Top things to do in Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s hidden jewel, situated in the northwestern region of the country. It’s one of the most visited national parks in the country, attracting visitors to witness as the Nile squeezes itself through a narrow gorge before plunging into a 43m Devil’s Cauldron. Murchison Falls National Park is the largest park in Uganda, covering approximately 3893 square kilometres, and it was gazetted as a national park in 1952. It has a wide range of biodiversity, which is supported by its different ecosystems, such as wetlands, tropical forests, woodlands, and savannah grasslands, which act as a habitat to various wildlife species that call this park home. There are top things to do in Murchison Falls National Park, which caters to all visitors’ interests, including boat cruises, bird watching, game drives, nature walks, sports fishing, chimpanzee trekking, and cultural encounters. If you are planning your African safari, Murchison Falls National Park is a must-visit destination.
Top things to do in Murchison Falls National Park.
Chimpanzee Trekking.
Chimpanzee trekking in Murchison Falls National Park is done in Budongo Forest in the southern sector of the park. This is an amazing activity that allows visitors to come up close to these magnificent creatures. Visitors can either trek in the morning or the afternoon session, both providing memorable experiences. The trek begins with a briefing about the rules and regulations of the activity, and later, you meet your assigned park guide, who leads the group. Chimpanzee trekking takes 1 to 4 hours, depending on the movement of chimps as they move from place to place in search of food. While searching, visitors might encounter other wildlife species like black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, various bird species, and more. Participants are given one hour to observe and learn more about these playful chimpanzees.
Game Drives
Game drives are among the top things to do in Murchison Falls National Park, which allows visitors to explore the beautiful landscapes of the park. The park offers morning game drives, which are the best for spotting predators wandering around the park with their prey, antelopes grazing. The evening game drives allow visitors to spot animals while they are preparing to rest from a long day, and the night drives are best for spotting nocturnal animals, which are active at night, such as leopards, hyenas, bush babies, and more. All these game drives provide memorable safari experiences as you explore the open savannah grasslands. Visitors will spot various animals and birds such as elephants, buffalo, giraffes, warthogs, lions, patas monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and more.
Bird watching.
Murchison Falls National Park is a paradise for bird watching, and bird enthusiasts will indulge in over 453 bird species that call this beautiful park home. It has migratory birds, forest birds, water birds, and aquatic birds, which attract thousands of birders globally. There are different sites with unique bird species which are suitable for bird watching, like Budongo forest, areas around the Albert Delta, Kaniyo Pabidi, and the Royal Mile. The bird species to encounter include Grasshopper Buzzard African Pied Hornbill, White-thighed Hornbill, Black and white Casqued Hornbill, Narina Trogon, African Dwarf Kingfisher, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle, Pied Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Grey Crowned Crane, Denham’s Bustard, the striking Secretary Bird, Black-bellied Bustard, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Piapiac, 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
Sports Fishing.
This is among the top things to do in Murchison Falls National Park. This is done at the bottom of the falls, which is rich with various fish species. The park has a policy of catch and release as a way of conserving fish species. Participants need to obtain a fishing permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which authorizes them to engage in sports fishing. There are various fishing methods that are used, including live bait, the use of worms, corns, casting lures, among others.
Boat Cruise
A boat cruise along the River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park is a must-do activity on your safari in the park. It gives visitors an opportunity to explore the wonders of the River Nile and fully immerse themselves in nature. A boat cruise to the bottom of the falls is one of a kind; it takes visitors through the lush vegetation to the base of the falls, where visitors will witness as the Nile squeezes through a 7m narrow gorge before plunging into 43 m Devil’s Cauldron with a thunderous roar. It’s one of the remarkable moments in the park, visitors will also see schools of hippos swimming, crocodiles enjoying the sun, elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes drawing water from the River banks.
