The popularity of this national park reigns from long ago in 1960s as it has always been among the most popular and most visited parks in Africa. It became the home of amazing sights of the big five animals until the break out of civil wars in 1970s and 80s which tremendously led to a decline in the number of precious wild animals like elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, giraffes and rhinos.
Animal population kept on reducing due to human ungrateful acts of encroaching on the national park land and poaching. However, the global conservation support of the park begun in 2008 to ensure that the lives of animals getting into extinction are protected and the whole national park is conserved.
Unique features of Murchison Falls National Park.
- It is the largest and oldest national park in the country. Formerly Kabalega falls national park, it was established in 1952 and occupies 3,840 km2 of both woodland and grasslands, east of Lake Albert.
- The most powerful and stunning waterfalls on planet earth is found in this national park. This magnificent tremble given off by the plunge as it forces through a small gorge is therapy to visitors.
- Murchison Falls National Park is home to the rare Rothschild’s giraffes. These endangered giraffe species can be caught sight of in Uganda and some small parts of Kenya. These specific Rothschild species have amazing unique body features that shouldn’t be missed by anyone.
- The Park boasts a collection of four of the big five animals. While on a game drive in the park, visitors get an opportunity to gaze at the massive herds of buffaloes, elephants and in the night, they will get hold of nocturnal species like lions and leopards.
- Murchison Falls National Park blesses visitors with sights of Uganda’s largest remaining mahogany forest, Budongo forest. It takes pride in holding the highest number of huge mahogany trees in Uganda.
Activities in Murchison Falls National Par.
- Game drives
Visitors get to quench their wanderlust while driving though the pristine environment of this park as they spot a variety of wildlife. The morning game drive allows visitors to enjoy a great deal of grazers having their meal under the bright sun-rise like herds of antelopes, a parade of elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffaloes among others.
Other animals can be better spotted during night game drives and these may include hyenas, lions, night jars, civets, leopards as they head for hunting while other animals are resting.
- Sport fishing
Murchison Falls National Park was designed with some designated fishing spots that tourists can capture from the variety of fish species found in the waters of River Nile. The flowing waters of R. Nile passing through the park contain different species of fish like Nile perch, catfish, tiger fish, tilapia and Ngara. Therefore, visitors don’t have to miss the feast if they get hold of one but rather subject it to a good roast and digest it.
- Hot air balloon safaris
The air in the park is generally fresh but what is offered at a great height is exceptionally different. Visitors get to compete with a variety of birds as they fly high in the sky in a hot air balloon. They get to spot different animals heading out to look for what to feed on in the morning and catch the glimpse of the beautiful sunrise while in a floating basket in the air.
- Boat cruise
Walking on water feels better while slouching at the back of a boat cruise deck while spotting at the environment. This mind relaxation activity gives tourists to feel the love offered by River Nile as the boat sets off from Paraa and traverses a variety of prompting wildlife scenarios, incredible vegetation, up close views of water animals like hippos, crocodiles, lizards, and different bird species.
- Birding
Murchison Falls National Park is blessed with large chunks of forests both inside and out in the vicinity. They are all good habitats of birds. Budongo forest, Rabongo, Kaniyo Pabidi and water areas are good to spot variety of bird species like marabou stork, woodpeckers, cuckoos, Abyssinian ground hornbill, secretary birds, swallow-tailed, open-billed storks, warbles among others.
Attractions in Murchison Falls National Park
- Birds
The Park is a collection of forests and water areas like R. Nile which are good habitats of these small creatures, with about 450 birds distributed in areas like Budongo forest, tourists cannot miss true African bird species including weaver birds, Abyssinian ground hornbill, malachite kingfishers, elegant grey crowned cranes among others.
- Budongo forest
The beauty of nature is more appreciated with the presence of thick lush green trees in the surrounding. This forest is surrounded by farmlands and villages & has an exceptional road stretch – the Royale Mile that showcases a variety of tree species, ideal for watching birds, beautiful butterflies and other natural dazzling creations.
- Karuma falls
River Nile spreads its love for Africa from Jinja through a variety of cities and countries and Chobe area is blessed to be among those areas. The rock formation is not a usual release but these falls bring out an outstanding beauty of water falling through a series of rocks as it forces its way to the plunge. These falls are a great fishing spot and tourists will definitely spot wildlife animals like antelopes, lions, baboons, birds and others effortlessly.
- Buligi game track
Tourists escape to excursion while on a game drive in this area. The surrounding is graced by riverine vegetation, woodland, savannah grasslands that are a good match for wildlife. In the park, game driving is undertaken both in the morning and evening to give tourists a full experience of both day and night lovers.
- The Murchison falls
The main attraction in the park is the Murchison falls because of its unique feature of threatening the ground due to its powerful force that the water falls with at such a great height. It’s a refreshing sound that tourists enjoy hearing while they are relaxing from their places of accommodation hence most make reservations with hotels close to the falls.
- Kaniyo Pabidi forest
The beauty of the night impression that tourists receive while in this forest due to the thick trees is backed by the sunrays that force their light through the tree spaces is not spotted anywhere else in the park than in this forest.
While in this forest, visitors not only get to trek chimpanzees but also get lost from sights given off by other primates like blue monkeys, olive monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys among others.
How to get to the park?
Visitors who enjoy swiftness can access the park by air through the scheduled daily flights or chartered aircraft from Kajjansi airfield. In just 1 hours’ time, travelers who choose air will have landed in either Chobe or Bugungu but the most convenient airfield is Pakuba.
Those who choose to hit the road use around 6-7 hours of enduring the same sitting posture but going through a variety of beautiful cities that reveal unthinkable beauty to visitors. The southern gates of Masindi South Gate and Kichumbanyobo offer most direct route to the park.
When to visit the park?
The falls definitely send off a different kind of coldness during the wet season since its surroundings are always cooler than other areas, therefore people should endeavor to storm the park during the dry season of June to September and December through February. Little rains in the dry season dictate clear skies, passable routes and animals are easily spotted while on a game drive.