Murchison Falls National Park, Wildlife Safari Tours in Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park is located in the North Western Part of Uganda and is the most prominent Wildlife Safari Destination in Uganda with numerous wildlife animals that can be spotted by travellers from all over the world. It covers an area of 720 km stretching towards Lake Albert’s shores and the Districts of Buliisa, Nwoya, Kiryandongo, and Masindi.

The Park is divided by the Victoria Nile which plunges 45 meters over the Rift Valley Wall forming the majestic Murchison Falls the most prominent Safari Attraction in the Park.

The Park inhabits various wildlife animals travellers can spot and these include; elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, kobs, antelopes, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Topi, lions, Leopards, hyenas, warthogs, hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds.

Location of Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is located North West of Uganda near Lake Albert with co-ordinates near the Kibanda area being 02°11’15.0″N, 31°46’53.0″E (Latitude:2.187499; Longitude:31.781400). It is close to Masindi Town.

How to Get to Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park can be accessed using Road Transport as you transfer from Kampala for 5 hours over a distance of 305 kms. There are other various routes and these include;

• A direct/ longer route will take you a period of 135 km.
• You can transfer from Paraa for a distance of 85 kms from Masindi Route.
• The Budongo Forest Route will offer you remarkable sightings of Lake Albert as well as the Rift Valley Escarpment over Butiaba.
• Transfer North through the Chobe Gate, Karuma Falls, Tangi Gate, and Park.

When to Visit Murchison Falls, National Park

Murchison Falls National Park can be visited any time around the Year although the best time to visit the park is during the Dry season in December to February as well as June to September. This is because during this time the grass is not overgrown and photography is clear. The Wet Season is not appropriate for the grasses that are grown and photography is challenging.

Activities to Do in Murchison Falls National Park

Game Drives

Game drives in Murchison Falls National park are very remarkable along the various tracks in the park and these offer you sightings of various wildlife animals wandering within the vegetation terrain and these include; lions, hippos, Rothschild’s giraffe, warthog, Cape buffalo, Uganda kob, Jackson’s-hartebeest, elephants, leopards, hyenas, topi . Game Drives at the park are scheduled Morning, Afternoon and Evening to suit the travelers’ tastes and requirements.

Boat Cruise

Boat Cruises at Murchison Falls National park are exciting and take place along the Victoria Nile for a period of 3 hours. You will transfer from the Banks into the Nile towards the bottom of the Falls and along the cruise you will have beautiful views at various Wildlife animals, Hippos and Crocodiles beneath the water. These are also scheduled in the Morning at 8:30 am and Afternoon at 2:30 pm offering exceptional encounters to all travelers.

Birding

Bird Watching is also another prominent safari activity to carry out in Murchison Falls National park as there are numerous species of birds inhabiting the forest vegetation. Birding is more appropriate very early in the morning and in the late evening since during this time, the birds are very active. The Bird species you will see include; cormorants, Fish eagles, ducks, Secretary Bird, Osprey, Kingfishers, bee-eaters and the shoebill, African Darter, Goliath Heron, Yellow-billed Stork, Abdim’s Stork, Shoebill stock, White-faced Whistling Duck. All birders around the world should visit the park to watch Uganda’s best bird species.

Nature walks

Murchison Falls National Park also offers remarkable Nature Walk Adventures through the forest vegetation offering sightings of birds, primates and small mammals. You will transfer through the Rabongo Forest, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest and the Delta Area. You will see monkeys like the black and white Colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, etc. Travellers can also transfer on a walk to the top of the falls for 45 minutes and when you get there, expect to view the gushing Murchison waterfalls, birds, terrain vegetation and some wildlife animals at a distance.