MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Savanna
Murchison Falls will show you multiple ecosystems, Palm forests, riverbeds and green savannas filled with wildlife. Murchison Falls has it all!
The Falls
Take a boat trip on the river towards the mighty Murchison Falls and watch the water plunder down with full force!
Nile River
The park border consists of the Nile River. Full of crocodiles, hippo’s and fishermen. The mountain range on the other side of the river provides a beautiful backdrop.
General information
Murchison falls national park is located in Buliisa District (western Uganda) and Nwoya District (northern Uganda) in the northern part of the Albertine Rift Valley, Murchison falls national park was once a conservation area when later turned into a game reserve in 1926 as stated by Winston Churchill a great man at the time due to the fact that he involved himself in a number of activities like boat cruises, hiking and cycling in the Nile Corridor of the falls. He was later followed by his predecessor who invested a lot of money while on a hunting safaris in Uganda. The park includes two other parts i.e the Bugungu and Karuma Wildlife reserve areas.
The park is secured and occupies an area of about 3,893km2 with Bugungu wildlife reserve occupying an area of about 501km2 and Karuma with 678km2 along with Budongo forest that takes a portion of both the reserves with 591km2 making a total of 5,663km2. The park includes seventy six species of mammals which include elephants, leopards, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, crocodiles, hippos, and 451 bird species. The park and reserves are operated by the Uganda Wildlife authority while Budongo Forest and the Murchison Falls Conservation area are under the National Forestry Association. In 1952, the British Administration formed the National Parks Act in Uganda which helped in enhancing the conservation of animals to increasing their numbers which led to the foundation of Murchison Falls national Park. The climate around the park is tropical with both hot/dry and two rainy seasons annually due to the fact that it is situated along the equator.
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Game Drives
Game driving refers to the activity that involves traveling from one place to another by driving around the park following tracks of the animals in their natural habitats. While on a game drive with in the park especially around the Buligi area and the Nile Valley one can spot and take photos of a variety of animal species like Elephants, lions in the bushes, kobs, buffalos, warthogs, oribi etc. You can also drive to the top of Murchison falls to view the tremendous water falls form up above then to and from their lodges to the park.
Birding
Situated in the north western part of Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is the biggest national park in Uganda and occupies an area of about 4,000 km2. It is a habitat to Africa’s “big five” game species i.e elephants, rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard. It is also the habitat of 451 bird species that is the Shoebill Stork, Goliath Heron (the largest heron in the world), and pairs of elegant Grey Crowned Cranes (Uganda’s national bird). Along the banks of River Nile are species like the Blue-headed Coucal, Swamp Flycatcher, Squacco Heron, African Jacana, Sandpipers, Denham’s Bustard, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Black-billed Barbet, Black-headed Gonolek, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Piapiac, Silverbird, Weaver Birds, Pied, Giant, Malachite Kingfishers, Red-throated Bee-eater, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver and African Quail-Finch. One can also spot other species while cruising and game driving like the Albertine Rift endemics, swallow tailed, grey heron,water birds, secretary birds, Marabou stork, widow bird, open billed stork,wood peckers and the shoe bill which is more favourable in the months of January to March.
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