MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Lying in the northwest of Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most visited areas in the country. The park has attractive species of flora and fauna scattered allover. Being a savannah park, Murchison Falls National Park is an ideal place for several game-viewing activities. Travelers from all walks of life flock to the park to have themselves exciting moments in life. They observe various attractive species, especially elephants, lions, giraffes, and East African endemic bird species.
A brief history of Murchison Falls National Park.
It is on record that the conservation area had its first European visitors in 1862. The wandering explorers James Grant and John Speke in their journeys came across the beautiful intact area. The beauty of the diverse array of landscapes in the park mesmerized them. The lush vegetation comprises rare tree species, captivating savannahs, and shrubs.
However, the conservation area was not fully explored to their satisfaction. Sir Samuel Baker later explored the park too and discovered other eye-catching creatures. He fell in love with the beauty and uniqueness of the bubbling falls in the park.
In appreciation of their beauty, he wouldn’t hesitate to name them after his boss Roderick Murchison. Murchison was a renowned geologist and the then chairman of the Royal Geographical Society. The Royal Geographical Society sent out several researchers and explorers to look out for exciting places in the world.
However, regardless of its beauty, between 1907 and 1912, the area was infested with tsetse flies. This led to the displacement of masses of people due to the fear of contracting sleeping sickness. To boost the conservation of animals, the Bunyoro game reserve was created in 1910. This was a great move because it protected the animals from poachers.
Subsequently, the reserve was upgraded to a national park in 1952 by the British administration. They enacted the National Parks Act to ensure that the conservation areas are not tampered with.
Location and accessibility of Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park is located in the northwest of Uganda. Due to its vast size, it stretches up to four districts that is to say Nwoya, Masindi, Kiryandongo, and Buliisa. It is about 283 kilometers away from Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Furthermore, the good roads that lead to the park and the others through the park make it easy to explore.
Uniqueness and the main attractions of Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park is far much different from the other national parks in the country. The park stands out as the largest in all. It occupies an area of roughly 3893 square kilometers. In addition, these comprise captivating landscapes with lush forests and savannahs, habitats for attractive animals.
The park is furthermore unique in the sense that it hosts the world’s most powerful waterfalls, Murchison falls. Travelers to the park get the opportunity to marvel at the breathtaking beauty of the falls. Similarly, observing the Nile River forge its way through a 7-meter-wide gorge is among the wonders to witness in the park. The falls form a permanent rainbow at the scene which makes it an ideal place for photography and sightseeing.
Activities done in Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison Falls exploration. This is done in a series of activities for instance the top and bottom of the falls trail walks. These avail the guests with the views of the falls and their wholesomeness. Travelers get the opportunity to take nice photographs that act as lifetime memoirs of the time well spent at the most powerful waterfalls.
Game drives. Experienced ranger guides conduct the Game drives. Guides have information about dynamics of the park. In addition, they help educate travelers about the behaviors of animals and take them to areas where they can watch them in plenty. Guests on the game drives watch animals such as giraffes, elephants, cape buffalos, defasa waterbucks, and birds.
Boat cruises. These too provide impressive experiences to the guests. Boat cruises present the experience of floating on the Nile amidst the views of lush forests, savannah vegetation, and animals. Cruises view animals such as hippos and crocodiles and others along the shores of the Nile River.
Boat cruises in Murchison Falls National Park unveil the clear views of the bustling Murchison Falls. Actually, such moments make the safari more satisfying. They take 2 forms that is to say the Murchison Falls and Albert delta cruises. The latter is popular for bird-watching adventures.
Bird watching. The exciting birding safaris are yet another exciting activity to look out for in Murchison Falls National Park. Visitors observe birds especially, the shoebill, black-headed batis, spotted mourning thrush, vitelline masked weavers, and bar-tailed trogons. They are more interesting when the guest has binoculars, not even the long distance can limit your views.
Nature walks. These are exciting in their way. They are therapeutic because they immerse the guest in the beauty of the untouched natural areas. In other words, walking through the evergreen forests and savannahs as you listen to the sounds of the animals makes you gain more from the safari. Nature walks help you reflect on the amazing beauty of nature and life in quiet environments.
Sport fishing. During sport fishing activities, travelers spot and catch edible fish in the country. These include for instance the Nile perch, electric catfish, and tiger fish. However, sport fishing in the park is on a catch-and-release basis.
Hot air ballooning safaris. This exciting activity exposes travelers to the wonderful aerial views of the landscapes of the park and the animals therein. In addition, having a bush breakfast in the golden hours of the day on the hot air balloon makes safaris in the park worthwhile.
Cultural encounters. Travelers to Murchison Falls National Park are exposed to the beauty of the diverse Ugandan cultures and traditions. For instance cultural visits are launched to the traditional homesteads of the local Banyoro people and the Bagungu. These entertain the guests with their cultural dances, and folklore and above all let the guests learn about their ways of life.
Best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park.
The dry seasons of the year are the best windows to visit the park. In particular, these refer to the times of December all through to February and June to September. Above all, the dry seasons have low rainfall which makes safaris more enjoyable. Travelers explore with no interruption and therefore get the most out of their safaris.
All things considered, Ibuth Safaris organizes up-market, mid-range and budget safaris to Murchison Falls National Park. Contact us at info@ibuthsafaris.com or reach us at +256 393 247 137 / +256 742 678 918 or SEND INQUIRY
Additionally, there are several pocket friendly safari packages that can be operated in the park and they include;
7 days game and Gorilla safari
13 days Uganda Adventure Safari
In conclusion, for an exceptional experience in Murchison SEND INQUIRY