Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park is the oldest and the largest national park in Uganda, as well the park is ranked as the largest savannah national park. Murchison Falls National Park is located in the northwestern part of Uganda at the end of the Albertine rift valley in districts of Bulisa, Kiryandongo, Masindi and Nwoya. The park was gazetted as a national park in 1952. Murchison Falls National Park is divided by the Victoria Nile into two parts that is the northern sector and the southern sector, the park covers an area of 3,840 square kilometers.
Attractions in Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison falls.
Murchison falls are the top attraction in Murchison Falls National Park, this is a stunning waterfall it’s also called Kabalega waterfall that lies between Lake Albert on Victoria Nile and Lake Kyoga. The Murchison falls are the main highlight of Murchison Falls National Park that created a permanent rainbow around it as it flows the Westside into Lake Albert.
Primates.
Murchison Falls National Park is a home of various numbers of primates especially the chimpanzees that are over 800 species. The park has got other primate species that includes the red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and among many others that can be sighted on a Uganda safari.
Animal species.
Murchison falls National Park is known as a haven of different animal species. The park is a home of over 76 mammal species including the big four mammals out of the big five mammals that includes the buffalos, leopards, lions, elephants where the park lacks the rhinos. Other animal species that are found in the park includes the giraffes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, oribis, Jackson hartebeest, waterbucks, hippos, crocodiles and among others.
Bird species.
Murchison Falls National Park is a birding safari haven with the diverse number of bird species that are over 451 bird species with savannah, water, and Albertine rift endemics. Some of the bird species that are found in the park includes the white browned sparrow weaver, Abyssinian ground hornbill, squacco heron, African jacana, elusive shoebill stork, veracious dove, long toed plover, yellow billed stork, long tales nightjar, yellow fronted tinker bird, silver bird, Giant Heron, Marabou stork, osprey, Denham’s bustard, giant heron, secretary bird, African jacana, red winged grey warbler, rock pratincole, standard-winged nightjar, Senegal thick-knee and many others.
Budongo forest.
Budongo forest is the tropical rainforest that is located at the top of the Albertine rift and it well known as a home of the various numbers of the primates including the chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, white and black colobus monkeys and many others plus the different species of bird.
Activities to do in Murchison Falls National Park.
Game drive.
Game drive is the top safari activity that takes place in Murchison Falls National Park where the tourists explore the park in the open safari 4WD vehicle with the presence of the well experienced safari guide that gives you the information about the wildlife in the park. Game drives in Murchison falls national park are done in different phases that is morning game drives, afternoon game drives and the night game drives. During the game drives you follow the different game tracks like Queens track, Buligi and Albert and others where you get to have the excellent viewing spots of the famous animal species in the park including the giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, giraffes, Uganda Kobs, buffalos and many others that makes your safari the most incredible one. During the game drive you get the chance to spot the various number of predators in the open savannah grasslands like the hyenas, lions, leopards and others, more so you can get the chance of spotting the park’s bird species like the Abyssinian ground hornbill, Senegal thick-knee and among others.
Boat cruise.
Murchison falls National Park is the right destination where the travelers can experience the awesome boat cruise. The park has two boat cruises that is boat cruise upstream to the bottom of the falls and then boat cruise downstream to the Victoria Nile delta stretching to the shores of Lake Albert. And the boat cruise in the park takes place twice a day that is the morning and evening. During the boat cruise safari activity the tourists get the chances of spotting the water bird species like the malachite kingfishers, shoebill stork, hornbills and others. During the boat cruise the tourists can get the chance of spotting Nile crocodiles on the waterbody shores, as well as viewing the animal species as they are drinking water on the shores like the elephants, waterbucks, buffalos and others.
Sport fishing.
Sport fishing is a unique safari activity that takes place in Murchison Falls National Park that takes place at the banks of the Nile below Murchison falls along the rocky surfaces which makes the tourists to become excited. During the spot fishing that’s when you will get the chance to use different sport fishing methods like spinning method, hooks, casting lures where you will get the chance yourself to catch on different fish species like cat fish, tilapia, tiger fish, Nile perch and others.
Guided nature walks/ hiking.
Guided nature walk is an exciting safari activity in Murchison Falls National Park where the tourists get the chance to explore the park premises where the safari vehicle do not reach, the activity can be done with the presence of the park guide and the park armed ranger to protect you from the harm of the dangerous animal species on foot. The activity takes place in Rabongo forest, Kaniyo Pabidi in Budongo forest, top of the falls while encountering various animals, primates and enjoying the sounds of bird species while experiencing Africa’s cool breeze in the forests as well as taking the cool photos.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest.
Chimpanzee trekking is the charming safari activity in Murchison Falls National Park where the tourists encounter the tropical rainforest while searching for the chimpanzees in their habitants. Chimpanzee trekking starts with a briefing at the park headquarters about the rules, expectations, regulations to follow during chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated with the park guide that takes you in the trekking trails in the park and start searching for the chimpanzees.
The activity takes a period of about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on the location of the chimps, along the way trekking you can be rewarded with spotting various primates like red tailed monkeys, bird species plant and tree species and among others. Immediately when the chimpanzees are found you can be given one hour to be with them in their habitants while watching them play, their behaviors, breastfeeding, taking them photos and recording them videos.