Safari Activities in Murchison Falls National Park.
Safari activities in Murchison Falls National Park offer different experiences that visitors can enjoy while exploring the beauty and wonders of the park on their African Safari. It is the largest park in Uganda, spanning an area of about 3893 square kilometers, situated in the northwest region. Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by the River Nile to form the northern banks and the southern banks. It is famous for its waterfalls, where the Nile squeezes itself into a 7 m narrow gorge before pouring its waters into a 43m pool forming the strongest waterfalls in the whole world ‘’ Murchison Falls,” which attracts thousands of visitors to witness the battle between rocks and the waters.
The park is home to thriving ecosystems that support a wide range of wildlife species. It hosts over 13 primate species, 453 bird species, including forest birds, migratory birds, and aquatic bird species. Additional over 144 mammal species call this beautiful park is home to the African Big Four mammals elephants, lions, leopards and buffalo plus other species giraffes, waterbucks, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, hippos, oribis, Aardvark, African Civet, banded mongoose, serval cat, side-striped Jackal, and more, which can be seen on game drives, nature walks and boat cruises. If you are planning your dream African Safari to Murchison Falls National Park, please feel free to contact Caracal Explorers to organize your safari activities in the park.
Safari Activities in Murchison Falls National Park.
Bird Watching.
Murchison Falls National Park is a haven for bird watching. Bird lovers will indulge in over 453 bird species that call this awesome park home, including the aquatic birds, migratory birds, and forest birds. There are various sites with rich birdlife which are suitable for bird watching, such as the Royal Mile, Kaniyo Pabidi, Budongo Forest, and areas around Albert Delta. This is a guided activity led by an experienced birder who gives more information about the bird species that you may encounter.
Notable bird species to spot on your birding safari include the secretary bird, , 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, Shelley’s Sparrow, Black-headed Gonolek, Red-winged Grey Warbler, White-fronted Black Chat, Red-billed Quelea, Red-necked Falcon, Abyssinian Roller, European Roller, Great snipe, Bronze- winged courser, Eurasian thick-knee, Yellow Wagtail, Common Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Grey-headed Gull, Black Kite, Barn Swallow, Chestnut wattle-eye, Forest Robin, White spotted Fluftail, Ituri Batis, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Buff-throated Apalis, Grey-headed Sunbird and more.
Game Drives.
Game drives are among the safari activities that visitors can enjoy in Murchison Falls National Park. They allow visitors to explore open savannah grasslands in a 4X4 pop-up Land Cruiser led by a knowledgeable park guide who gives more insights about the park’s inhabitants that you may encounter. Game drives are mostly done in the northern sector due to its highest number of wildlife species. Visitors will see various animals such as waterbucks, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, elephants, buffalo, banded mongoose, serval cat, leopards, lions, Aardvark, oribis, giraffes, African Civet, banded mongoose, black and white colobus mokeys, patas monkeys, and more.
Nature Walks
Nature walks in Murchison Falls National Park are an incredible adventure that allows visitors to explore the wonders of the park on foot. The park has several beautiful nature walk trails that let visitors explore the park on foot and explore its wildlife, vegetation, and landscapes up close, such as the Kaniyo Pabidi trail, the Royal mile, the Rabongo forest trail, and more. These are guided activities led by an experienced park ranger who ensures the protection of the participants and gives more insightful information about the wildlife species that you may encounter.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest is one of the safari activities in Murchison Falls National Park that primate lovers can enjoy. Chimpanzees are our closest relatives on earth, sharing 98% of human DNA; coming up close to them is an incredible experience. This is a guided activity led by a knowledgeable park guide who gives important information about the wildlife species. The duration of the trek depends on the movements of these playful chimps; they keep on moving from place to place in search of food. Once located, participants spend one hour with them observing and learning more about their behaviours.
Boat cruise.
A boat cruise on the River Nile is such a lifetime experience as it allows visitors to explore the beauty of the Nile and enjoy its stunning scenery. Boat cruises are either done in the morning or the afternoon, both offering unique experiences. The park has two types of boat experiences: the Albert Delta, which has rich birdlife, and the bottom of the falls, which allows visitors to explore the falls from its base. Visitors will have an opportunity to observe as the Nile squeezes itself in a 7m gorge before plunging into a 43m devil’s cauldron to form the most powerful waterfalls in the world. They will also see various bird species and mammals drawing water from the riverbank since the Nile is a vital water source to the park’s inhabitants.
Best Time to Visit Murchison Falls Park.
The park can be visited throughout the year, and the best time depends on an individual’s interests. The park receives two seasons: the wet season and the dry season, both providing memorable experiences. The season runs from December to February and June to September, which is characterized by little to no rainfall. The park is dry, making it easy to penetrate into the park, and the vegetation cover is short, allowing visitors to clearly view wildlife species and take clear pictures. The wet season runs from March to May and from October to November; during these months, the park receives heavy rainfall. The park is muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate it. However, the wet season favours budget travellers since during this period, lodges and tour operators tend to give discounts on their packages.
