The Murchison Falls In The Game Park

The Nile River cuts through the park. The renowned rainbow seen in so many images is created as the Nile, which is flowing west into Lake Albert, squeezes through an 8-meter opening and plunges 45 meters over the remaining Rift Valley wall down into the appropriately named “Devil’s Cauldron.”

The Falls mark the end of an 80-kilometer stretch of rapids before the Nile opens up into a wide, calm river that flows into Lake Albert and a far-reaching voyage to the north.

The best way to get to the Falls is through a two-part excursion that starts with a boat safari on the Nile, where you can see elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, Nile crocodile, and aquatic birds on the shore or in the shallows, and then continues with a 30-minute hike around the cliffs to the head of the Falls.

The Lake Albert delta, one of the greatest spots in Uganda to watch the renowned Shoebill storks, is reached by sailing west rather than east to the Falls. Murchison is a terrific area to go fishing if you like to be more active on the water. There are numerous destinations that provide specialized excursions.

Wildlife In Murchison Falls National Park

Game drives in the Buligi Peninsula’s savannah grasslands and riverine woods offer fantastic opportunities to see lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and Ugandan kob antelope. Only rhinos are absent, but those will be replaced by rhinos from the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, according to the growing sightings of leopard. The Budongo Forest Reserve is a paradise for birders and a fantastic place to look for chimpanzees in the park’s woody south. Even though most guests only stay in Murchison for two or three nights, it is possible to stay for much longer and yet feel unfulfilled.

How Safari Is Conducted At Murchison Falls National Park

While on a safari, guests can participate in a variety of activities at Murchison Falls National Park. One of the activities in the Murchison Falls National Park is taking a boat ride to see the wildlife. This is another ideal Uganda excursion (boat cruise). Every day at 9:00 am and 14:00 pm, a boat excursion departs from Paraa for the 17-kilometer trip to the base of Murchison Falls. The trip takes three hours to complete.

Visitors can witness a variety of bird species, including herons, bee-eaters, cormorants, fish eagles, kingfishers, and shoebills, throughout the 28-kilometer journey from Paraa to the Delta and back. Along the river’s banks, you may also view species including hippos, crocodiles, elephants, water bucks, buffaloes, and many more.

Safari Rates in the Murchison falls national park.

Are you worried about where to spend an over night while on your safari in Murchison falls national park? There is no more worries again because this  is no more problem again because Murchison falls national park has got  a variety of accommodations which range from budget, midrange and luxury.

These safari resorts have nightly rates ranging from $40 to $500. You can inquire from the majority of them to organize safari activities within the park. Choose a lodge with the best Nile views while making your selection.

Sport Fishing:

Murchison Falls In Uganda, this  is one of the national parks that gives  visitors the chance to partake in sport fishing, making for an exciting experience. Lake Mburo National Park is another national park that offers this possibility.

At the base of the falls and along the River Nile, sport fishing is practiced. Among the fish caught are mud fish, tiger fish, tilapia, and Nile perch. Sport fishing is a year-round pastime that is best enjoyed when the water is clear, which is typically from January to April.

Nature hikes:

The Murchison Falls National Park gives visitors the chance to go on a safari and walk on foot with the guides to various locations within the park, such as the Rabongo Forest, Kaniyo Pabidi in the Budongo Forest, the swamp walk to the Nile delta, which lasts between two and four hours, and the top of the falls walk to explore the landscapes, Murchison Falls, the surrounding areas, and many others to view various primates like chimpanzees, grey checked mangabeys, white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys to mention but  a few. More so, you will get to see may bird species such as the grey long bill, yellow manted weaver, shoebill stork and may others.

