Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls wildlife park
Introduction Facts about the conservation Area:
* Average temperature: High 290C, low 210C.
* Seasons are dry during mid December to mid February, June and July.
* Wettest months are April and November.
* Height area of MFPA is 5025 square kilometers, Karuma wildlife Reserve with 675 square kilometers.
* Wildlife consists of 76 mammal species and 450 bird species.
Murchison Falls Protected Area (MFNP), Bugungu and Karuma wildlife Reserves.
Murchison falls National park gets its name from the Murchison falls where the Great Nile River explodes through a narrow gorge and flows down to become a calm and peaceful river whose grounds are crowded with hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, and buffalos. Savannah, riverine forest and woodland characterize the vegetation.
Wildlife includes; lions, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and several bird species with the rare shoe bill inclusive.
Tourist Activities in Murchison Falls
Sport fishing Uganda Tour:
Nile perch and Tiger-fish offer a fascinating challenge to anglers. Sport fishing can be done in the river sections above and below the falls. Booking with the park has to be done before, because the number of people carrying out sport fishing at specified places at anytime has to be restricted. Carry personal fishing equipment and some boats are present for hire on booking before.
Game Drives: Wildlife safaris in Uganda.
Giraffes at Murchison. In the cool early morning before the sun rises too high, you will view a lot of game on the Buligi, Albert and Queen?s paths north of the River Nile.
You can picnic at Nyamusika cliffs, enjoy the view and see elephants plus other game on the grassy hillsides. Go ready for a four-hour game drive and make sure a guide goes with you. The finest time is 0700hour and 1600hour.
Nature walks:
Murchison falls preserved area provides the chance to explore the wild on foot.
Animals, birds plus plants, can be closely and quietly seen. Nature walks are provided at Rabongo forest. Top of the falls and Kaniyo Pabidi in Budongo forest.
Launch cruise on the Nile:
One of the most exciting thing of Uganda safaris to Murchison falls National park is the launch trip fro Paraa to the foot of the Murchison falls. Hippos an crocodiles are many and you will view elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks and a diversity of birds such as herons and comorants, ducks, bee-eaters, eagles, king fishers and at times the uncommon shoebill.
The launch trip from Paraa to the falls (17km) and back, consumes about three hours. A boat trip from Paraa to the Delta (28km) and back consumes around four to five hours and you can view a related diversity of animals and birds. The boat trip is time tabled for 0900 hour and 1400 hour daily. Any special time arrangement can be made with park management.
Top of the Fall Trail:
Trails around the top of the falls go right up to the waters edge. You have a chance to hike to the top of the falls from a boat landing and to get near to the narrow gorge through which the river explodes into the falls. Campsites, picnic sites and walking safaris are present here.
Kaniyo Pabidi:
Kaniyo Pabidi is an undisturbed are of natural forest within Budongo Forest Reserve, where you can walk beneath mature mahogany and iron wood trees. Chimpanzee searching is the most popular activity.
You will certainly view several forest birds including the chocolate-backed kingfisher, the white-thigh, hornbill and puvel?s illadepsis found in no other place in East Africa.
Kaniyi Pabidi is along Masindi-Paraa road, 8 kilometers from Kichumbanyobo gate. There is a campsite where water and firewood are present. Kaniyo Pabidi is managed by the National Forestry Authority.
Robongo Forest:
Robongo Forest Ecotourism centre is located in an island of tropical riverine southeast of the gazetted region. The forest is surrounded by savannah grassland and from Paraa. It is 11 to 12 hour drive. Uganda safaris guides will assist you to explore the forest on foot. Spotting primates such as black and white Colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons and at times chimpanzees, identifying animals, birds, medicinal plants and areas. You can picnic and camp by the Warinngo River, the place is also favourable for student groups.
Accommodation in the Park
Accommodation:
Campsites are present at the Top of the fall, Rabongo forest, Paraa and Delta area. Toilet or pit latrines, showers or bathing shelters are offered at the sites.
Traditional and self-contained bandas are present at Red Chilli?s Rest camp also providing safari camp. Sambiya river lodge and Paraa Uganda safari lodge.
Access to the Park
Access:
By Road from Kampala through Masindi and by way of Kichambanyobo gate, Paraa is a 41-42 hours drive, 21 hours on tarmac and 21/2 hours on murram roads. A four-wheel is required. The ferry at Paraa works on timetable between the southern and northern ground of the Nile River.
By air: Charter services are present to all-weather small airports at Pakuba around 19 kilometers northwest to Paraa and Bugungu, which is 13 kilometers from Paraa.
Distances in kilometers
* Rabango ??????????????..67 A herd of hippos
* Nyamisika??????????????..14
* Top of falls by road???????????34
* Top of falls by water??????????..17
* Kichumbanyabo gate??????????.69
* Bugungu gate ?????????????15
* Tangi gate??????????????..25
* Bottom of falls????????????...14
* The Delta??????????????...28
* Bottom of falls to Albert Delta??????..55
* Red Chilli?s Rest camp?????????.0.6
* Paraa safari lodge???????????.0.2
* Sambiya River lodge??????????.25
* Nile safari camp????????????22
* From Paraa to Masindi via Kichumbanyabo ?.86
* Bugungu gate ?????????????136 A herd of buffalos
* From Paraa to Kampala via:
- Kichumbanyabo gate????????304
- Bugungu gate???????????353
Murchison Park Rules
Dos and Don?ts while in the park:
§ Enter the protected are via Kichumbanyabo, Bugungu or Tangi gate.
§ Retain all official receipts given for part activities.
§ Drive only on designated roads.
§ Do not sound your horn.
§ Move only on designated trails.
§ A guide should go with tourists on nature walks and game drives.
§ Camp only at designated campsites.
§ Do not pick flowers, do not cut plants nor destruct any vegetation.
§ Dogs or any other domestic animals are not allowed in the protected area.
§ Firearms or ammunition are not allowed in the protected area.
§ Do not litter.
§ Drive only between 6:30 in the morning and 6:30 in the evening.
§ Light fires only at the fire rings at the campsites.
Uganda National Parks