Murchison Falls National park
Murchison Falls National park
Murchison falls is the largest national park in Uganda covering about 3840 square kilometers. It is divided into two sections namely the Northern section and Southern section with vegetation characterised by open savanna, Borassus palm, accicia woodland, forest patches, offering diverse habitats for a wide range of wildlife. It was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1926 and officially established as one of Uganda’s first national park in 1952. It has attracted some of the world’s most notable explorers, leaders and adventure including Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, British Royalty, Ernest Hemingway .
The national park is known for stunning Murchison falls where the Victoria Nile River surges through a narrow gap over a massive drop with animals like crocodiles and hippos at the river banks.. These are the most powerful waterfall in the world.
It is home of about 144 mammals species like leopards, lions, herbivores like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, warthogs, giraffes, reptiles like crocodiles, primates like blue tailed monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, about 556 birds species like gaint heron, black crake,abyssinian ground hornbill,weaver birds, silver birds
LOCATION
The national park is located in North Western Uganda, about 305 kilometers from Kampala. It spans across the districts of Buliisa, Nwoya, Kiryandongo and Masindi and spreads inland from the shores of lake Albert aroun the Victoria Nile up to Karuma falls.
TIME TO VISIT
Tourists can visit Murchison Falls National Park throughout the year however the best time to visit is during the dry season ranging from the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February . Bird watchers can carry out birding basically in the wet season
HOW TO GET THERE
The park can be reached by both air and road . Tourist can enter the national park from six main gates namely Southern gate, Northern gate, Eastern gate, Western gate among others. Tourists can use charted aircraft from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip near Kampala to reach Pakuba Airstrip about 19km from North Paraa and other airstrips like Chobe to the East and Bugungu near Murchison falls to the North . A bus or any private means can be used when using road.
ATTRACTIONS
Murchison Falls National Park offers a diverse range of natural treasures tourists may enjoy , learn about and create unforgettable experience. The attractions include;
MURCHSION FALLS
The national park is known for stunning Murchison falls as the main tourists attraction where the Victoria Nile River surges through a narrow gap over a massive drop with animals like crocodiles and hippos at the river banks. These are the most powerful waterfalls in the world
WILDLIFE
Explore the savanna grassland and woodland to spot animals about 144 are mammals species such as carnivores like leopards, lions, herbivores like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, warthogs, giraffes,reptiles like crocodiles, primates like blue tailed monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys
BIRDS
The national park is a home of about 556 birds species like abyssinian ground hornbill,gaint kingfisher, silver bird, weaver birds, yellow billed oxpecker, swamp flycatcher that tourists can spot during game drive and nature walk
ACTIVITIES IN THE NATIONAL PARK
ACTIVITIES IN THE NATIONAL PARK
Tourists engage in a number of activities that create remarkablememorieswhile at the national park. The following are the activities;
GAME DRIVES
Game drives are carried out to spot wildlife like elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, leopards in different sessions including in the morning considered the best time, afternoon and evening and night
BIRD WATCHING
This is carried out to spot like abyssinian ground hornbill,gaint kingfisher, silver bird, weaver birds, yellow billed oxpecker, swamp flycatcher during boat cruises on the Nile River and nature walking
VISIT TOP OF THE FALLS
Tourists visit the top of the falls to hear the thunderous sounds of the whole Nile passing through a narrow gorge about 6meters
ACCOMMODATION
Murchison Falls National Park has accommodation facilities for tourists on safari at affordable price with comfort and they are divide into high end, mid range and budget.
The high end accommodation
This includes Entikko Safari Lodge found in Muvule village, Ngwendo subcountywith beautiful views of the wilderness, Papa’s Camp situated on the Southern banks of the Nile river containing about 5 luxury comfortable ensuite tents with the Nile River view, Chobe Safari Lodge closest to the northern bank of the Nile River with 40 guest rooms, 21 luxury tents and 4 suites, a presidential suite and florence family house.
The mid range accommodation
The national park offers unique mid range accommodation including lgwara Lodge found in Karuma at the edge of the national park, Nkundwa Nile View Lodge found in Wanseko on the banks of the Nile River the rooms are well decorated, elevated off the ground furnished with private then suite facilities, Wild Palace Safari Lodge found in the East Pakwach on the Albert Nile on the border of Uganda.
The Budget accommodation
These include Fort Murchison Safari lodge in the North part of the park built near the River Nile with beautifully crafted ancient architecture, Nile Safari Lodge in the Southern bank of River Nile provides a super attractive sunset on the water flaunts the beauty of a true African wilderness, Paraa Safari Lodge in the centre of the park north western Uganda provides a unique fine mixture of comfortless, relaxation and adventure in the wilderness.