Bird watching:

The Murchison Falls National Area is a haven for about 450 different bird species. Bird watchers can enjoy the park from their safari vehicles during game drives, from boats during boat cruises, or on foot during nature walks. You can see a variety of birds in Murchison Falls National Park, including African darter, along toed plover, grey headed kingfisher, veracious dove, martial eagle, African fish eagle, black headed lapwing, giant kingfisher, shoebill, roc pratincole, goliath heron, yellow billed stork, white faced whistling duck, secretary bird, greater flamingo, and papyrus

Top Of The Falls

The top of the falls route, which loops around the top of the falls, the falls, and the waters edge, is an incredible experience in Murchison Falls National Park. It takes 15 to 45 minutes. You can get close to the narrow ravine through which the water erupts into the falls on the journey up to the top of the falls from the boat landing. There are also camping grounds, picnic areas, and walking safaris to make your trip to Murchison Falls unique and fascinating.

Cultural Encounters:

Cultural encounters is an intriguing activity in the Murchison Falls National Park because it allows you to visit remote areas in various villages to interact with the locals and learn more about their lifestyles, cultures, and traditional foods.

For instance, the Boomu Women’s Group offers community tours to the Banyoro Community and operates a craft shop with locally made crafts like baskets and other items.

Hot Air Balloon Experience:

The hot air balloon safari experience, which is exclusively available in Uganda’s Murchison and Queen Elizabeth national parks, is one of the additional activities that may be done during your safari in Murchison Falls National Park. While on a safari, the Murchison Falls National Park provides a wide variety of accommodations, including the Chobe Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Bakers Lodge, Red Chili Rest Camp, Boomu Women’s Group Bandas, Budongo Eco Lodge, Kalalo Cottages Inn, and New Court View Hotel, among others. The best months to visit Murchison Falls National Park are between December and February and June and September. The park is open all year round.

Game drives:

This activity involves driving a safari vehicle around the Murchison Falls National Park on designated park routes in an effort to spot various species. The park offers a morning game drive that departs at either 7:00 am or 6:00 am and lasts up to two hours. There are two types of game drives in the park: the nocturnal game drive, which begins after dinner and lasts two hours, and the afternoon game drive, which begins about 6:00 pm and lasts an hour.

A qualified guide is necessary for game drives in Murchison National Park, especially for spotting nocturnal species like lions, serval cats, and hyenas. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes, waterbucks, warthogs, and other animals can also be spotted during daytime game drives. A variety of birds can also be observed, including the saddle-billed stork, the majestic grey crowned crane, the gorgeous black headed spur wined lapwings, and many others.

Although it is wonderful to see wildlife from the river, nothing compares to the thrill of a game drive. The thrill of moving slowly through dense bush, never knowing when you will see the next elephant, or the feeling of being right in the heart of a resting pride of lions, giraffes, or a tower of giraffe.

The Buligi Peninsula, where 170 km of paths traverse wide savanna grassland, woodland, acacia, and riverine vegetation, is where the majority of game drives in Murchison are taken. You can expect to spot elephant, buffalo, antelopes, and giraffe while driving in the early morning (the first south/north ferry crossing at Paraa is at 7:00) and late afternoon.

The majority of the Park’s prides are found here, where they prey on Ugandan kob, hence lions are becoming more common. A leopard might even be visible.

At Delta Point, where the Nile exits Lake Albert and flows north, the rails come together. This is a good location to pause for refreshments while watching distant hippos and waterbirds offshore. The southern “Heart of Murchison” is less traveled but yet accessible to daring adventurers. This recently opened area of the park was created with the goal of reducing the amount of visitor strain on Buligi. While the majority of Murchison’s southern region is covered in bush and woodland, the park’s center features a magnificent section of savanna that sweeps down to the river from the Rabongo road.

This is a great area for lions because to large herds of Uganda kob. Since 15 giraffes were relocated here in January 2016, it is now possible to see these enormous animals on the Honey Moon route.

Visit of Murchison Falls

The majority of Murchison’s 1,085mm yearly rainfall falls between March and November. This doesn’t stop people from visiting the park; June to September is still one of the busiest months, but you should be prepared for sudden, heavy downpours.

The dry season from December to February is also substantially hotter, with average high temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius.

