Things To Do in Murchison Falls National Park – Murchison Falls Safaris and Tours – Big Five.
In terms of both wildlife and tourist activities, Murchison Falls National Park in northwest Uganda is perhaps one of Uganda’s most varied safari destinations. Nile cruises, animal drives, nature walks, birding, and even chimpanzee trekking in the neighboring Budongo Forest Reserve are just a few of the many activities available in Murchison.
Activities at Murchison Falls National Park: Things to Do
Visitors to this national park have a variety of options for exploring the River Nile, including boat journeys upstream to see the actual Murchison Falls and sunset cruises. For instance, Paraa Safari Lodge offers daily boat trips that depart at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Sunset cruises are a fantastic way to start any trip to Murchison, particularly for those traveling by car. There’s no better way to start your safari than with a cool drink on the longest river in the world. When the Nile thunders through a 7-meter gap—the narrowest point on the whole length of this huge river—cruises to the falls display its raw might!
Drives for Games
The park is home to a number of animals, including the endangered Rothschild giraffe, Uganda cobs, and huge cats, yet rhinos are not found there. On a drive, the Patas monkey, which is native to the northern Murchison and Kidepo Valley National Parks, is another amazing sight. During their daily outings, enthusiastic birdwatchers may also see crowned crane, ground hornbills, and Goliath heron.
Hikes & Nature Walks
River cruises may include a 45-minute trek through the Rabongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests to the top of the falls, where hikers can see a huge variety of birds and animals, including monkeys.
Only when water levels are low can one encounter the odd-looking shoebill stork on guided swamp excursions in the Nile and Lake Albert Delta.
Birdwatching Uganda has long been regarded as a birdwatcher’s paradise, attracting visitors from across the globe to see endangered species like the Green-breasted pitta and shoebill stork. There are more than 450 distinct bird species in Murchison alone, compared to over a thousand in Uganda overall!
The park’s incredibly diverse landscape is home to a staggering array of animals. Murchison offers a diverse array of species for birdwatchers to witness over a few days, ranging from bustards and cranes that graze the huge plains to herons, ducks, terns, and cormorants that flourish in the Nile and its neighboring deltas! The shoebill
Trekking with chimpanzees in Budongo Forest Reserve
Although it is not officially a part of Murchison Falls, visitors staying in the national park may readily reach the Budongo Forest Reserve.
There are presently 700 individual chimpanzees in the region, along with three habituated groups, one of which is quite friendly. Members of the Kaniyo-Pabidi community have become acclimated to the Jane Goodall Institute.
Although chimp aficionados have long flocked to Kibale Forest, Budongo provides a more sedate experience in terms of visitor numbers and less taxing terrain than Kibale!