Best Guide to Birdwatching in Murchison Falls

Best Guide to Birdwatching in Murchison Falls: Uganda’s outstanding park, with a diverse range of birdlife boasting over 451 recorded bird species, is none other than Murchison Falls National Park. Its unique array of different vegetation zones ranges from savanna, wetlands, riverine thickets, woodlands, and dense forests. Its expansive abilities make it a true habitat that widely supports unique bird species and other wildlife. It is also home to one of the most threatened species, the Shoebill Stork, together with other species that range from endangered, near threatened, endemic, vagrant, rarities, and migratory bird species, which are both vertical and horizontal intra African migrants with lots for the palearctic, and these only appear occasionally. The rich history and unique tourist attractions, such as the world’s most powerful falls, wildlife, primates, plants, trees, boat rides, sport fishing, nature walks, and cultural encounters, make it one of the top tourist destinations in Uganda and Africa at large.

What to know about Murchison Falls National Park

Uganda’s largest and most popular national park is Murchison Falls National Park, which is situated on the northern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. Established in 1952, it is the oldest national park in the country and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including 76 animal species such as the big four mammals, Lions, African Elephants, Leopards, and Cape Buffaloes, as well as other animals like Warthogs, Bushbucks, Reedbucks, Giraffes, Waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, Oribi and Crocodiles.

Additionally, the park is also home to primates found in Budongo Forest and Kaniyo Pabidi, including chimpanzees, Nubian Olive Baboons, Red-tailed monkeys, and Black and white colobus monkeys, among others. To access the park, it takes about five hours to drive 305 km to the north of Kampala to reach Murchison Falls National Park. Road or air transport is available for visitors who want to embark on a birding safari in the park; it takes around an hour to get from Entebbe to Pakuba, Chobe, or Bugungu Airfield.

How is birding done in the park?

An array of bird species at Murchison Falls National Park are best seen on several birding safari activities, such as during game drives, nature walks in Budongo Forest, across savannah grasslands, and boat cruises down the Nile along the Albert Delta. This is the prime spot famous for sighting the threatened Shoebill Stork. Since birdwatching is one of the guided tours conducted within the park, it may also be done while trekking to the top of the falls.

Additionally, birdwatching is done with competent site bird guides whose checklist for birds is quite amazing, a better experience to recall in a lifetime. During the low season, which runs from November through April,. During the off-peak season, ranging from November up to May, migratory birds migrate from Europe to Africa, especially during the winter, with new guests.

Savannah birds

The attractions at Murchison Falls National Park are of great value and highly regarded. Small and medium-sized animal species and bird populations are stronger than ever, and the lessened grazing pressure has greatly benefited the area’s rich flora. One can observe various species along the Savannah grasslands in the northern section, such as the Spot-flanked Barbet, Black-billed Barbet, Martial Eagle, Red-necked Falcon, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Bustard, Blue-napped Mousebird, Rattling and Croaking Cisticola, Heuglin’s Spurfowl (Francolin), Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Red-necked Falcon, Silverbird, Black-headed Lapwing, White-rumped Seedeater, Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow, Northern Red Bishop, Denham’s and Black-bellied Bustard, Yellow-billed Shrike, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Black-rumped Waxbill, Red-cheecked Cordon Bleu, Foxy Cisticola, African Grey Hornbill, and Dark Chanting Goshawk, among others.

Forest Birds

Kaniyo Pabidi and the Royal Mile are highly recommended birding spots situated in Budongo Forest in the southern section of Murchison Falls National Park. This southern section has several unique birds with West and Central African ancestry, including those associated with the Guinea-Congo Forest. Be assured of seeing unusual bird species such as the Grey-headed, Hairy-breasted, and Yellow-billed Barbets, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Ross’s, Black-billed, and Great Blue Turaco, Dwarf and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Green Hylia, Ituri Batis, Super and Little Green Sunbird, and Puvel’s illadopsis, which can only be found in Budongo Forest in the whole of East Africa.

Water birds

Several water birds can also be seen during birdwatching along the Albert Delta on the boat ride, such as the threatened Shoebill, Red-throated Bee-eater, Giant Kingfisher, Saddle-billed Stork, Senegal Thick-knee, African Darter, African Skimmer, African Fish Eagle, African Finfoot, Goliath Heron, Purple Heron, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Pennant-winged, Plain, and Long-tailed Nightjars, among others.

How is birding done in Murchison?

Birding during game drives

Following the best Guide to Birdwatching in Murchison Falls, game drives are always conducted in the rolling savannah grasslands during the morning and evening for birds and late evening for mammals. Several routes exist, such as Queen’s Track, Victoria Track, Albert Track, and Buligi Game Track. All these circuits will expose you to numerous unique birds such as the Martial Eagle, Secretary Bird, Open-billed Stork, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Senegal Thick-knee, Black-bellied Bustard, Marabou Stork, Red-necked Falcon, Black-headed Lapwing, Black-billed Barbet, and others.

Birding during boat rides

Boat rides offered by Murchison Falls National Park move in two directions: upstream takes visitors to the base of the falls and downstream to the Victoria Nile Delta. This avenue enables visitors to have spectacular views of aquatic life such as Hippos and crocodiles, along with unique water birds, including the threatened Shoebill, along the Albert Delta areas. Other water birds that you may see during the boat cruise include the African Darter, African Jacana, Grey Cheekedcranes, Red-throated Bee-eater, Goliath Heron, Dwarf Kingfisher, African Black Crake, Blue Spotted Doves, African Skimmer, Malachite Kingfisher, Fish Eagle, Blue-headed Coucal, Squacco Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Black-headed, and Great Blue Turaco, among others.