The dry season forces species to congregate around water sources, creating concentrated sightings, as it does for much of Africa. The highest bird population density and the fewest visitors are observed during the rainier months.

Chimpanzee Tracking In Murchison Falls National Park

The possibility of encountering chimpanzees is higher at Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park than at Kibale National Park, with a contact rate of about 80%. Each morning and afternoon, up to 6 escorted groups of three persons track the chimpanzees.

The entire journey lasts roughly three hours, however contact is typically made after only an hour of walking. Those seeking a more in-depth experience can also participate in a full-day habituation event here.

The interpretive interpreters at Budongo Forest are quite skilled at conveying the bigger story of the chimps and the forest, not just pointing you in the direction of a contact, because to the center’s historical connection with the Jane Goodall Institute.

Falls River Safaris

The boat ride from Paraa to the Falls is what people associate with Murchison. This can take up to three hours to travel back, and is best experienced in the late afternoon when the western sun illuminates the spray. Or, your driver-guide can meet you at the Falls and take you on a road trip back to your resort. When you stay on the south bank, this works really well.

Either a double-deck boat or a smaller motor cruiser makes the boat ride a majestic procession. You will pass near to the river bank while pleasantly seated and free of any of the bumps that come with game drives, where you may observe the huge mammals, crocodiles, and wildlife that frequent the shoreline. It’s amazing to observe a six-ton bull elephant drinking from just a few meters away while it’s completely at ease.

It is simply too unsafe for the boats to halt at the base of the Falls themselves. Instead, guests disembark at the bottom of a cliff for those who wish to climb to the summit. After being greeted by a guide, you proceed to go through a riverine forest, along a cliff edge, and up onto the break of the Falls, stopping at various vistas along the way. You may undoubtedly get wet from the spray, but the experience is well worth it.

Lake Albert Delta River Safari

The Lake Albert Delta river safari is in many respects an extension of the Falls cruise experience, but with the Delta as your destination. You travel downstream at this period, which is frequently in the morning. There is a good probability that you will witness Shoebill storks as well as other sizable groups of water birds.

Although comparable to the Falls cruise, the experience is more than just seeing wildlife. Moving from the river to the lake’s broad open waters is a very unique feeling that makes for some beautiful photos.

Fort Murchison safari  lodge;

This lodge  is owned by nature lodges,  and is located in the northern section of Murchison Falls National Park, the park’s largest protected area and home to a distinctive variety of bird species. The lodge is Dutch-owned. The lodge is situated on the banks of the serene and slowly flowing Albert Nile in the eastern Pakwach.

Near the northern limits of Murchison Falls National Park, in the former Aswa Lolim Game Reserve, is where the Fort Murchison Safari Lodge is located. The Albert Nile can be seen majestically from its grounds, and you can also take in the sweeping views of the lush Murchison Falls National Park vegetation. A vacation in the African wilderness is best experienced with a view of the Nile.

The building of  Fort Murchison safari resort physically explains how it got its name because it looks like a well-kept put post from Arabian times in Africa. It requires a historical sultan’s mansion or an ambiance-rich Islamic fort. Fort Murchison mixes a significant amount of African history, specifically that of Uganda, with contemporary Morocco because it resembles a roof terrace in the Moroccan Kasbah architectural style. However, it is actually historic because the Wadelai ruins are only 30 kilometers from Fort Murchison.

The strategic location of Fort Murchison, which has a historical flash painted on it, is close to the Nile River. Visitors who reserve a room at the Fort Murchison Safari Lodge for their vacations in the Murchison Falls National Park will find the atmosphere to be sufficiently exciting. The safari lodge at Fort Murchison is exquisitely made with antique architectural elements. The large fort Murchison tower’s walls are painted an earthy brown tone, bringing out the Swahili style’s distinct touch.

