Category: Travel Guide

Uganda Safari Murchison Falls Tour Packages

The experience:

With safari in Murchison Falls, it can never be a dull moment as everywhere you turn will prove adventurous with any of these activities

1. Murchison Falls Chimpanzee tracking:

There is a massive population of Chimpanzees in Murchison Falls National Park coming to over a total of 400 individuals. This obviously makes it a top chimpanzee tracking destination after Kibaale National Park within the forests of Budongo, Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo.

A typical safari tour package in this park will give you the opportunity to trek through large patches of Mahogarny and Ironwood trees in a group of 8 people to spend about 2 hours observing the scenery for Murchison Falls Chimpanzee tracking. So, while you plan a safari in this park, look forward to a light hike in the forest.

2. Game viewing:

Yes, a Uganda safari Murchison Falls National Park tour package will involve a game drive through the vast plains of the park to see the vibrant wildlife. Out of the 76 mammal species in the park, expect to see some of the Big 5 such as Lions, Elephants, Buffalos and Leopards and specials like Patas monkeys and Defassa Waterbuck.

Game viewing can be enjoyed in the Buligi area and Paraa following designated trails that explore the savannah area, the woodland and the river banks. Other animals to see on this adventure are; Rothschild’s giraffes, Warthogs, Hippos, Crocodiles, Chimpanzees, Olive baboons, Blue monkeys and black and white Columbus monkeys.

3. Murchison Falls boat cruise:

The voyage of a lifetime is now; as you enjoy a cold drink on the course of River Nile to the base of Murchison Falls National Park.  A boat launch at Murchison Falls always starts off at Paraa for a wildlife starter at the river banks and to the base of the waterfall. Enjoy a light hike to the top to see how the falls are formed.

Alternatively, you could opt to sail to the Albert Nile delta; a point where the River Nile splits into various streams pouring into Lake Albert and leaving behind patches of land with papyrus; the shoebill’s paradise. Experiencing the life within nature in the evening at the delta point will be a memory you will carry for life.

4. Birding:

Murchison Falls National Park tour packages will allow you to meet the birds of the north western region of Uganda. The park has an impressive bird count of over 400 birds including rare species like the Shoebill stork, Papyrus gonolek, Yellow footed Kingfisher, White thigh ground hornbill and Puvel’s Illadopsis.

Other birds that you might see on a Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park are; Grey crowned crane, Goliath Heron, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Red throated bee eater, Black billed barbet, Marabou Stork, Giant Kingfisher, Open billed stork, Pied Giant Kingfisher, ducks, geese and Malachite Kingfisher among others.

5. Murchison Falls fishing safari:

Another chapter in the safari tour packages book happens to be a fishing safari in the waters of the Victoria Nile. Carry your fishing equipment with a chance to catch species like the Nile Perch, Catfish and Tiger fish from the comfort of your boat along rocks lining the base of Murchison Falls.

6. Cultural experience:

Meeting the local people and mingling into African culture is very much part of a tour package in Murchison Falls National Park. Enjoy a warm afternoon walking through the Boomu community to meet the local traditional healer, local banana farmers and to taste local cuisines and perhaps purchase a souvenir to carry back home.

7. Hot Air Balloon adventures:

Yes, you can have a Hot Air Balloon safari in Murchison Falls National Park. This activity is quite new to the safari world and you can only find it here and in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Spend your morning soaring over the park after which a bush breakfast will be arranged for you and your counterparts.

8. Hiking and Nature walks:

It is indeed very relaxing to walk the land of natural wonders with Murchison Falls National Park tour packages. Following safe trails through the forest, a UWA guide will lead through large Mahogany and Iron wood trees spotting primates, other mammals and plenty of forest bird species.

When it comes to a Uganda safari in Murchison Falls, there is so much you can fit into a tour package to fully maximize the potential of a wildlife safari. From all these activities to choose from, it always comes down to what you have always wanted to try your whole life.

How to Book a Safari to Murchison Falls Uganda?

Things you need to know while booking a Murchison Falls Safari

Booking a Safari in Uganda Murchison falls is a step you should consider taking in advance, with over 104,000 tourist in a year Murchison falls National Park is one of Uganda’s most visited Park. There are various ways you can book a safari to Murchison falls which include handling the booking on your own or using a third party (tour operator).

However attempts to book safari on your own have reportedly turned out to be bad experiences due to either lack of adequate information to do it or general poor booking. We advise that the easiest and most convenient way to book a tour to Murchison falls is by contacting a reputable Murchison falls tour operator. It is reliable to step this step about a week, a month of even months before your planned dates of travel.

