Murchison Falls National Park Uganda – Murchison Falls Safaris – Murchison Falls Tours and Holiday Packages

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  • Murchison Falls

    Murchison Falls

    Murchison Falls

    One of the many wonders of Uganda is the Murchison Falls, locally known as the Kabalega falls; located in Murchison Falls National Park in the western region of Uganda. The waterfall occurs on the Victoria Nile, a section of the River Nile that flows directly from Lake Victoria, the largest tropical fresh water lake in the world.

    The Murchison falls are strategically nestled within layers of rock between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert feeding off hundreds of cubic meters of water escaping from the massive Lake Victoria.

    This waterfall was first discovered by Europeans Samuel and Florence Baker upon their safari expeditions and named it after Roderick Murchison of the Royal geographical society.

    Upon a Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park, a hike to the top of the waterfall is the highlight of this nature adventure. You will realize that the Murchison falls were merely formed as a result of large bouts of water, about 300 cubic meters, from Lake Victoria ravaging through a 7 meter gap in the rock bed and falling 43 meters into the cauldron below.

    The workings of nature at the top of the waterfall is quite a sight to behold; no wonder the Murchison Falls National park was named after this natural wonder. The top of Murchison falls is surrounded by huge chunks of rock, violent surges of water and moist evergreen riverine forest where bird life is abounding.

    From the shore of the Victoria Nile, one can plot a course to the base of Murchison Falls on a boat adventure in Uganda safari Murchison Falls National Park. You can hear the waterfall roar from a distance as falling water collides with rocks forming a hazy mist and colorful rainbow. On this voyage expect to see some crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes and kudu.

  • Murchison Falls National Park Game Drives

    Murchison Falls National Park Game Drives

    Game viewing or game drives in Murchison Falls National Park

    Are you planning a Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park to view all the wildlife in the varied landscape of the park; then you are on the right track. There are about 76 mammal species within the boundaries of Murchison Falls National Park including four members of the Big 5 such as Lions, Elephants, Buffalos and Leopards with the exception of Rhinos.

    After driving for about five to six hours from Kampala City, you will find yourself standing before a gate leading to a discovery of wildlife in this safari arena in the northern region of Uganda. Game viewing is enjoyed following a detailed plan of game tracks through savannah plains, riparian forest and along the banks of the Nile with predator sightings.

    How game drives are conducted

    Game drives for Uganda safari Murchison Falls National Park are mainly conducted in two shifts; early morning game drives and late afternoon game drives. Each game drive session takes between 2 to 4 hours and maximum 5 hours. Morning game drives kick off at 6.30am and are great for catching animals leaving their nests and heading out to find food. 

    Late afternoon game drives on the other hand start at 4.00pm and can run to 7 or 8.00pm. These game drives are meant to lend you a glimpse into nocturnal animal life and how animals set up nests for the night. In the late afternoon after animals have endured extreme heat, you might be lucky to find them in a struggle with crocodiles at the water’s edge. 

    Areas for game viewing

    Game drives for Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park are mainly done within two areas; that is to say Paraa and Buligi Game Area. Each area offers unique animal sightings and a touch of distinction when it comes to clarity in views and abundance of wildlife. However, both areas promise great animal sightings and elusive landscape vistas.

    The Paraa region stretches inland from the banks of the Victoria Nile and it can be reached using the southern gate of the park via Masindi or by crossing the Nile on a ferry if one is approaching the park from the north. The name “Paraa” was adapted from a luo word that means Place of Hippo’s; this is especially true as you will see many of these along the shallow ends of the river.

    Buligi Game Area or Buligi Game Reserve is a 160 kilometer stretch of safari land located between the Victoria Nile and the Albert Nile within the MFCA. It lies along the northern banks of the Nile; west of Paraa region all the way to the Albert delta; offering breathtaking views of the Rift Valley, Lake Albert and the free-flowing hills of Congo.

    Game tracks and what animals to expect

    There are three main game tracks followed when on a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park and these are Albert game track, the Victoria game track and the Buligi game track. Each game track offers a unique perspective to game viewing as a drive through the savannah plains will introduce you to herds of animals grazing and perhaps even resting.

    Within the savannah plains expect to see more of animals like Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Rothschild’s giraffes, serval cats, Lions, Jackals and Uganda Kobs. Within the woodland animals like Elephants, Leopards, Olive baboons, Hyenas, Buffalos, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, Chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys are more abounding.

    Along the river banks and soggy wetlands you can enjoy sightings of mammals like Hippos, Kudu, Warthogs, Crocodiles, monitor lizards and many others. It is also where you can catch some action between non suspecting animals that come to drink from the river yet their predators are hiding under the water to grab them should chance arise.

    When to go

    Seeing as Uganda has fair weather all year round, we would say game viewing can be done anytime of the year. However, there are specific months where the safari would be affected; for example, in the rainy months of March to May and August to September. Other dry months and fairly rainy months should be okay for you to view game for Uganda safari Murchison Falls National Park.

