Murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park is located in Northwestern part of Uganda in Bulisa, Kiryandongo and Nwoya districts sits on the shore of lake Albert where the Bunyoro escarpment descends into the rolling palm dotted plains offering as one of the dramatic landscapes in east Africa. Its known for its falls where the Victoria Nile surges over a massive drop The park was first gazetted in 1926,but it was later officially designated as one of Uganda’s first national parks in Uganda and it is the oldest and largest park in Uganda covering an area of 3840 square kilometres which has vegetation like savannah woodland forests etc .Murchison Falls is a home of 144 mammal species like elephants ,buffaloes ,giraffes ,Uganda Kob among others , 556 bird species like shoebill stock red throated bee eater , 51 reptiles ,51 amphibians.
Attractions at Murchison falls
Karuma waterfalls
Karuma waterfalls is an attractive feature in Murchison falls national park found in the Chobe area .Karuma waterfall is a thunderous waterfalls comprising of natural rock formation through which the waters force their way through and form white foam .Karuma falls form a pool of water which is visited by various animals like buffaloes ,Uganda Kobs , lions ,giraffes, baboons and birds such as shoe bill ,red throated beer eater among others and its the best site for sport fishing in Murchison falls national park.
Paraa region
Para safari is in Murchison national falls national park, one of the world’s most powerful flows of natural water. It is located in the Southern bank of the Victoria Nile. The Paraa means a place of hippos and its so evident hippo schools are spotted there at Paraa. Paraa is the main tourist hub in the park there are game drives conducted there. this is because the southern part has a lot wildlife like elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, and primates. It is also perfect for game drives launch boat and cultural safaris i.e. there are local people in the community, museum and gift shops.
Budongo central forest reserve
Is famously known for abundance of African mahogany trees, chimpanzees inhabiting, mahogany trees in the forest are more than 80meters tall with a circumference .Budongo forest is a home to more than 360 bird species for example sooty chat, eagles, vultures, eagles ,yellow throated greenbul ,290butterflies,130moths,475 tree species and 9species of primates like chimpanzee, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons among others .Budongo forest is the best site in Murchison falls for primate viewing, bird watching .
Kaniyo Pabidi forest
Kaniyo Pabidi forest is located in the Southern part of the Murchison falls conservation area and it is just 8 kilometres from Kichumbanyabo gate at an entrance to the falls .It is one of the best sites for chimpanzee tracking, bird watching in the Murchison falls National park the forest comprises of the largest remaining mahogany forest and ironwood trees which are habitats of primates like chimpanzees, olive baboons ,black and white colobus monkeys , it is also an amazing birding site in Murchison falls national park it inhabits birds like fly catcher. zoothers, yellow and grey long bill among others.
Activities done at Murchison falls national park.
Boat cruises: Boat cruises are usually to the Albert delta. These boat cruises start from Paraa and the boat gently sails flowing the Nile waters. Later the cruise sails down the stream where the river where the river splits and creates several floating islands, the floating water vegetation could be a problem but the hippos help out. Boat cruise is an experience to bird watchers mostly to those who do a morning cruise downstream to Lake Albert delta. its is a four-hour voyage where one can get a chance to seeing variety of wildlife like hippos, elephants, and numerous birds
Bird watching: the birds are usually seen between Para ret camp and ferry crossing. the birds spotted are vitelline masked weather, silver bird, silver bird, green winged ptyilia, black headed Batis, white rumped seed eater, bluff bellied warbler.
Nature walks: the tourists get to explore the wild on foot while in the Murchison falls conservation area. Nature walks happen at the top of falls, Kaniyo Papidi and Rabongo forest. with the help of the guide one can explore primates like the red-tailed monkeys’ chimpanzees, birds and plants. Kanio in Budongo forest one can walk beneath mature mahogany and ironwood tress
Game drives: The park is composed of woodland, wetland, savannah as well as the tropical forest. The Murchison falls national park has many mammals that can be seen during game drives such as lions, Uganda Kob, giraffe, cape buffalo among others Game drives start in the very early in the morning so that on can be able see plenty oof the games. At Nyamsika, one can enjoy the view and gaze at buffaloes, elephants and other wildlife.
Best time to visit Murchison falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is enjoyable all year through but best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park is during the dry seasons i.e. December to February and June to September. These months, there are less rains making it easier to spot animals clearly and drive smoothly through the park.
Wildlife spotting: can be best done December to February, there is always fewer undergrowth for animals to hide. Also, from June to July, there is always less rain, cooler temperature and fewer crowds
Bird watching: In June to July, there is always peak birth activity for birds with many migratory birds in the park.
One can have a more economic safari in the wet season because they lower prices yet there is more new plant life to see
To have a more intense experience: during the rainy seasons, the Nile River increases volume, making the Murchison more breathtaking.
Reservations: By June and July accommodation facilities are always booked, so it is important to make reservations in advance.
Transportation: During the wet/rainy seasons roads are always muddy and slippery so 4*4 vehicles are always recommended.
How to get to Murchison falls national park.
You can either get to Murchison falls National Park by either road or air transport means.
Road transport: The park has several gates i.e. Chobe, Wankar and Tandi gate in the Northern sector, Bungungu and Kichumbanyobo gate in the southern gate. One can use Kampala via Masindi to the park headquarters which takes to 5 to 6 hours.one can use their private means by self drive or tour company or even public means. By road transport to the park tourists are rewarded views of the scenery, landscape countryside, roadside markets etc.
Air transport: Tourists book daily scheduled or charter domestic flights with bar aviation or Aerolink Uganda limited from Entebbe international Airport or Kajjansi airfield to Chobe, Pakuba or Bugungu airstrips and then transfer to the park headquarters by road. Domestic flights to Murchison falls can booked through trusted tour company for example Achieve Global safaris among others.
conclusion
Murchison falls national park is a perfect destination for anyone looking for a combination of adventure, nature, scenic beauty ,landscape, vegetation and African Wildlife because it offers a variety of activities and experiences worth the Uganda safari.