With roughly 12 ensuite rooms, the lodge offers cheap lodging in the Murchison Falls National Park. The bedrooms are tastefully decorated and have beds that are incredibly comfortable. The ensuite bathrooms receive hot water from eco-solar water heaters. Fort Murchison Safari Lodge offers lovely rooms and thatched tents for lodging, both of which are perfectly suited to midrange and low-cost safari plans. This gives tourists the best value for their money.

The tents are roomy and equipped with wonderful, comfy beds and genuine cotton pillows. There is also a bedside lamp so you can read your favorite books while you sleep, and all the rooms have a mosquito net to keep the biting insects out. Every room has an enough supply of towels, and there are extra outlets for charging devices. However, the tents offer very clean shared restrooms that let you take a relaxing shower.

The safari lodge’s standard rooms offer ensuite bathrooms, and the flashing toilets are cleaned every day to ensure your safety while you’re there. However, the tents come with spotless communal toilets, so you don’t have to worry about sanitary conditions because the housekeeping service performs its tasks correctly.

Because the kitchen also produces food à la carte, the restaurant at Fort Murchison offers mouthwatering cuisine based on your preferences. The kitchen creates and serves delectable four-course meals, starting with appetizers that will whet your appetite and ending with deserts. The staff of the Fort Murchison Safari Lodge in the Murchison Falls National Park are friendly and will go above and beyond to ensure that you enjoy your stay in comfort.

Chobe Safari lodge;

In the northern region of Murchison Falls National Park, Chobe Safari Resort is a five-star luxury safari lodge that is the closest to the northern bank of the River Nile. Over 40 guest rooms, 21 luxurious tents, 4 suites, a presidential suite, and the Florence family home can be found at Chobe Safari Lodge. With an air field and a sizable parking lot, Chobe Safari Lodge is situated on a vast area, giving it a wonderfully expansive feel.

The greatest safari lodge to stay at while on vacation with your family is Chobe safari lodge, which is referred to as the jewel in Uganda’s tourism destination crown. This resort provides a proper panoramic view of the River Nile, and you can fall asleep to the sounds of the Nile’s swiftly flowing water. There is no doubt that the scene of adventure displayed at Chobe Safari Love will move and impress even the most discriminating tourist.

The Nile is visible from every room at the Chobe safari resort, including the tents. This demonstrates how much the Nile meant to the architects. The balconies on the standard rooms are spacious enough and furnished with a set of two comfortable couches and a table made by an African craftsman, allowing you to spend your evening admiring the Nile while sipping your preferred house wine or another beverage like African coffee or English coffee.

The deluxe and standard luxury tents provide a genuine safari attribute to their setting. The premium tents are located on the extreme east side of the Chobe safari resort, close to the riverbank. The area is serenely silent, with the only sound coming from the Nile’s rapids. In addition to the presidential suite, the ordinary tents are located on the peaceful west side of the Chobe safari lodge. Visits from elephants, buffalo, baboons, monkeys, and occasionally giraffes are common at the tent.

The luxury tents are larger, decorated, and have very soft, clean, and comfy mattresses with an ensuite bathroom and flashing toilet. You will receive excellent value for your money because the premium experience is unrivaled.

Although there is some distance between the Chobe Safari Lodge’s main building and the tents, you shouldn’t worry about it because golf carts with drivers are constantly ready to transport you to your tent. The golf cart will be at your door in the morning to pick you up for your new day at the Chobe safari resort; it only takes a call.

Every morning, the housekeeping staff will clean your room, dusting the furniture, changing the linens, and cleaning the bathroom. In the evening, they will open your bed, lower the mosquito net, and spray it for you (if you want it to be), so that you won’t have to worry about anything but enjoying your safari getaway in the wilderness.

Karuma restaurant will satiate your appetites with all regional and global cuisines. On some days, there is a lunch buffet and an a-la-carte menu for dinner. If you’re lucky, one other day you might be able to attend the BBQ by the pool. At Chobe Safari Lodge, the holiday season is regarded as a single event, and you may always experience the atmosphere of a homemade holiday.

