Murchison falls national park is one of the ten national parks in Uganda under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority, a body that is responsible for protecting all wildlife in Uganda. The park is located in the northwestern part of Uganda, neighboring Masindi district and stretching from the Albertine delta, Victoria Nile to the Karuma falls. The park got its name after the visit by Sir Samuel Baker and Florence baker who came to Uganda in 1863 and named it Murchison falls national park after the geologist Roderick Murchison – former president of the Royal Geographical Society.
The park was formerly referred to as Kabalega National Park and sits on an area of approximately 3,893 square kilometers making it Uganda’s largest national park and one of the oldest national parks in Uganda neighbouring both Bugungu and Karuma wildlife reserves. The park is one of the most visited national parks in Uganda and is known because of its Murchison falls, wildlife animals because it hosts 76 mammal species including the four of the big five animals – lions, elephants, leopards and Buffalos. It also has the highest number of crocodiles.
The park is known for homing other wildlife animals such as the bushbucks, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, warthogs, giraffes, dik-dik, Bohor reedbucks, Rothchild’s giraffes, oribi, Jacksons hartebeests, spotted hyenas and so much more.
Murchison falls national park has also got animals such as the hippos that reside on the shores of Victoria Nile and over 8 species of primates ranging from olive baboons red-tailed monkeys black and colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and more found in the Budongo forest.
The park is well known for homing over 450 bird species among others including the rare shoe-billed storks, dwarf kingfishers, goliath herons, white thighed hornbills, Egyptian goose, Abyssinian ground hornbills, black belly bustards and the great blue turacos.
Activities in Murchison Falls National Park.
Game drives.
Visiting Murchison falls national park is a rewarding activity as it will expose you to popular safari activities in this park. Among the activities carried out in Murchison falls national park is game drives which are either done in the morning or afternoon to view several savannah wildlife and night game drive to sight nocturnal animals such as leopards, hyenas, bush babies and many more as they are looking for what to eat.
Boat cruises.
There are also boat cruises and two of them; one cruises up the stream to bottom of the falls and another one follows downstream along the Victoria Nile to lake Albert delta. The morning cruises start at 8:00 am while the evening cruise begins at 2:00 pm all taking 3 and 5 hours respectively.
Nature walks.
Take a nature walk through the park’s main trails for example to the Kaniyo Pabidi forest, Albert delta area and Rubongo forest, and hiking along the Sambiya river. This will allow you to reach close to the animals and birds in this park.
Other activities carried out in the park include bird watching which can be done in the company of experienced birder, doing sport fishing another interesting activity which is usually done on the banks of Nile River below the Murchison falls. Participate in chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation experience which is done in Budongo forest beginning with a briefing before setting off to meet these animals.
Best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park can be visited all year round but the best time to visit this park is during the dry season in the months of June, July, august, September, December, January and February because during these months there is little or no rainfall which makes trails to this park passable.
How to access Murchison falls national park?
Since Murchison Falls National Park is located in the northwestern part of the country. It can be accessed by air transport which requires you to book a scheduled flight from Entebbe international airport to Chobe, Pakuba or Bugungu airstrips or use road transport from Kampala or from the airport at Entebbe to the park.
