How To Get To Murchison Falls National Park
How to get to Murchison Falls National Park; Murchison Falls National Park is one of the best visited safari destination to go for wildlife viewing on Uganda Wildlife Safaris. More so, the park is the oldest and largest ‘s Uganda game park. Murchison Falls is one of the Uganda’s first national park that was established in 1952 and covers an area of about 3840 square kilometers which are habitat of over 144 mammals ,556 bird species ,51 reptiles and 51 Amphibians among others.
The park is impressive all year round. It is also best bird checklist with the shoebill as the most common along the river stretch approaching the Albert and various profolic bird species occupy the park. Most spotted birds include; white crested turaco, red winged grey warbler, Long-tailed nightjar, Long-toed lapwing, Denham’s bustard, Senegal thick – Knee, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Malachite kingfisher among others. Despite the fact, Murchison Falls National Park is managed by the government body responsible for the protected area ‘’Uganda Wildlife Authority’’.
The park is surrounded with boundaries to districts like Masindi, Bulisa, Kiryandongo and Nwoya. Activities to do include; Birding, Community tour, Nature walk, Boat cruises, Visit to Top of the Falls, Game drives.
By Road
From Kampala, it takes estimate 4 – 6 hours to drive to Murchison Falls National Park headquarters at Paraa ‘’85 Kilometers from Masindi’’.
The most direct route to Murchison National Park from Kampala is through the southern gates ‘’Kichumbanyobo and Masindi South Gate’’.
Another option, the northern gates ‘’Purongo or Takigate –Packwach’’ or you can decide to straight to the most interesting sections of the park.
By Air
You can decide to fly to the park by use of chartered aircraft or the daily scheduled flight from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield near Kampala.
The most convenient airfield to arrive at the Pakuba because of its proximity to the park headquarter and the main accommodations.
Alternatively, you can choose to fly to Chobe or Bugundu.
Note; There are daily flights to and from Murchison Falls which can stop to different several airstrip sites in and around the park; Pakuba, Chobe or Bugundu. The flight takes an hour.
Things to Do and See in Murchison Falls National Park
Game drives
This is the best practiced activity while on safari in Murchison Falls National Park. Game drive is best enjoyed in 4WD safari vehicles and best done in the morning game drives and afternoon game drives as well as night which offers a great view of nocturnal animal species.
Morning game drive allows you to see cats on hunt before they return back to their hideout like lions, hyenas, leopards and other animals to see includes; elephant, buffaloes, waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, Uganda kobs, Jacksons hartebeest, bushbucks, Oribis many more. After noon game drive also is rewarding as the morning game drive.
Boat cruise
This is an impressive activity which is done to the bottom of the falls and while cruising on this calm water of Victoria Nile ,you will be able to spot aquatic bird species along the shores such as the prehistoric shoebill stork, saddle bellied stork ,open billed stork ,Goliath heron ,Saddle bellied stork ,African Jacana, African fish eagle ,Giant kingfisher ,grey headed kingfisher ,Senegal thick knee ,Swamp flycatcher ,blue headed coucal many more .You can cruise near devil’s cauldron take pictures and enjoy the gainful view. There is morning session ‘’9am’’ and afternoon session which starts ‘’2pm’’.
Nature walks
This is a memorable safari activity that takes through Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo forest where visitors get chances of viewing wildlife species such as red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees among others.
