Best Time to do Night Game Drives in Murchison Falls National Park.
Are you planning a night game drive safari in Murchison Falls and wondering about the best time to do night game drives in Murchison Falls National Park? This blog will guide you on the best time of the year to enjoy a guided night game drive in the park. Murchison Falls National Park is the largest national park in Uganda, spanning an area of approximately 3898 square kilometers.
The Park is blessed with various ecosystems such as savannah grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, and tropical forests, which provide a habitat to various wildlife species and birds. The park is home to over 453 bird species, including the nocturnal birds, 144 mammal species, including the African big four mammals, buffalo, elephants, leopards and lions.
A night game drive in Murchison Falls National Park gives visitors an opportunity to see nocturnal bird species and mammal species which are active at night and rest during the day, like leopards. It’s very hard to see leopards during these normal game drives, and if you happen to see them, consider your selves lucky. Other animals to spot include hyenas, bush babies, genets, civets, porcupines and birds such as Standard-winged Nightjars, Pel’s fishing owls, Verreaux’s Eagle owl, among others. The best time to do night game drives in Murchison Falls National Park depends on an individual’s interest; the park can be visited throughout the year. The park experiences two seasons, the dry season and the wet season, both of which provide unique experiences.
Best Time to do Night Game Drives in Murchison Falls National Park.
Dry Season.
The dry season is the most liked season by travellers for a night game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. This season runs from December to February and from June to September. During this period, the park receives little to no rainfall, which makes the game trucks dry and easy to use on the drive. The vegetation cover is short and scattered, which provides a clear view of nocturnal animals and birds while using spot light torches. During the dry season, the park is always dry, which forces animals and birds to be more active at night and come out to drink water. This increases the chances of spotting them while in the park.
Wet Season.
Night game drives in Murchison Falls National Park can also be done during the wet season, which runs from October to November and March to May. During this period, the park receives enough rainfall, the game trucks are muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate the park; the vegetation cover is tall, which provides an unclear view of nocturnal bird and mammal species. However, this season favours budget travellers as lodges tend to give discounts during this period.
Where to stay on your safari.
Murchison Falls National Park offers various eco-friendly accommodations that cater to all levels of needs, ranging from standard accommodations to luxury accommodation options. All of which provide unique and memorable stays. If you are looking for a luxurious stay, consider Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, and Chobe Safari Lodge. Those looking for mid-range options can consider Pakuba Safari Lodge, Sambiya Safari Lodge, and Twiga Safari Lodge. Travellers looking for budget-friendly accommodation options should look at Red Chilli Camp, Budongo Eco Lodge, Murchison Giraffe Camp, and Boomu Women’s Group Bandas.
