Murchison falls National park safaris

Murchison falls National park safaris : Murchison Falls National Park offers the best wildlife safaris in Uganda, the park is one of the 10 national parks for safari in Uganda found in the Murchison Falls Conservation Area that comprises of Bugungu and Karuma Wildlife Reserve.

Murchison Falls National Park is at a size of 3,893 square kilometers and is known as the largest national park in Uganda, the park conveniently situated that it is easy to access it from Kampala on a distance of about 282 kilometers on a drive of about 4-5 hours.

WHAT TO SEE ON A SAFARI AT MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

MURCHISON FALLS

Murchison Falls also referred to as Kabalega Falls is the main attraction in Murchison Falls National Park, this beautiful waterfall is formed as the Nile River water squeezes through a 7 meter Gorge and pouring about 141 feet below. The waters forms a thunderous roar and the residual water spray forms a beautiful permanent rainbow.

Murchison Falls is so power because of the pressure that large of volumes of water use to squeeze through the rock and therefore it is named the world’s most powerful falls. The spectacular spot to view the Murchison Falls is whether on a visit to the top – hike to the top of the falls or on a boat cruise.

WILDLIFE

Murchison Falls National Park hosts abundant wildlife with 76 mammal species including four of the big Five that are lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. Wildlife you will see on a Uganda wildlife safari in the park include Rothschild Giraffe, Bushbucks, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Warthogs, Ugandan Kobs, Olive Baboons, hippos, hartebeests, warthogs, oribs, waterbucks, crocodiles and nocturnal hyenas. Primates include the Black and white Colobus monkeys, blue and red-tailed monkeys, Patas monkeys, and many others.

BIRD SPECIES

Murchison Falls national park is great Uganda safari destination excellent for birding safaris, the park hosts about 450 bird species recorded including savanna bird species. Notable bird species seen in a birding safaris in Uganda in the park include Goliath Heron Shoebill Stork African Darter, Weaver birds,Grey Crowned Crane, Malachite Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Stork, Northern Crombec, Blue-headed Coucal, Swamp Flycatcher, Abdim’s Stork, Weaver birds, Grey, Crowned Crane, African Quail-Finch, Squacco Heron, Black Crake, African Jacana, Black-billed Barbet, Osprey, Sandpipers, Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Denham’s Bustard, Yellow-throated Greenbul, Martial Eagle, Black-headed Gonolek, Red-throated Bee-eater, Senegal Thick-knee, Long-toed Plover, Long Tailed Nightjar, Standard-winged Nightjar, Eastern Grey, Plantain Eater, Pied Kingfisher, Silverbird, Rock Pratincole, Beautiful Sunbird, Whistling Cisticola, Black-faced Waxbill and Fawn-breasted Waxbill among others.

SAFARIS TO DO IN MUCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

BOAT CRUISE

Boat cruise safaris in Murchison Falls National Park are done on Nile River which cross through the park, a boat cruise at Murchison Falls takes you to the bottom of the might falls setting off from the jetty at Paraa. The banks of the Nile River in Murchison Falls National Park is filled with aquatic animals like the Nile crocodiles and hippos which you will see, you will also see herds of elephants, buffaloes and antelopes drinking water and many water birds such as herons.

Boat cruise safari in Murchison Falls National park takes about 2 hours to get to the bottom of the falls, there are also private cruises offered to the Nile and sundowner boat cruises on the Nile.

boat cruise in murchison falls park

GAME DRIVES

Game drives are the most popular safaris in Murchison Falls National Park, these safaris are done in 4×4 wheel vehicle and takes you towards several tracks leading into the savannah grasslands in search for wildlife.

The most popular track for game drive safaris in Murchison Falls national park is The Buligi Peninsula and driving on this track you will pass savannah, woodlands and riverine vegetation before reaching the dream triangle spot of grassland connected to the Victoria Nile as it meet Lake Albert.

During the game drive, an experienced guide will tell you about the history of park, the savannah as well as wildlife you are searching for. In the Buligi Peninsula offers a great viewing point to view hippos and crocodiles bathing in the distant water. Game drives start at both 7 am for morning game drive and 4 pm for evening game drive and last between 2 – 4 hours each, some of the animals to look out for include lions, leopards, Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, waterbucks, hippos, elephants, buffaloes and many more.

game drives

HOT AIR BALLOON

Hot air balloon safaris are the most recently introduced safari in Murchison Falls National Park, this safari is operated by the fully registered and certified Dream Balloon, hot air balloon is offered in the morning hours depending on the weather at the launch site near Paraa where you will witness the assembling team doing the final preparation. You will be handed refreshing beverage as you listen to the safety briefing.

In Hot air balloon safari, 8 passengers are permitted to fly in a balloon and they are supposed to be from 6 years old and up.

Hot air balloon safaris in Murchison Falls National Park offers spectacular aerial views of the park and the falls from the eye’s view, the trip takes off at 5 am and 4 pm respectively and the flight lasts 1 hour of incredible aerial of the savannah and the animals.

hot air baloon

HIKE TO THE TOP OF THE FALLS

Hiking to the top of Murchison Falls is one of the amazing safaris to do in Murchison Falls National Park , this hike is short and strenuous and lasts about 1 hour to the top of the falls. You must have had a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls and then hike to the falls, without the boat cruise, you can only visit the top of the falls but not hike there.

At the top of the falls, you will have a scenic view of the falls and the best way to take great photos of Murchison Falls the world’s most powerful waterfalls.

CHIMPANZEE TRACKING

Chimpanzee tracking in Murchison Falls national park are done in Budongo forest, these habituated chimpanzees are habituated and can be tracked while on a chimpanzee tracking safari. Budongo forest hosts about 800 chimpanzees and being in there presence for 1 hour watching them go on with their daily live in the forest, take pictures and videos of them.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR SAFARI IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

The best time to visit Murchison Falls National park is during the dry season which is from December to February, throughout this period, animals are drawn closer to the water due to the heat which makes it easier for tourists to see them.

Murchison Falls National Park is hot all year round but the weather in January and February is scorching, if you are planning to visit the park in these months, remember to carry plenty of water and sunscreen.

WHERE TO STAY IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

In Murchison Falls National Park there are a variety of accommodation establishments ranging from campsites, lodges, hotels, guesthouses and eco-friendly facilities. These include