Murchison Falls National park

The world’s most powerful waterfalls, the Murchison falls is the park’s spectacular attraction. It is created by the River Nile as it squeezes through an 8 meters gorge and plunges 40 meters over the rock cliff with a thunderous roar into the devil’s cauldron creating the dramatic falls. Visitors can view the falls both at the bottom and on top. The boat cruise from para takes you along the Nile towards the bottom of the falls. Those who want to hike to the top; you get off and stand on the rock that is 10 meters way for up close views. While the boat cruises back to paara. The climb high on the cliff to the top of the falls is easy taking about 15 minutes.The view point on top of the falls offers spectacular view of the falls from above and the endless flow of the Nile towards Lake Albert. The boat cruise downstream the Nile takes visitors 10 meters closer to the bottom of the falls.

Wildlife is mostly concentrated in the northern sector of Murchison falls due to presence of open savannah grasslands than in the south which has a lot of thickets and bushes. Wildlife highlights that Murchison falls national parks is most famous for are large herds of African elephants, buffaloes, Nubian giraffes and the chance to spot them is guaranteed. However, there’s always a chance of finding more or less animals near the tracks. Various species of antelopes are actually abundant as you drive along the tracks you are likely to see Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda kob, waterbucks, bush bucks and oribi the smallest antelope. Game drives in search of predators which include lion, leopard, and spotted hyena normally go off track since these animals tend to rest under trees away from the main game drive track. Generally game drives will cover some long distances as you rotate on tracks to maximize chances of spotting animals especially predators. Nevertheless off tracking is not allowed but where necessary. It’s no doubt Murchison falls offers good wildlife viewing safaris. The wooded grasslands also attract one of the largest concentrations of patas monkeys known in east Africa.

The Nile is the world’s longest river and the best way to explore its aquatic life including hippos, Nile crocodiles and water birds is by boat cruise. The Nile waters provide water for large mammals like elephants, buffaloes which come to drink along the banks. There are two kinds of boats; the leisure double decked boats to the bottom of the falls and an exclusive boat ride to the delta wetland. The motorized speed boat is mainly for exploring the Nile-Albert swamp when searching for shoebill stork. There’s a chance to see hippos or even lions as they tend to rest just close to the banks. There are several boats which include wild frontiers boat, Uganda wildlife boat and paara safari lodge boat. All are double decked and can accommodate 30 to 40 people on board. They leave paara the starting point and cruise along the bank of the Nile where you can spot elephants, hippos, Nile crocodiles and water birds. And finally the boat stops some 30 meters away to the bottom of the falls and those who want to hike to the top will get off and get to a rock that’s 10 meters close to the falls.

Sport fishing is carried on the calm section of the Nile waters which provide home to the Nile perch. This recreational activity is meant to give anglers a challenge of catching a huge sized fish for fun.

With more than 451 species of birds, Murchison falls national park is a great bird watching destination attracting birding safaris.  The Shoebill stork is the major bird of interest. A special motorized boat cruise is the best way to search for this rare bird found deep into the Nile-Albert wetland. Other notable species of birds in Murchison falls include the African fish eagle, African skimmer, pied, malachite and giant king fishers, saddle billed stork, various lapwings, African darter. The easy way to spot birds is during a boat cruise along the Nile.

Budongo forest in the southern sector of Murchison falls is a large habitat for chimpanzees which are the main attractions. Sharing 97.8% of human DNA, chimpanzees are man’s closest relative and sharing the same premises for an hour with a face to face encounter is argauably one of the best experiences one could have in Africa if not the best. The primary activity in budongo forest is chimpanzee tracking which is done in the morning and afternoon. There are several species of primates such as the black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and baboons. More than 200 species of birds are also found in this eco forest.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Another great highlight of any safari to Murchison Falls National Park is Ziwa rhino sanctuary. It is a natural habitat for rhinos as well as over 200 species of birds, antelope, warthogs, pangolin and wild cats. It offers the opportunity to tourists for rhino tracking experience on foot with rangers. Ziwa is located in Nakasongora district just a few kilometers off the main route via Masindi thus makes a great stopover enroute to the park. It was established in 2005 by the rhino fund Uganda in partnership with Uganda wildlife authority to assist in re-introducing rhinos back to Uganda. The rhino sanctuary provides economic benefits to the local communities through tourism and conservation.

It is the only place in Uganda where you can see Rhinos in the wild and tracking them on foot will enhance your chances of seeing all Africa’s big five animals on your safari to the great Murchison Falls.