MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

The waterfall at Murchison Falls National Park enables travelers to share nature’s aesthetic music due to hymns made by bubbling white frothy cascades of water flowing into the plunge pool. It is said to be the most powerful in the entire world, sheltering fierce species such as lions, leopards, tigers, cheetahs, and the calm zebras, giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, and rhinos, not forgetting the hissing snakes such as pythons, king cobra, and garter snakes, which don’t have limbs, voice, external ears, only one functioning lung, and a long slender body. There are also crocodiles that feed on meat, and turtles, which are very slow like snails with hard shells. The park is also home to various primates, including monkeys, baboons, gorillas, and chimpanzees, to mention but a few.
The powerful waterfall is surrounded by grassland vegetation on the ground level, although it also possesses some trees where the primates’ habitat moves from one tree to another while foraging.
The Kabalega waterfall was named after the late king of Bunyoro and was named by the former president of Uganda, Amin, in the 1970s. This waterfall is located in the lower Victoria Nile River, filled with aquatic species such as tilapia, silverfish, and Nile perch in the plunge pool where water collects. The waterfall’s flow is slow in the absence of rapids. It was previously visited for its big five, which is Uganda’s most ancient protected area. It was discovered by Samuel and Florence Baker, who named it after the president of the Royal Geographical Society, Frederick Murchison.
The national park straddles districts such as Buliisa, Nwoya, Kiryandongo, and Masindi. The driving distance to the park is 305 km (4-6 hours). Driving to the headquarters at Para takes 85 km from Masindi. The southern gates, Kichumbanyobo and Masindi South Gate, offer the most direct routes. Another option is using the northern gates, Purongo or Taki Gate-Pakwach, although these are longer in distance. This is when the tourist decides to use road transport. Some prefer air transport that flies to the park using a daily scheduled flight from Kajjansi Airfield, which takes only one hour to reach the final destination. Others fly to Chobe, not Pakuba or Burgundy.
Tourists are permitted to enter the national park’s premises, but it doesn’t guarantee all activities. After paying a given fee, depending on your origin, foreigners pay differently from locals. Guidelines are given to tourists to read through, which are often reviewed during a briefing. These guidelines include:
Littering of the national park is prohibited.
Always move with a tour guide; no solo stopovers into the jungle.
Maintain a safe distance from the animals, especially during nature walking safaris, and noise is highly prohibited. Animals prefer a calm natural environment.
Feeding wild animals is not allowed, as it can disrupt their natural way of hunting.
The individual park entry fee for foreign non-residents is 40 USD, and 30 USD for foreign residents. Tourists from the East African community pay UGX 20,000, and children are charged 20 USD, 10 USD, and UGX 5,000.
The attractions at the park include:
Paraa: Situated close to the banks of the River Nile, it is known for habiting a large number of hippos. Activities in this area include bird watching, sport fishing, and game drives.
Budongo Forest: This area is a favorite among nature lovers. Some tourists go for natural walks, while others focus on gorilla trekking. The forest is famous for its variety of mahogany trees, home to various bird species.
Karuma Falls: Found in the northeastern region of the park, Karuma Falls forms a plunge pool where water collects, and some parts form rapids.
Activities in the park include game drives, boat trips, sport fishing, tracking, hiking, camping, birdwatching, and more. Accommodations include Fort Murchison Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Murchison Backpackers, Sipi Falls National Park, Paraa Safari Lodge, Twiga Safari Lodge, Nile Safari, Pakuba Safari Lodge, and many others.
Don’t miss out on the adventure that calls to all people in the world. Ride your horse on a silver lining up to the Pearl of Uganda and witness heaven at Murchison Falls National Park.