Paraa Region

Paraa Region

Paraa Region is a famous name for the area of Murchison falls national park situated from the southern bank of the Victoria Nile. Paraa Region is easily accessed through the south kichumbanyobo gate of Murchison falls national park, for the visitors from kampala via masindi route. However, the visitors from the northern side or chobe side of Murchison falls national park, can reach paraa by crossing the Nile using the ferry crossing means. In the local, luo, language the word “paraa” means a place of hippos, and it is so evident; a number of hippo schools are spotted along the shores of the Nile during the day, and you can also see a lot of hippos in the evening heading to the main land to graze in the night.

Paraa Region is the main tourist hub in Murchison falls national park. All the tracks and roads in murchison falls national park, meet at paraa. The game drives are conducted in the paraa side of murchison falls national park, this is so because, the southern part of Murchison falls national park is naturally endowed with a lot of wildlife like, lions, lehiopards, elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, bush bucks, Uganda kobs, and primates such as the olive baboons, black and white monkeys, red tailed monkeys and the blue monkeys are common in paraa.

History of paraa

Paraa is dotted by a number of accommodation facilities since it is the main tourist hub. The famous paraa safari lodge is located on the banks of the Nile. The fame of paraa safari lodge followed the queen mother’s visit to the lodge in 1950s and by 1960s. The park was already known in the tourism industry. Also the renowned adventurer Winston churchill walked a long distance of 86 km from masindi town to see paraa in 1907. In 1864, Sir Samuel baker, a great explore of Africa the lonely planet, wrote a beautiful story about paraa side of Murchison falls national park.

The other famous personalities that visited paraa include emin pasha, Theodore Roosevelt and the American novelist Ernest hemingway. You can also join in the league of fame by deciding to visit Murchison falls national park. Paraa safari lodge is owned by madhvani group of companies. Madhvani also has other lodges like chobe safari lodge in the northern part, and Queen Elizabeth national park. In the 1970s, the facilities of paraa safari lodge where dismantled by the idi amin wars; however, it is the current management of madhvani group that renovated it to its current state.

What to do in paraa region

Being the tourist hub, paraa is a place where almost all the safari activities in Murchison falls national park take place. You can enjoy the boat cruise to the albert delta; the point of the River Nile where it enters into Lake Albert. Alternatively, you can choose to take the bottom of the falls boat cruise. The boat cruise will expose you to sights of beautiful undulating landscape of Murchison falls national park. You also have a chase to enjoy the wildlife on the banks of the Nile, and birds some of which are endemic to only birding safaris in Murchison falls national park.

Paraa region of Murchison falls national park, can also give you an opportunity to enjoy the top of the falls hike through the Winston church hill trail. The top of the falls hike will expose you to nature’s beauty, from the top of the murchison falls, you get a panoramic view of Murchison falls national park. The falls are terrific with a lot of amazing features like the misty situation from the pressure of the water hitting on the giant stones bordering the narrow gorge of just about 6m wide. The falls are something you don’t want to miss out during your Murchison falls national park safari.

Best time to visit paraa

Paraa region of Murchison falls national park is always open throughout the year, however, the best season for game drives and other safari activities in Murchison falls national park, are December to February. This is the dry season and a rainfall is not expected.

Note: This is Africa and the rain is not so expected in the dry season, despite, a drizzle in one of the afternoons should be expected.