Murchison Falls National Park is the largest and oldest park in Uganda, gazetted in 1952. The park lies in the northern part of the country and covers over 3,840 square kilometers of land.
It consists of two sections – the northern and southern, which are divided by the Victoria Nile whose banks are host to plenty of wildlife, such as crocodiles, elephants, hippos, and Shoebill.
Savanna grasslands, acacia trees, Borassus palms, and riverine woodlands cover the entire northern part of Murchison whereas, the southern part comprises forest patches and woodland. The park has a tropical and hot climate, with temperatures rising to 31°C/88°F during the day and cooling down to 18°C/64°F.
The breathtaking Murchison Falls, which plunges 45m over rocky cliffs, and the famous big five – lions, elephants, leopards, hippos, and rhinos are the biggest draw to this park. Rhinos do not exist inside the park, but you can see them en route to it at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Murchison is also renowned for appearing in the 1951 Humphrey Bogart starred film “The African Queen” and having a long list of notable visitors: Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway, and several British Royals.
Activities to Do
Day Game Drives
Morning and afternoon game drives take place in the northern part of the national park where you can find most animals.
You’ll see an impressive number of elephants, lions, Rothschild giraffes, antelopes, buffalos, warthogs, and other wildlife as you drive through open savannah grasslands.
The ranger guide will stop near the animals to allow you to enjoy an extensive view of them and even take memorable photos.
Night Game Drives
These start at about 7 pm and allow you to see the nocturnal animals and other wildlife that may have eluded you during the day game drives.
An armed ranger will escort you on this drive, and the wildlife you will encounter includes leopards, bush babies, hyenas, lions, civets, and genets. And to see these animals clearly in the dark, the ranger will flash a spotlight torch on them.
Boat Cruise to the Bottom of the Falls
Along the way to see the magnificent Murchison Falls, the world’s most powerful waterfall from the bottom, you will cruise past crocodiles, aquatic birdlife, and mammals lazing on the river banks.
A thunderous sound from afar will tip you off that the waterfalls are close, and upon reaching them, marvel at their breathtaking look.
Hiking
There’s a walking trail near the bottom of Murchison Falls that you can hike to view the falls from the top. It’s a bit of a steep climb through scattered trees and bushes, but worth embarking on because the view of the waterfalls with the rainbow painted across as it tumbles through narrow gorges down cliffs is captivating.
Chimp tracking
For a better chance of tracking down the chimpanzees in the Budongo forest since the primates are a bit difficult to find in this park, you should carry out this activity early in the morning at 8 am.
As you search for the chimps in the forest, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery of tall ancient trees, monkeys, and birds. And upon spotting the chimps, you will observe them in their habitat as they go about their daily life.
Birding
Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 451 bird species that can be sighted in Budongo Forest, Kaniyo Pabidi, and Rabongo Forest.
Some of the birds you’ll see include the Yellow-footed flycatcher that live on ironwood trees found only in this park, White-crested turaco, Forest Francolin, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Yellow and Grey Longbills, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Red-tailed Antthrush, Yellow-billed Barbet, African Pied Hornbill, Banded Snake-eagle, Brown-backed Scrub-robin, Black-capped Apalis, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Crowned Eagle, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, and African Dwarf Kingfisher.
Sport Fishing
The activity is carried out on the river banks of the Nile below the Murchison Falls, and the common fish you’re likely to catch is the Nile Perch. This fish tends to grow big that you may get fortunate to hook one over 108kg. You can fish while standing on the rocks along the river banks or in a boat.
Hot Air Balloon Safari
A ride in a hot air balloon can enable you to take in the park’s amazing scenery and its wildlife from above. The safari takes eight people over six years and lasts about an hour, with the balloon flying 10,000 feet above sea level.
Community Visits
Murchison Falls is surrounded by several communities that you can visit in their villages and experience their way of living. You can enjoy cultural dances from them and even buy their traditional arts and crafts.
