MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK.

Did you know that Murchison falls national park is the largest conservation area in Uganda? This is an amazing destination with a variety to see while on your safari to Uganda-the pearl of Africa. It covers an area of 3,840 square kilometres, divided into two parts by the Albert Nile where the boat cruise takes place. In 1926, it was gazetted as a game reserve and then turned into a national park in 1952.

Murchison falls national park is home to over 76 mammal species and over 450 bird species. Also, the world’s strongest waterfall can be spotted here and other tree species like whistling acacia. This park is home to 4 of the big five animals (only the rhino is not in this park).

ACTIVITIES IN MURCHISON FALL NATIONAL PARK.

Game driving/viewing.

This is the most done activity here and it takes place in the northern sector where the park is covered with savannah vegetation. This makes it easy you spot wildlife such as buffalos, elephants, different antelopes, warthogs, giraffes among others. The drive takes you to the hippo pool at Albert Nile where you will spot schools of hippo.

You need to know that game drive lasts for only 2-3 hours and they are only 3 shifts - morning, afternoon and evening.

Birding.

The park harbours over 450 bird species, thus enables birding to take place in this destination. As you take a birding expedition, you will spot several birds - savannah, water birds or even forest birds. Birding can be done on a boat cruise or walking and the time may not be determined. Birds that can be spotted include; Swamp Flycatcher, Squacco Heron, African Jacana, Sandpipers, Denham’s Bustard, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Black-billed Barbet, Black-headed Gonolek, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Piapiac, Silver bird, Weaver Birds among others.

Hiking to top of falls.

A boat leaves you at the bottom of the falls, and then a hike starts immediately with the help of a ranger guide. The trail is amazing as you pass beside Baker’s rock, devil’s cauldron until you reach the top where you will be welcomed by the spectacular view of the falls. Witness the rainbow formed where water squeezes through a 7m small tunnel. The photo moments are next as you sight the meeting point for the two falls Uhuru and Murchison falls.

Chimpanzee trekking.

This activity is done in Budongo forest and it starts with a briefing then head to the forest with the help of the park ranger guide. Trekking takes 2-4 hours depending on the location where you locate our cousins.

An hour is granted of watching and taking photos after setting eyes on them for the first time. While on the trek, enjoy other primates like black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys and so much more.

Boat cruise.

The cruise is normally done on the Albert Nile and it lasts for only 3 hours. Tourists are dropped at the bottom of the falls and then a hike to the top of the falls. Albert Nile harbours crocodiles, hippos and different bird species among others that can be sighted while on your safari. The boat cruise to the Delta point is the best option for birders searching for the rare Shoebill Stork.

Ballooning safaris.

This is the only national park in the country where you can take this activity. Fly in the air and take an eagle eye of the wildlife in the savannah plains of Murchison falls national park. Watch the sunrise or sunset depending on the time you took a safari. The activity ends with a glass of wine immediately after the landing.

When to visit Murchison Falls National Park?

The park is located in Uganda and the weather of this country cannot be a predictor though it can be visited at any time of the year. The dry season (Dec-Feb and June-August) remains the best time to visit this park, this is because the roads are easily accessed, and water levels are low and good for photography due to clear skies unlike in the wet seasons.

How to reach the Murchison falls national park.

You can reach the park by either road or air. By road from Kampala, the capital city using Gulu road takes about 6 hours covering a distance of 305km.

By air, charter and scheduled flights are organised from Kajjansi to Pakuba airfield.

Click here to share this page

OTHER PAGES

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK. The widest range of wildlife and savannah vegetation in Uganda is found in Queen Elizabeth National park characterized by a range of habitats - grassland savannah, lakes, forests and wetlands. Queen Elizabeth whose coordinates are; 00 12S, 30 00E (Latitude: 0.2000; Longitude: 30.0000) is situated in the Kamwenge, Kasese, Bushenyi and Rukungiri districts of western Uganda about 376Km from Kampala city. It covers total area of 1,978Km (744 square miles); 33%, 50% a ....

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK - BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK. Bwindi national park is one of the best conservation areas in the country located in southwestern region of Uganda. The park covers an area of 321 sq. km and it was first gazetted as a national park in 1991 and 1994 was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. This park is considered to be among the oldest national parks in this country, and also one of the two national parks that shelter mountain gorillas. Bwindi is on record to have half of the world&rsquo ....

KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK. 700km away from the city of Kampala-Uganda, bordering Sudan and Kenya in the semi-Arid region is Kidepo valley National park (the most isolated park in Uganda). Declared a park in the year 1962, with good population of game, inclusive of 77 mammal species plus 475 families of birds. A savannah landscape stretches past the designated area all the way from Apoka towards the distant Morungole mountain ranges. The waterlogged areas of Narus Valley a ....

