Murchison Falls National Park

Best Safari Activities 2024 in Murchison Falls National Park

Top safari events in Murchison Falls National Park for 2024: The oldest national park in Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park offers best safari activities to engage in 2024 that range in nature and may be done when visiting the location.

Known for the most strong waterfall in the world, Murchison falls national park is situated in north western Uganda. Some of the top safari activities available in Murchison Falls National Park in 2024 consist on the following:

Among the fun and thrilling activities available during safaris in Uganda, game drives at Murchison falls national park are rather common.

During morning and afternoon game drives, visitors appreciate witnessing the several wildlife species at Murchison Falls National Park. During game drives at the location, several areas of the national park—including the northern section and southern banks—are visited.

One of the best places for wildlife viewing is Murchison Falls National Park, which has elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffalos, oribis, waterbucks, warthogs, hyenas, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, hyenas, topi, dik dik. Safaris in Murchison falls National Park

Wildlife safaris in Murchison falls national park allow four of the five major types of animals—elephants, lions, leopards and buffalos—to be viewed. Visitors can encounter chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys in sections of the national park including the Budongo forest.

Game drives in Murchison falls national park optimum period is during the dry season from June to October and also in December to February when wildlife species are readily seen across the savannah plains. During the wet seasons around the national park, one can also engage in the game drives at the location.

Among the top activities available for safaris in Murchison falls national park in 2024 is boat safaris.

Under safaris in Murchison falls national park, this activity occurs along the Victoria Nile and can be done in the morning and in the afternoon. Visitors of the boat safaris reach the Murchison falls’ bottom.

On boat safaris in Murchison falls national park, the water banks on Victoria Nile show species including buffalos, elephants, hippos, and Nile crocodiles. The boat trips at the destination also allow one to observe several bird species.

The Paraa dock, where visitors can board the boats with their ranger guide and unwind enjoying views of the national park surroundings, marks the beginning for the boat safaris in Murchison.

Private boat excursions can also be arranged during boat safaris at Murchison falls national park which also provides group boat safaris which can be conducted utilizing the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) water vessel, a scheduled boat with great capacity.

The boat safaris to the bottom of the Murchison falls cost approximately thirty USD, which varies depending on the business doing the excursion in the national park.

Hiking to the Top of Murchison Falls: Visitors to Murchison Falls National Park in 2024 can also participate in hiking to the Murchison Falls top.

Trekking to the top of the Murchison falls provides breathtaking views of the Victoria Nile and Murchison falls national park as well as the surrounds. Hiking the summit of the waterfall follows many paths.

Travelers of all ages can thus engage in the approximately 45-minute climb to the top of the falls; skilled and beginner hikers can also do so during their visits at Murchison falls national park.

Tourists can go near to the waterfalls and feel the water spray from the thunderous falls at Murchison Falls National Park during the top of the falls climb. One can mix the climb with other activities done while safaris around the location.

For foreign non-residents, the top of the falls walk in Murchison falls national park costs 15 USD; for foreign residents, it costs 10 USD; for East African citizens, it costs 10,000 Uganda shillings.

During their safaris in the national park, visitors may also get close-ups of the Murchison falls. For foreign nonresidents and foreign residents as well as for East African citizens, this activity charges 10 USD.

Top safari events scheduled for Murchison Falls National Park in 2024

Boat Cruise within Murchison Falls National Park

Chimpanzee Monitoring:
Another activity available when visiting Murchison falls national park is chimpanzee tracking in Budongo woodland.

Tours in Budongo forest allow the chimpanzee tracking experience either in the morning or in the afternoon. Travelers scour the woodlands for the chimpanzees during this pastime, and among other primates they come across are black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, and blue monkeys.

Spending time with the chimpanzees and seeing their behavior in their natural habitat during the chimpanzee tracking trip in Budongo forest also excite visitors. The exercise lasts roughly four hours, and visiting the chimpanzees of Budongo requires a chimpanzee permit costing 140 USD per person.

During a journey in Budongo forest, the ideal times to engage in chimpanzee tracking are in June through October and also in December to February.

Tours to Murchison falls national park also include bird viewing activities, which may be pursued anywhere in the destination.

Murchison Falls National Park is a must-see location to witness over 450 bird species, including the uncommon Shoebill, which is visible during Nile delta boat trips. Around the Victoria Nile, around Budongo forest, in the savannah plains and in the national park’s wooded sections, other bird species abound.

Among the bird species present at Murchison falls national park are Giant Heron, Malachite Kingfishers, Red Throated Bee-eaters, Grey crowned cranes, Abyssinian ground Hornbill.

Murchison falls national park is one of Uganda’s most popular and oldest national parks which is located in the northwestern part of the country.

The National Park offers an incredible opportunity to witness the diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes of this iconic Ugandan national park. With experienced guides leading the way, visitors can expect to encounter a wide range of mammals and bird species.

What to do and see in Murchison falls national park

Murchison Falls National Park offers a range of activities for visitors, including;

Game drives

Game drives in Murchison falls national park take place in the morning and afternoon which allow visitors to explore the park’s grasslands, woodlands, and savannas in search of wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffaloes, hyenas, and various antelope species such as Uganda kob and Jackson’s hartebeest.

