10 compelling reasons to visit Murchison Falls National Park
Learn all about the fabulous game you can spot on safari in Murchison Falls National Park. We also talk about Murchison Falls, the park's spectacular waterfall. You can go on a boat cruise on the Nile to see it, and then hike to the top for an epic view!
I would highly recommend Follow Alice to anyone looking to have a well planned, organised trip! We used follow alice for our trip to Uganda for Gorilla trekking. Our guide Joseph Chiwa was so understanding, patient and welcoming!
10 compelling reasons to visit Murchison Falls NP
1. Murchison Falls is spectacular
Ernest Hemingway famously crashed his plane just downriver from Murchison Falls in 1954.
Murchison Falls is the largest waterfall anywhere along the Nile and its various branches.
2. The scenery is varied and beautiful
Murchison Falls National Park, which is roughly the size of Cumberland, has many varied and beautiful landscapes and ecosystems.
3. The game spotting is excellent
The most commonly or easily sighted animals in the park are hippos, giraffes, Cape buffaloes, elephants, crocodiles and various antelopes, including Ugandan kobs.
Bush elephants Lions Leopards Cape buffaloes Rothschild's giraffes Spotted hyenas Patas monkeys Vervet monkeys Anubis baboons Jackson's hartebeests Uganda kobs Defassa waterbucks Grey duikers Bushbuks Bohor reedbucks
Top tip: going on a game drive with an experienced safari guide is a great idea, as he or she can identify unusual animals for you and share interesting facts about them.
4. Patas monkeys can be seen in their hundreds
Patas monkeys are the fastest primates in the world; they can run up to 55 km (34 miles) per hour!
5. There are tree-climbing lions!
6. Rare Rothschild's giraffes live in the park
It's been proposed that the Rothschild's giraffe be called the Ugandan giraffe, as most of its numbers live there.
Did you know that giraffes have the fourth longest gestation period of any mammal? Female giraffes carry a foetus for 14 to 16 months!
7. Ugandan kobs live here in great numbers
8. There are 450 bird species, including the shoebill
Murchison Falls National Park is one of the best places in Africa to see shoebills.
Abyssinian ground hornbills Blue-headed coucals Red-winged grey warblers White-crested turacos Red-headed lovebirds Shoebills Black-billed barbets Red-throated bee-eaters Grey-headed, woodland and giant kingfishers Grey crowned cranes Speckle-fronted weavers Black-headed lapwings Palm-nut vultures Senegal thick-knees Squacco and goliath herons Denham's bustards Black-headed and papyrus gonoleks Silverbirds
If you love birds, please take note that January to March are the best months for birdwatching in Murchison Falls National Park.
9. You can go on a boat safari
Hot tip: the smaller the boat, the closer you can get to to the shore to see animals.
10. You can hike to the top of the waterfall
Want to visit Murchison Falls National Park?