Activities in Murchison falls national park

Activities in Murchison falls national park- Murchison falls national park is found in the northwestern part of Uganda in Masindi, Nwoya, Kiryandondo, and Bulisa. The national park is one of the oldest and the largest in the country covering a total area of 3983 sq. km. Murchison falls national park was gazetted in 1952 by the government of Uganda to protect different species of wildlife.

The national park is a habitat of 76 mammal species, the highest population of Rothschild giraffes, 13 primate species, and 451 bird species. The national park is a place to find the strongest falls in the world named Murchison falls by sir Samuel baker. Murchison falls national park is one of the lucky destinations where River Nile passes through from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean sea.

Murchison falls national park was changed from Kabalega national park after the visit of Samuel baker who named the falls and the national park after Sir Roderick Murchison who was the president of the British Royal Geographical society by that time. Idi Amin dada changed the national park’s name again to Kabalega falls but after his regime the name Murchison falls national park was brought back.

Murchison falls national park is one of the places most visited by travelers from different parts of the world with the hope of encountering different wild animals, birds, Murchison falls, River Nile and chimpanzees that live in Budongo forest right next to the park. The national park can be accessed within a single and can be visited at any time of the year.

Things to do in Murchison falls national park

Wildlife game viewing in Murchison Falls National Park

Game viewing

Murchison falls national park is home to over 76 mammals, 13 primate species, and about 451 bird species and most of these are seen during the game drives. Game drives in Murchison falls national park are mainly conducted in the northern side of the park where a huge population of wild animals do live and this can be in the morning, evening, or night hours.

During the game drives in Murchison falls national park you will be able to see a number of different animals such as giraffes, leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, lions, hippos, waterbucks, bushbucks, Jacksons hartebeest, dik dik, oribis, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, grey checked mangabeys, and blue monkeys among others.

Bird watching

Bird watching is among the most done activities in Murchison falls national park since it’s listed as a top birding destination in the country. Murchison falls national park is home to over 451 species of birds which game be seen during nature walks, boat cruises on River Nile, and game drives. The birding activities are in most cases guided if one is going for nature walks and this is because the ranger must protect you from dangerous wild animals and show you the best birding spots.

Birds of Murchison falls national park include African darter, shoe bill, grey-headed kingfisher, rock pratincole, long-tailed nightjar, Abyssinian ground hornbill, long-toed plover, yellow fronted tinkerbird, sandpipers, grey crowned crane, blue-headed coucal, Denham’s bustard, marital eagle, saddle-billed stork,

red-throated bee eater, malachite kingfishers, secretary bird, silverback, grey crowned crane, Abyssinian ground horn bill, open billed stork, grey heron, verreaux eagle owl, papyrus gonolek, lesser flamingo, black-billed bustards, yellow fronted tinker bird, and African darter among others.

Boat cruises

Boat cruises in Murchison falls national park are done on River Nile which passes through the park. The bottom cruises can be done to the bottom of the falls or to the Nile delta. During the boat cruise, one is able to enjoy the fresh breeze from the waters and see water animals such as hippos and crocodiles, fish and birds such as papyrus gonoleck, open billed stork, shoebill stork, African jacana, blue-headed coucal, goliath heron, and swamp flycatcher among others. Tourists are able to see park animals at the river banks trying to drink water or graze for example elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, waterbucks, warthogs, Uganda kobs, and hartebeest among others.

Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking is one of the top activities done in Murchison falls national park is carried out in Budongo forest which is next to the park. The forest is home to different primate species but it’s the chimpanzees that have been habituated to tourism activities. Travelers that have chimpanzee permits are able to visit this area and encounter chimpanzees for 1 hour.

Trekking chimpanzees in Budongo forest national park starts with a briefing where trekkers are taught about the rules and regulations of the trekking activity. Armed ranger guides are available to lead them into the jungle where they take 30 minutes to 4 hours looking for the chimpanzees. The time taken to locate the chimpanzees in Budongo forest depends on the speed of trekkers and the location of the chimpanzees.

When the trekkers meet the chimpanzees, they are able to be around them for 1 hour and during the time given they are able to learn about their habits, take photos, record videos and watch the members do daily activities such as mating, nesting, hunting, eating, breastfeeding and playing among others.

While doing chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest, trekkers are able to meet different animals such as blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, buffaloes, elephants, and birds such as African pied wagtail, black kite, crested guineafowl, olive-breasted greenbul, fork-tailed drongo, crowned eagle and brown twinspot to mention but a few.

Nature walks in Murchison falls national parks

Nature walks

Nature walks in Murchison falls national parks are put in place to enable tourists to explore the national park on foot. The nature walks in Murchison falls national park are done by armed ranger guides who protect you from dangerous wild animals as well as show you the best routes to use. Nature walks in Murchison falls national park are mostly done in Kaniyo Pabidi forest where tourists get close encounter with wild animals like chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, mammals, and birds.

The best time to Murchison falls national park

Murchison falls national park can be visited at any time of the year however there are months that are better than the rest. The dry season from June to September and December to February is the best to visit Murchison falls national park because they are characterized by little or no rainfall which makes the game trucks dry, the roads leading to the park are passable, and the vegetation in the park is short and scattered with good views of the wild animals.

Tourists can still visit Murchison falls national park in the rainy season of March to May and October to November because the park is always open. During the rainy season, the lodges in the park are at a discount which favors the park travelers. Travelers should however know that the rainy season comes with a lot of rainfall that makes the game trucks muddy and slippery, vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of the park.

Getting to Murchison falls national park

Murchison falls national park can be accessed using road transport or air transport. By air transport, the national park can be accessed using air transport from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe international airport to Chobe airstrip or Pakuba airstrip in less than 2 hours. Flights to Murchison falls national park are conducted by Bar aviation Uganda or Aerolink Uganda two times a day. Travelers that are using road transport to Murchison falls national park can access the park in 4-6 hours using Kampala-Masindi road or Kampala-Pakwach road.