There are several designated game drive routes within Murchison Falls National Park that offer different experiences. The popular routes include the Buligi Peninsula, Albert Delta, and the Victoria Nile Delta.

Boat cruise

Boat cruises provide a unique opportunity to see the park’s wildlife from a different perspective.

This activity takes about 2 hours and the trip to the bottom of the falls is takes visitors close to the powerful waterfall and they can also see different wildlife species by the water shores like elephants, buffalos, hippos and Nile crocodiles.

Top of the falls hike

Hiking to the top of the falls allows visitors to explore the park’s diverse landscapes and ecosystems.

Chobe Trail is followed by visitors to the top of Murchison Falls which is rewarding with stunning views of the Nile River and the surrounding landscape.

Apart from hiking to the top of the falls, visitors can also engage in viewing of the Murchison falls which offers panoramic views of the park.

Fishing

Fishing is allowed in certain areas of the park and offers visitors the opportunity to catch a variety of fish species in the Nile River.

Some of the fish species which can be caught in Murchison falls national park include the Nile Perch, tilapia among others.

Bird watching

Bird watching is another activity to do in Murchison falls national park due to its diversity of bird species such as egrets, herons, kingfishers, hornbills, turacos among others.

Attractions in Murchison falls national park

Murchison Falls National Park is characterized by a diverse range of physical features which include the following:

The Murchison Falls is the key attraction of the park and one of the most impressive waterfalls in Africa. The park is named after the famous Murchison Falls, which is formed by the mighty River Nile as it forces its way through a narrow gorge before plunging down a 45-meter drop.
The Nile River which runs through the Murchison falls national park provides a source of water for the park’s wildlife.
Beautiful scenery is a mix of grasslands, woodlands, and scrubland, with areas of dense forest found along the riverbanks.
Murchison Falls National Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including Elephants, Lions, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Hippos, Nile crocodiles as well as antelopes, such as the Ugandan kob and the defassa waterbuck.
Bird species found in Murchison falls national park are over 400 species of birds, including the Kingfishers, the African skimmer, and the papyrus gonolek. The park’s woodland and forest areas are also teeming with birdlife. Species such as hornbills, turacos, barbets, sunbirds, and flycatchers can be spotted among the trees.

The Budongo Forest Reserve within Murchison Falls National Park is particularly renowned for its primate population but also offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching. It is home to over 360 species of birds, including the rare Puvel’s illadopsis and the chocolate-backed kingfisher.

Park entrance fees of Murchison falls national park

Park entrance fees are required to be paid by visitors in order to access Murchison falls national park. These fees help support the conservation efforts and maintenance of the park, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

The entrance fees for Murchison Falls National Park vary depending on several factors, such as nationality, residency status, and the type of activities visitors plan to engage in within the park. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is responsible for setting and collecting these fees.

For foreign non-residents, foreign residents and East African citizens the entrance fees for Murchison Falls National Park are as follows:

The park entrance fee for foreign non-residents is $45 per person, 35 USD for foreign residents and 25,000 Uganda shillings per day for East Africans. Children visiting Murchison falls national park are charged park entrance fee of 25 USD, 15 USD and 10,000 UGX for foreign nonresidents, foreign residents and East African citizens.

Vehicle entrance fee

In addition to the park entrance fee for individuals visiting Murchison falls national park, there is also a vehicle entrance fee. This fee applies to all vehicles entering the park, including private cars, tour vans, and buses.

The vehicle entrance fee in Murchison falls national park for Tour Company vehicles is 30,000 UGX.

Boat cruise fee

Murchison Falls National Park offers boat cruises along the Nile River, allowing visitors to witness the majestic Murchison Falls up close. The boat cruise fee for foreign non-residents is $30, 25 USD for foreign residents and 30,000 UGX for East Africans.

Other activities in Murchison falls national park costs are as follows;

Hiking to the top of the falls in the park is charged 15 USD for foreign nonresidents, 10 USD for foreign residents and 10,000 UGX for East Africans.

Viewing of the top of the falls costs 10 USD for foreign nonresidents and foreign residents while East Africans are charged 10,000 UGX.

Best time to visit Murchison falls national park

The dry season runs from December to February and June to September, is generally considered the best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park. During this time, the weather is typically dry and sunny, making it easier to explore the park and enjoy outdoor activities. The vegetation is also less dense, allowing for better wildlife sightings as animals gather around water sources.

During the wet season, numerous bird species from Europe and Asia migrate to Murchison falls national park in search of favorable breeding grounds and food sources making it a good time for bird watching.

How to get to Murchison falls national park

The fastest and most convenient way to reach Murchison Falls National Park is by air. There are several domestic airlines that operate flights from Entebbe International Airport to Pakuba Airstrip.

By road, you can reach Murchison Falls National Park from Kampala and the drive takes approximately 5 hours and is a scenic journey that takes you through the beautiful Ugandan countryside.

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