What is Murchison Falls National Park?
Why Murchison?
In this article I plan to enlighten you on the story and wonders of Murchison, not only the person but the beauty found in Uganda, that was named after the Person.
Do you wonder why most of the game parks in Uganda are named after foreigners? Okay, this is because most of the great contributions to civilization in Uganda were made with the coming of the foreigners. The story behind the naming of Murchison is quite fascinating. The former people who lived around the area where the park now rests magnificently, were chased away from this area by an infestation of tsetse flies.
During the years 1907 and 1912, tsetse flies were some of the most feared insects, but surprisingly not by Africans, but by foreigners. This was because these tsetse flies spread what was known as the scourge of the era, the disease known as sleeping sickness.
When the scourge became intense around Murchison Falls, the inhabitants were forced to remove and a Geographer known as Roderick Murchison mounted an expedition on behalf of the Royal Geographical Society, to discover the best way on how to eliminate tsetse flies around the now gazette area around the Falls.
His work was so tremendous in overcoming the epidemic of sleeping sickness that as a reward to him, the Waterfalls thundering around the areas where the study was conducted, was named after him. This is supposedly how Murchison Falls National Park gets its name. However, this was probably the second name, and final one, it being first known as Bunyoro Game Reserve.
The Murchison Falls National Park, also known as Bunyoro National Park, at times, is well-known for housing the world’s most powerful waterfall, which discharges massive quantities of water at a very high pressure that causes the surrounding area to quake at a rate of roughly 300 cubic meters per second (11,000 ft3/s). The park, which now occupies the proud space of being the largest park in Uganda with a surface area of 3840 square kilometers (1483 square miles), was first gazetted in 1927. Due to the wide variety of safari activities and the abundant wildlife, it is frequently visited for Uganda Safari Tours.
WHERE IS MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK LOCATED?
You will find Murchison Falls National Park in the northern part of Uganda. As you travel from Uganda’s Capital city known as Kampala, you move in the northwest direction. Murchison Falls National Park is extensive and its boundaries extend to a number of districts within and beyond the Bunyoro Kingdom area. Some of the Districts it covers include Nwoya, masindi, Kiryandongo and Buyisa. In the northernmost reaches of the Albertine Rift Valley, Murchison Falls Park’s terrain is bisected by the Victoria Nile.
HOW TO GET TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK?
You can choose to either travel by air or by road. The distance is shorter by air, but if you want to feel the environment of Uganda as you travel upcountry, then using the road offers more opportunity.
From Kampala to Murchison Falls it is about 4h 30 mins via Kampala – Masindi route (282 km) or 5h 30min via Kampala-Hoima. You can also book a flight from Kajjansi in Entebbe and fly straight to Chobe Airstrip.
AMAZING SIGHTS IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
The Murchison Falls
Have you ever seen water falling 43 metres? Have you heard falls that thunder like the hammer of the heavens? The first amazing and daunting sight in Murchison Park is the majestic waterfall. It is a large volumes of water from the Victoria Nile forcing its way through an approximately 7 meter wide gorge to plunge itself 43 meters below into a foaming pool of water that forms heavenly clouds below.
This sightful water fall plunges with a thunderous noise and splashes forming a purely white cloud of mist, which offers a breathtaking view worth a lifetime.
The Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
In an attempt to save the white rhino, the people of Uganda established a private non-profit project in 2005, the Zziwa rhino sanctuary. It started with a Save The White Rhino drive and ended up as a major catalyst for the salvation of the dwindling population of the white rhino in Uganda. Today Uganda boasts of about 22 southern white rhinos found at this sanctuary.
The Rich Wildlife
The diverse vegetation cover of the park which includes woodlands, savannah and riverine forests supports a great diversity of animals. These include; The Uganda Kobs, Hartebeests, Lions, Elephants, Leopards, Rothschild giraffes, Buffaloes, Cheetahs, and many others.
The park also offers a diversity of bird species for birders to see, like;
The rare shoebill stork, The goliath heron, The yellow footed fly catcher, African jacana, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Pitta, The pied giant, Malachite kingfisher, and other 451 species.
Activities To Do In Murchison Falls National Park
Launch Trip: Visitors have the chance to observe a variety of wildlife during this 2-hour launch trip, which departs from Paraa and includes opportunities to see numerous huge crocodiles, hippos, and unique birds like the shoebill stork. This presents excellent opportunity for photographs.
Game Drives: These are conducted early morning as well as in the early evening offering you a chance to enjoy up-close views of the different animals.
Cultural Tours: Enjoy thrilling energetic cultural dances by the Mubako as you sit by a campfire, village tours to see the traditional lifestyle of the locals and the crafts shop by the Boomu Women’s Group
Chimpanzee Tracking: Within the verdant Budongo forest, you will enjoy some of the best Chimpanzee Tracking expeditions conducted in Uganda. Offers of a up-close encounter with some of these great apes are available if you are of a stout heart.
Bird Watching: The immense forests above and besides the Waterfall are natural homes to a multitude of avian life. You get to view the great birds as they grace the airs of the giant trees, gliding gracefully on the wings to offer breath-taking sights to viewers.
Nature Walks & Hikes: Within the park, there are several trails that can be explored on foot throughout the Rabongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests.
Places To Stay At Murchison National Park
- Fort Murchison safari lodge
- Chobe safari lodge
- Murchison river lodge
- Nile safari lodge
- Paraa safari lodge
- Pakuba safari lodge
- Murchison tree house
- Geo lodges nile safari lodge
- Amuka safari lodge
- Bakers lodge
- Budongo eco lodge
- Ziwa rhino camp
- New court view hotel
- Masindi hotel
- Heritage safari lodge
- Global village guest lodge
