There are quite many reasons why you should visit Murchison Falls National Park. The Park is located 305km in the northwest part of Uganda, north of Masindi district, and is one of the most visited national parks in Uganda.
At 3,840 sqkm comprising of Bugungu and Karuma Wildlife Reserves, the park is covered by different savanna vegetation, including the borassus palm, savanna woodland, savanna grasses, and an extension of the riverine thickets. There is the savanna thickets which harbor more than 76 different mammal species and over 451 birds.
The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant valley wall, creating the dramatic falls, the park’s unique attraction and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. This is something you will clearly see when you visit.
More reasons why visit Murchison Falls National Park
While at Murchison Falls National Park there are a range of activities worth exploring that relieves your minds into total wilderness as you drive within the park area.
A boat cruise along the Nile is one of its kind and magical in its own setting as you can spot diversity of bird species nest on the trees and the cliffs. Don’t miss to see crocodile as they bust in the sun and can be spotted incubating, surrounded with numerous monitor lizards ready to feast on the crocodiles’ eggs, given a chance. There are hippos, buffaloes and elephants including other mammals can also be sited as they wallow in the water.
A hike to the top of the falls will really bring the sweat out of your skin but will keep you in good shape of physical challenge, leaving you with only lovely memories. Don’t miss the roaring and thundering sound of the falls as it forces itself amidst the 7m gorge. The splash of the water on your face will only leave you with a rocking smile of how wonderful the place is worth a visit. Do not forget the beautiful looks of the welcoming rainbow that keeps your mind wondering on how it comes about, almost daily.
Other reasons for visiting the park
Uganda’s largest national park is cut in half by the Nile, which offers a varied landscape from the dense rainforest on the hilly ranges in the south-west to undulating savannah in the north-west.
The area is prime for safari game viewing in the peninsula between the Victoria and the Albert Nile. This is known as the Buligi Circuit, where the concentration of animals is the highest including an increasing number of excellent lion sightings along with the famous and elusive shoebill stork. It also offers some of the best sport fishing in the country for those brave enough to take on the challenge.
A flight on a hot air balloon just above the tree top level, concluding it with a bush breakfast, is one of the lifetime experiences. This will leave you sharing the dream of any possibilities of a return trip to the park.
Other activities and reason why you should visit Murchison Falls include birding, rhino tracking, community walk, nature walk, and chimpanzee tracking, which are all worth visiting.
Other national parks in Uganda with highest concentration of wildlife in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is famous for the tree-climbing lions in the southern Ishasha section and a boat cruise along Kazinga channel that joins Lake George and Edward. Kidepo Valley National Park is also another suitable place for the best wildlife safaris in Uganda.