Adventures to carry out in Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park is a premium tourism destination in Uganda, situated in the northwestern region of the country. It is the largest national park covering an area of about 3,893 square kilometers. Travellers planning their safari always ask about the adventures to carry out in Murchison Falls National Park, and this article will discuss various adventures that you can do on your safari in the park. It has various ecosystems such as wetlands, riverine tropical forests, savannah grassland and woodlands, which provide a habitat to various wildlife species that call this amazing park home.
It hosts over 144 mammal species, 453 bird species, 12 primate species, plants and tree species, of course, not forgetting Murchison Falls, the world’s strongest waterfalls, with its stunning views. The park offers various adventures to tourists, which include game drives, bird watching, nature walks, chimpanzee trekking, butterfly walks and sports fishing. If you are planning to visit the Pearl of Africa, Murchison Falls National Park shouldn’t be missed on your bucket list. It provides a true African Safari experience to all visitors.
Top Adventures to carry out in Murchison Falls National Park.
Birding.
Murchison Falls National Park is a paradise for bird watching in Uganda, home to over 453 bird species, including the water birds, forest birds, savannah birds, and migratory birds. The park has various sites with rich birdlife, like the Royal Mile, Kaniyo Pabidi, areas along the Albert Delta and Budongo Forest, where visitors can see unique bird species. This is a guided activity led by an experienced park birder who gives more information about the bird species that you may encounter. The birds to spot include Chestnut wattle-eye, Forest Robin, White spotted Fluftail, Ituri Batis, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Buff-throated Apalis, Grey-headed Sunbird, Olive-bellied Sunbird, Green Hylia, Yellow-browed Caaroptera, Little Greenbul, European Roller, Great snipe, Bronze- winged courser, Eurasian thick-knee, Yellow Wagtail, Common Ringed Plover, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Black-bellied Bustard, , Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Black-headed Lapwing, Senegal Thick-Knee, Heuglin’s Francolin, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver, and more.
Chimpanzee Trekking.
Chimpanzee trekking is one of the best adventures to carry out in Murchison Falls National Park. Trekking is done in Budongo Forest, located in the southern sector of the park. It is a guided activity led by a knowledgeable park guide who provides important information about the wildlife species that you might come across. Chimpanzee trekking is a memorable experience that attracts primate lovers to come up close to these magnificent creatures. The duration of trekking depends on the movement of these playful chimps as they move from place to place in search of food. Once they are located, visitors spend 1 hour with them, learning and observing their behaviours. They will see how they feed, mothers take care of the young ones, playing just like humans. Chimpanzees are our closest relatives on earth; they share 98% of human DNA.
Game Drives.
Game drives are among the most rewarding adventures in Murchison Falls National Park. They give visitors an opportunity to explore the open savannah grasslands, which are normally done I the northern sector of the park since it has various wildlife species. Visitors can do morning, evening or night game drives, all providing memorable experiences. These are guided drivers led by a knowledgeable park guide who provides more insights about the wildlife species that you may encounter. Some of the animals to see include lions, buffalo, Uganda Kobs, elephants, giraffes, leopards, black and white colobus monkey, vervet monkeys, patas monkeys, waterbucks, hyenas, oribis, warthogs, bushpigs, and duikers, among others.
Nature Walks.
Nature walks are among the adventures to carry out in Murchison Falls National Park, which allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in nature. This activity is led by an armed game ranger who ensures the protection of the participants and a guide who elaborates more on the wildlife species, plants and tree species that you might find along the way.
There are well-gazetted trails that are used for nature walk excursions, such as the Royal Mile, Baker’s trail, and Kaniyo Pabidi, among others. Visitors will see various birds and animals, including black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, giraffes, waterbucks, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Black-bellied Bustard, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Black-headed Lapwing, Senegal Thick-Knee, and Heuglin’s Francolin.
Boat cruise
A boat cruise is one of the most memorable activities for visitors exploring the park, which allows visitors to have breathtaking views of the park and its stunning scenery on the Nile Basin. Visitors will encounter various Aquatic and non-aquatic wildlife species like schools of hippos swimming, crocodiles basking in the sunset, elephants, Antelopes and buffalo drawing water from the river since it acts as a vital water source to the park’s habitats. Bird lovers will spot bird species like African Skimmer, African Fish Eagles, and Shoebill stork, among other species.
Another exciting adventure on this boat cruise is to see the mighty Murchison Falls, where the Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge before plunging 45meters below. This is an amazing experience that should be added to your bucket list.
