Murchison
Falls National Park
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LOCATION.
The park is located in the northwestern part of Uganda,
90km from Masindi town. This is the largest amongst all
national parks in Uganda. It protects a variety of untamed
African savannah and most of the tourists who visit Uganda’s
national parks have proved that it is the hottest safari
destination in Uganda.
Murchsion Falls National Park got its name from the dramatic
Murchison Falls, which are found within the park. |
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These falls are spectacular and
are formed at a point where the world's longest river explodes
through a narrow gorge and flows down to become a river. It’s
banks are thronged with hippos, crocodiles,waterbucks and
buffalloes. The vegetation is characterized by Savannah, riverine
forest and woodland. Lrage mammals in this area include lions,
leopards, elephants, giraffes, cape buffaloes, hartebeests,
oribis, Uganda kobs, and chimpanzees.
It has 450 bird species and 76 mammal species. The Murchison
falls National Park together with Bugungu and Karuma Falls
Wildlife Reserves form the Murchison Falls Protected Area.
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| Alot of wildlife was
hunted down in the 1970s and 1980s, but animal populations
have largely recovered for instance from the lush borassus
grassland to the north of the Nile, elephants, buffaloes,
giraffes and a variety of antelopes are regularly encountered
on game drives, while lions are seen with increasing frequency.
Rabongo Forest, which is situated in the Southeast of the
park, is home to a number of primates such as chimpanzees
and other rainforest creatures.
The Nile itself hosts one of Africa's densest hippos and
crocodile populations, and a dazzling variety of waterbirds
such as the African Fish Eagle, African Skimmer and the
rare shoebill stork which can easily be seen at the banks
of the river. Other bird species that can be seen include
Silver Bird, Blue-napped Mouse birds, Grey-crowned Crane,
Bluff-bellied Warblers, Goliath Heron, Black-headed Batis,
Black-headed Gonolek, Green-winged Ptyilia, Chestnut-crowned
Sparrow-weaver, Long-toed Plover, Vitelline Masked Weaver,
Saddle-billed Stork, Spotted Mourning Thrush, Spotted and
Verreaux’s Owls, Long-tailed and Pennant-winged Nightjars,
standard-winged Nightjar, White-backed Night Heron and Pel’s
Fishing Owl. |
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ACCESSIBILTY.
Murchison falls national park is accessed by both road and
air transport. If you are to get there by road, the Nile river
crossing at Paraa is approximately 5hrs drive from Kampala.Paraa
is 85km from Masindi town by the direct route. The longer
route passes through Budongo forest and enjoys spectacular
views across Lake Albert from the rift valley escarpment above
Butiaba.
You can also approach Paraa from the north, via Chobe Gate
near Karuma Falls and Tangi Gate near Pakwach and Wankwar
Gate near Purongo. For travelers interested to travel by air,
private charter flights can be arranged from Entebbe International
airport to the park. |
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GAME DRIVES.
The park offers early morning and evening game drives on the
Buligi, Albert and Queen's tracks north of the river Nile
that may give you a chance to view plenty of game.
There are also Picnics at the Nyamsika Cliffs, which may also
give you a chance to see elephants and other game on the grassy
hillsides and the sand river below.
LAUNCH TRIPS ON THE NILE.
The launch trip from Paraa to the bottom of Murchison Falls
is the major activity at the Murchison Falls. On the launch
many hippos and crocodiles can be seen as well as buffaloes,
elephants, waterbucks and birds such as Cormorants, Herons,
Fish Eagles, Bee-eaters, Kingfishers, water ducks, and the
rare Shoebill.
SPOT FISHING.
This is the best site where spot fishing can be carried.
Different fish species such as the Nile Perch and tiger-fish
provide an exciting challenge to anglers. Fishing is also
another activity available in the river above and below
the Falls. For travelers interested in fishing don’t
forget your fishing equipment. |
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NATURE WALKS.
There are also opportunities to explore the wild in Murchison
Falls while on foot. Trails at Paraa, and to the top of falls
offer a memorable experience to tourists as they pass through
riverine forests, gullies and low hills. While on the trails
different animals, birds and plants can be seen. There is
chimpanzee tracking from Kaniyo Pabidi to the an undisturbed
and unpolluted natural forest within Budongo Forest Reserve,
visitors to Murchison falls can track man’s closest
relatives.
While tracking other attractive features which can be seen
in the forest include mature Mahogany and ironwood trees as
well as many forest birds, including the White-thighed Hornbill,
Chocolate backed Kingfisher, and Puvel’s Illadopsis
found nowhere else in East Africa!
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FOREST WALKS.
From Rabongo Forest Eco-tourism Center a guided forest help
you to explore the forest on foot. Different primates such
as Baboons, Red-tailed monkeys, Black & White Colobus
monkeys, and occasionally Chimpanzees can be seen as well
as birds, medicinal plants and trees.
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