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.
