Murchison Falls National park.
Murchison Falls National park locally known as Kabalega National park is the largest national park in Uganda, covering an area of 3,840 square kilometers. It is located in North western Uganda covering almost 4 districts including Masindi, Kiryandongo, Nwoya and Buliisa districts. The park sits on
the shores of Lake Albert and is known to have Murchison falls the biggest water falls in the world where the Victoria Nile River surges through a narrow
gap over a massive drop.
It is one of the most popular National parks in the country due to its variety of attractions and is also the top tourist destination in Uganda. It has different vegetation including savannah plains, savannah woodlands, swamps and forested areas which are all habitats for numerous species of mammals, birds, primates and reptiles.
The park is also home to 23 Albertine rift endemics located in the western arm of the East African rift valley which can also be seen on your bird watch activity in the park.
How to access Murchison Falls National park
By road
From Kampala it takes approximately 5-6 hours’ drive to the National park through the Kichumbanyobo gate, however there are other entry gates like Tangi, Wankar, Chobe and Mubako gates that can also let you into Murchison falls National Park depending on the direction you are coming from. They are also a great option although they are long in distance but take you straight to the most interesting section of the park.
By Air
It is possible to fly to Murchison falls National Park by chartered air craft or the daily scheduled flights from Kajansi airfield. The flight is just less than an hour.
The most convenient air field to arrive at is Pakuba airfield because of its closeness to the park headquarters and has many accommodations around. Alternatively you can fly to Chobe or Bugungu.
Activities to do in Murchison Falls National park
Murchison falls National Park has got a lot to offer in terms of activities that will spice up your safari while on a self-drive safari. The activities include;
Game drive
The park is home to over 76 mammal species that can be seen during a game drive either in the morning or evening including the African elephants, cape Buffaloes, impalas, duikers, jackals, errands, leopards, lions, giraffes, kobs, hyenas, bush pigs among others which can be observed a 4-5 hour game drive.
The drive mainly takes place in the northern part of the park which is dominated open savannah grasslands. During yourself drive in the park, will head for different game tracks like the Albert delta track where many buffalos, crocodile, water birds, lions and giraffes can be seen.
You can also take the Buligi peninsular with open grasslands hugged with the Nile water which also hosts most elephants, buffaloes, leopards, hippos and giraffes on the shores. You will enjoy the game drive experience when you hire a car for self-drive because you can always take your time and seen all the animals on your check list compared to having a drive guide who always times you out.
Visit the top of the falls
The Murchison falls are the main tourist attractions in the National park and are the reason why the park took the name Murchison Falls National park. The top of the falls hike starts with a boat cruise to the Baker point named after the British explore Sir Samuel baker. The guided hike takes 1 hour as you go through the rolling hills surrounded by the verdant country side and the birds. Once you reach the top, you will see the Nile water forcing its way between a narrow 7 meter gorge before plunging 43 meters off the cliff and into the pool below.
Boat cruise
The boat cruise also allows you to see many water loving animals that always come close to the Nile to drink water and others stay in water like the hippos, Nile crocodiles, and many bird species as you head out to the bottom of the falls. There are two boat cruises to choose from at Murchison each heading a different direction along the Nile that’s cuts through the park.
The Albert delta takes off from paara and leads you down the Nile towards the shores of Lake Albert. The second cruise the launch trip leaves Paara and heads towards the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. You will observe the water cascading through a small meter gorge creating a splash of water forming a mist into the boat. During both cruises, you will spot game like hippos, crocodile, buffaloes and birds sun bathing on the river banks.
Birding watching
For the birders, Murchison Falls National is also home to over 451 bird species including hornbill, African egrets, heron among others. These can be seen during a game drive, boat trip, nature walks in the kaniyo pabidi forest.
Chimpanzee tracking
Chimpanzee tracking in Murchison falls National Park is done in Budongo forest, a natural forest which has been in existence for many years and is part of the Murchison falls park and conservation area.
It is also home to many endangered primate species like chimpanzees, olive baboons, black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys among others.
The standard chimpanzee trekking experience starts with briefing early morning with your ranger guide, the head out to the forest to search for these endangered species. On contact with them, you will spend one hour observing the chimps and watching their general behaviors.
Rhino Tracking
Rhino tracking is done at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary located in Nakitoma village off Kampala Masindi road in Nakasongola district. It is home to a unique Rhino specie known as the white rhinos and it is the only place you will find rhinos in Uganda and may be in the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Center in Entebbe after being depleted from Murchison falls and Kidepo National parks during the massive war in the 1970s together with the rampant poachings in the 90s.
Best time to visit Murchison Falls National park
The park can be visited at any time throughout the year, but the best time to visit is during the dry season in the months of June to August or early September. This time of the year there is little or no rainfall which makes the roads clear for easy game drives and nature walks. Also the wild animals are seen easily as they come out to feed and drink water from the river banks.
Accommodation facilities in Murchison Fall National park
among others. Budget lodges include Budongo Eco lodge, park side safari lodge, yebo safari camp, Boomu women’s group bandas among others.
