Attractions in Murchison Falls National Park
Attractions in Murchison Falls National Park
Attractions in Murchison falls national park are unique because it is the only national park whose main water body is river Nile, the longest river in the Africa.
Murchison falls national park was established in 1954 two years after Queen Elizabeth National Park was renamed to its name. Murchison falls National Park is the largest national park in Uganda extending over a wide area of about 3840 sq.km. Murchison falls national park spans in Masindi district, Kiryandongo and Nwoya district in the north western region of Uganda. It is just about 350 km North West of Kampala the capital city of Uganda.
The Murchison water falls
Among the main attractions in murchison falls national park is the murchison falls. It is also called Kabalega falls basing on the history it carries from the famous king of Bunyoro kingdom called Kabalega. In 1860s, the first European to see the falls was Sir Samuel baker and his wife Florence baker, and he named it after a geologist called Roderick Murchison from England of the geographical society. And later the whole national park was named after the falls in 1954 when it was officially established.
The water runs so fast from the River Nile and reaching this point, it tries to squeeze through the small gorge of just 7 meters with hard rocks bordering the sides of the gorge. The pressure, at which the water penetrates through the gorge, creates a rumbling sound and trembles the ground due to the force it uses. It’s indeed magical to be at the falls, for the water forms a misty situation when it hits the rocks hard.
You can enjoy the top of the falls hike where you can take a number of beautiful photography of the falls. When you reach at top of the falls, the water droplets from the falls will fall on you giving you that cool feel that will make you spread your hands wide to enjoy the moment.
The Rothschild’s endangered giraffes
Rothschild’s giraffes are wild animals that have been seen in other places in Africa and are interestingly also found in murchison falls national park. The giraffes are among the main attractions and are peaceful wild animals with all looks and behaviours so royal. Fortunate enough, you might wake up from your accommodation and set your eyes on a beautiful giraffe stretching its neck in the window of your room. This is an amazing experience and also during the game drive, they all parade in the trees with their necks stretched like models on the walkway. You will love every sight and photo of the Rothschild’s giraffes in Murchison falls national park.
The game
Murchison falls national park has a number of wild animals species which form the part of the main attractions in the park.The wildlife species include about 75 mammal species, that will round off your game drive to one amazing ever done in Uganda. During the game dive you will enjoy the sightings of a number of herds of buffaloes, lions ( common in the southern part of Murchison falls), leopards, elephants are everywhere in the national park even close to the lodges.
You will also love spotting the hartebeest, the warthogs even before leaving your lodge, Uganda kobs among others. At chobe safari lodge you will enjoy the seeing the hippos while they mourn in water all day long plus a number of crocodiles along the river back. The game in Murchison falls national park supplemented with the white rhinos of ziwa rhino sanctuary in masindi makes up what we call the big five of Africa; hippos, elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos.
Bird life
Among the main attractions in Murchison Falls National Park is amazing the for birding safaris and it has over 450 bird species categorised into the water birds and the open land birds. Among the waterbirds is the sought after shoebill stork. The shoebill stork is majorly spotted in the swamps along the River Nile during the boat cruise towards the Albert delta. There is a lot more birds species like the hornbill stork, the grey crowned crown, the pied kingfisher, yellow feet fly catcher, marabou stork ,sandpipers, African jacana, Denham’s bastards, silvers bird, blue headed coucal, black headed gonolek, eastern grey plantain eater and herons among others.
Kaniyo pabidi forest
Kaniyo pabidi forest is a Jane goodall research station for the primates, it is also another area of comedy with a number of primate species but the most famous is the habituated chimpanzees. Kaniyo pabidi forest is 8 km from kichumbanyobo gate; the forest is well linked with another group of attractions which is the chimpanzee tracking trails. During the low season you can do a full day chimpanzee habituated; it start at exactly 6am in the morning in order to catch up with the chimps as they get down from their nests in the trees, then you spend the whole day learning the chimpanzee behaviours.
There a lot more that you will enjoy when you visit Murchison falls national park that was just a pinch of how spectacular the park is. Murchison falls National Park is just what you need for your African wild safari, you start spotting the animals just at the entrance even before you reach your actual destination. It is indeed interesting. Murchison falls national park is open all year long and ready to receive you our family, friends any time. You are most welcome.
