MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
It’s the Largest National Park in Uganda located in northwestern Uganda, established in 1952 but it was first gazette as a game reserve in 1926. It occupies an area of 1,483 square miles (3,840 square km) of rolling grassland east of Lake Albert. The park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Murchison Falls National Park is situated in the Nwoya, Buliisa, Kiryandongo, and Masindi districts. At Murchison Falls, the Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with a thunderous roar into the “Devil’s Cauldron”, creating a trademark rainbow.
Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by Victoria Nile, which plunges 42m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the entrance piece of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids.
This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes, and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles, and aquatic birds are permanent residents.
Murchison Falls National Park is gifted with 144 mammals, 556 bird species, 51 reptiles and 51 amphibians among other creatures.
Activities done in Murchison Falls National Park
Boat cruise
It’s done on Victoria Nile to the bottom of Murchison Falls. The cruise rewards the views of the Hippos, crocodiles, and other animals seen on the bank of the river drinking water. At the bottom of the falls, there is a dramatic experience of water forcing itself through a narrow gorge producing most wind which forms a rainbow-like feature.
Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park
Famous game drive trails are situated in the park’s northern region. You can have a guided game drive with the rangers to see a variety of attractions like water bodies, animals, birds, Vegetation, and relief features among others. There are three shifts of game drive including morning, afternoon, and night game drive. Early morning game drive targets the early raisers which night game drives nocturnal animals and birds.
Birding in Murchison Falls National Park
The park is one of the Important Birding sites. Bird Species commonly seen between Paraa Rest Camp and the bridge region; Spotted Mourning Thrush, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Silver Bird, Bluff-bellied Warbler, Blue-napped Mousebird, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver Black-headed Gonolek, Green-winged Ptyilia, and Black-headed Batis, this is the best site for the localized White-rumped Seed-eater.
Night-flying birds include Verreaux’s owls, and Nightjars such as long-tailed and Pennat-winged nightjars which usually is watched between the months of March – September. Also available is the amazing standard-winged nightjar watched from November to February. Other bird species include the African Skimmer, White African fish eagle, long-toed plover, Gray Crowned crane, and Goliath Heron.
Nature walks in Murchison Falls National Park
Nature walks happen at the top of the falls, Kaniyo Pabidi, and Rabongo Forest. Rabongo Forest Ecotourism Centre is located on an island of tropical river forest in the south-east of the conservation area. Savannah grasslands surround the forest. On a guided tour, visitors can explore primates like Red-tailed monkeys, Black & white-colored monkeys, Chimpanzees, birds, trees, and medicinal plants among others.
Chimpanzee trekking in Murchison Falls National Park – Chimpanzee trekking is one of the major tourist activities in MFNP. It’s done in Budongo and Rabongo Forests where you find troops of habituated chimpanzees. Alongside chimpanzees, you may come across other primates like olive baboons, white and black colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and blue monkeys. Budongo has two ecotourism sites, Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro.
