uganda kobs love to spend the day. There are more chances of finding a pride of lions in action as they prey on these herbivores.

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While on a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, expect to find wild animals including leopards, herds of Buffaloes, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, herds of elephants, Oribi, hartebeests and others.

Birding in Murchison Falls National Park is never disappointing with over 451 bird species so far recorded. While on a boat cruise to Murchison Falls, you can spot a huge colony of red throated bee eaters nesting in the cliff that overlooks the river. Some bird species you may identify in Murchison Falls National Park include the rare shoebill stork, Gull billed Tern Sterna, African cuckoo Cuculus Gulais, African Thrush Tardus Pelios, Black Stork Ciconia Nigra, Marsh Owl Asio capensis and others.

Brief Details about Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park was gazette as a game reserve in 1926 with the aim of protecting wildlife that Winston Churchill described as a kew garden and zoo on unlimited scale in 1907. River Nile is the lifeblood of Murchison Falls National Park that waters the rich evergreen vegetation especially along the banks. River Nile with it source at lake Victoria in Jinja town flow for about 6500 kilometers to its delta in Mediterranean sea Egypt.

Activities To do in Murchison Falls National Park During Uganda safari

Launch trip to Murchison Falls During Uganda safari

At Murchison Falls, the earth trembles as the cascades the 43 meters high cliff into the plunge pool to continue with the course. This boat cruise starts from the pier at Paraa but along the riverine, you may spot crocodiles basking, schools of hippos and others. Herds of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions and others often find time to spend on the River Nile banks to quench thirst or enjoy a bath.

An array of birds flocks the bank of River Nile on a daily especially water birds and several of the small birds have nests in the cliffs that overlook the River Nile course. The launch trip in Murchison Falls National Park is relaxing especially after a game drive under the scotching sun.

As you draw closer to Murchison Falls, you hear the roars before facing the falls and bubble show up on the River Nile surface as the falls come into view. Finally, when you are face to face with Murchison falls, you watch the river Nile squeeze throw the narrow bend and burst out to form a cloudy appearance. On a clear sunny day, a stunning rainbow may form right before your eyes.

Hike to the top of Murchison falls during Uganda safari

Daring tourists can choose on Uganda safari in Murchison Falls may choose the hike to the top of the falls to watch the drama source of the thunderous chasm. While on a hike to the top of the falls, you may watch crocodiles below. While on top of the Murchison Falls, you get to watch part of the 80 kilometers stretch that generates the pressure which pushes River Nile into the narrow bend. Tourists may disembark from the boat at Fajao Gorge to climb to the top of the Murchison falls.  

Game Drive in Murchison Falls National Park on Uganda Safari

An early morning game drive in Murchison Falls especially the southern part of the park gives you chance to identify several wild animal in there natural habitat. During the game drive on the tracks of Murchison falls National Park you may find lions, leopards, herds of buffaloes, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks and others.

The varied vegetation zones in Murchison Falls National Park are habitats to several animals including papyrus swamp, savanna, woodland, tropical forest, open water and much more.

Sports fishing in Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda

Sports fishing in Murchison Falls National Park is open to anglers but you need to book a fishing permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority. You have to carry your own fishing equipment to enjoy the entire experience during Uganda safari. To do sports fishing in Murchison Falls National Park, you can stand by the Riverside or stay on a boat. Some of the fresh water species you may get chance to catch include large Nile Perch, catfish, lung fish, Tilapia and others.

Chimpanzee trekking during Safari in Murchison Falls National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi forest which is 8 kilometers from the Kicubanyombo gate in Murchison Falls National Park is exceptional. Kaniyo Pabidi forest has some of the still standing fully grown Mahogany trees in Uganda. Each day two chimpanzee trekking sessions happen in Kaniyo Pabidi forest that is morning and afternoon.

The number of chimpanzee trekking permits for Murchison Falls National Park is restricted to minimize on the effects of mass tourism to the environment which feeds these primates. Beyond the chimpanzees, Kaniyo Pabidi forest is home to black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and others.

In addition Kaniyo Pabidi forest is home to a number of forest birds that are on the total population of birds that have been recorded as residents of Murchison Falls National Park.     Beyond the chimpanzees, Kaniyo Pabidi forest is home to black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and others.