GORILLA TREKKING REGIONS IN BWINDI - GORILLA TREKKING REGIONS IN BWINDI. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park offers refuge to about 500 individuals which represent about half of the total population that is believed to be still thriving in the world. For life time experiences, only 19 habituated gorilla families are available for tourists to track every day in any of the four sectors; Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Each group offers a different experience and if you have adequate time, you can visit more than one fami ....

MOUNT RWENZORI - MOUNTAIN RWENZORI. Popularly known as the mountains of the moon, Mt.Rwenzori is situated in western Uganda bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is characterized by equatorial snow peaks which mark the highest point in Uganda. In addition, the lower slopes are covered by moorland, bamboo, rich, moist montane forest, broad tree-heathers and colorful mosses draped across the mountainside engrossed with giant flowered lobelias that turn one’s day bright and memorable. A length of 1 ....

MOUNT GAHINGA - MOUNT. GAHINGA. Mt. Gahinga lies between Mt. Muhabura and Mt. Sabyinyo on the Uganda- Rwanda border. It is the smallest of all the Virunga volcanoes. The mountain traces its name from the Kinyarwanda / Kifumbira word “Gahinga” (a small pile of stones). It is believed that Mt. Gahinga has a swampy Caldera spanning up to 180m (591feet) width on its peak. It is also true that Mgahinga Gorilla National park derived its name from this volcano. The mountain has an elevation of ....

MOUNT SABYINYO - MOUNT. SABYINYO. A glance at the tooth-shaped mountain from a distance answers the question of origin of this name “Sabyinyo.” Mt. Sabyinyo, the oldest and extinct of the eight Virunga volcanoes traces its name from a Rwandese phrase “Iryinyo” (meaning a tooth). It stands at a 3669m elevation above sea level creating an intersection of Uganda, DRC and Rwanda. Its slopes are famous habitats for mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. The rugged nature of Mt. Sabyinyo mak ....

CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN KIBALE FOREST - CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN KIBALE FOREST. Did you know that chimpanzee trekking can be done in Kyambura gorge, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest reserve but Kibale forest presents the most incredible experience of all? Chimpanzee trekking is one of the activities that make any Uganda safari unique. Not only is it incredibly special to be able to combine both gorilla and chimp trek in one country but Kibale Forest is one of the best places not only in Uganda but in the world, to see chimpanzees. Kiba ....

MABAMBA WETLAND - MABAMBA WETLAND. Mabamba swamp is found in Uganda, a country well-known as birder’s paradise with over 1000 bird species and Mabamba bay swamp being one of the best destinations for birding. This lush wetland derives its name from the Luganda word ‘mamba’ which means lungfish. Mabamba wetland is situated at the Entebbe peninsula on the north-western shores of Lake Victoria, about 40km from Entebbe town. It is ranked among the ten best birding areas in Uganda with rare bird s ....

GORILLA FAMILIES IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE N/PARK - GORILLA FAMILIES IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE N PARK. Bwindi Impenetrable is one of the African national parks that harbour endangered mountain gorillas in their natural environment. It is on record that it shelters almost half of the world population of gorillas in 19 habituated gorilla families. Each family comprise a different number of individuals, ranging from 6 or even 4 to 23 and more. Trekking these mountain gorillas you need to book a gorilla permit in advance for early preparation. However ....

GORILLA FAMILIES IN MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK - GORILLA FAMILIES IN MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK. Mgahinga national park is the smallest national park in Uganda covering an area of 33.9sq.km but well known for homing the remaining endangered mountain gorillas and also, the golden monkeys. The park is open to all visitors both local and foreigners. It is located within the Virunga ranges neighbouring volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. All in the Virunga conservation area, which is a goo ....

LAKE BUNYONYI - LAKE BUNYONYI Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most romantic and adorable lakes in Uganda located in the south-western of the country. Bunyonyi which means small birds hence the origin of the name and this has made it a good birding site. The lake has over 29 islands that offer great scenery view, plus hundreds of terraced hills like those of Nepal. Lake Bunyonyi we see today was formed by volcanic eruptions that occurred 8000 million years ago that blocked what is now the River Kabaga creating eff ....

KAMPALA - KAMPALA CITY. Kampala is situated in the central part of Uganda-the pearl of Africa. It is the most heavily populated and largest commercial city in the country, located along the shores of Lake Victoria - the biggest fresh water lake in Africa. It occupies seven hills (old Kampala hill, Mengo hill, Kibuli hill, Rubaga hill, Namirembe hill, Nsambya hill and Nakasero hill) within five administrative divisions including Nakawa, Kampala central, Kawempe, Rubaga and Makindye divisions. It is also ....