The lounge at Chobe Safari Lodge has a fully stocked bar, and a waiter by the poolside brings you your preferred cocktail while you relax and take in the peace of the pool. The main bar offers a large lounge area with plush sofas and contemporary bar stools.

Murchison River lodge;

The Murchison River Lodge is situated along the southern bank of the Nile River in the southern section of the Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison Falls National Park, as well as the numerous hippo schools along the stretch of the riverbank papyrus marsh, are visible from Murchison River Lodge. The vista is breathtaking, and you can watch hippos splashing about in the water from your cottage. The hippos’ mourning calls from their nighttime grazing may wake you up in the morning.

Any safari budget will be perfectly suited by the cozy and tranquil mid-range accommodations at Murchison River Lodge. In addition to the well-thatched safari tents at Murchison River Lodge, the cottages are grass-thatched to enable for temperature control. All of the cottages feature private bathrooms so you can have some alone time to experience an African safari in the middle of the nature.

However, you may also bring your camping supplies and set up your own in the campground area if you’d want to be really adventurous. Murchison River Lodges also has cozy camping tents that are already set up in the campsite shade. Self-catering facilities are available on-site, and there is a fire pit where you can sit and take in the river breeze in the evenings. The campground includes good restroom facilities and clean, secure showers.

While relaxing at Murchison River Lodge, you can take part in safari activities in the Murchison Falls National Park. The lodge is close to the river, so you can take a boat cruise down the Nile to the Albert Delta and see a variety of wildlife there, including elephants bathing in the water and hippo schools that are widely scattered along the riverbank. You can also see a variety of water birds, including falcons, weaver birds, king fishers, and if you’re lucky, a shoebill stock

As an alternative, you can take a boat ride to the base of the falls, which is a breathtaking and energizing experience as you observe the masses of water fall from a cliff that is 45 meters high. You can trek up to the top of the falls from the bottom by following the Winston Churchill trail. You’ll see some of nature’s treasures during the hike, such the glimpse of the Nile as it meanders toward the Albert delta. As you get closer to the top, the experience is exhilarating as the ground begins to tremble and the tremendous scream of the water either thrills or terrifies you. It is very memorable to watch the water as it squeezes through the small valley that creates the surrounding mist from the top of the falls.

The game drive in Murchison Falls National Park will give you the opportunity to see the big five of Africa, including hippos like warthogs, antelopes, and hyenas (not common), among other animals. Murchison River Lodge is a short distance from Paraa, making it simple for you to take a wild game drive to Paraa side.

The Budongo Bush, where you can see primates like monkeys and take breathtaking nature hikes through the forest, is still a few kilometers from Murchison River Lodge. Therefore, Murchison River Lodge’s ideal location makes it simple to access the entire park

Nile Safari lodge;

The environmentally conscious Nile safari lodge is a lodging establishment located in the Murchison Falls National Park on the southern bank of the Nile. The Nile divides the largest protected area, Murchison Falls National Park, in half. Murchison Falls National Park is traversed by the Nile from east to west. At the “Albert Delta” location, it then merges with Lake Albert.

The environment of the Nile Safari Lodge is calm thanks to the Nile River, and the incredibly beautiful sunset on the water showcases the grandeur of an authentic African nature. The lodge stands as a physical example of contemporary African design and merges well with the surrounding environment on the elevated Nile riverbank. The building is thatched to blend in with the surroundings; this promotes environmental sustainability in Murchison Falls National Park.

About eight bandas at Nile Safari Lodge were expertly constructed to satisfy the standards of contemporary lodging. There is no need for a bedtime story since sleep will come without a doubt because the bandas at Nile Safari Lodge offer ensuite bathtubs to assist you unwind after your day of safari activities. The atmosphere of Nile Safari Lodge promotes relaxation and heightens your African safari experience with a view of sunset setting on the ground.

