Murchison Falls National Park Big Five

Murchison Falls National Park Big Five : Safaris to Murchison Falls National Park will you to gets sighs of all the Big Five while on a Uganda safari, unfortunately Murchison Falls National park does not host all the big Five family members. It hosts only 4 members that is Leopards, elephants, buffaloes and lions, only rhinos are missing but the good news is you can trek see rhinos in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary which is situated along the way to Murchison Falls National Park.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in their natural habitat, the sanctuary hosts white rhinos and can be seen on rhino trekking experience done on several trails with guides. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located in Nakasongola district on the route that leads to Murchison falls National Park and it is easy to make a stopover along the way to the park.

Rhino tracking experience in Ziwa rhino sanctuary and then continue to Murchison Falls National park where you will see lions, elephants, buffaloes and leopards will complete your Big Five experience on a Uganda safari.

The term Big Five was coined by big game hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot and now it more commonly used by game viewing tourists and safari tour operators.

Murchison Falls National Park is among the great tourist destinations in Uganda and is under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority, this beautiful park is found in the northwestern region of Uganda spanning in Bulisa, Hoima and Nwoya.

Murchison Falls National Park is the biggest national park in Uganda covering 3,893 square kilometers, the park is accessed on a drive north – west from Kampala, Uganda’s capital city via the Kampala – Gulu highway and is a drive of approximately 5 hours.

Murchison Falls National park hosts more than 76 species of mammals with 4 of the Big Five and over 400 species of birds including migratory and endemic bird species. Murchison Falls national park’s various animals including elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, leopards, gazelles, antelopes, duikers, giraffes and sitatungas among others.

A safari to Murchison Falls National Park offer you an opportunity to spot the Big Five as detailed below

AFRICAN ELEPHANTS “Loxodonta africana”

African elephants scientifically known as African Elephant are the biggest animals on the planet and the biggest of all Africa big found in Uganda, the African elephants are the most enduring symbol of nature’s grace and fragility and they are regarded as the American elephants because by close look of their ears, they may look like the American continent’s Map which is the origin of the African elephant’s name.

The African elephant can weigh around 5000 kilograms and they can grow up to 14 ft. in height and 30 ft. in length, these elephants mostly live in Africa including the savannah and the forested areas of the Murchison Falls national park, normally the female elephants lead the herd.

murchison falls elephants

Elephants are very calm animals but they are very dangerous when disturbed, they are so keen on protecting their young ones very well. They spend most of their time eating and they can live up to 70 years.

LION “pathero Leo”

Lions are the largest and most imposing African carnivore and the most sought after member of the African big 5, the African lion is the most sociable of the large cats living in loosely structured prides of typically 15 animals.

In most cases lions are referred to as the Kings of the Jungle because they have fewer enemies, in Murchison Falls national park they are easily seen in the Savannah plains and in the area where there are several kobs, buffaloes and antelopes. This is because these animals prey on these animals.

African lions in Murchison Falls National Park can be seen during both morning and evening game drives.

Leopard “Panthera Pardus”

Leopard is the most elusive and the smallest of Africa’s big Five animals, they are solitary animals and they move alone in the wild. Leopards are sneaky and harder to spot and naturally shy and exclusively nocturnal, they spend the day light hours hidden from view.

Leopards have the ability to haul large kills such as zebras or antelopes into a tree to eat alone in peace.

The largest leopard can weigh up to 60 kilograms and they can be found in several habitats just like lions, they can be found in shrubs, savannahs and even climbing acacia trees. They can camouflage and they can hide in the grass and wait until their predators come, they run very fast as compared to the lions and they can move. They come together during mating and when they are raising the young, this is the only time when you can find leopards in a pair.

Leopards belong to the feline family and they are very nice looking animals that is why they want to be seen by tourists during the safari.

African Buffalo “Syncerus Caffer”

African Buffalo is the only wild African buffalo ox species that is an adoptable and widespread creature that lives in large herds on the savanna and in smaller herds in large herds on the savanna and in smaller herds in forested areas.

African buffalo or cape buffalo is the most dangerous of all African game species especially if wounded or solitary.

African buffaloes are large, even – toed ungulates characterized by their stocky build and heavy horns. Horns are present in both sexes and they are not ridged. They are easily distinguished from other animals because of its dark black color and characteristic horns, smaller and lighter curving outward, backward and upwards. Their ears are large, fringed with hair and hang below massive horns.

Buffaloes live in groups and can be seen in about 100 buffaloes with calves and in Murchison Falls National Park they can be seen in large groups known as herds more often in the Paraa region on game drives.

Game viewing safaris in Murchison Falls National Park are always the great way to experience and explore the park while on a Uganda safari.