Murchison Falls National Park is a large, pristine national park that protects a large chunk of untamed savanna. It is named after the dramatic Murchison Falls, one of the most scenic fall along the Nile. It lies within about 4-5 hours’ drive from Entebbe or Kampala Capital City and a safari in this vast wilderness is such an amazing journey. It extends from the shores of Lake Albert on the Victoria Nile to Karuma Falls. Visit the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. This is a full Africa adventure travel guide for all of those looking to visit Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda.
This large savanna game park covers an area of about 3840sq km making it the largest of all the 10 national parks in Uganda. The popular Murchison Falls is separated by the Victoria Nile where the northern section is largely comprised of savanna grassland, and palm trees, and the southern section, consists of woodland, and rain forests. It was gazetted in 1952 and derived its name from the mighty and iconic Murchison Falls.
Exploring Murchison Falls National Park
Wildlife species
The park boasts of its intense biodiversity. The wildlife populations have recovered in the park and the lush borasuss grassland is home to incredible wildlife. The park offers refuge to a variety of wildlife including 4 of the big 5 African game-the African elephants, rhinos, leopards, lions, and buffaloes. It is also a great spot to see giraffes, antelopes (hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, Oribis, etc. The Nile River itself hosts one of Africa’s Nile crocodiles and hippos that can be spotted while on a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls.
Bird species to see in Murchison Falls
Murchison Falls National Park is a true birder’s haven. The park boasts of over 451 bird species most of which can be identified while on bird-watching tours, game drives, or boat cruises. The birds to look out in Murchison Falls include the elusive shoebill stork, goliath heron, 59 restricted-range bird species in Budongo Forest, dwarf kingfisher, saddle-billed stork, sacred ibis, spur winger geese, black crake, grey crowned crane, blue napped moose bird, spotted morning thrush, swamp flycatchers, Senegal thick-knee, secretary bird, yellow fronted tinker bird, northern crombec, white thighed hornbill to mention but a few.
Activities to do in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park never leaves visitors bored. The park is a must-visit for visitors taking Uganda safaris who are interested in the African big five animals. Every visitor has something to enjoy in this pristine national park and among other amazing activities to explore include;
Game drives
A visit to Murchison Falls is never complete without embarking on game viewing safari. The most incredible wildlife species to catch a glimpse at while on a wildlife safari in Murchison Falls include Rothschild’s giraffes, warthogs, cape buffaloes, hippos, Jackson’s hartebeests, elephants, Uganda kobs, birds, and many others. Game drives in Murchison Falls are done with help of an experienced tour guide and the dry season is the best time for this amazing experience. Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park are perfectly done along the Buligi wildlife trail/track which is largely woodland, open savanna grassland, acacia and riverine vegetation.
Night game drives
Night game drives in Murchison Falls offer visitors a chance to spot out the nocturnal species such as the spotted hyenas, leopards, civets, bush babies, genets, owls, nightjars, and many others.
At Nyamasika Cliffs, visitors get the best view of breathtaking sceneries with a chance to spot out elephants and many other wildlife species.
Launch trips
Launch trip in Murchison Falls National Park starts from Paraa Landing area at the point where the River Nile enters Lake Albert and takes visitors to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. Along the way, you have a chance to look out for the basking Nile crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, elephants, water bucks as well as water birds including bee-eaters, shoebill, fish eagles, kingfishers, and cormorants to mention but a few. The boat cruise is usually conducted between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm although special schedules can be made. It takes visitors about 2-3 hours on a boat ride to the bottom of the falls and 4 to 5 hours from Paraa to River Delta which is 28 kilometers.
Sportfishing
Sportfishing is another most thrilling water sport, visitors to Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park shouldn’t miss out. It offers you a chance to challenge yourself with heavy Nile Perch or tiger fish.
Birding
Murchison Falls National Park inhabits over 451 bird species, which makes it an ideal birding spot. Most importantly, a visit to Budongo Forest gets you the chance to look out for some of the birds that make up over 360 avifaunal species. Between Paraa Rest Camp and Ferry crossing, the birds to identify include the vitelline masked weaver, bluff bellied warbler, blue-napped mousebird, chestnut crowned sparrow weaver, silver bird, spotted mourning thrush, green-winged ptyilia, black-headed batis, white-rumped seed eater to mention but a few. The nocturnal species to spot out include the nightjars, Verreaux’s owls, and long-tailed and pennant-winged nightjars that can be spotted between March and September. You may also come across the grey crowned crane, goliath heron, the African skimmer, and many others.
Hiking to the top of Murchison Falls
A hike to the top of Murchison Falls begins from the bottom and you go via a designated trail about an hour’s experience. At the top of the falls, you will witness the bubbling waterfalls as it squeezes themselves into a narrow gorge of about 7 meters before falling down to about 45 meters forming a permanent rainbow.
Visit Karuma Falls
Karuma Falls in the northeastern part of Murchison Falls National Park, Chobe area is remarkably one of the outstanding tourist attractions worth exploring. It is an amazing spot for visitors to conduct sport fishing in Murchison Falls National Park. Karuma Falls are found in an area where the main route of Masindi to Gulu crosses the mighty River Nile which is approximately 110 kilometers northeast of Masindi Town and 70 kilometers south of Gulu Town.
Chimpanzee tracking
Chimpanzee tracking in Murchison Falls National Park is done in Budongo Forest specifically in Kaniyo Pabidi forest where about 100 chimpanzees have been habituated and set for tracking. Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest costs $80 per person.
Other activities to take part in Murchison Falls National Park include guided nature walks in Kaniyo Pabidi or Rabongo Forest, and cultural encounters at Boomu Women’s Group or Minako.
Where to stay
The available safari accommodation choices in Murchison Falls National Park include Paraa Safari Lodge/Baker’s Lodge/Nile Safari Lodge/Chobe Safari Lodge (Luxury), Heritage Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge (Midrange); Global Village Guesthouse/Red Chili Rest Camp (Budget).
Best time to visit Murchison Falls
Murchison Falls is regarded as an all-year-round safari destination depending on what your travel interests are. However, the dry season is considered the best time for game viewing in Murchison Falls. Two dry seasons are experienced in Murchison Falls the first phase that starts in the months of June, July, August, and September and the second begins in December, January, and February. Two wet or rainy seasons are also experienced, and they are ideal for bird watching. The first phase of the rainy season begins in March, April, May and the second one commences in October, and November.
Getting to Murchison Falls
Murchison Falls is reachable by road or by air. By road, you will spend about 4-5 hours or more from Kampala depending on your car condition, that is why you need to hire that one good and comfortable 4 wheel drive safari vehicle to help navigate through the remote routes in northwestern Uganda to Murchison Falls National Park. Your journey can start from Entebbe or Kampala via Luweero to Masindi and then to Murchison Falls National Park.
The main gates of Murchison Falls include the Chobe gate in the northern section. It is reachable from Paraa and Karuma Falls-this is near Pakwach and it is approximately 2kms north of Karuma Bridge. The Wakar gate-which is 10kms away from the main road, Tangi gate which is 110kms off Kara Bridge, Mubako gate-reachable by crossing the Nile River from Karuma Falls Bridge through the Kampala-Pakwach route, Bugungu gate-135kms off Masindi Town and finally Kichumbanyobo gate-that takes you via Kaniyo Pabidi Forest from Masindi Town about 85kms.
By air, you can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield to any of the airfields/strips around Murchison Falls. The airstrips around Murchison Falls National Park include Pakuba airfield in Nwoya district in the northwest, Chobe airstrip, Bugungu airstrip.
