MURCHISON FALLS National PARK.
Location
Situated in northwestern Uganda, it is encircled by 4 Districts and these are Masindi, Kyiryandongo, Nwoya, and Bulisa.
Accessibility
It is 305km from Kampala and it requires around 5 hours.
The Kampala route via Hoima is 321.5 km long.
About the Park.
It is one of Uganda’s oldest protected areas. The national park itself covers 3,893 km² and it is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Murchison Falls National Park was also known as Kabalega Falls National Park. It is part of the Great Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA), which consists of the Bugungu Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Reserve, Karuma Falls and Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo Forest, and the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Originally protected as a game reserve in 1926, Murchison Falls National Park was designated one of Uganda’s first national parks in 1952 and is now the country’s largest protected area.
Murchison Falls National Park is divided into two by River Nile and has two sectors i.e. the northern wing and southern wing area, the northern area is described by savannah and Borassus palms, acacia trees, and damp forest and has the highest concentration of Wildlife. while the southern wing of the National park is overwhelmed by forest and woods and is dominated by small primates and forest bird species.
Attractions in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison falls.
At the falls, water quickly enters through a narrow gorge, creating a permanent rainbow. From Baker Point on the south side of the national park, visitors can see the Nile split into small Uhuru Falls, formed when the river burst its banks in 1962.
Natural life.
The park is home to over 76 species of wildlife including Lions, leopards, Hyenas, waterbuck, antelopes like Uganda Kobs, Oribi, elephants, giraffes, hippos, buffalo, Nile crocodile, rats, waterbuck, warthogs, and more. As well as more than 451 species of birds, including giant kingfishers, giant egrets, a flock of marabou, nightjars, Abyssinian ground Hornbill, African Fish Eagle, and many more.
Paraa.
This is the hotspot of Tourism in Murchison Falls National Park, the word implies home of the hippo in the local Luo language, this is where all boat outings and nature strolls through the park start from, utilizing traveler ship to connect guests toward the northern and southern stream banks.
During the past years, this spot used to be accessed by a ferry that was scheduled for particular hours of the day. However, a bridge was constructed which greatly improved accessibility between the Northern and southern sectors of the park.
Nile River.
It can be thoroughly explored by Can a boat voyage. it takes guests to the bottom of the falls where you get to see the violent water coming from the narrow point hitting the hard rocks and racing vigorously down the stream to the Albert Nile. This 2 hours’ ride is a rich experience. It gives u a chance to see both the aquatic and terrestrial inhabitants of the park like the Large schools of Hippos, giant Nile Crocodiles, various water birds, water-loving reptiles, elephants, buffaloes, and waterbuck, can all be sighted during this launch to the bottom of the falls.
The Nile delta-lake Albert,
The Nile delta denotes where Victoria Nile streams into Lake Albert, it is a critical game for birders, with its papyrus banks graced with bountiful birdlife, for example, Goliath herons, extraordinary egrets, African fish hawk shoebill, and others.
Game tracks
These are the uniquely marked roads that are utilized while on a game drive safari, these game tracks lead you to different areas of the park and offer sights of numerous wildlife in the Park. These tracks incorporate;
Buligi tracks. Is the great game drive track of 7km in the recreation area, the track merges at the delta point where stream Nile streams north out of Lake Albert, the track goes around the three-sided Buligi peninsular which is overwhelmed by prairie and is limited by Victoria Nile as it enters Lake Albert and Albert as it streams out of lake Albert.
Honeymoon track,
Situated on the southern part of the falls. It is one of the rarely used tracks but a hidden gem with a very rich concentration of wildlife especially the predators like lions, however, since they are less exposed to human presence, they are hostile and can attack at any trigger, therefore, driving drives on this track must be guided by an armed ranger guide.
The Albert tracks and Victoria tracks.
These two are the commonly used tracks in the park they have a well-distributed wildlife concentration ranging from big herds of elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, giraffes, lions, and leopard hyenas. They also have various mating grounds for the different animals.
Hippo pool.
This is the lowest point in the Park, here you get a chance to see a very large concentration of hippos in the park. They spent most of their time in the water and only come out during the night time for grazing and later return to the pool. Here clients get out of the vehicle and enjoy the great views of the Albert Nile as they quietly flow down to join the Albert Delta in a few km. Juicy African fruits like Pine apples are usually enjoyed from this spot While contemplating the beauty of this vast game.
Activities in Murchison Falls National Park:
Bird watching,
With more than 450 bird species, the Nile passageway of the Murchison of the water birds, for example, interesting shoebill stork and other well-known species including the goliath heron, African Quail-Finch, the elephant Dark Delegated cranes, and others
Game drive:
The great game survey lies on the Buligi landmass, it takes a limit of 3 hours to see the hyenas, hippos, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, and some more, On Nighttime game drive; here you can be able to see the hunters of the night, for example, panthers, lions, hyenas, serval felines, among other. It can require 2 hours to see nighttime in their living spaces.
Boat Rides:
The Nile can be navigated in 2 ways, for instance, the boat cruise upstream to the lower part of the falls, and the boat journey downstream to the Nile delta, where u can see hippos, and elephants, as they shower in water, impalas, water birds and numerous along waterway Nile.
Climbing and nature walks,
Guided walks to the highest point of the falls, where you will encounter various birds within the park, including small primates like Baboons, monkeys, and warthogs. It can go for a 2-4-hour stroll. However, you can also choose to do chimpanzee trekking in the Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo backwoods.
Sport fishing.
It is completed in assigned back payments along the Victoria Nile and it is predominantly finished at the lower part of the falls by utilization of catch and delivery strategies, fishing techniques, for example, projecting draws, utilization of live lures like worms, turning techniques where you can get fish types like Nile perch, tiger fish, catfish among others.
Social experiences: fiery artists from Mubako perform around hold-up pit fires, Blast ladies’ gathering offers convenience, a specialty shop, and town visits, uncovering the real factors of the existence in this country’s local area.
