Uganda is one of the wildest places you can visit. It is pretty much an undomesticated continent. Everything there is usually uncooked and the nature still remains the life-threatening environment. Uganda is just one of a kind. There is a heap on things to do in Uganda, and it is up to you to decide which is going to entertain you the most. So you need to get online and find an is right for you. The best way to find out which tour is right for you is to do some research on this website that I found when me and my kids were looking on going on a safari to Uganda. And I can guarantee you will find what suits you best. Let’s talk about Murchison Falls national park on the wildest places you have not to miss when you are in Uganda.
Murchison Falls national park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley were the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savannah. First gazette as a game reserve in 1926, it is Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area hosting 76 species of mammals and 45 birds.
With your rented vehicle from Kampala Car Rentals you can drive 4 hours from Kampala to Murchison Falls national park;along the way to Masindi you can visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda.
The country’s largest protected area, Murchison Falls National Park is studded with Borasus palm and grassland supporting birdlife lion, buffalo, elephant and Uganda kob, Rothschild’s giraffe and Patas monkey. The launch cruise offers close up views to Hippos galore, and crocodiles poised at the shores. There is also a walking trail from the top of the falls with great vantage view spots.
SIZE: 3840 sq km
LOCATION:
Northwest of the country, approximately 90km from Masindi town or 14km from Karuma falls bridge.
GETTING THERE:
It is 4.5 hours drive.The ferry at Paraa operates a scheduled service between the southern and northern bank of the Nile. There is only public means of transport from Kampala to Masindi town. The Northern gate via Chobe has also just opened.
By Air: Charter services are available to all-weather aerodromes at Pakuba about 19 kms northwest of Paraa and Bugungu 13 Kms from Paraa.
Things to Do in Murchison Falls National Park
Game Drives
Game drives with a trained ranger guide are a fantastic way to see and photograph the wide range of animals in the Nile Valley. Your guide will have a good idea where the lions are hiding and may even spot a leopard at dusk.
Boat Trip
The launch trip upstream from Paraa presents and astonishing display of wildlife and culminates with the memorable frontal view of the falls, Recommended for birders is a morning cruise downstream to the Nile Lake Albert Delta. Alternatively, a tranquil sundowner cruise offers the classic view of an equatorial sunset reflected on the River.
Cultural Encounters
Great cultural entertainment, energetic dancers from Mubako perform around lodge campfires, making for a magical African experience at dusk. Boomu women’s group offers accommodation, craft shop and village tours revealing the realities of life in this rural community.
Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Enroute Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is 2 hours drive on the Kampala –Gulu highway is a perfect stopover for a walking safari to visit the Southern White Rhino, duikers,bushbucks, and a variety of birds. Regular launch trips to the base of the falls offer close up views of crocodiles, hippos, Elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks and bird watching. Boat trips to the Lake Albert delta provide the best chance in Africa of sighting shoebills.
Sport fishing:
For those who love sport fishing, the banks of the Nile below Murchison Falls provide the exciting challenges to anglers. Living within strong currents and highly oxygenated waters is the Nile Perch. There is the Chance to Land a massive catch-the record is 108KG. Nile Perch and Cat–fish angling is possible at the bottom of the falls on arrangement with the park authorities.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Chimp tracking at Kaniyo Pabidi,Rabongo Forest: Kaniyo-Pabidi and Busingiro, which is outside the park, are part of the Budongo Forest Reserve that are tourist sites and are managed by the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee tracking, only in Kaniyo Pabidi, is generally a 2-4 hr walk in the forest. Two viewing times per day are allowed, in the morning, with walks normally starting around 8am and then afternoon around 2pm. Maximum of 2 groups of 4-6 people per morning and afternoon will be allowed to track chimpanzees with experienced guides. The walk includes viewing of other wildlife in the forest and also seeing the oldest mahogany trees in East Africa. Other diurnal primates that may be seen during this walk are black and white colobus, red tail monkeys, blue monkeys and olive baboons and a spectacular number of butterflies.
Bird Watching:
Great opportunities for the bird lovers during the boat cruise and launch trips to come across a district of bird life including savannah forest birds, water birds and Albertine Rift Endemic. The park’s main bird watching attraction is the rare shoebill, best sighted in the dry season from January – March.
There is a bird watching safari in both Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro. It is also home to the rare Puvel’s illadopses, which is an endemic species to Budongo forest.
Other activities include Chimpanzee habituation, Pabidi hill walk and camping. Bush camping down the Nile Delta: It is also possible to arrange overnight bush camping where you will be taken to your designated campsite by boat.
WHEN TO VISIT:
Any time of year
WHERE TO STAY
There are upmarket lodges including Paraa Safari lodge northern sector,and Nile Safari tented camp, Sambiya River lodge and Red Chilli chalets in the southern sector. Camping is permitted in designated locations.There are also cabins available at Kaniyo Pabidi where Chimp tracking takes place .The luxury Chobe lodge on the northern sector which is one of the top places for sport fishing in Africa with its renowned gym rated with one of the best views in the world by CNN.
For more information on planning a safari in this park visit the Murchison Falls National Park Safaris, a website with a lot of information about how to discover this safari park.