Explore Murchison Falls National Park which is a Uganda’s oldest national park and it is still the largest national park with 3,893 km², the park sits on the shores of Lake Albert in the north western Uganda. The park is well known for its Murchison Falls formed that flows from Jinja and the connects up to this park until it flows into the Lake Albert at the Delta point that is s much known as great spot of the rare shoe bill stork.
Most of the tourist taking Uganda tours starts from this park and after either visit the north eastern where you find Kidepo Valley National Park, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Mount Elgon National Park etc.
The Victoria Nile River that surges through a narrow gap hence flowing on a cliff of about 50ft therefore the park got its name from this park. The park is mostly wanted by tourists due to its herds of animals plus a flat terrain that enable game drives around the park, adventuring Murchison falls national park will grant you with the following stunning see-able features plus animals,
Murchison Falls National Park
this is one of the best tourist attractions and this is a major component of Murchison Falls National Park. The park has been visited by Earnest Hemingway plus Winston Churchill. The falls was named after a president of the Royal Geographical Society and is the main attraction feature within the park together with River Nile that crosses the park hence forming two parts of the park and the level at which this Nile flows through the park brought up the formation of Murchison Falls.
Launch Cruise
Launch Cruise is another great opportunity that make the park unique is the river Nile that facilitates launch cruise which takes you to the stream to observe the waterfall, this is another chance to have a look at the herds of wild animals that flock around the river for water and some which are permanent residents at the river banks. This activity is done in sessions and the first trip starts at 09:00am and the second one is done at 02:00pm every day. The full trip takes around 3-4hours of sailing around the waters. This enables you to go down stream in the papyrus up to where the Nile joins Lake Albert forming a Delta hence allowing you to see the shoe bill stork in the wetland.
Game Drives
this is part of the activities done here, the park is endowed with different animal species that have always provided a nice stunning opportunity to the visitors to view most of the big five animals in their natural setting, this can be both day and night game drives. The park has got nice path routes well maintained to enable 4X4 vehicles to access the several animal spotting points within the park. Animals such as antelopes, giraffes, leopards, lions, duikers, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs and some primates including chimpanzees at Budongo forest, black and white Colobus monkeys and baboons are seen on a large scale hence rendering the park worth to visit.
Birding
Bird Watching is another activity done here in the park, Murchison falls national park has got over 451 bird species and these ranges from Albertine bird, savannah birds and the water birds hence making the park more interesting with shoe bill stork being the most major attraction among the birds. The best time for bird watching is during January-March during dry season but birding is done all year around except during April and May which is a heavy rainfall period and watching becomes somehow difficult due to slippery foot paths.
Most of the bird species spotted here includes the, Shoe bill, African Darter, Giant Kingfisher, Osprey, Long-toed Plover, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Veracious Dove, Black-headed Lapwing, Abyssinian Ground Horn bill, Rock Pratincole, Yellow-fronted Tinker bird, Black-billed Barbet, Long-tailed Night jar, Weaver Birds, Yellow-billed Stork, Martial Eagle, Silver bird, Gray crowned crested crane, Sandpipers, Pied Kingfishers, Standard-winged Night jar, Malachite Kingfishers, Blue-headed Coucal and Denham’s Bustard.
Accommodation
The park has got various accommodation facilities including lodges, camping sites, hotels and Guest houses, these facilities have got eco-friendly facilities. Budget accommodation includes the Kaniyo Pabidi Camp and Red Chili Camp. Upper market accommodation around the park includes the Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge and Sambiya River Lodge among others.
