Top Activities in Murchison Falls Park
Top Activities in Murchison Falls Park: Murchison Falls National Park, also known as Kabalega Falls, is a remarkable natural wonder nestled between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert, divided by the Victoria Nile, 90 km from Masindi town. It stands as Uganda’s premier destination, with a diverse range of tourist activities ranging from game drives, birdwatching, boat launches, nature walks, and cultural encounters, to mention but a few. Murchison Falls, Uganda’s park, is named after the magnificent Murchison Falls. These breathtaking falls are formed where the longest river in the world plunges into a 7-metre gorge downstream to meet the Nile Delta River.
Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest park, ranked 9th among the best birding destinations in Africa, safeguarding a wide range of wild African species. There are numerous animal species, including bird species, reptiles, and mammals, that swarm its banks, savannahs, and forests. This region is home to a wide variety of mammals, such as Bohor Reedbuck, Waterbuck, Oribi, Bushbuck, Uganda Kob (antelopes), Cape Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Giraffes, and Hartebeests. Some primates, including Chimpanzees, Blue Monkey, Patas Monkey, Red-tailed Monkeys and other creatures of the rainforest, can be found at Rabongo Forest, which is located in the southeast of the park.
The following are some of the top activities that make Murchison Falls National Park a home of stunning contrasts:
The Albert delta departs from Paraa and travels 28 km along the Nile towards the shores of Lake Albert; it takes 4–5 hours. The morning session is best for bird spotting, especially the ancient-looking shoebill stork. Join an afternoon cruise to watch the sun slowly set over endless grasslands while game and aquatic life can be seen down by the riverbanks. Murchison offers 2 boat cruise options, each going in a different direction along the Nile that cuts through the park. The launch trip, or second cruise, departs Paraa and heads upstream in the direction of the spectacular Murchison Falls. When you get to the falls, you can see the water tumbling through a narrow gorge that is only 7 metres deep. This creates a loud splash and sends mist into the boat. The three hours will fly by as you glide over the lake, with scenic views of Hippos in pods and Elephants taking a bath as they cool off. You may also see crocodiles, Buffaloes, and bird species such as the Fish Eagle, African Skimmer, Giant Kingfisher, African Jacana, and Goliath Heron relaxing on the bankside on both cruises.
Birdwatching-Top Activities in Murchison Falls Park
Over 451 different bird species may be found at Murchison Falls National Park, which offers a unique blend of habitats including thickets, riverine areas, dotted savannah, and forests. The aforementioned species are classified as savannah, water, migratory, endemic, and rare. Examples of these include the only endemic Puvel’s Illadopsis found in Budongo Forest, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, the highly sought-after Shoebill Stork, Black-billed Barbet, Martial Eagle, African Darter, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Piapiac, Black-headed Lapwing, Green-wood Hoopoe, Giant Kingfisher, and the occasional Osprey. Others include Grey-headed Kingfisher, Black-headed and Red-headed Weaver Birds, Grey-crowned Crane, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Grey-tailed Nightjar, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Grey-headed Plover, and Vinaceous Dove Spotted, Eurasian, and Senegal Thick-Knee, Denham’s Bustard, Swamp Flycatcher, Goliath Heron, African Jacana, Secretary Bird, Pied Kingfisher, Pennant-winged and Standard-winged Nightjar, Malachite Kingfishers, Blue-headed Coucal, Spotted, and Blue-billed Stork, among others.
Chimpanzee Trekking and Habituation Experience
Murchison Falls National Park is home to about 600 chimpanzees in its woodlands, which are dotted with mahogany trees. Due to the outbreak of two civil wars in the 1970s and 1980s, the number significantly dropped. Infants were smuggled in while many Chimpanzees were slaughtered. The Jane Goodall Institute helped researcher Vernon Reynolds launch a conservation initiative around 1995. After the first discovery of 50 primates, by 2000, the population had begun to rise. Twenty years ago, Murchison Falls remains Uganda’s second-best location for chimpanzee trekking, after Kibale Forest National Park.
