This is Uganda’s largest national park with a size of 3840km2, its located at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley at the ends where Bunyoro escarpments joins itself in the flat low plains of the mighty Acholi land, the park was first gazzetted as a protected savanna in 1926 by sir Winston Churchill before it was officially established as a national park.
Murchison Falls National Park is one of the oldest protected areas in Uganda. It was first gazetted in 1926 in the colonial time. It is also the largest national park in Uganda and the second largest biodiversity conservation area in Africa.This national park has abundant wildlife including the lions, leopards, giraffes, crocodiles as well as the hippos. The park has got beautiful features including the most powerful waterfalls on planet earth, River Nile the longest river on earth, the different vegetation including Budongo forest and so much more.
The park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savanna. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. Murchison Falls Conservation Area is one of the oldest, and is the largest, protected area in Uganda. The Park vegetation comprises of woodland, wetland, savannah as well as tropical forest. The park is composed of the main Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu Wildlife Refuge and Karuma Wildlife Refuge. In addition is Budongo Forest Reserve which overlaps parts of both wildlife reserves.
Murchison falls is bisected into two parts by the Victoria Nile before extending to Egypt.
The Beautiful Murchison Falls
At the awe some Murchison falls, the whole of Albert Nile spews majestically through a six meter gap and breathtaking forty meter drop. Despite commonly being referred to as Murchison falls, some guides still name them as Kabalega falls. The use of the name Murchison came into effect in 1864 that is after Samuel and Florence Baker named the falls after Sir Roderick Murchison, the then President of the Royal Geographical Society. Winston Churchill on his part described the Nile at Murchison Falls as being like Regents Park Zoo and Kew Gardens combined thus confirming it as one of Africa’s favourite destinations.
Things to See in Murchison Falls Park
The park hosts 76 species of mammals including four of the “Big Five”, with huge herds of buffaloes and elephants, well-camouflaged leopards and a healthy population of lions. It is also known for its giraffes; in Uganda these can only be viewed here and in Kidepo Valley. Other species viewed regularly along the game tracks include Jackson’s hartebeest, bushbucks, Uganda kob, waterbucks and warthogs. Resident crocodiles and hippos as well as other, wildlife is found along the Nile river.
The most spectacular view of watching the waterfall is moving towards the top where the sight and sound of the Nile crashing make a memorable experience. Below the falls, the Nile offers an opportunity for one to come across distinct birdlife, including savannah forest birds, water birds and Albertine on a boat launch cruise.
Primates can be found in Budongo forest and Kaniyo Pabidi since the area is part of Murchison falls National Park including the chimpanzees. Alongside the road, commonly are the Olive baboons, it’s of good idea to keep car windows and doors shut in order to stay safely with your lunch! Blue and red-tailed monkeys and black-and-white colobus can be found in the forested sectors. The savanna-dwelling patas monkey is only found here and in Kidepo Valley National Park.
The varied habitats of Uganda’s largest park make it home to a variety of birds with 451 species recorded, the Shoebill being the main birding attraction. Others are; Goliath Heron the largest heron in the world – and pairs of elegant Grey Crowned Cranes – Uganda’s national bird. Also along the banks of the Nile are the Blue-headed Coucal, Swamp Flycatcher, Squacco Heron, African Jacana, Sandpipers, Denham’s Bustard, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Black-billed Barbet, Black-headed Gonolek, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Piapiac, Silverbird, Weaver Birds, Pied, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers, Red-throated Bee-eater, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver and African Quail-Finch.
Things to Do
A number of activities is carried out while in the park such as visiting the top of the falls, Chimpanzee tracking at Budongo forest, Guided nature walks through Rabongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests, guided swamp walks, Sport Fishing on the banks of the River Nile, the experience on the boat lauch cruise offers good opportunities for bird watching.
Game drive
This one of the best safari activity that a tourist will do in Murchison falls for a life time experience the park is bisected into two locations by the great Nile for the south and the northern side, the south is the place to be where most of accommodation facilities are located for those who are not bothered with the ferry crossing.
