The Murchison Falls National park is the best all-rounder in Uganda, with wildlife in plentiful supply and the surging Murchison Falls easily accessible by boat. Sir Samuel Baker named the Murchison Falls in honor of a president of the Royal Geographical Society, and this Uganda’s largest park was named after the falls.
With 3,840 sq km, the Murchison Falls National Park is the largest protected area in Uganda and lies at the core of the greater Murchison Falls Conservation Area, which also embraces the Bugungu and Karuma Wildlife Reserves and the Budongo Forest. The Victoria Nile, flowing in the westerly direction between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert, bisects the park into 2 equal halves.
In total 76 mammal species have been recorded in Murchison Falls National Park including Defassa waterbuck, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, Roschild’s giraffe, oribi, warthog, side-striped jackal, leopards, spotted-hyena, localized pattas monkeys, etc. The Rabongo Forest harbors black-and-white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and a variety of other forest primates.
A variety of unique habitats and lots of superb birds make a tour to the Murchison Falls National Park a must for Spot Fishing Uganda trips every birder. The birding experience in this park is enhanced greatly by the abundant wildlife and scenic landscape, not least the spectacular falls for which the park is named. The bird checklist of 460 confirmed and 19 unconfirmed species is headed in desirability by the shoebill, most common along the stretch of river between Nile Safari Camp and the estuary into Lake Albert. A variety of water-associated birds are prolific along the river, while raptors make a strong presence on the checklist with 53 species recorded. Situated just outside the national park boundary downstream from Paraa, Nile Safari Camp offers superb idyllic setting. The lodge commands superb views over the Victoria Nile and this is one of the few places where a shoebill may be seen from a swimming pool. The shoebills live alongside Goliath Heron, Grey-crowned Crane, Saddle-billed Stork and long-toed Plover whilst African Skimmer and African Fish Eagle patrol adjacent stretches of the river. An exciting recent discovery was that of a Fox’s Weaver, Uganda’s only endemic bird, in waterside vegetation near the camp.
Tourist activities available
Sport Fishing – Uganda Tour
Nile Perch and tiger-fish are among the fish species that excite anglers. Sport fishing is more convenient in the river sections above and below the falls. Normally the number of people carrying out spot fishing has to be regulated on the different designated spots and this requires those interested in this activity to make an earlier booking.
Game Drives: Uganda Wildlife Safaris
An early morning game drive following the Buligi, Albert and Queen’s tracks north of River Nile is highly rewarding with high concentrations of wildlife.wildlife safaris Big herds of buffaloes and elephants can be seen grazing in this grassland. The most convenient time is between 0700hr and 1600hr. Situated about an hour’s drive from the Paraa ferry jetty, almost 20 sq km of grassland fringing the delta formed by the Victoria Nile as it flows into Lake Albert is the focus of most game drives north of the river. This happens to be the most impressive area in terms of wildlife concentrations, especially around the delta. The area offers some excellent bird watching including then majestic grey-crowned crane, eye-fluttering Abyssinian ground hornbill, saddle-billed stork, the localized Denham’s bustard, the handsome black-headed and spur-winged lapwings and the Senegal thick-knee.
Nature Walks
Walking on foot with a guide is interesting in the Murchison falls protected area. This offers you an opportunity to view a variety of animals and birds at a close range. Nature walks are common in Rabongo Forest, Top of the falls and Kaniyo Pabidi in Budongo Forest.
Launch Cruise on the Nile
A launch cruise on the Nile is one of the highlights of Murchison Falls National Park safari. This launch cruise takes off from Paraa to the foot of Murchison Falls (17 km). The banks of River Nile are congested with Hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks and a variety of birds like herons, cormorants, ducks, bee-eaters, fish eagles, kingfishers and at times the rare shoebill. You may enjoy a boat trip from Paraa to the Delta (28 km) and back which may take you between 4 to 5 hours. This boat trip is scheduled from 0900hr and 1400hr every day. The park management can enter special arrangement with a client over this trip.
The launch trip from Paraa to the falls (17km) and back takes about three hours. A boat trip from Paraa to the Delta (28km) and back takes about four to five hours and you can see a similar variety of animals and birds. The boat trip is scheduled for 0900hr and 1400hr every day. Any special time arrangement can be made with Park management.
The Top Of The Falls Trail
This trail takes you around the top of the falls and proceeds right up to the water’s edge. You may hike to the top of the falls from the boat landing and get close to the narrow gorge through which the river explodes into the falls. Campsites, picnic sites, and walking safaris are provided here.
Other activities include chimpanzee tracking in Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo Forest. For birders, look out for many forest birds, including the chocolate-backed kingfisher, the white-thigh hornbill and puvel’s illadopsis found nowhere else in East Africa.
Access
To access Murchison Falls national park by road from Kampala through Masindi (via Kichumbanyobo gate), Paraa is a 41/2hours drive, 2 hours on tarmac and 21/2 hours on murram roads. A four-wheel drive is more suitable. The ferry at Paraa operates on scheduled time between the southern and northern bank of River Nile.
By air: Charter services are available to all-weather aerodromes at Pakuba about 19kms northwest of Paraa and Bugungu 13kms from Paraa.
Distances (km)
Rabongo…………………………………… 67
Nyamusika………………………………… 14
Top of falls(by road)……………………. 34
Top of falls (by water)…………………. 17
Kichumbanyobo Gate…………………… 69
Bugungu Gate ………………………….. 15
Tangi gate ………………………………. 25
Bottom of the Falls ……………… …… 14
The Delta ……………………………….. 28
Bottom of falls to Albert Delta …………55
Red Chilli Rest camp……………………. 0.6
Paraa Safari Lodge ……………………….02
Sambiya River Lodge …………………….25
Nile Safari Camp ………………………… 22
From Paraa to Masindi via
Kichumbanyobo Gate …………………..86
Bugungu Gate ………………………….136
From Paraa to Kampala via
Kichumbanyobo Gate …………………304
Bugungu Gate …………………………353
Accommodation
Campsites are available at the Top of the fall, Rabongo Forest, Paraa and delta area with luxury lodging is available at Nile Safari Camp, Sambiya River Lodge and Paraa Uganda safari Lodges.
