Guided Nature Walks in Murchison Falls National Park
Walking safaris in Murchison Falls National Park offers ultimate immersion into the natural beauty of Uganda’s largest National Park. Guided nature walking expeditions in Murchison Falls Game Park involve spotting a diversity of wildlife and come with stunning views of the falls. Expect to engage in an enriching walking experience as you navigate via the endowed trails with the opportunity to observe the diversity of wildlife.
Experienced park ranger guides perfectly lead walking safaris in Murchison Falls National Park. This is to ensure that you have a safe experience as you interact with nature. Murchison Falls National Park walking safaris include day and night walks.
Normal nature walking safaris get you exposed to a variety of wildlife, especially those often active during the daytime. Nocturnal/night walks introduce you to enriching trails for you to spot a variety of nocturnal species. Among the diverse nocturnal species to explore in Murchison Falls National Park are bush infants, civets, leopards, porcupines, hippos, and hyenas.
The nocturnal nature walks begin at around 7:00 pm after you have had dinner. Like the normal day nature walk, expect to enjoy 2 hours of exploring nocturnal species in the wild with an experienced guide. Normal day nature walks begin at any time in the morning, and an experienced park ranger guide can lead visitors.
About Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is in the Northwestern end of Uganda and is 3840 sq. km, making it Uganda’s biggest park. This park features breathtaking landscapes characterized by savannas and forests.
You can spot a variety of wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park, including primates such as red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and black and white colobus monkeys.
Besides primates, there are also lots of other mammals surviving within Murchison Falls National Park. These include cape buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, oribis, bushbucks, Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, and over 451 species of birds.
Nature walking locations in Murchison Falls National Park
Kaniyo-Pabidi; Lying in Budongo Forest, Kaniyo-Pabidi is a special place to visit to enjoy guided nature walks and chimpanzee tracking. You can spot a variety of primates in the Kaniyo-Pabidi Forest, including blue monkeys, chimpanzees, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys. Even nocturnal species are available for you to spot, including pottos and galagos.
Rabongo Forest
Rabongo Forest is the best spot in Murchison Falls National Park to experience unmatched forest walks. During the guided nature walks, expect to come across the red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, chimpanzees, and colobus monkeys. It is also popular for a diversity of birds, including the blue-breasted kingfishers, white-thighed hornbills, chocolate-backed kingfishers, and crowned eagles. The additional birds to spot here include Cassin’s hawk eagles, yellow-footed flycatchers, Puvel’s illadopsis, chestnut-capped flycatchers, brown twin-spot, white-spotted flufftail, piping hornbill, Nahan’s francolins, and little green sunbirds.
Rabongo Forest features birds such as Ituri batis, Blue Malkoha, Cameroon somber, Sabine’s spiny-tailed, African dwarf kingfisher, and many others.
Top of the falls
A hike from the base of the falls to the top offers such a mesmerizing experience. The 45-minute walk from the base of the fall to the top is exciting and fun-filled. As you walk, expect to appreciate the lush vegetation, enjoy melodious birds, and scenic views of the falls.
The best time to go for walking safaris in Murchison Falls National Park
Walking safaris in Murchison Falls National Park are best done during the dry seasons. The dry months fall in June, July, August, and September. The other season begins from December to February. These months often record less rain with the ground kept relatively drier.
What to pack for a Walking Safari in Murchison Falls National Park?
Essentials to consider packing for a Uganda safari include;
- A camera flashlight is free for you to capture incredible images of your favorite wildlife in their natural environment.
- Energy snacks to keep you fit for the walking adventure through the various trails in Murchison Falls National Park.
- Stay hydrated throughout the guided nature walk with a bottle of drinking water.
- You need a tin of insect repellent to protect yourself from biting insects.
- A first-aid kit is essential for handling any emergencies.
- A daypack, which should be waterproof and light, for you to keep your essentials.
- Waterproof walking shoes for successfully navigating the natural environment, including muddy or slippery spots.
- Flashlight to help you when walking in the dark.
- Long-sleeved shirts or trousers to protect you from scratches, biting insects, and any exposure.
Accommodation options in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park Uganda’s largest park features all kinds of accommodation options, including budget, midrange, and luxury. Top luxury accommodation in and around Murchison includes Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, and more.
Midrange safari lodge options include Fort Murchison, Sambiya River Lodge, Twiga Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Heritage Lodge, and others. The budget options include Red Chili Rest Camp, Murchison River Lodge, Murchison Giraffe Camp, Global Village Guesthouse, Hornbill Bush Lodge, and others.
Getting to Murchison Falls National Park
You can reach Murchison Falls National Park within 6-7 hours. You can depart from Kampala and drive via Luweero–Masindi town. By air, flights to Murchison Falls Park take a short period, and you can land at Pakuba Airstrip or other nearby airstrips.
What else to do in and around Murchison Falls National Park
Apart from the enriching nature of walking safaris, Murchison Falls National Park also has many other experiences worth appreciating. They include;
Guided Game Drives
Murchison Falls National Park offers unmatched game viewing experiences for nature lovers. During a game drive, expect to visit the finest and most rewarding game tracks to encounter a variety of wild animals. The likely wildlife to be spotted includes, among others, Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, lions, leopards, and different antelopes. The antelope families to find on wildlife drive in Murchison Falls National Park include oribis, hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, bushbucks, and waterbucks. A guided game drive also allows you to spot a diversity of birds and enjoy the breathtaking views of the vast savanna plains featuring several palm trees.
Boat Cruise
This enriching water recreational experience allows you to enjoy sights of aquatic species including hippos, Nile crocodiles, and water birds. You can explore the Delta or head towards the base of the Murchison Falls.
Hike to the top of the falls.
Enjoy a 45-minute walk through a cool and lush forest trail as you connect to the top of the charming Murchison waterfalls. At the top of the falls, appreciate the scenic beauty of this natural wonder and take as many images as you can.
Birding
Murchison Falls National Park is without doubt a rich birding destination in Uganda with 451 species of birds. Birds of interest include the giant kingfishers, Abyssinian ground hornbills, giant heron, grey-headed kingfishers, elusive shoebill, African darters, long-toed plovers, great blue turacos, black and white casqued hornbills.
Additional birds to sight on a birding excursion include marabou stork, secretary bird, yellow-footed flycatchers, red-throated bee-eaters, palm-nut vultures, malachite kingfishers, African fish eagles, and more. You can enjoy birding safaris in Murchison Falls National Park at any time of year. A normal session can take between 2 and 4 hours.
Conclusively, walking safaris in Murchison Falls National Park offer a unique opportunity to anyone interested in having a close connection with nature. You can take guided walking experiences alone or combine them with game drives, boat cruises, and birding tours.