Finding a reputable Murchison falls safari Operator

There are various safari operators in Uganda that offer safari to Murchison falls National Park, the challenge is find a good tour operator who can handle your safari booking to meet your preferences. The best way to find out if a tour operator with worth your booking is looking at passed reviews the company has. A reputable operator should have good reviews based on his previous bookings with travelers. If the operator can pass this test then feel free to get in touch and ask for a free quote that should be provided at no cost.

Most tour operators in Uganda will have tailor made tours from which you can opt to choose from, name the tour and the operator will be able to give you a quote for the tour. At Travelmonke, we offer various tailor made tours for your Murchison falls booking ranging from 2 days to multi day tours featuring other key attractions in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. Do you prefer designing your own travel agenda, at Travelmonke we let handle your safari with help of our expert safari advisors to come up with a safari that will best fit your desires.

Confirming a Murchison falls Safari booking

Upon meeting an agreement with a Murchison falls tour operator about a safari you are willing to book, the next step is to confirm your Murchison falls tour. How do you confirm a Murchison falls booking?

A booking to Murchison falls  is considered a confirmation when you make an initial deposit of the general safari price required. This deposit ranges from 30% to 60% of the general safari price provided by your tour operator. This range varies depending on how much your operator will require to make reservations to hotels and other park activities that are part of your Murchison falls tour.

As your travel dates draw closer, you will be required to make the second deposit of your quote to sum up the full amount payment of your booked tour.

Buligi Game Area

Buligi game area or Buligi game reserve is a stretch of safari land in Murchison Falls National Park located between the Victoria Nile and the Albert Nile. The 160 kilometer game viewing arena forms a part of the larger Murchison Falls Conservation Area along with Budongo forest, the Kaniyo Pabidi forests and the park itself.

The Buligi area 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 even the free flowing hills of Congo. The vegetation in Buligi game reserve is a cocktail of riverine forest and savannah grassland and woodland with open fields of acacia trees.

Game viewing on a Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park is mainly done here with sightings of animals like the Big 5 (Elephants, Buffalos, Lions and Leopards with exception of Rhinos). Other animals include; Hyenas, Hippos, Crocodiles, Bushbuck, waterbuck, Jackals, Warthogs, Rothschild’s giraffes and Serval cats among other animals.

Apart from the action that you will enjoy at the banks of River Nile as predators make their moves on prey in the Buligi game area, prepare for some bird sightings as well. The Buligi game reserve is a great birding spot as you can spot birds like the White thighed Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle and also some flycatchers among other birds.

The Buligi game area offers a variety of safari activities for a Murchison Falls adventure on budget. If you do not wish to indulge in a game drive or birding adventure, you can always opt for a Hot Air Balloon Safari. This game viewing arena is the heart of Hot Air Balloon adventures in Murchison Falls National Park.g styles 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.

Murchison Falls National Park is located at the edge of the western safari corridor after Kibale National Park in northern Uganda. It covers an area of 3,893 square kilometers in the larger Murchison Falls Conservation Area together with Bugungu wildlife reserve (748 square km) and Karuma Wildlife Reserve (720 sq km).

When on a Uganda Budget safari in the Murchison Falls National Park, expect to have a full-blown fun adventure in Uganda’s largest national park stretching out within four districts; Masindi, Nyowa, Kiryandongo and Buliisa. The park also has quite a unique and rich eco system sprouting right from Lake Victoria through the Nile and into Lake Albert.

Walk the trails of the largest collection of Mahogany and Ironwood in East Africa as you attempt to track some Chimps and find some rare bird species. The park has an exotic blend of rivers, lakes, waterfalls, a rich birdlife and an undeniable variety in animals while its vegetation is a network of Open savannah plains, woodland, riparian forest and some wetland.

Uganda safari Murchison Falls National Park on a budget

Is it possible to visit Murchison Falls and enjoy the goodness there in on a budget plan? Oh yes, most definitely so! A budget safari is something many travelers think about but often dismiss for fear of compromise on the quality of the adventure. The truth is you can still have the safari of your lifetime all on the friendly budget you have.

Get on that boat cruise that you have always wanted or that game drive that you dreamed of. Experience what it feels like to track Chimpanzees in the wild all the while maintaining the budget for your safari. There is no reason why you get to miss out on a Uganda Murchison Falls safari adventure because you can still have the best even on budget. 

