Murchison Falls National Park – Dramatic Murchison Falls, Forest Chimps, Birds, Crocodiles And Wildlife Conservation In The Murchison Falls Conservation Area
Murchison falls is Uganda’s largest national park covering3840 sq km and protecting a number of untamed African savannah bisected by the mighty river Nile.
It is was because of the dramatic Murchison Falls the park got its name as where the world’s longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below. Wildlife populations have largely recovered from the poaching of the 1980s; in the lush borassus grassland to the north of the Nile, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and a variety of antelope are regularly encountered on game drives, while lion are seen with increasing frequency.
The major area of attraction within the park is Budongo forest in the south which is an extension of the park protected in the forest reserves of Budongo and Kaniyo pabidi. In Budongo forest are a number of varied forest fauna in the continent of East Africa favoring bird watching and Chimp trekking.
Budongo forest reserve has got two tourist sites both offering camping, chimp trekking, forest walks as well as basic accommodation.
ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT IN THE PARK
Launch trips to the base of the falls offer fine game-viewing and bird-watching.
Boat trips to the Lake Albert delta provide the best chance in Africa of sighting shoebills.
Chimp tracking at Rabongo Forest, and en route from Masindi in the Budongo Forest. Game drives on a good network of roads.
GETTING THERE
Hoima stands at a minor route junction. It is the main town between Fort Portal and Masindi, and there is another route connecting it to Kampala in the East and to Lake Albert in the west. From Kampala, the drive takes you through Hoima via Masindi and from Fort Portal to Murchison falls or Budongo forest you can bypass Masindi.
WHERE TO STAY
Paraa safari lodge which upmarket, mid range Sambiya Rivers lodge and Red Chill for budget travellers.