Getting to Murchison Falls National Park

Getting to Murchison Falls National Park : Murchison falls national park is the best wildlife viewing destination in Uganda. Murchison Falls National Park, located in northwestern Uganda, is one of the country’s most spectacular conservation areas. The park was gazetted in 1952, making it one of the oldest national parks in Uganda, and cover an area of approximately 3,840 square kilometres (1,480 sq mi), the national park is bisected by the mighty Nile rivers, one of the breathtaking rivers in the world. The park is maned after the breathtaking Murchison Falls, where the Nile River squeezes through a narrow gorge before plunging 43 meters (141 feet) down, creating a powerful waterfall. Murchison Falls National Park is a home to a wide variety of wildlife including four of the big 5 animals such as elephants, lions, leopards and cape buffaloes. Other commonly sighted animals include giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, Uganda Kob, hartebeests, and numerous bird species.

The park offers a unique experience to visitors on a Uganda wildlife safari with amazing boat safaris where visitors get an incredible opportunity to observe hippos, crocodiles, and a wealth of birdlife, including the rare shoebill stork. In addition to the savannah, Murchison falls national park is also a home to a large population of the chimpanzees.  visitors can participate in a guided chimpanzee trekking experience in the Budongo Forest Reserve, located with the park. The national park is also a home to over 500 bird species making it one of the best bird watching destinations in Uganda. such birds that can be spotted here includes including the iconic African fish eagle, shoebill stork, saddle-billed stork, and numerous kingfishers, herons, and raptors.

Getting to Murchison falls national park is very easy and convenient due to many connecting routes, the park can be accessed either by air or road transport means

By road

There are a number of routes that you can use to reach the Nile at Paraa at the heart of Murchison falls national park conservation area depending on your starting point within Uganda. The river is crossed here using a vehicle ferry which runs at roughly throughout the day.  Here are some of the common routes used

Route one; Kampala to Murchison falls national park via Karuma

You will start your journey in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city and the biggest town in Uganda, take the Kampala-Gulu Highway (A104) northward towards Karuma. Pass through Kauma and continue towards Pakwach road and then from Pakwach, follow sings directly you to Murchison falls national park and enter at the through the northern entrance gate. this gate is convenient to visitors travelling from Gulu town and Kidepo valley national park

Route 2: Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park via Masindi

The journey starts in Kampala, Uganda’s capital and take the Kampala- Gulu highway northward towards Masindi and the In Masindi, take the road leading to the park entrance, follow signs and directions to Murchison Falls National Park. Along the way to Masindi is the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to the only wild Rhinos in Uganda. Trekking these creatures involves walking on foot while supporting this important initiative to reintroduce rhinos to protected area. The main route from Masindi enters the conservation area through Kichumbanyobo gate to pass through Kaniyopabidi Forest to Paraa the wildlife hub.

Route 3: Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park via Hoima:

The journey start in Kampala then takes the Kampala-Hoima Highway towards Hoima. From Hoima, proceed towards Masindi. In Masindi, you can then take the road leading to Murchison Falls National Park.

Getting the park by air

You can as well get to Murchison falls National Park by flight. This offers unique experience, fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala-kajjassi to Pakuba Airfield near Murchison Falls National Park. Pakuba Airfield, 16 km from Paraa, can be reached using chartered aircraft from Entebbe international. You can book the flight through a tour operator to have all arranged for you, including transfers at the airport and at the park to your hotel.

Activities to do in Murchison Falls National Park

Game drives

Game drives is the highlight of every safari in Murchison falls national park. Murchison falls national park is a home to different wildlife species, it has over 76 mammal and 451 bird species including the Buffaloes, Elephants, Jackson hartebeests, Antelopes, Lions, Kobs, Giraffes, Hyenas, Bushbucks, Shoebill stork and Warthogs among others. This fascinating wildlife are widely spread all over the Savannah grasslands, grazing or hunting for prey.  Game drives is one of the most famous activities in Murchison falls national park where tourists will be getting opportunity to explore the park in a comfortable way in a safari with experienced game guide. Game drives in Murchison falls national park is done around the Buligi game track in the northern park of the park with well trained game ranger and either the morning or evening game drives During the game drive along you will follow network of game viewing tracks, there are plenty full of animals to see including roan antelopes, elephants, buffalo, zebra, bush-baby, hippos, crocodiles and many other mammal species. As one of the most scenic savannas in East Africa, the game drive in Murchison falls provides an opportunity to see gentle hills blending in beautifully with lowland swamps and water bodies.

Chimpanzee tracking in Murchison falls national park

chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest is a thrilling Uganda Safari adventure that offers visitors the opportunity to observe these fascinating primates in their natural habitat. Budongo Forest Reserve is one of the largest and most biodiverse tropical forests in East Africa. In addition to chimpanzees, the forest is home to various other primates, including black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and olive baboons, as well as a wide range of bird species and smaller mammals. Chimpanzee tracking is among the main activities done in the park and shouldn’t be missed while on a Uganda safari in Murchison falls national park. The chimpanzee tracking can be done in the morning or afternoon and we can book you the permits and organize this trek for you. Budongo Forest reserve has about 700 chimpanzees and these have been conserved for years and steadily the groups are growing and increasing in Numbers.

Hike and visit to the top of the fall.

Hiking to the top of Murchison Falls is an exhilarating adventure that offers visitors a unique perspective of this magnificent natural wonder. The hike to the top of Murchison falls begins at the base of the falls and follows a scenic trail that winds its way through lush vegetation bd rocky terrain.  Visit the amazing falls is also among the top safari experience on your to do list in Murchison falls national park. You will take a boat cruise to the start of the trail for the hike to the top of the falls which can take you about one hour walk. You will be able to see the amazing falls from a great view point and have clear pictures of the Murchison falls as well as the Uhuru falls.

In addition to the mentioned activities, the park offers a lot of amazing activities to visitors such as cultural encounter, birding, nature walks, bush camping, sport fishing, visit to Boomu women’s group, hot air ballon experience among others.