WELCOME TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Murchison falls national park-boat launch . Murchison falls national park is Uganda’s larges national park covering over 3840 square km, and the contiguous Karuma and bugungu wildlife reserve,
The river Nile (the world’s largest and strongest river) traverses the national park and it divides the park in the northern part from the bush and forests inhibited by a number of birds, and other primates found on the southern part of the park.
One of the uniqueness of this park is the strong river that forces itself in a narrow rock (George) at the Murchison falls, the spectacle that has got a captivated visitors ever since Sir Samuel baker added this park on the map early in 1864.
The essential activities within this park are the boat cruise along the falls that rewards you with the view of a number of wildlife like the hippos, elephants, birds, crocodiles among others.
MAIN AREAS OF INTEREST IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
MURCHISON FALLS
Murchison Falls is characterized by eternal war between rock and water. The waters compress through a narrow gap, spraying misty droplets along their wake over a 50m radius. This creates a permanent rainbow over the falls and causes a continuous roar. From Baker Point on the southern side, you can also view the Nile splitting into the smaller Uhuru Falls, created in 1962 when the river burst its banks.
RIVER NILE
A boat ride along the Nile to the down foots of Murchison Falls is a remarkable experience for nature lovers, as the northern bank teems up with a variety of mammals, birds and reptiles. Guided nature walks along both the north and south banks give you another rewarding activity to enjoy, and sport fishing is also possible here. Rafting will be available starting in 2012.
NILE-LAKE ALBERT DELTA
This wide, calm stretch of water, where the tranquil Victoria Nile flows into Lake Albert, and is a key area for a number of bird species giving you a conducive environment for bird watching . Its papyrus-lined banks are bursting with a number of birdlife, including Goliath Herons, Great Egrets, and African Fish Eagles. The most sought-after species here is the rare Shoebill and many others…
BULIGI GAME TRACKS
The Buligi game tracks, stretching between the Victoria and Albert Niles, are the Murchison Falls National Park’s most popular safari destination. At around 120-170km in length, they pass through open savannah grassland, woodland, acacia and riverine vegetation. Most of the park’s game can be viewed here, especially during early morning and early evening tours.
PARAA
Paraa, meaning home of the of a number of hippo in the local Luo language, is the park’s tourism hub. All the park’s access roads converge here as the northern and southern banks are linked by a passenger ferry, and several accommodations are located nearby. Additionally, a museum and gift shop can be found on the north bank, and most game drives, launch trips and nature walks commence here.
KARUMA FALLS
The Karuma Falls are located in Chobe, in the northeastern sector of the park. These are stunning waterfalls on the Victoria Nile and are made up of a series of natural rock formations which cause the waters to ripple and give them a white, foamy appearance. It is an ideal area for sport fishing. These falls give you a chance to encounter the great view of the real stunning nature standing on the showers or on the sides. Enjoy the best view of the falls.
KANIYO PABIDI FOREST
In the south of Murchison Falls Conservation Area, this forest ecosystem contains black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys, olive baboons, and a habituated chimp group which can be tracked. Elephants, buffalos, lions and leopards are also frequent visitors. Many forest birds can be viewed here, including the chocolate-backed kingfisher, white-thighed hornbill and Puvel’s illadopsis which is found nowhere else in East Africa. Kaniyo Pabidi has a campsite, cottage accommodation, forest walks and excellent bird watching.
RABONGO FOREST
Surrounded by savanna and covering just 4km2, Rabongo Forest is considered a birders’ paradise because of the endangered species found here. Rabongo is ideal for educational tours as it provides opportunities to identify animals, birds, medicinal plants and trees. For relaxation, visitors can camp and enjoy picnics by the Wairingo River.
murchison falls national park-boat launch and game drives.
ACTIVITIES DONE IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
A GAME DRIVE:
When you plan your game drive early in the morning, you will be rewarded with amazing wildlife like elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs, giraffes, and many others, you find them always waiting to welcome you, as they are busy grazing in the park, not only the wild animals, you will also enjoy the stunning, rewarding, and great view of these green savanna grasslands within Murchison falls national park.
CHIMPANZEE TRACKING IN BUDONGO FOREST:
When you visit Murchison falls national park, you not only target wildlife, birds, but also you visit the primates and see these chimpanzee in their habitats within budongo forest,
Budongo forest is found in southern part of Murchison falls national park and you can access this place easily hen you enter from Kicumbanyobo gate, and this can be when you drive from Kampala via masindi district. The Budongo forest will reward you with amazing face to face view chimpanzee, and also bird watching.
BOAT CRUISE ALONG RIVER NILE
A cruise at the river Nile which takes you around 3 hours and it rewards you with amazing, and great view of aquatic residents like Nile crocodiles, hippos as they will always welcome you to these beautiful waters, making their loud sound, you may as well encounter wild animals like the buffaloes, elephants, as they drink water, you will also be able to see water birds calling and they include kingfisher, weavers, pelicans, cormorant, black crake among others,
The shoe-bill stork also inhibits the swampy islands that are found along the river Nile.
Also you can combine a wildlife safari to Murchison falls with a rhino tracking at Ziwa rhino sanctuary to experience the rhinos, and if you have a chance you could end up encountering the big five safari.
HOW TO GET THERE;
There are many routes that can take you to Murchison falls national park,
From kampala it takes approximately 6 hours via luwero, nakasongola and masindi. And this route will enable you enter the park via Kicumbanyobo gate found in southern part of Murchison falls national park, where when you enter through this gate, a lot of baboons will usher and welcome you as they try to grab you, you find the sitting on the roadside as if they have got an appointment with you. There are many other routes but this one being the shortest and best as you may allow you to visit and encounter the Rhinos at Ziwa rhino sanctuary. murchison falls national park-boat launch
When you plan and book this tour to Murchison falls national park, you will definitely have a chance to visit the chimpanzee.
