5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is the largest in Uganda seated on 3893 square KM. The park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savanna. Murchison Falls National Park first gazetted in 1926 as a game reserve, it is Uganda’s oldest conservation area, hosting over76 species of mammals and over 451 bird species. Today it is one of the best destination visited by tourists going on safaris in Uganda.
Murchison falls National Park is divided by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents.
Below are the five major reasons for visiting Murchison Falls National Park:
1.Easy accessibility– Its approximately 324km from Entebbe Airport to Murchison Falls National Park. You can reach the park by Air or Road (5-6hrs drive). Murchison falls national park has several gates where one can access the park either from the southern gate of Paraa or the northern gate at Murchison falls national park. Alternatively, you can reach the park on the chartered flights from Kampala/ Entebbe international airport, the park has several airfields such as Pakuba airfield, Chobe airfield and Bugungu airfield. Paraa being a place harboring a lot of wild game offers you an opportunity to sight a variety of animals.
2. Largest National Park – Murchison National park is the largest park in Uganda with the size of 3893 sq km. Being large, Murchison Falls National Park is capable of hosting over 76 species of mammals including four of the “Big Five”, herds of buffaloes and elephants, well-camouflaged leopards and a healthy population of lions. Other mammals include giraffes, bushbucks, Uganda kob, waterbucks and warthogs. Resident crocodiles and hippos as well as other, visiting wildlife are found along the river. Around 800 chimpanzees live in the Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo Forests and many olive baboons are found in Murchison Falls National Park.
3. A variety of Wildlife -As mentioned above, guest yarning to see the “big Five” Murchison Falls national park is a must visit. Water loving mammals and birds are found along Victoria Nile near the bottom of the Murchison falls. About 451 bird species recorded in Murchison Falls national Park include Shoebill Stork, the Goliath Heron – the largest heron in the world – and pairs of elegant Grey Crowned Cranes – Uganda’s national bird. Also seen along the banks of the Nile are the Blue-headed Coucal, Swamp Flycatcher, Squacco Heron, African Jacana, Sandpipers, Denham’s Bustard, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Black-billed Barbet, Black-headed Gonolek, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Piapiac, Silverbird, Weaver Birds, Pied, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers, Red-throated Bee-eater, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver and African Quail-Finch.
4. Murchison Falls – Murchison Falls is also called Kabalega Falls, is among the major tourist attraction in Murchison Falls National Park. The waterfall is situated between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert on the Victoria Nile in Uganda. It’s amazing to see water squeezing its way through the rocks to the lower ground forming a rainbow-like moist structure. It’s amazing to visit the top and bottom of the falls to be able to take memorable photos.
5. Rich culture – Visit the Luo community for cultural encounter. Expect to enjoy the amazing energetic dancers from Mubako performers. Meet the Boomu women’s group for accommodation, a craft shop and learn weaving skills among others. The village is a cluster of traditional thatched huts, where villagers gather to escape the midday sun under the shade of a large tree. At dusk, the local cultural groups perform at campfire of local lodge, accompanied by the beautiful sound of the “adungu” which is an instrument made of cowhide and twine and the harmonies of different sizes.
