Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is located in northwestern Uganda and is surrounded by 4 districts. And these are Masindi, Kyiryandongo, Nwoya, and Bulisa.

Murchison Falls National Park (The world’s Greatest Waterfall)  is 305km from Kampala and it takes approximately 5 hours.

However, accessed through Kampala via the Masindi route which is 280.9km, Kampala via the Matuga route which is 288.6km. And Kampala via the Hoima route is 321.5km.  The oldest, protected area in Uganda. Comprised of Murchison falls national park, Bugungu wildlife reserve, and Karuma wildlife refuge. The National park itself encompasses 3,893 sq. The park specifically  managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority and it is also known as Kabalega falls national park. Murchison Falls Uganda is grouped as part of the great Murchison falls conservation area (MFCA). Which consists of bugungu wildlife reserve, Karuma falls and Murchison falls national park.

History 

Initially protected as a game reserve in 1926, Murchison falls- Uganda.  Was declared as one of Uganda’s first national parks in 1952 and now making it the largest protected area in the country.

Meanwhile, Murchison Falls Uganda has two sectors, northern and a southern sector, the northern sector is characterized by savannah and Borassus palms. Acacia trees, and marshy woodland, while the southern part of the national park surely dominated by woodland and forests.

Attractions 

Murchison Falls. The falls are characterized by water gashing violently through a narrow gorge. Thus creating a permanent rainbow. From the baker’s point on the southern side of the national park. Visitors can view the famous Nile River split into smaller Uhuru falls, the Uhuru was created in 1962 when the river burst its bank.

Wildlife. There are over 76 wildlife species that reside in the park for instance elephants, giraffes, hippos, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles, topi, waterbucks, and others. And also over 451 species of birds such as the giant kingfisher, the giant heron, marabou stock, nightjars, and the shoebill stork.

Paraa. Is a tourism hub in Murchison falls national park. The word means home of the hippo in the native Luo language. This is where all boat trips and nature walks in the park start from, using passenger ferries to link visitors to the northern and southern river banks.

River Nile. Thereby explored by a boat cruise, it takes visitors to the base of Murchison falls rewarding them with lovely sights.

The Nile delta-lake Albert, the Nile delta marks the point where Victoria Nile flows into the Nile flows into Lake Albert. It is a key sport for birders, with its papyrus banks graced with abundant birdlife such as Goliath herons, great egrets, African fish eagle shoebill and others.

Game drive tracks.

Game drive racks are used while on a game drive safari, these game tracks lead you to various regions of the park. And offer sights of many attractions in the park. These tracks for example:

Buligi tracks. Is the prime game drive track of 7km in the park. The track converges at the delta point where the river Nile flows north out of Lake Albert. The track runs around the triangular Buligi peninsular which is dominated by grassland and bounded by Victoria Nile. As it enters Lake Albert and Albert as it flows out of Lake Albert.

Other tracks in Murchison include Albert tracks and Victoria tracks 3 Days Safari to Murchison Falls national park

Activities.

Bird watching, with over 450 bird’s species, the Nile corridor of the Murchison of the water birds. Such as rare shoebill stork and other popular species. For example the goliath heron, African Quail-Finch, the elephant Grey Crowned cranes and others

Game drive; the prime game viewing lies on the Buligi peninsula. It takes a maximum of 3 hours to see the hyenas, hippos, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, and many more, Nocturnal game drive. Here you can get a chance to see the predators of the night. Such as leopards, lions, hyenas, serval cats, among other. Therefore it takes 2 hours to see nocturnal in their habitats.

Boat cruise on the Nile River; there are two boat cruises in Murchison Falls Uganda for example the boat cruise upstream to the bottom of the falls and the boat cruise downstream to the Nile delta. Where u can see hippos, elephants, as they bath in water, antelopes, water birds and many along river Nile.

Hiking and nature walks, guided walks to the top of falls, Kaniyo Pabidi, and Rabongo forests. It can take a 2-4hour walk

Sportfishing in Murchison Falls Uganda  is carried out in designated arrears along the Victoria Nile. And its mainly done at the bottom of the falls by use of catch and release methods, fishing methods such as casting lures, use of live bait like worms, spinning methods where you can catch fish types like Nile perch, tiger fish, catfish among others.

Cultural encounters, energetic dancers from Mubako perform around lodge campfires. Boom women’s group offers accommodation, a craft shop, and village tours thus revealing the realities of life in this rural community.