  • What to expect on a Uganda safari Murchison Falls National Park

    What to expect on a Uganda safari Murchison Falls National Park

    What to expect on a Murchison Falls Safari

    Murchison Falls National Park has a mammal count totaling to about 76 species. If you are eager to spend a wildlife safari in Uganda, Murchison Falls is the place to be. Special animals like the rare Patas monkeys and Defassa waterbuck can be seen here. There is also the country’s largest population of Rothschild’s giraffes that you will only see again in Kidepo National Park.

    Also, this is as close as you will get to having the BIG 5 in one place. There is four of the Big 5 in the park; Lions, Elephants, Buffalos and Leopards with exception of Rhinos and such a blend is uncommon in Uganda. Other specials include; Chimpanzees, Hippos, Uganda Kobs, a good species of antelopes, Warthogs, crocodiles, Olive baboons and an array of monkeys.

    When it comes to birdlife, it is impossible for you to be disappointed as Murchsion Falls National Park has over 400 bird species including birds that have long been sought after worldwide like the Shoe bill stork. You will see birds like Puvel’s Illadopsis that do not exist anywhere else in East Africa. Other specials include; Grey crowned crane crane, White thigh ground hornbill and Papyrus gonolek.

    More birds to see are; Yellow footed Kingfisher, Goliath Heron Abyssinian ground hornbill, Red throated bee eater, Black billed barbet, African quailfinch, Eastern plantain eater, Marabou Stork, Open billed stork, Pied Giant Kingfisher, ducks, geese and Malachite Kingfisher, black headed lapwing, Rock Pranticole, Speckle fronted weaver, Senegal thick knee and standard winged nightjar among others.

    While the best way to meet the animals of Uganda safari Murchison Falls National Park is to embark on a game drive, birding can be done really anywhere; at the river banks, in the forests, at the Nyamsika gorge and at the base and top of the Murchison Falls. Game drives on the other hand are usually within the park and along the river banks either in the morning or late afternoon.  

    A nature’s gate-away adventure

    Murchison Falls National Park is never lacking in natural splendor as many wonders exist within the park. As the River Nile leaves Lake Kyoga and makes its way through the park, it encounters a series of ancient rocks that it can only squeeze through before dropping into a 44m depression hence forming the popular Murchison Falls.

    Without much remorse, the Nile continues to split into several smaller streams pouring into Lake Albert at the Albert Delta point; and all this within the premises of the park. It further flows north over rough terrain where it creates the Karuma falls. It would seem that in deed natural goodness and wonder in this part of the country never ends.

    Book a Murchison Falls boat cruise escapade to explore this nature goodness all in the comfort of your boat. The voyage will naturally kick off from the Paraa dock where plenty of animals are cooling off around the river banks and head downstream either at the Albert delta where the Shoebill stork has made a home or to the base of Murchison Falls.

    Once at the base of the falls, the loud roar of the water as it shatters over layers of rock will create a sensation like you have never felt before. Do not be dismayed at some visitors in boats further along the river indulging in a Murchison Falls Fishing safari. From here, a hike to the top of the falls is when you will witness how the Nile turns into a waterfall.

    To sum it all up, when on a Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park, expect only the best of wildlife safari; diversity in animals and birdlife and the best safari excursions such us Murchison Falls Game viewing, Murchison Falls fishing safari, Hot Air balloon adventures and cultural encounters to meet the natives living around the park. 

  • Paraa

    Paraa

    Paraa

    Paraa in Murchison Falls National Park is used to refer to the region of safari land stretching off the banks of the Victoria Nile. The region is the economic centre of the park with the best lodges and business ventures and it can be reached using the southern gate of the park via Masindi or by crossing the Nile on a ferry if one is approaching the park from the north.

    The name “Paraa” was adapted from a luo word that means, “Place of hippos”. A boat safari on the Victoria Nile to see the base of the Murchison Falls often starts off at Paraa where numerous Hippos are often cooling off from the scorching heat to protect their sensitive skin while some animals are collected to quench their thirst.  

    Apart from Hippos, the Paraa region is famous for other game viewing safari specials such as Elephants, Crocodiles, Blue monkeys, Lions, bushbucks, red tailed monkeys, Leopards, waterbuck, black and white monkeys, Uganda Kobs, Olive baboons, Buffaloes, Kudu, Jackals, Warthogs, Hyenas, serval cats and monitor Lizards among other animals.

    On the same note, Paraa’s fame goes beyond the wildlife to a century of royalty and prominent guests. See, when Queen Elizabeth visited Murchison Falls National Park in the 1960’s she stayed at Paraa safari lodge, further spreading the “Paraa fame”. Other guests to the area include; Winston Churchill, Emin Pasha, Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway. 

    With visits from such famous people, Paraa is one of the most popular regions in Murchison Falls National Park. It is also home to the famous luxury Paraa safari lodge. Major activities to enjoy at Paraa include; game drives, birding, hiking to the top of Murchison Falls, a boat cruise to the base of the Falls or to the Albert delta; the point where River Nile enters into Lake Albert.tyles of the northern and southern portions, they were aligned with each other because faulting for both was controlled by a pre-existing, west-facing, deep basement ramp with over 10 km of vertical offset.