The reasons for visiting Murchison Falls National Park: probably the most famous wildlife reserve in Uganda is located in the northwestern part of the country. Murchison Falls National Park is named after the magical Murchison Falls where the world’s longest river, the Nile River, gets compressed through a narrow gorge. Murchison Falls National Park which is the largest park in Uganda covers an estimated area of about 3,893 square kilometers of land. It is divided into two areas by the Victoria Nile; while the northern side of the park can only be accessed by boat. Here on this website, you will find all the information you might be needing from the most suitable time to visit and things to do to the accommodation and other travel tips. Whether your trip of choice is the gorilla trekking or any other activity in Uganda such as white-water rafting or rock climbing, you should definitely not miss out on Murchison Falls National Park.
This park is just a part of the Murchison Falls Conservation Area along with Bugungu and Karuma wildlife reserves. In combination, these areas create a very essential home for so many species and produce some of the best wildlife watching in Uganda. It is recommended to travel to Murchison Falls National Park in the dry seasons of the year which are between the months of December to February and June to September. The climate is mostly sunny and because it is a desert, there are no numerous roads and paths to get lost in. Wildlife is even more evident than usual due to the fact that almost all species of animals gather around the few permanent sources of water. At the same time, the park offers beautiful untouched sceneries and one can take beautiful photos.
The reasons for visiting Murchison Falls National Park: For the bird watchers, the best time to come to Murchison Falls National Park is in the wet season. This is the time when a maximum number of migratory birds and other birds found in the park are seen. Birding is among the best activities one can do in Murchison Falls National Park. More than 450 species have been documented, thus there is always something to spot. Among the major tourist attractions and most famous sights of Uganda is Murchison Falls itself, which is the largest waterfall on the Nile. This is because when the boater raises the water level in the bowl at the top of the waterfall over the lip of the fall he or she will feel like the boat is in an elevator that is going down as the boat approaches the bottom of the fall the water exits from the narrow chute of the fall and flows into the Nile.
Safaris in Murchison Falls National Park are anything that one can imagine especially the game drives. It affords one the best chance of spotting the wide variety of wildlife in the park in their natural habitat. The northern part of the park which is made up of grasslands and acacia woodland is host to quite many animals. Despite the fact that I met some of them only on TV programs about wild animals, I would have easily pointed out many inhabitants of the park. Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most famous among Uganda’s national parks for safaris. The best time to travel through the park, especially the northern part would be in the early morning or in the evening. It is equally important to know the time of the day as the mentioned two windows are the times when most of the park’s mammals are most active.
One of the most famous tours is the Delta Cruise which sends its guests to the place, where the Nile River flows into Lake Albert. It is popular for birding and fishing Tourism is the main activity preferred by tourists on the cruise. But for those who will not be able to make it to the cruises, the next best option of viewing the splendor of birdlife of this part of the Ugandan wilderness is at the Budongo Forest as seen in the picture above. This particular habitat supports 8,000 chimpanzees and is considered to be one of the best places to spot some of the world’s most diverse birdlife. According to records, it has been identified that this place has over 360 species. Murchison is a birders’ paradise and there are many special birds of East Africa and over 450 species have been documented.
The best time to watch the park’s birds is in the morning and afternoon, especially in the evening. Before heading to Murchison Falls National Park, you will be required to pay to gain entry into the park with charges depending on your citizenship. Some services may be paid for, such as game drives, and boat safaris among others. An experienced guide is very helpful in this case as they can simplify the process for you. He or she can take you on a sort of tour around the history, animals, and people of the park. One can either get a guide from the lodge where one is staying or get one from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or any local tour operator.
For your trip to Murchison Falls National Park, be sure not to leave behind the essentials: Sun cream, insect repellent, a hat and a pair of comfortable walking shoes, and appropriate light clothing for the hot climate. Those interested in wildlife photography should ensure that they use a camera with a good telephoto lens: They are useful for spotting animals that are out of reach, and also something that cannot be forgotten, you need a waterproof jacket even in the dry season. The park has an average rainfall of six inches from late March to early May and again from October to November.
The reasons for visiting Murchison Falls National Park: Murchison Falls National Park is a unique wildlife, geographical, and cultural treasure trove rolled into one. You can watch the waterfall over the edge of the cliff, can drive around the park in an open vehicle in search of the Big Five or you can boat peacefully on the Nile listening to the sounds of the park’s many birds and other animals that are not visible to the eye in Murchison Falls National Park. Off the accommodations and activities that are available in this park, it can be said that this park is ideal for naturalists as well as adventurers.