High pressure showers are available in the opulent bandas at Nile Safari Lodge so that you may take a good morning shower before your safari activities for the day begin. A genuine cause for any safari or vacation, the outdoor showers bring out the true sense of the African bush. They also bring in the true beauty of the natural surroundings of your Banda, which encourages relaxation and regeneration.

During your stay at the resort, the Laini restaurant is a great spot to satisfy your appetite. The Swahili word Laini, which means “sweet,” appropriately describes the food made and served at the Laini restaurant at the Nile Safari camp. The restaurant serves food from an a-la-carte menu that is expertly tailored to fit your list of cravings. A very skilled chef painstakingly prepares a variety of exquisitely presented African and international cuisines at the Lain restaurant.

The resort includes a stunning spa with a view of the Nile River and a serene atmosphere, fitting with the Swahili name Mtoni. You have a 180-degree panoramic view of the Nile from the spa area. If you receive aromatherapy at the lodge’s Mtoni spa, it will be miraculously effective. The infinity pool is another incredible addition to your incredible Ugandan safari. Due to the great level of intelligence the architects employed to create a virtually ideal staged authenticity in the bush of Africa, the infinity swimming pool flows over a 24 well tiled surface, it elegantly and eventually blurs the space that separates the natural from this man-made facility. The atmosphere at Nile Safari Lodge is one of peace and relaxation; the only loud noise you will hear comes from the wild animals that you are hosting, such as hippos and the lavishly walk to graze in the evening. Then, the crickets add to the epic and unforgettable night at Nile Safari Lodge by capturing the essence of the pearl of Africa

Pakuba Safari Lodge

The majority of low-cost lodging alternatives are found in the northwest, along the Albert Nile, but just one—the Pakuba Safari Lodge—is really inside the park.

On the east bank of the Albert Nile, Pakuba is at an excellent location. The lodge is an updated version of the once-existent state lodge, the remains of which are still visible. It provides excellent value but lacks the personality and distinctive style that can distinguish a house.

Paraa Lodge

The park’s central Paraa region, where the Victoria Nile merges with Lake Albert, is home to the most well-liked resorts.

A spacious hotel with 54 rooms, Paraa Lodge is located in a prominent location on the north bank of the Nile. It is a fantastic choice for families or first-time tourists to Africa who wish to go on a safari without feeling overly exposed. The lodge was rebuilt in 1997 using the shell of the original 1959 lodge.

Baker’s Lodge

There are an increasing number of high-quality, compact choices on the south bank of the Nile. One of the most well-liked options is Baker’s Lodge, which is also the option that is closest to the ferry stop and the shore.

The chambers, which were first introduced in 2015 and are charmingly constructed out of canvas and thatch from a communal dining area, are of generously proportioned size. Twiga Safari Lodge, its neighbors just up the hill, offers a modern interpretation of a tented camp by mixing canvas with sturdy architecture. The eight exquisitely constructed, contemporary thatched bandas at the Nile Safari Lodge, which was recently restored, offer the greatest views.

Budongo Eco Lodge

Along the main route connecting Masindi and Paraa are the possibilities that are located the furthest south. Despite not having Nile frontage, they offer the finest access to Budongo’s  woodlands, where a variety of wildlife and chimpanzees can be discovered.

The most well-liked lodging is the Budongo Ecolodge, which is located 8 kilometers north of the Kichambanyobo Gate. It was once the Jane Goodall Institute’s research station, but after renovations, it now serves as a welcoming and cozy starting point for forest exploration.

Getting There 

Road travel is now a lot more joyful possibility because to Uganda’s arterial road network’s improving quality and the absence of conflict in the north since the LRA’s departure.

The ideal way to break up a day travel from Entebbe to Murchison is to stop for lunch at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. A full seven hours can now be spent traveling to or from Kidepo National Park, allowing for exploration of Karamoja in particular and north-eastern Uganda in general. You may reach Fort Portal and Kibale Forest in eight hours by driving south for seven hours.

Murchison and Entebbe are connected by a daily, planned, 80-minute light aircraft journey, along with other sites in Uganda.