Murchison falls national park is the largest and one of the oldest national parks in Uganda. It is locally known as Kabalega falls. It is located in north western Uganda which lies in the EastAfrican Riftvalley. Murchison Falls National Park covers a number of districts in northern Uganda such as Kiryandongo , Masindi, Buyisa and Nwoya .
Murchison falls national park is a popular tourist destination with great stunning adventures. The park is divided into two sectors by the Victoria Nile the southern sector and the northen sector with a wide range of attractions and activities to do.
Attractions in Murchison Falls National Park
Wildlife
Murchison falls national park is a habitant to a variety of wildlife species. It is most popular for habiting four out of five big five Animals mammals such as Elephants, Buffalos, Lions, leopards, other animals like Rothschild giraffes, bushbucks, Hippos, Crocodiles, Waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, bushbuck antelopes, Oribis, primates such as monkeys, blue monkeys, Red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus and among others.
Bird life
Murchison Falls National Park is a birders haven which is an amazing destination for birding safaris with over 450 bird species categorised into the water birds and the open land birds. These include the shoebill stork, the hornbill stork, the grey crowned crown, the pied kingfisher, yellow feet fly catcher, marabou stork, sandpipers, African jacana, Denham’s bastards, silvers bird, blue headed coucal, black headed gonolek, eastern grey plantain eater and herons Black-headed Gondola, Black-headed Plover, Black-lored Babbler, Blue-headed Coucal, Blue-naped Moosebird, Bluff-bellied Warbler
Murchison Falls
Murchison falls is one of the greatest attractions in Murchison falls national park, these spectacular waterfalls are also known as Kabalega falls basing on the history it carries from the famous king of Bunyoro kingdom called Kabalega. In 1860s, the first European to see the falls was Sir Samuel baker and his wife Florence baker, and he named it after a geologist called Roderick Murchison from England of the geographical society. And later the whole national park was named after the falls in 1954 when it was officially established.
These lie between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert on the Victoria Nile. Murchison falls is formed as waters of river Nile forces their way through a gap in rocks forming 7 meters wide 43 meters water fall.
Rabongo forest
Rabongo forest is also one of the attractions in Murchison falls national park. It’s a green forest covering an area of 4 sq km. The forest is part of a natural forest which makes it a birding paradise. Rabongo forest is a home to a variety of endangered bird species such yellow-footed flycatcher, the Ituri batis and many more. The forest is a home to many primates such as blue monkeys, baboons, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys among others.
Budongo forest
Budongo forest is a very fascinating attraction in Murchison falls national park located in the southwest region of Murchison falls national park, Budongo forest is a home to a variety Uganda primates and royal mile which is best for bird watching Uganda Safaris. The forest is a home to 800 chimpanzee individuals and 360 bird species.
Paraa
Paraa is one of the top attractions in Murchison Falls National Park. Paraa derives its name from a local Luo word meaning “home of hippos”. Paraa consists of many Safari hotels and safari lodges making it a prominent accommodation centre in Murchison Falls National Park.
Things to do in Murchison Falls National Park
Game drives
Game drives in Murchison falls are conducted both in the morning as well as in the evening. This gives tourists a chance to thrill up-close views of different wildlife Species. Game viewing areas in the park include, Buligi Peninsular, Delta area, and the southern sector. While carrying out game drives you will be able to spot animals such as giraffes, warthogs, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, Jacksons hartebeest, oribi, waterbucks grazing in the savannah grassland plains as well as view different bird species.
Sport fishing
Sport fishing in Murchison falls national park is done at the banks of the Nile below Murchison falls along the rocky surfaces. During sport fishing at the Banks, you will use different sport fishing methods such as use of hooks, spinning method and casting lures where you will be able to catch fish species like tiger fish, tilapia, cat fish and Nile perch.
Boat Cruise
Boat cruise on Murchison falls national park is carried out on the Nile. Murchison falls national park has two boat cruises that is the boat cruise upstream to the bottom of the falls and the boat cruise downstream to the Victoria Nile delta stretching to the shores of lake Albert. While on the boat cruise tourists are able to view large concentrations of hippopotamus, sight crocodiles basking on the shores, spot animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks drinking water along the shores.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is done at Budongo Forest which is located in the southern part of Murchison falls national park. Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity in Budongo forest, this activity starts very early in the morning with a briefing at the headquarters about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking, after the briefing you will be allocated a habituated chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. It takes about 30 minutes to 4hrs depending on the location where chimps are.
Hot air balloon Rides
Hot air balloon safaris in Murchison falls national park are carried out by Dream Balloons company. There are two sessions for this activity that is the sunrise session at 5:00a.m and the sunset session which starts at 4:00pm and ends at 6:30 pm. During hot air balloon rides, tourists will have spectacular views of Murchison falls national park, wildlife, vegetation, Birds, Murchison falls and Lake Albert
Park Entrance Fees
Adults: East Africans are charges 25,000 UGX; Foreign non-residents are charged 45 USD Per person and foreign residents are charged 35 USD
Children: East Africans are charges 10,000 UGX; Foreign non-residents are charged 25 USD Per person and foreign residents are charged 15 USD
Vehicle: Vehicles are charged 10USD For foreign registered vehicles and 10,000 UGX for Registered vehicles.
Best time to visit Murchison falls National Park
Murchison falls national park can be visited all the year around. The Best time to visit the park is the dry season which is June to October and December to February since there is less rains and the roads to the park are easily accessible and not slippery. This also gives high chances of spotting wildlife and taking good photography.