After an early morning breakfast, you will meet other trekkers for a safety briefing at the forest headquarters at 7 a.m. if you are to participate in the typical Chimpanzee trekking experience. Next, you will venture into the forest with an armed ranger in search for the Chimpanzees. Although most treks may last for 3 hours or even longer, you will spend an hour observing the Chimpanzees and their behaviour in their natural environment after you establish contact with them. In order to participate in the habituation experience, you will meet your guide at 6 a.m. to depart and discover the chimps sleeping in their nests prior to their awakening at 6.30 a.m. You will learn about the chimp’s normal routine during the day, including feeding, playing, and patrolling. Before the chimpanzees build their new nests for the night, your guide will provide you with comprehensive information about the Chimpanzees in order to locate their movements. Permits cost $200 for trekking and $300 for the habituation experience at time of writing.
Hiking and Trekking-Top Activities in Murchison Falls Park
You can take a nature walk in the Kaniyo Pabidi or Rabongo forests, or you can hike to the top of Murchison Falls. A boat journey to “The Baker Point,” named for the British explorer Sir Samuel Baker, is the first step in the walk to the top of the falls. The 45-minute walk is guided. You will stroll amid a multitude of birds and the lush landscape, with rolling hills all around you. The constant sound of the falling falls engulfs you as you stroll through the park, becoming louder until it is deafening.
Upon reaching the summit, you will witness the Nile squeezing its waters through a narrow 7-meter canyon and then plunge down 43 metres off the cliff. After seeing the breathtaking falls, walk through the Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo forests to discover the variety of African species that can be found in Murchison. In addition to Chimpanzees, expect to see Primates like, Olive Baboons, Blue, Red-tailed, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, white and black colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and others.
Game Drives
You may discover Murchison Falls’ 76 mammal species and 451 bird species during a 3–4-hour game drive. Open savannah grasslands dominate the park’s northern region, which harbours the highest number of several wildlife species, especially along the Albert Delta Track, such as Leopards, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Crocodiles, Lions, and water birds. The vast grassland bordered by the Nile makes the Buligi Peninsula route an excellent place to see wildlife species. Giraffes, Leopards, Elephants, Buffalos and the school of Hippos along the river are all common on this route.
Murchison Falls is home to 76 species of mammals and 451 bird species, which you can explore over a 3- to 4-hour game drive. The drive will mainly take place in the northern part of the park, which is dominated by open savannah grasslands. To begin, you will head for the Albert delta track, where many water birds, buffaloes, crocodiles, lions, and giraffes can be found. The Buligi Peninsula track is prime for game viewing, as the open grassland is hugged by the Nile. Here, you’ll likely spot elephants, buffalos, leopards, hippos, and giraffes by the water.
Birdwatching
Over 451 different bird species may be found at Murchison Falls National Park, which offers a unique blend of habitats including thickets, riverine areas, dotted savannah, and forests. The aforementioned species are classified as savannah, water, migratory, endemic, and rare. Examples of these include the only endemic Puvel’s Illadopsis found in Budongo Forest, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, the highly sought-after Shoebill Stork, Black-billed Barbet, Martial Eagle, African Darter, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Piapiac, Black-headed Lapwing, Green-wood Hoopoe, Giant Kingfisher, and the occasional Osprey. Others include Grey-headed Kingfisher, Black-headed and Red-headed Weaver Birds, Grey-crowned Crane, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Grey-tailed Nightjar, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Grey-headed Plover, and Vinaceous Dove Spotted, Eurasian, and Senegal Thick-Knee, Denham’s Bustard, Swamp Flycatcher, Goliath Heron, African Jacana, Secretary Bird, Pied Kingfisher, Pennant-winged and Standard-winged Nightjar, Malachite Kingfishers, Blue-headed Coucal, Spotted, and Blue-billed Stork, among others.
With all the above enhancements, you will definitely experience the warmth of Murchison Falls National Park and its hidden gem. There is no reason not to miss out, so book with Journeys Uganda to avoid regrets.