Murchison Falls National Park-Wildlife Safari Destination
Murchison Falls National Park lies in north western Uganda, spreading inland from the shore of Lake Albert around the Victoria Nile. Together with the adjacent 748 square kilometers Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and the 720 square kilometer Karuma Wildlife Reserve, the park forms the Murchison Falls Conservation Area.
Murchison Falls National Park is located in Masindi District in western Uganda and in Nwoya District in northern Uganda. The park is situated approximately 300 kilometers by road, northwest of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. The coordinates of the park are: 02 15N, 31 48E (Latitude: 2.2500; Longitude: 31.8000).
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park measuring 3,840 square kilometers. Together with the adjacent Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and the Karuma Wildlife Reserve, the park is part of the 5,308 square kilometers Murchison Falls Conservation Area.
The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile from east to west for a distance of about 115 kilometers. The park is the location of the famous Murchison Falls, where the waters of the majestic Nile River squeeze through a narrow gorge, only 7 meters wide, before plunging 43 meters below.
The Shortest Safari to Murchison Falls national park Can be 2 Days, 3 Days wildlife Safaris with Active African Vacations to see four of the “big five”. Buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards are best to be seen in the northern part.
White rhinos are now being bred again in the 7000ha Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which is located 70 km south of the park; their mission is to reintroduce small herds of rhinos, whilst retaining a nucleus breeding herd in the sanctuary.
Safari Activities in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls national park is a park with a number of activities that the tourists can engage in while on a safari and they include following.
Game Drives
These are the most prominent safari activity carried out and it involves transferring from one place to another along the various tracks in the park watching wildlife like lions, giraffes, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, warthogs, bush buck, Oribis, Jackson’s Hartebeests, Small antelope, topis, water-bucks.
Bird Watching
The park is also prominently recognized as a birder’s paradise for there are about 451 different species that can be sighted around the park with the most sought after rare Shoe bill Stork. Other birds spotted in the park include the African Darter, Goliath Heron, Yellow-billed Stork, White-faced Whistling Duck, Secretary Bird, Osprey, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Martial Eagle, Spotted Thick-knee, Senegal Thick-knee, Long Tailed Night jar, Standard-winged Night jar, Pennant-winged Night jar, Malachite Kingfisher, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater. All vivid birders around the world should not miss out on an opportunity to watch these brilliant species of birds around the park.
Boat cruise
These are also a famous safari activity carried out in the park and they take place along the Victoria Nile towards the bottom of the falls where travelers will have the opportunity to view the falls closer. There are 2 sessions when the boat cruises and these include the morning cruise which begins at 8: 30 am and the afternoon cruise that starts at 2:30 pm.
Cultural Encounters
Murchison Falls National park is also rich with numerous cultural traditions and customs due to different tribes that are located close to the park and these include the Alur in the North West, Banyoro in the South and Acholi in the North East.
Experience the traditions of these local people around the park to encounter the best safari holidays in Uganda. They will perform you music dance and drama as well as educate you on how they locally sustain their living.
Hiking and Nature Walks
Hiking through the trails in Murchison Falls National Park is remarkable to all that get involved since the forest vegetation around the park offers serenity to the fullest as well as beautiful views at the various bird species, monkeys and chimpanzees. The hikes usually take place crossing the Kaniyo Pabidi Eco Forest as well as Rabongo Forest and the Delta Area.