Murchison Falls NP
Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda’s largest national park protects a chunk of untamed African savannah bisected by the mighty river Nile.
It is named for the dramatic Murchison Falls, where the world’s longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below. Wildlife populations have largely recovered from the poaching of the 1980s; in the lush borassus grassland to the north of the Nile, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and a variety of antelope are regularly encountered on game drives, while lion are seen with increasing frequency.
In the southeast, Rabongo Forest is home to chimps and other rainforest creatures.
The Nile itself hosts one of Africa’s densest hippo and crocodile populations, and a dazzling variety of waterbirds including the world’s most accessible wild population of the rare shoebill stork.
Size:
Extending for 3840 square kilometers lying at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, Murchison Falls National Park is the largest National Park in Uganda.
Location:
In the northwest, approximately 90km from Masindi
Getting There:
A long day’s drive from Kampala, with a possible overnight break at Masindi. There is public means of transport from Kampala to Masindi town. A vehicle ferry crosses the Nile at Paraa and this operates hourly between 07.00 and 19.00 with the exception of 13.00.
Murchison Falls can also be reached by air. Charter flights can land at airstrips north of the Nile at Pakuba, that is 9km from Paraa and south at Bugungu, 13km from Paraa.
Famous for:
The Nile and Murchison Fall:
Murchison Falls National Park is most alluring for the Nile and the falls. The main Attractions of this park are undoubtedly the unique Murchison falls and the river Nile with its teeming hippos and serried ranks of crocodiles on the sandbanks.
Flora and Fauna:
Dominated by savanna, woodland, river/ wetland and tropical forest habitats, the park holds large mammals such as Cape buffalo. Giraffe, lion, leopard, elephant, hippos, Uganda kob, warthog, Hartebeest and Oribi.
The Nile corridor supports these animals as well as a plethora of waterbirds including the rare shoebill stork and ugandas largest population of Nile crocodiles.
Murchison falls harbours about 450 bird species an impressive figure for birders.
What to Do:
Birding:
This is excellent with the chance of sighing rarities such as the yellow- footed flycatcher, Ituri batis, White thighed hornbillwhich can be found in Rabongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests.
Nature walks:
An extensive network of well maintained walking trails leads through the forests to provide the opportunity of tracking primates beneath Uganda’s largest remaining mahogany trees.
Lunch Trips:
Regular launch trips to the base of the falls offer fine game viewing and birding. Boat trips to the Lake Albert delta provide the best chance in Africa of sighting shoebills.
Chimp tracking:
Trails through Kaniyo pabidi forest, provide the opportunity to track Chimpanzee. This can also be done at Rabongo Forest, and en route from Masindi in the Budongo Forest.
Scenic viewing:
The most dramatic view of the waterfalls is the “Top of the Falls” where the sight and sound of the Nile crashing through a 6 m site chasm make an unforgettable assault on the senses.
When To Visit:
Any time of year.
Where to Stay:
Up market accommodation: Nile Safari Camp, Sambiya River Lodge and Paraa Safari Lodge.
Budget Accommodation and camping is available at Red Chili Rest Camp and Kaniyo Pabidi Camp.
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