Uganda, the pearl of Africa, is the only destination with powerful falls. Murchison Falls National Park is the largest and oldest park in Uganda, covering an area of 3873qkm above sea level. The park inhabits the powerful waterfalls, the Murchison falls
Murchison Falls, also known as Kabalega Falls, is a waterfall in Uganda, located at the apex of Lake Albert on the White Nile. At the top of Murchison Falls, the Nile forces its way through a gap in the rocks, only 7 m (23 ft) wide, and tumbles 43 m (141 ft) before flowing westward into Lake Albert. The outlet of Lake Victoria sends around 300 m /s (11,000 cu ft/s) of water over the falls squeezed into a gorge less than 10 m (33 ft) wide.
Murchison Falls National Park is located in the western part of Uganda. The park is home to the big five mammals like buffalo, lions, leopards, rhinos, and elephants, and other species like warthog, waterbucks, kobs, and various bird species.
For visitors to have the best few of the falls, they are allowed to hike on top of Murchison Falls, which offers a spectacular view of the falls.
Other Activities to do
Besides hiking to Murchison Falls, there are other activities to do while in the park
Game drive.
Although the park is the largest and oldest, the park is the best destination for game drives. Game drive takes about 2-3 hours and can be either morning hours or evening hours, where early grazers and raisers mammals are spotted.
The park is home to about 76 mammal species, including buffalo, elephants, lions, leopards, kobs, waterbucks, rhinos, giraffes, warthogs, hippopotamus, and many more. During a game drive, visitors use tourist vehicles to search for mammals in their habitat.
Bird watching.
Murchison Falls National Park is a birding paradise. The park is home to 451 bird species, some of which are migrants and others are endemic. Bird watching takes about half a day or a full day, and birders are advised to pack binoculars, cameras, comfortable hiking boots, water and snacks, a raincoat, caps, long trousers, long T-shirts, and more.
Boat cruise.
The park is the best destination for a boat cruise, which takes about 2-3 hours. Visitors always get a chance to spot the bottom side of Murchison Falls. During a boat cruise, visitors will spot mammal species like crocodiles, hippopotamus, water bucks, buffalo, forest elephants, and bird species like the handsome francolin, blue turaco, pelican, sunbird, grey crowned crane, sparrow, swallow, shoebill, long-horned billed bird, and many more.
Nature walks and culture encounters.
Murchison Falls National Park is the best destination for nature walks and cultural encounters. Murchison Falls is known to be the area of spirits where locals visit the falls seasonally, believing in their gods. During nature walks, visitors hike on top of the falls, walk through the local communities surrounding the park. The locals believe in traditional herbs as medicine, storytelling, entertaining visitors with traditional dances, and many more.
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>What is the best time to visit the park?
Although the park can be visited annually, there is always the best time to visit. Even though Uganda experiences two seasons, that is dry and wet seasons, dry season is the best season however wet season is when there is too much water due to the rainy season.
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>How to access the park?
The park can be accessed by either road or air transport. By road transport, visitors may use private or public vehicles to reach the park. Murchison Falls National Park has many gates which visitors may use, including Tangi, Bugungu, Chobe, Mubako, Wankar, depending on which location they are coming from. Visitors from Kampala to Masindi route using Tangi gate take about 7-8 hours.
By air transport, visitors may fly from kajjansi or Entebbe International Airport to Pakuba Airstrip or Chadika Airstrip, which takes about one and half hours.
Where to stay?
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>Chobe Safari Lodge.
Chobe Safari Lodge is a luxury lodge located at the edge of the park. The lodge has 24 rooms which 2 are cottages, which are grass thatched and 21 rooms are tents however all the rooms are self-contained with beds, mosquito nets, bed sheets, chair, tables, flushing toilets, showers, detergents, towels, and many more.
The lodge facilitates swimming pool where visitors relax in, well well-stocked bar where soft or hard drinks are served, a restaurant where delicious meals are served and prepared by professional chefs, free wifi, free parking, laundry, and many more.
Paraa Safari Lodge
Paraa Safari Lodge is also a luxury lodge offering a unique blend of comfort, relaxation, and adventure. The lodge is located in the northwest of Uganda overlooking one of nature’s best secrets. The River Nile on its journey from its source at Lake Victoria to join Lake Albert.
Each of the 54 rooms at Paraa Safari Lodge are complete with balcony and en-suite private bathroom, flushing toilets, detergents, bathtubs, towels, chairs, beds, bedsheets, tables, balcony, and private showers. Paraa safari lodge facilitates free wi-fi in main building. Restautant where delicious meals are served and prepared by professional chefs. Laundry, well stocked bar with soft and hard drinks, swimming pool where visitors relax in enjoying the view of river Nile, and free parking.
