Murchison Falls National Park

Seated on the shores of the magnificent Lake Albert in the northwest of Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is a popular center of adventure and a wonderful nature collection. The park gives the most unforgettable experiences travelers would wish for in the wild.

It enables visitors to set their eyes on the most beautiful creatures there is in the East African great Rift Valley region. Murchison Falls National Park is the largest conservation area in Uganda seated on an area of approximately 3893 square kilometers extending to districts of Hoima, Kikuube, Masindi, and Buliisa. It is a renowned habitat for a variety of animals especially the Bush elephants, hippopotami, Nile crocodiles, and several primates.

Visits to Murchison Falls National Park will leave you admiring how endowed some places are on the continent and indeed provide proof that Uganda is the true Pearl of Africa.

A brief history of Murchison Falls National Park.

The conservation area hosted its first European visitors in 1862 that is to say John Speke and James Grant. These two undertook several explorational journeys and discovered a handful of exciting creatures and hidden gems in the reserve.

The conservation area was however extensively explored by Samuel Becker who also discovered a variety of attractive species of flora and fauna and captivating landforms. Baker went ahead to name the park after his boss Roderick Murchison in a bid to appreciate how wonderful and adorable the destination was.

In 1952, the British declared Murchison Falls Conservation Area a national park to further help protect the wildlife species that live within the park and the habitat as well. The national park has since offered tourism services and is among the very best destinations on the African continent today.

Key attractions of the National Park and uniqueness.

The main attraction of the park is the captivating Murchison Falls. These are the strongest waterfalls in the whole world. They showcase the wonders of nature as the river Nile paves its way through a 7-meter gorge sparking off strong waterfalls and forming a permanent rainbow at the scene that adds up to the overall beauty of the waterfalls especially when it’s watched from above.

The uniqueness of Murchison Falls National Park lies in the fact that it is the largest conservation area in Uganda thus guests have the opportunity to set their eyes on a variety of flora and fauna species. Murchison Falls National Park being the host to the most powerful waterfalls in the whole world also puts it in a far much better and unique position as compared to the rest of the national parks.

Other things to see in Murchison Falls National Park.

Wildlife.  The park is a host to the most attractive creatures on the African continent, that is to say the big four animals including the African Bush elephants, African buffaloes, leopards, and lions. There are several other wonderful sightings of animals that visitors can have in the park, especially the spotted hyenas, hartebeests, defassa waterbuck, elands, and giraffes.

Bird species. The park is home to over 400 bird species that live in the grasslands, and shrubs on the nearby forests. Several birds can be watched along the river Nile shores since most of them usually pass by to feed and hunt for fish. Some of the bird species guests can see include; songbirds, Narina trogons, African grey hornbill, grey cuckooshrike, water thick knee, pied kingfishers, African green pigeons, and bush shrikes.

Primates. The National Park engulfs part of the Budongo forest and is home to a variety of primates including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, lhoests, and vervets. Visitors also have the opportunity to observe them on their game drives.

River Nile. Murchison Falls National Park is crossed by the longest river in the whole world. Visitors therefore have the opportunity to have their eyes set on the longest river and enjoy activities on it to help elevate their experiences.

What to do when in Murchison Falls National Park.

Game drives. The game drives help visitors get closer to the various wild animals in the park and also explore unexplored areas. They are conducted under the guidance of game Rangers and tourist guides who help provide information about the various attractions in the park, especially the animals and the landscapes.

Guided nature walks. These too are conducted under the guidance of the game Rangers who provide protection and information about the various creatures encountered. They help travelers get immersed in the breathtaking beauty of nature and reflect on life as they listen to the voices of the wild.

Hiking. The hikes in Murchison Falls National Park are usually launched to the top of the falls. A successful hike to the top of the falls provides a clearer view of the Murchison Falls and is also a good opportunity for photography and videography.

Boat cruise. The boat cruises in the park are conducted on the river Nile and they are usually launched to the view of the breathtaking Murchison falls. Visitors get the opportunity to explore more of the National Park endowments than on a game drive.

Hot air ballooning.  The hot air ballooning activity in Murchison Falls presents a thrilling adventure. Visitors have the chance to float above the dry Savanna grasslands of the park as they enjoy the views of the animals from a bird’s view. Undertaking a hot air ballooning safari in the golden hours of the day is even more satisfying.

Sportfishing. Visitors can also embark on sport fishing activity on the banks of the River Nile where they can get the opportunity to catch some of the fish species within, especially tilapia and the Nile perch.

When to visit Murchison Falls National Park and how to access it.

The dry seasons of the year are the best times in which one can embark on an exciting visit to Murchison Falls National Park. They are categorized into two that is to say the long dry season that runs from June to September and the short dry season that runs from early December to late February.

The park can be accessed through drives from Kampala to Masindi and eventually to the park headquarters. It takes a five to six-hour drive from Kampala to the National Park.

The National Park has various gates in all directions to allow easy accessibility for visitors.