However game drive is done in the northern sector of the park in Paara and connecting there you will link using the ferry that always crosses the Victoria Nile on a daily schedule to different to either bunks of the river.
The park covers an area of 3840 km2 it has part of it covered in the northern part with savanna grassland and part of the woodland, borassus palms, acacia trees and riverine woodland whereas the southern part is dominated by woodland and forest patches.
A game drive from Paraa passing via Delta Point takes 3 to 4 hours. The best time for this activity is early in the morning when animals are looking for food and water to quash their thirst and late afternoon. A game drive is a fantastic way to see and photograph the wide range of animals like Buffalo, Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Leopard.
A visit to the park offers an opportunity to pass by Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to see the Rhinos in their natural environment. It is thus the most inclusive park which offers best of wild life safaris in Uganda which can be combined in three days passing via Luwero to Masindi and finally into the Park.
The adventurous top of the falls
This is an amazing experience with undiscovered sceneries that that takes to an epitome of a world class adventure, water forces its self into an 8 meter narrow gorge to create a thunderous sound with rapids splashing in heights and when you walk at the extreme top of the falls you view a colorful rain bowl that sets you with a smile as you are cooled with the droplets from the falls, When you continue after this wonderful adventure head to the honey moon track for a game drive with a chance to spot leopards one of the amazing big family animals in the wilderness, proceed to your accommodation facility to check in for dinner or else do other activities.
Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
It’s such an epitome adventure cruising on the longest liver in the whole world experiencing a variety of birdlife species on the river bunks. The cruise is scheduled for around three hours usually from 2:00 pm to around 5:30 pm up streaming from the docking point paara to the bottom of the falls with a big chance to view aquatic life such as the Nile crocodiles, hippopotamuses, birds of a different kind like the kingfishers, African fish eagles, herons.
However critical birders are recommended to take the early morning boat cruise to catch the glimpse at rare birds like the shoebill.
Otherwise a day boat cruise will give you a leisure take as you relax taking photo shoots while take a beer on the Nile for those who love relaxing with a beer.
After a recreational bottom of the falls view with all numerous wildlife view a ranger guide will lead you through an uphill trail for a spontaneous view of Murchison falls with an elevation of your eye contact to the top of the falls for another world class experience of the spectacular falls with such an amazing roar of the falls emitting into a narrow gorge.
Finishing such an adventurous opportunity you driver will be already in the parking yard waiting for your, at this time the sun is setting down so don’t miss taking beautiful sun set photos in the tropical site.
Getting There
By means of road transport, it takes around 5 hours from Kampala City the capital of Uganda with about 305km. Paara covers a distance of about 85km from Masindi town by the shortest route. A direct route will cover an area of about 135km. You may decide to take on the Budongo forest that will provide many views overlooking to Lake Albert from the direct position of the Rift valley Escapment over Butiaba. You can also access Paara from the North through Chobe gate, Karuma Falls along with Tangi. The gate that is close to Pakwach covers an area of about 25km to Paara in addition to Wankwar gate close to Purongo.
Transportation
The main entrance point into the country is Entebbe International Airport found 40km from Kampala, the capital city. There are public means of transport that go up to Masindi which is the nearest town to the park. From there, you can hire a car to take you all the way into the park. Or you can visit the Park with the help of Tour operators and consultants who can provide good services from your date of arrival to departure time.
Accommodation
There are various accommodation facilities within and outside the park such as lodges, camps including some hotels in Masindi where you can have a relaxation and meals as you prepare for the next activities. All these can accommodate various tourists depending on their levels. Luxury facilities include; Paara safari lodge, Chobe safari lodge. Midrange include; Murchison River lodge, Nile safari lodge, Pakuba safari lodge and budget accommodation include; Red chili Rest camp, Bwana tembo safari camp, Kabalega Wilderness lodge, Budongo Eco lodge to mention but a few.