Birding during nature walks

An engaging activity that lets you explore the park and its environs outside of the safari vehicle is a nature walk. Most of it is done while walking and taking in the breathtaking sights of the surrounding countryside, trees, plants, and other living things.  Nature walks are always conducted on the park’s designated premises and trails, such as the Nile Trail, Marsh Path, Top of the Falls Trail, and the Forest Trails, particularly in Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo Forest. To protect tourists and guarantee that the activity is a complete success, all nature walks are guided tours that are overseen by armed rangers and site guides.

The attention of tourists is drawn to the many indigenous species and amazing forest birds, and these include the Piping Hornbill, a huge hornbill with unusual features, and the White-thighed, Congo Pied, and Crowned Hornbills, a few noteworthy bird species. Hairy-breasted Barbet is a magnificent bird with distinctive plumage. Nahan’s Partridge, which is a ground-dwelling bird known for its cryptic appearance, and Nahan’s Francolin, which is a ground-dwelling bird with intricate markings. The Blue-breasted Kingfisher is well known for its vibrant blue chest, is colourful, and is often among the most cooperative birds on the trail on lucky days. Fire-crested Alethe is a forest-dwelling bird with a fiery chest. While Dwarf kingfishers and African pygmies can be mistaken for one another, it is always simple if you have a knowledgeable and competent birding guide from Journeys Uganda and feel at ease.

Best time to go birding in Murchison Falls.

Besides being the best guide to birdwatching in Murchison Falls, the best time to go birdwatching in the park is all year round.  However, the best time to go birding is preferably in the dry season (January to March), when there are more bird species and the trails are easily usable, as opposed to the wet season (May to June). Birdwatchers will be able to witness a wide range of colourful bird species on their birding tour in Murchison Falls National Park, as it is bird breeding season during the dry season in June. Due to slick roads and impassable pathways caused by heavy rains that fall between April and May and between August and October, bird watching becomes challenging.  Additionally, when the trails are muddy and slippery, this will make your birding safari an uphill task.

Other activities done in Murchison Falls National Park

Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest

Besides Murchison Falls National Park being one of the top birdwatching destinations in Africa, the park has a diverse range of other tourist activities, such as Chimpanzee habituation and trekking that is always carried out in Kaniyo Pabidi, with high chances of seeing other primates like Red-tailed, Blue, Vervet, Black and white Colobus monkeys, Mangabey, Nubian Olive Baboon, and others.

Chimpanzee habituation in Budongo Forest

The process by which Chimpanzees become accustomed to having humans around is known as “chimpanzee habituation.” It takes about two years to complete the process. Additionally, visitors to Budongo Park have the option to participate in the Chimpanzee acclimatisation process, particularly during periods of low visitor traffic. Following a troop of Chimpanzees and studying their behaviour under the guidance of knowledgeable researchers and trackers is part of the Chimpanzee habituation experience. In contrast to conventional Chimpanzee trekking, it takes place all day long.

Nature walks and Hiking

There are numerous hiking and natural exploration paths in Murchison Falls National Park. The northern bank offers great routes for nature walks, especially down to the base of the falls along the banks of the Victoria Nile, where you may see elephants up close among other animals. Additionally, great for seeing a range of bird species and primates are the routes in Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo Forest. For the finest vantage point of Murchison Falls, make sure to hike to the top of the falls. Also, visitors can see Uhuru Falls, which is only visible from the top of the falls and was named after the independence of Uganda. The word means “freedom.” It is windy in Murchison Falls National Park.

Where to stay on a birding safari in the park?

If you plan to stay overnight in the park, follow the best guide to birdwatching in Murchison Falls National Park. The park has several lodging options available to suit your budget, preferences, and level of luxury. These include the Heritage Lodge, Red Chill Rest Camp, Paraa Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Bwana Tembo Safari Lodge, Hornbill Lodge, and others.

How to get to Murchison Falls National Park through the southern sector

The park can easily be accessed through various routes, such as the northern and southern sections. In the southern sector, the park can be accessed through Kichumbanyabo Gate via Masindi Paraa Road, which is approximately a 4-5 hour journey from Kampala. The park can also be accessed through the Bugungu gate, along Hoima-Buliisa Road, through the Bugungu wildlife reserve.

How to get to Murchison Falls National Park through the northern sector

The park can also be accessed through the northern sector at Chobe gate along Kampala Gulu Highway via Karuma Falls. Another route is along Pakwach Road via Tangi Gate. Another alternative route to access the park is through Purongo in Nwoya district, off to Wankwar Gate, which is an hour’s drive to the park headquarters near the Paraa bridge.

How to get to Murchison Falls National Park by Air transport

With the best Guide to birdwatching in Murchison Falls, visitors can travel from Entebbe International Airport to the airstrips of the park in the northern sector (Pakuba) or the southern sector (Bugungu). The flights are scheduled to take no more than two hours and require a minimum of four passengers. The plane from the park leaves at 1200 hours and arrives in Murchison Falls National Park at 1300 hours.