Nature Walk in Murchison Falls National Park.
A nature walk in Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most rewarding activities in the park, which offers an intimate and peaceful way to explore the park on foot. It’s the oldest and biggest national park in Uganda, located in the northwestern region of the country, covering an area of about 3893 square kilometres. It’s one of the most popular national parks in Uganda, famous for the world’s strongest waterfalls that attract thousands of visitors across the world to see its stunning views.
The park offers opportunities to nature lovers to immerse themselves in nature as they enjoy the breathtaking views of the park and its landscapes. Nature walks allow visitors to listen to the melodies of birds and appreciate the wonders of nature in the park. Murchison Falls National Park has well-maintained trails specifically for nature walks, including Baker’s trail that explores the top of the falls, Kaniyo Pabidi forest, Rabongo forest and Delta walk along the banks of the River Nile, which provide stunning views of the park and its inhabitants.
Nature Walk Experience in Murchison Falls National Park.
This is one of the best activities to enjoy during your safari in Murchison Falls National Park. This is a guided activity led by an experienced park guide who gives more insights into the park’s wildlife species that you may encounter with an armed game ranger who protects the participants. The park has various wildlife species, including mammal species, bird species, reptiles and amphibians. The Park has various trails for nature walk safaris, like Delta walk, Kaniyo Pabidi, Rabongo, Baker’s trail, all providing unique and unforgettable nature walk experiences with various wildlife encounters.
Baker’s Trail: This is one of the most popular trails by tourists visiting the park, as it leads to the top of Murchison Falls. The walk involves hiking, and participants should be prepared. The top of the falls provides scenic views where the Nile squeezes through a narrow 7-meter gorge before plunging 45meters below to form the world’s most powerful waterfall. Standing at the top of Murchison Falls is a rewarding experience; you see, smell, and hear the awesome roar. The rainbow formed by thundering falls is exceptional, showing the everlasting battle of rock and water. This allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in nature and appreciate its beauty.
Delta Water: This is one of the most popular walks in the park that is done around the Nile Delta, where the Victoria Nile flows gently into Lake Albert. This part of the park has rich wildlife and bird species, which offer unique experiences to nature lovers. It takes visitors through open savannah grassland and wetlands, allowing them to see various bird species like Goliath heron, the African fish eagle, the Papyrus gonolek, the rare shoebill stork, and wildlife species like elephants, waterbucks, Uganda kobs and warthogs grazing nearby.
Nature Walk in Kaniyo Pabidi Forest: This is located in the southern sector of the park within the Budongo Forest Reserve. This tropical rainforest gives nature lovers an opportunity to fully connect with nature while listening to the beautiful songs of birds on foot. It’s a paradise for bird lovers and they will spot various bird species such as Puvel’s IIIadopsis, crowned Eagle, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Nahan’s Feancolin and more. The forest is famous for tracking chimpanzees, and on lucky days, visitors might have a chance to see chimpanzees moving around, black and white colobus monkeys, and olive baboons, among others.
Best Time to do a Nature Walk.
Nature walk in Murchison Falls National Park can be done throughout the year. However, the best time to do a nature walk depends on an individual’s preferences. The park receives two seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The dry season from June to September and December to February is characterised by little to no rainfall, the nature walk trails are dry, making it easy to penetrate the park, and the vegetation cover is short, providing a clear view of bird and mammal species.
The wet season is from March to May and October to November. During this season, the park receives enough rainfall, which makes the trails muddy, and the vegetation is dense. Though during this season, the lodges and travel companies give discounts to travellers.