The Experience

Picture the perfect two days spent within the park for a budget safari to Murchison Falls with exciting activities to enjoy. To fully explore the beauty of this park, you will arrive at the park on your first day. The goal here is to check into Fort Murchison, a budget accommodation where you would spend the next two nights while on this Uganda safari.

At Fort Murchison you have the option of either opting for a self-contained room with a private bathroom or go for a fully furnished tent set up on an elevated concrete platform with a public bathroom. This is the true essence of a budget accommodation; enjoying the benefits of the park with an accommodation facility that is price friendly.

You should note that with a Murchison Falls budget safari at Fort Murchison, extra services like Laundry, alcoholic beverages and sodas will be on your bill should you need to acquire them. After checking into your budget accommodation in Murchison falls, prepare for a late evening voyage upon River Nile. The experience sets off from Paraa at the banks of the river where Hippos and crocodiles are abounding.

Sail along the river stream spotting animals in the distance to the base of Murchison Falls. The loud splash of water against rocks is just what you need to stay alert. Then venture on a 45 minute hike to the top of the falls where the actions all takes place. Enjoy a ferry ride back to your lodge where a scrumptious dinner awaits.

The next day is game viewing day. After breakfast, board your 4-wheel vehicle through the open savannah plains to meet specials like Rothschild’s giraffes, Defassa waterbuck, Patas monkeys, Lions, Elephants, Buffalos and Leopards. After your morning game drive, you will enjoy a ferry crossing over the Nile and a drive to Masindi town for a scrumptious meal.

This will mark the end of your Uganda safari Murchison Falls National Park and will thus enjoy a drive back to Kampala through the country. We hope you took as many pictures as possible while you enjoyed your budget safari covering activities like a boat cruise to the base of the falls, a hiking adventure to the top of the falls, game viewing and accommodation.

What a budget safari to Murchison Falls cost will cover:

• Pick up and return transportation to the starting point; be it in Kampala or at Entebbe International Airport.
• An English Speaking driver and safari guide with some water bottles in the vehicle.
• Accommodation at Fort Murchison for a night with lunch, dinner and breakfast for the next day
• Park entry fees, boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls, a hike to the top of the falls, game viewing with a UWA guide and ferry crossings.
• Departing lunch in Masindi.

What a Murchison Falls budget safari cost will not cover:

• Alcoholic drinks and beverages at Fort Murchison
• Tipping
• Laundry services

In conclusion, it is possible to enjoy a Uganda budget safari to Murchison Falls National Park without compromising on the fun and integrity of the adventure. You still get to witness the making of the majestic Murchison Falls, meet the intriguing safari animals and put your body to the test as you hike up to the top of Murchison Falls yet all the while looking forward to a relaxing night at the lodge.d, many mountain summits were surmounted for the first time.

Boomu Cultural Village Experience

The Boomu Cultural Village is a community of natives in the western region of Uganda in Kigaragara village at the edge of Murchison Falls National Park. The community is built on unity or working together for a common good; an ideology that was derived from the local word “Boomu” which can be translated to mean “togetherness”.

This community of togetherness is spearheaded by a group of women; the Boomu women’s group, which was formed in 1999 with the intent of combating low standards of living that had become the pattern and way of life of the people. The village was riddled with malnutrition, poverty and illiteracy that were greatly hindering quality of life in Kigaragara and Kihaguzi.

In addition, the land that had aided in cultivation had been lost to establishment of the Park’s boundaries and the rest of it had become dry thus yielding no crop. Seeing a need for change, a group of women came together to cultivate an era of business starting with making and selling handcrafts. They recruited as many women as they could; teaching them the ways of the trade.

The incomes generated were meant to provide food for their families, keep the children in school and improve on the livelihoods of their communities. With time, other activities were incorporated into the business; such as cultivation, herbal medicine making and offering cultural experiences to tourists on Uganda safari Murchison Falls National Park.

Presently, the Boomu cultural village offers full blown cultural experiences at Murchison Falls on a budget safari. With the help of a tour guide, you can waltz around the village meeting the local farmers at work in their banana plantations. You can even watch them harvest, prepare, make and even package local brew out of the bananas.

After the banana plantations, the medicine man will be right around the corner. This local herbalist knows his way around many local ailments using wild roots, leaves and bark. Enjoy some local cuisines after helping to prepare them and purchase some souvenirs from the craft shop. The final activity will be enjoying some folk stories, music and traditional dance.