Tourist activities in Murchison falls national park

Activities at Murchison falls national park: For a record Murchison falls national park is the best and largest national park in Uganda, Murchison falls national park named in honor of the president of the royal geographical society by sir Samuel baker hosts the world’s most powerful falls that is Murchison falls. The park is situated in north western Uganda covering an area of 3840 square kilometers, Murchison falls national park lies in the great Murchison falls conservation area which consists of bugugu wildlife reserve, karuma wildlife reserve and budongo forest.

Murchison falls National Park is a great habitat for a variety of wildlife that is approximately 76 mammal species including primates and bird species.  Mammals in the park include buffaloes, leopards, elephants, Uganda kob, giraffes, Jackson’s heartbeats, waterbucks, warthogs, Oribis, primates include olive baboons, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys and many more.

Murchison falls is a great habitat for birds which are estimated to be over 400 species and they include African Darter, Senegal Thick-knee, Rock Pratincole, Black-headed Plover, Long-toed Plover, Black-billed Wood-Dove, Veracious Dove, Long Tailed Nightjar, Standard-winged Nightjar, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Blue-naped Moosebird, Giant Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Red-throated Bee-eater, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Black Scimitar bill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-billed Barbet, White-fronted Black Chat, Silver bird, Beautiful Sunbird, Piapiac, Speckle-fronted Weaver, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Vaseline Masked Weaver, Bar-breasted Fire finch, White-rumped Seedeater and many more.

Murchison falls national park is an entertaining and adventure offering tourist destination offering a number of safari activities which are to leave you with forever memorable experiences, these activities include.

Game drives

Murchison falls national park is ranked and known to be one of the  top tourist destinations in Uganda offering the most iconic game drives, Murchison falls national park is a home to many fascinating wildlife such as big herds of buffaloes, leopards, elephants and many more. Game drives in the take place on many track such as buligi, Albert and queen’s track situated north of river Nile, game drive as an activity itself is entertaining and offered in 3 sessions that is morning, afternoon and night game drive but the most exciting is morning and night game drives. On the game drive you get to drive to Albert Nile delta which is the most spectacular location in the park with a variety of wildlife and birds such as grey-crowned crane, Abyssinian ground  hornbill, saddle-billed stork, handsome black-headed and spur winged lapwings and many more.

Night game drive is a 2 hours’ drive taking place in the night and the most exciting about it is that you get to spot nocturnal predators in the thick vegetation of the park, using a spotlight you get to spot nocturnal animals like lions, leopards, hyenas, hippopotamus, genets, civets and many more.

Launch cruise on the Nile

 Launch cruise in Murchison falls national park is one of the top highlights for any tourist in the park, the breathing taking launch cruise takes place on the Nile at the bottom of Murchison falls and begins from paraa. Boat cruise in the park is an exciting and breathtaking ride to the banks of Rive Nile which is habited by hundreds of wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, leopards, warthogs, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, Rothschild giraffe, leopards and many more and a variety of bird species such as goliath bird, Gonoleks, yellow foot kingfisher, white thighed, African Darter, Goliath Heron, Yellow-billed Stork, Abdim’s Stork., Shoebill, White-faced Whistling Duck., Secretary Bird, Osprey, Long Tailed Nightjar, Standard-winged Nightjar, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Blue-naped Moosebird, Giant Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Red-throated Bee-eater, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Black Scimitar bill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-billed Barbet and many more.

All these beautiful wildlife are spotted while on 28 kilometers boat ride from paraa to the delta taking 4-5 hours, a launch trip of 17 kilometers from paraa to the falls which takes about 3 hours.  Boat trips in park are offered in two sessions that is for 9:00am and 02:00 pm. For tourists who like special launch and boat cruise, they can be arranged by the management of Murchison falls national park.

Hiking to the top of the falls

Hiking to the top of the falls is the most adventurous and exciting activity in Murchison falls national park, hiking to the top of the falls is done from the boat landing to the top of the magnificent rocks where waters of the river explodes into a spectacular waterfall following a demarcated trail which is also part of a famous baker trail (baker trail named after Samuel and Florence baker). Hiking to the top of the falls is a refreshing activity led by an experienced hike taking approximately 45 minutes.

Sports fishing

Sports fishing is a breathing taking activity to participate in Murchison falls national park the haven of tourism in Uganda, Murchison falls national park is crossed by Albert Nile which consists of prominent fish species such as Nile perch and tiger fish and sporting fish in this park takes place in the sections of the river and below the falls. When sport fishing at designated sport you will have time to bond and enjoy the aquatic nature of Murchison falls national park, on this safari you can carry your own fishing tools or talk to your guide who can get them for you.

Bird watching

Murchison falls national park is an important birding site habiting many bird species, the park is a home to Albertine, water, savannah and forest bird species which are recorded to be 400 bird species. Albert Nile delta, river banks and savannah plains are the best bird spotting in the park where you get to spot birds like malachite kingfishers, pied giant malachite, francolin, horn bills, shoe bills, wood pecker, crombies, warblers, Abyssinian ground horn bill, secretary bird, black bellied bustards, open billed stork and many more.

Birds are best watched while on game drives, launch boat cruise and nature walk. Birds are available anytime throughout the year but the best time to spot the rare and most interesting shoe bill is in the dry months of January to march.

Chimpanzee tracking

Chimpanzee tracking in Murchison falls national park is another treat of adventure offered in this amazing tourist destination, chimpanzee tracking takes place in 3 areas that is budongo forest, kaniyo pabidi forest and rabongo forest. These forest are habitant to a variety of chimpanzees which was spotted while on a water in the thick forests, on this guided activity you also get to spot birds, animals and primates such as red tailed monkeys, olive baboon, white and black colobus monkeys and many more.

Nature walks

Nature walk in Murchison falls national park takes you through the beautiful landscape of the park which is covered by beautiful vegetation, nature walks in the park commonly takes place from rabongo forest, kaniyo pabidi where you get to spot a variety of animals such as waterbucks, giraffes, elephants and many more.

Hot Air balloon wildlife safari

Hot air balloon wildlife safari is not a common safari activity in most Uganda destinations and it is offered in Murchison falls national park which makes it an exceptional tourist destination, this activity is offered and operated by Dream balloons. While in a balloon lifted up in the sky for about 10000 ft. above the sea level and while on it you get to enjoy the park and its beauty, the park is filled with animals such as buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, antelopes and many more which are seen while high in a balloon.

Where to stay in Murchison falls national park

Murchison falls National Park has many lodges offering accommodation to tourists, these facilities range from luxury, mid-range to budget and they include Murchison River lodge, Nile safari lodge, paraa safari lodge, pakuba safari lodge, Murchison tree house and many more.

The best time to visit Murchison falls national park

Murchison falls National Park is open to visitors throughout the year but the best time to visit the park for a safari is during the periods of December to February and June to September. What makes these months perfect for visiting is that these periods are dry meaning the road are easy to pass through and the vegetation cover in the park is relativity short offering uninterrupted view of the wildlife.