Located in the Bulisa and Nwoya regions in northwest Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is the country’s largest and oldest national park. Surrounding the Ugandan districts of Bulisa, Nwoya, Kiryandongo, and Masindi, the contiguous Karuma and Bugungu game reserves make up the roughly 5072 square kilometre Murchison Falls National Park. The Victoria Nile splits into two sections in Murchison Falls National Park, the only other National Park where this occurs. The Nile flows through a small gorge that is only 7 metres (23 feet) wide before falling 43 metres (141 feet) into the eastern and western halves for around 115 kilometres (71 miles). This 45-meter drop releases the remainder of the river’s energy, turning the torrent into a wide, calm stream that silently crosses the floor of the rift valley on its way to Lake Albert. It is also where the largest power plant, the Karuma power station, which has a capacity of roughly 600 megawatts, is located.
Activities in Murchison Falls National Park
Game Drives
The greatest approach to see the park’s wildlife mammals is through a game drive at Murchison Falls National Park. A ranger guide leads a game drive over the Buligi game paths on the Northern side of Murchison Falls National Park in the morning or the evening. During the game drive, you will visit savannah grasslands, woodlands, acacia, and riverine vegetation. While there, you may see various wildlife including elephants, lions, jackals, Uganda Kobs, and other bird species. With the assistance of a game ranger guide, the night game drive offers you another perspective of the park with nocturnal species like bushbucks, leopards, lions, and other wildlife during the night.
Hiking top of the Falls
After a thrilling and fulfilling boat excursion that lasts for approximately two hours while travelling on the River Nile, hiking to the top of Murchison Falls is not only a delightful experience but also an excellent way to exercise your body. The climb to the top of the falls begins at the bottom and lasts for about an hour. The entire time, you will be battling the water and the rock. The rivers continuously scream while fiercely compressing through a tight gorge, throwing misty droplets along their wake over a 50-meter radius and permanently producing a rainbow over the battlefield. Views of the Nile breaking into the smaller Uhuru Falls, formed when the river burst its banks, are also available from Baker Point on the southern side.
Bird Watching
With over 360 bird species, Murchison Falls National Park is a birder’s paradise. The park offers a variety of birding spots where you can see species like African Skimmer, White African Fish Eagle, Long-Toed Plover, Grey Crowned Crane, Goliath Heron, and more. These bird species can be seen in Budongo Forest, one of the best places to see birds; game drives through the park; boat cruises along the Nile River offer the chance to see water birds; and the Lake Albert Delta offers the chance to see a variety of bird species along the banks, including the uncommon shoe bill. Bird watchers find great satisfaction from strolls in forests.
Boat Trip
A boat trip in the Murchison Falls National Park is an unforgettable and satisfying experience that typically takes place in two locations within the park. The two-hour boat trip starts at the Paraa landing area, which is where the River Nile enters Lake Albert, and ends at the base of the falls. It is typically offered daily from morning to evening. You have a rare chance to see animals and water birds, including hippos, water bucks, crocodiles, buffaloes, and elephants, on the launch cruise. In addition, a variety of waterfowl including cormorants, fish eagles, ducks, kingfishers, bee-eaters, and shoe bill will be visible.
Fishing
A fantastic sport that can be enjoyed while on safari in Murchison Falls National Park is fishing. Fishing is permitted on the Nile delta below the falls; it is strongly advised that visitors bring their fishing equipment. Among other fish species, Nile perch, tiger fish, and catfish are the most often caught fish.
Hot air balloon Safari
The most adventurous and exhilarating activity that typically occurs within the Park is the hot air balloon safari. Professional pilots certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) conduct the air balloon safari. Early morning is the best time to see wild animals on the plains, which is why the balloon safari in Murchison Falls takes place there. The safari lasts more than an hour and exposes you to the breathtaking scenery of the Great Rift Valley Plains, home to a variety of wildlife species including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, Uganda Kobs, and other mammals found within the park.
The Culture visit
When you visit a local, you get a taste of the Luo culture and way of life. Engaging in this kind of activity gives you the opportunity to visit a craft store and take village tours, where you can observe the everyday routines and way of life of the Luo people living in rural areas while taking in performances by the Boomu women’s group and the Mubako drummer and dance.
Best time to visit Murchison falls National Park
While game viewing at Murchison Falls National Park is always enjoyable, it is particularly good during the dry season. The park is open year-round. The best months to visit the park are December, January, and February; June, July, August, and mid-September is the peak season to visit Uganda National Parks; March, April, May, October, and November are the lowest because of the heavy rains, which make some park areas nearly impassable and some accommodations closed.