Activities in Murchison falls national park

9 days Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari

Activities in Murchison falls national park; Murchison falls national park is the largest and one of the most visited protected area located in northwestern part of Uganda. The park covers a total area of 3,840 square kilometers and harbors about 76 mammal species including elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, lions, leopards, waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, giraffes, primates like chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and more than 451 bird species including open billed stork, black bellied bustard, secretary bird, Abyssinian ground hornbill, marabou stork, malachite kingfisher among others while on Uganda Safaris Tours.

Activities in Murchison falls national park

Game drives in Murchison falls national park

Game drive is one of the most popular activities in Murchison falls national park that gives tourists a chance to explore the park in a 4WD pop up safari vehicle with a professional driver guide. Game drives in Murchison falls national park can either be done early in the morning when the animals are most active or in the evening. During the game drives you will follow different game tracks like Ablert, Vicoria, Buligi among others where you will be able to view animals like buffaloes, elephants, Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda kobs, Oribi, waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, view predators like lions, hyenas, leopards among others if you are lucky, view different bird species among others.

Murchison falls national park also offers night game drives where tourists will be able to explore the park at night with spotlight torches so as to view nocturnal animals which become active at night. During the night game drive you will be accompanied by an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger and also help you sport nocturnal animals like lions, leopards, hyenas, civet, genets, bush babies, night jar, porcupines, view hippos feeding among others.

Activities in Murchison falls national park
Game Drives in Murchison Falls

Boat cruise in Murchison falls national park

Boat cruise is an interesting activity in Murchison falls national park that shouldn’t be missed during your safari. There are two boat cruises in Murchison falls national park that is the boat cruise upstream to the bottom of the falls and the boat cruise downstream to the Nile delta stretching to the shores of lake albert. The boat ride to the bottom of the falls takes about 2 to 3 hours while the Nile delta boat cruise takes about 4 to 5 hours and they both offer stunning views of animals like hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, waterbucks among others which will be drinking water along the shores, view water bird species like malachite kingfisher, red throated bee-eater, African fish eagle, papyrus gonolek, Goliath heron, African jacana among others.

Bird watching in Murchison falls national park

Murchison falls national park is a home of more than 451 recorded bird species including Albertine endemic birds, savannah birds, water birds and migratory birds which make Murchison falls national park one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. Birds in Murchison falls national park can be spotted during the game drives, guided nature walks, boat cruise and during bird watching you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide who will help you to spot different bird species including the prehistoric shoebill stork, black headed lapwing, long toed plover, grey headed kingfisher, black billed barbet, giant kingfisher, yellow fronted tinkerbird, long tailed nightjar, silver bird, grey crowned crane, giant heron, Denhams bustard, standard winged nightjar, pied kingfisher, martial eagle, yellow billed stork, malachite kingfisher, swamp flycatcher, African jacana, red throated bee-eater, Senegal thick knee, saddle billed stork, red winged grey warbler among others.

Chimpanzee trekking in Murchison falls national park

Chimpanzee trekking is an adventurous activity where tourists move on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated chimpanzees and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Chimpanzee trekking in Murchison falls national park is done in Budongo forest and it starts early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters where after you will start trekking in the forest with an experienced park guide. Trekking of chimpanzees in Budongo forest takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are found because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primate species, birds, plant and tree species among others and once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, play, breastfeed, hunt, rest, fight, take photos and record the breathtaking moments to show people back home after the safari thus Activities in Murchison falls national park.

Nature walk/ hiking in Murchison falls national park

This is an interesting activity in Murchison falls national park where tourists will be able to explore the park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and armed park ranger. Nature walks or hikes in Murchison falls national park are commonly done in Kaniyo Pabidi forest, Rabingo forest, hike to the top of the falls among others. During the guided nature walk tourists will get up close and personal with different animals like elephants, warthogs, primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, view different bird species, enjoy the cool breeze, relax your mind, take beautiful pictures among others.

Sport fishing in Murchison falls national park

Sport fishing is an exciting activity which is best done at the banks of the Nile below the Murchison falls and the bottom of the falls. During sport fishing fish anglers will use different fishing methods such as casting lures, spinning method, use of live bait like worms among other to catch fish species like the Nile perch, cat fish, tiger fish, tilapia among others. Tourists who want to engage in sport fishing are however required to first purchase a fishing permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and carry their fishing equipment’s.

Activities in Murchison falls national park
Fishing on Murchison Falls

When to visit Murchison falls national park

Murchison falls national park can be visited all year round though the best time is during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February. During the dry season there is less rainfall in the park therefore vegetation will be thin which helps you to view different wildlife species clearly, access roads to the park and nature walk trails will be dry and passable.

Murchison falls national park can also be visited during the wet season also known as the low season in the months of March to May and November because that’s the best period for bird watching where bird lovers will get an opportunity to view colorful and migratory bird species.

How to get to Murchison falls national park

Murchison falls national park is located in northwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means whereby you will drive from Kampala via Masindi to Murchison falls national park which takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive.

Murchison falls national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book scheduled and charter flights from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Pakuba, Bugungu and Chobe airstrips.

Where to stay in Murchison falls national park

There are a wide range of accommodation facilities in Murchison falls national park where you can stay during your safari. The accommodations range from luxury, midrange, budget and campsites including Paraa Safari lodge, Nile Safari lodge, Chobe Safari lodge, Murchison River lodge, Pakuba Safari lodge, Amuka Safari lodge, Fort Murchison Safari lodge, Heritage Safari lodge, Kabalega Wilderness lodge, Bwana Tembo Safari Camp, New Court View Hotel, Masindi Hotel, Parkside Safari lodge, Bar Lyec Safari lodge, Red Chilli Rest Camp, Budongo Eco Lodge, Boomu Women’s Group Bandas, Global Village Guest House, Kalalo Cottage Inn, Yebo Safari Camp, Uganda Wildlife Campsite among others.

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