White water rafting on River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park

Enjoy the thrill of beating the Murchison Falls tides by doing the white water rafting adventure. There are tube boats that you can sail on with other participants. Ensure to secure your safety gears well and actively participate in peddling as instructed. On ground, a team of professional white water rafting instructors to takes you through all that is necessary for this Uganda safari. There is no need to have any experience but the zeal to be part of this adventure.

Birding in Murchison Falls National Park

More than 451 bird species are recorded as residents of Murchison Falls National Park. The long list of birds in Murchison Falls National Park is owed to range habitat diversity in the Park including grass woodland, acacia savanna, grassland, borassus, wetlands and others. The birding experience in Murchison Falls National Park s enhanced by abundant wildlife and scenic landscape and the park’s center piece the over 43 meters high Murchison Falls.

Some of the birding present in Murchison Falls National Park include blue-naped Mousebird, Gonolek, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Green winged Pytilia, shoebill stork, white-backed Night Herons and others.

When you take a boat ride on the Victoria Nile Delta which stretches for about 20 kilometers from Paraa area, you may get chance to find some rare birds including the shoebill stork, and other water birds. This is area has papyrus vegetation.

Sundowner or Sunrise cruises in Murchison Falls National Park

Have some quite time on the River Nile on a boat cruise to immerse into the spirits of the river and its surroundings. Watch the sun cast its rays as the world comes to life by choosing to do an exclusive Sunrise cruise. The choice of a sundowner cruise as the sun gives way to nightfall may not be a bad idea on a Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park. Listen to the hippos granting, watch the crocodiles  on the Nyamsika sandbar then return to the pier to wide up the day.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on Uganda Safari

The Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is situated on the periphery of Murchison Falls National Park. At this sanctuary, Rhinos are being reintroduced in Uganda after they were wiped out by civil unrest that affected Uganda in the past, porched to fetch the Rhino horn that was believed to have spiritual powers and others.

The work of reintroducing the rhinos in Uganda is so far do good and some infants registered as born in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. There is hope to release the Rhinos into the wilderness later when they increase in number especially into the Uganda National Parks where they used to live.

What is the cost of Uganda safari to Murchison Falls National Park

The cost of safari to Murchison Falls National Park is categorized into Up market, mid-range and basic. The cost of Park entrance fees must be considered is it cuts across all budgets. At the moment, the cost of Park entrance fees to Murchison Falls National Park is $45 per person per day. it is advised to pay park entrance fees to any Uganda National Park before travelling as no cash is accepted at the entrance of the park.

Additional costs expected during Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park include accommodation costs, transport costs, meals, personal expenses and others. Do not forget to pack extra hard cash to change into local currency for on ground purchases.

Our prepackaged Uganda safari to Murchison Falls National Park are categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic. We can customized the Uganda tour according to your needs and interest when you contact our safari team. We can assist with booking the chimpanzee trekking permits for Kaniyo Pabidi in case you choose to do chimpanzee trekking in this forested part of the park.

Best Time To Do A Safari in Murchison Falls National Park

The dry season is most preferred to do a Uganda Safari in Murchison Falls National Park. The dry season that is normally June to October and December to February is characterized by dry weather conditions.  This allows faster movement on the tracks of Murchison Falls National Park during a game drive. The grasslands are shorter creating a better environment to view several animals that call the park home.

Most of the time this is the peak tourism season in Uganda so expect to find other tourists. It is best to book accommodation to use for the safari in Murchison Falls National Park earlier. You may park some sleeveless attire because it can get so hot in Murchison Falls National Park during the dry season.

Even though the Park is busy in the dry season, it is not over crowded so you can get quality time in the park to make peace with nature’s beauties and refresh. The wet season must not scare you from doing a Uganda Safari in Murchison Falls National Park that is March to May and November. This is the low tourism season if Uganda too but there are so many activities you can do on safari including wildlife viewing. The grass is higher in this season but chances of spotting a new life come to survive or infants hiding are more common. The vegetation is luxuriantly green and amazing to see too. Murchison falls National Park is indeed the true meaning of untamed nature.

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