Activities for a 3-Day Safari at Murchison Falls National Park
- August 3, 2024
- Posted by: chosen@202q
- Category: Prepare To Travel Tips
Activities for a 3-Day Safari at Murchison Falls National Park
When organizing a safari at Murchison Falls National Park, visitors may anticipate engaging in various activities like hiking to the top of the falls, camping, animal drives, bird viewing, chimpanzee trekking, nature walks, fishing, and boat cruises.
It might not be possible to fit in all the activities in the world’s largest national park during a three-day safari to Murchison Falls National Park; at least five days are needed. That being said, the following lists some of the main things to do on a three-day visit to Murchison Falls National Park.
Hiking the top of Murchison Falls
The majority of visitors start out by scaling the falls. The Nile River forms the Murchison Falls as it winds through a narrow valley on its way to Egypt. After Victoria Falls, Murchison Falls is regarded as the world’s most potent waterfall. Although it’s ideal to travel in a group or with someone who is familiar with the area, you don’t need a guide to reach the top of the falls. There is an amazing view of the falls from the top.
The incredible roar that is produced as the water battles its way down the valley and descends 42 meters below is one of the park’s most amazing views. It is amazing to see the mist that the water’s force creates when it combines with the rising sun to form stunning rainbows. On a hot day or during the dry season, the waterfall’s spray has a cooling and relaxing effect, especially after a long day of activities. This is a great place to take pictures, so don’t come without one.
After viewing the cascade from the top, there is a path that descends to the river or the smaller Uhuru Falls prior to the Murchison Falls. It’s essential to visit “The Crocodile Bar.” Crocodiles gather here, close to the base of the falls, to await fish and other unfortunate creatures that are swept downstream by the powerful water. All sizes of crocodiles anxiously awaited their next meal.
a boat journey to the falls’ base
One of the most well-liked activities in the park is this. Starting and ending at the base of the falls, the trip takes around three hours. With thunderous roars as the water cascades down to the river, the vista from the top of the falls is breathtaking. Following the falls, the Nile is home to an abundance of animals, including some of the biggest crocodile and hippos collections in Africa. Along the banks of the river, visitors can also see drinking antelope species, elephants, and buffalo.
Among the water birds are bee-eaters, cormorants, ducks, fish eagles, herons, kingfishers, and shoebills. The skipper will wheel the boat upstream to the bottom of the falls, where visitors can dismount and trek up to level land after taking pictures of the birds and animals.
Traveling and viewing games
This is by far the most enjoyable thing to do at the park. Even while you can go on game drives by yourself, having a park ranger with you makes the experience more instructive since they can help you recognize the many kinds of birds and mammals or show you where to look for them. A three-hour wildlife drive to Murchison Falls could yield sightings of buffaloes, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, hippopotamus, leopards, lions, monitor lizards, side-striped Striped Jackals, Spotted Hyenas, and warthogs.
The park is home to several antelope species, including the Uganda Kob, Bohor Reedbuck, Bushbuck, Defassa Waterbuck, and Hartebeest. The Rabongo and Budongo Forests are home to baboons, Black and White Colobus, Patas Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, and Chimpanzees. The park is also home to a variety of lesser snakes, mambas, cobras, and African rock pythons.
Visitors have the option of a 2-hour nighttime game drive in addition to daytime safaris. During the night game drive, there is a higher likelihood of seeing predators such as lions, serval cats, hyenas, and leopards in particular. To make sure that no action is overlooked, the rangers wander around with torches. Late in the evening or as night falls, is when the night game drives start.
Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Situated on the route leading from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park lies the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The national parks of Uganda are no longer home to rhinos because of extensive poaching.
The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was established to protect the last few rhinos and carefully breed more of them, with the goal of eventually reintroducing them into larger parks once their population reaches 20. The main activity here is walking rhino tracking, which sanctuary rangers typically supervise.
The Rangers give information about the rhinos, the history of the sanctuary, the breeding program, and general conservation efforts. After that, they take visitors on a feeding tour of the enormous animals.
The vast reserve is home to several bird species and small primates, in addition to rhinos. There are also nature hikes available for guests to see animals like the shoebill stork. The entrance costs are all given to programs aimed at conserving rhinos. It is preferable to visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary either prior to or following your visit to Murchison Falls National Park.
observing birds
For bird watching, Murchison Falls National Park is among the best places in Uganda. Game drives and boat trips are times when the activity is offered. Being a large park, Murchison Falls provides a variety of locations and opportunities for birdwatching.
The park is home to a variety of bird species, including the Blue-naped Moosebird, Bluff-bellied Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Denham’s Bustard, Double-toothed Barbet, Eastern Grey Plantain-Eater, Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Giant Kingfisher, and Goliath Heron.
Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Black-tailed Nightjar, Hugli’s Francolin, Grey-crowned Cranes, Green-winged Ptyilia, Long-toed Plover, Malachite Kingfisher, Martial Eagle, and additional species of Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Northern Crombec, Osprey, Pel’s Fishing Owl, and other species
Pied Kingfisher, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Piapiac Sacred Ibis, Rock Pratincole, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Red-throated Bee-Eater, all Sandpipers, Secretary Bird, Senegal Thick-knee, Shoebill Stork, Silver Bird, Red-throated Bee-Eater, Red-throated Bee-Saddle-billed Stork, Warbler with a Bluff-belly, Spotted Mourning Thrush, Spotted owl, Spotted Thick-knee, Spur-winger Geese, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Several species can be found in the area: Vaseline Masked Weaver, Veracious Dove, Verreaux’s Owl, Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Swamp Flycatcher, and Squacco Heron.
Chimpanzee trekking in the Budongo jungle
Situated to the south of the park, Budongo Forest is a component of the Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo forest reserves. More than 464 plant and animal species, including over 820 chimpanzees, can be found in the forest. Chimpanzee trekking is the most well-liked activity in the bush since Jane Goodall maintains a research station there. The tracking of chimpanzees starts at 8 a.m. and ends at roughly 3 p.m. It varies depending on the time of year, but there’s a fair chance of seeing the chimps.
May and August are the best months to visit the chimpanzees. With over 360 species of birds and smaller primates like the black and white colobus, blue monkey, forest galago, pattos, and red-tailed monkeys, trackers should never get bored in this beautiful jungle.
Tours are often guided by an informed and skilled guide who helps visitors identify the numerous species of animals, plants, and birds. It is also possible to arrange the chimp habituation session in the Budongo forest at a time when there aren’t as many trackers there. You would need a 4-day safari at Murchison Falls National Park if you wanted to include chimpanzee tracking in your safari.