All About Murchison Falls Park

Murchison Falls National Park is located in the north western region of Uganda about 6 hours drive from Kampala and only 2 hours from Gulu . It was created in 1952 covering 3,893 per square kilometers (1,503 sq mi). Beside the park Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and Karuma Wildlife Reserve are found, and the park itself makes up the Murchison Falls Conservation Area. The movie “The African Queen” was shot on Lake Albert and the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park with movie star Humphrey Bogart in 1951.

Tristar Africa Skimmer Safaris is proud member of AUTO nad have been organizing guided trips to all national parks in Uganda including Murchison falls park, if you would love to tour murchison falls park this season alone, as a couple,family or small group, we will be more than happy to craft for you an a 3 days tour itinerary basing on your travel budget and personal interests as well.

Wildlife and Birding

Big Game- The park harbors 76 species of mammals except one of the four of the “Big Five.” Enormous herds of buffaloes and elephants, leopards and lively active lions. And giraffes exist here besides Kidepo Valley National Park and Jackson’s hartebeest, bush backs, Uganda kob, water backs, and warthogs etc.

Primates- Olive baboons, Blue and red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus can be found along the roadsides and in the forested areas respectively. Savanna inhabiting monkeys only exist here and kidepo Valley National Park with at least 800 chimpanzees believed to be in Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo forests.

Birds- The park accommodates different birds consisting of 451 species recorded including shoebill stork, the goliath and pairs of beautiful grey crowned cranes- seen on the National flag of Uganda. The blue-headed coucal, swamp flycatcher, squaco heron, African jacana, sand pipers, denhams bustard, Abyssiniuan ground hornbill, black-billed barbet etc are found along the river.

Activities in the park

Launch trips

Launch trips give a thrilling parade of wildlife and reaches the climax with the memorable frontal view of the falls. It sets off at 9am and 2pm daily for 3 hours daily. Morning cruise downstream to the Nile-lake Albert delta give the excellent opportunity of watching the magnificent shoebill with the 4-5 hour return journey giving opportunities to spot hippos, elephants and several birds.

Game drives in Murchison falls park   

A game drive within the Buligi game tracks with a professional ranger guide is a fascinating way to see and capture the different wildlife in the Nile valley. This activity takes place on the northern bank with    your guide having a brilliant idea where lions will be hiding and the Leopards maybe sighted at night.

Hiking and Nature walks in the park

The beauty of the landscape and surrounding of MFNP encompassing the conservation area can be explored while walking through Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo forests sighting several primates and birds while the 2-4 hour guided swamp walks provide possible shoebill watching.

Birding

At the time of launch trips and game drives, different birdlife together with savanna forest birds, water birds and Albertine rift edemics can be encountered with Shoebill as the park’s major birding attraction and dry season from January-March is excellent for their watching.

Cultural Encounters

Energetic dancers from Mubako people entertain guests within the lodge camp fires giving and extra ordinary African experience in the evening.Boomu women’s group provide accommodation, craft shop and village walks. All these expose the facts of life in this rural area.

Sport fishing

The river Nile banks below Murchison falls provide a thrilling spot for sport fishing especially the Nile perch. On record, one weighing 108kgs was caught here.

 Hot air balloons

 Flying in the hot air balloon is only available in MFNP. Sunrise/post sunrise hot air balloon is the best organized for groups or students.reas of attraction within the park.

Murchison Falls - The narrow passage in between rocks force the water to rapidly squeeze through, spreading misty droplets along their rise over 50 meters radius creating a permanent rainbow over the warzone with endless roar. The Nile divides into smaller Uhuru falls created in 1962 after it broke its banks. This can be seen from Baker point on the Southern section.

River Nile- This is suitable for boat rides to the bottom of the Murchison Falls and back giving a fun filled experience for the nature addicts.

Nile-lake Albert delta- It is the broad and peaceful stretch of water where the calm Victoria Nile flows into lake Albert and it is a major bird watching spot. Examples of birds found include; Goliath heron, Great Egrets, and African fish eagles. The most sighted bird species is the rare shoebill.

Buligi Game tracks- It lies between the Victoria and Albert Niles making MFNP the most visited park in Uganda with estimated 120-170km in length. You trek through savanna grassland, woodland, acacia and riverine vegetation.

Paraa- In the Luo dialect, it means home of the hippos and the park’s hub where all roads to the park meet up while the northern and southern banks are connected by a passenger ferry.

Karuma falls- In the Northeastern part of the park, roar as a result of several natural rock formations causing water to ripple giving a white foamy substance. This area in Chobe is suitable for sport fishing.

Kaniyo Padibi forest

South of MFCA, the forest ecosystem has black and white colobus and blue monkeys, olive baboons and a protected chimpanzee group easily tracked. Other wildlife like elephants, buffalos, lions and leopards often come around. It also has a campsite, cottage accommodation, forest walks and perfect for bird watching.

Rabongo forest- It is regarded as bird’s paradise suitable for educational tours giving chances for one to know animals, birds, herbal plants and trees. It is also ideal for camping and picnics beside the Wairingo river since the forest is amidst savanna with coverage of 4km per square.

Areas of attraction outside the park

Budongo forest

 It being southwest of MFCA and in actual contact with the Kaniyo Pabidi forest, its biodiversity suits 24 mammal species, at least 360 birds, 289 butterflies and 465 plants spreading within the ‘’Royal Mile.’’ And celebrated for harboring estimated 800 chimpazees and other primates.

Forest walks are recommended at Busingiro Ecotourism site along Masindi-Bugungu road in the Murchison Falls National Park.

Planning to visit Murchison falls park this season for safari or research,the above travel information will give you an insight into what you will be expecting when in the park. If you have been to Uganda but have never made a tour to Murchison falls park, then it's high timew you add this beauitifulpark to your travel bucket list.

By Justine Ekaru - Tristar Africa Skimmer Safaris