One of the most frequently asked Questions for travelers intending to go on a safari to Murchison Falls National Park is “When is the Best time to visit? In today’s article, we will give our expert advice on when we think its best to go on a Safari in the wonderful Murchison falls National Park – by the way, this park is considered one of the Top 5 Must-Visit Safari Parks in Uganda to visit especially for amazing game drives and boat safari. Its also considered the best place to see Nile crocodiles, Leopards, elephants, and giraffes on an Uganda Safari.
Watching wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park is generally good and at its best during the Dry season months of December to February. However, January and February can be very hot and the scenery is more beautiful during the Wet season months of June to November. the best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park
What to expect while on a Safari to Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is arguably Uganda’s most popular Safari park. Located in north-western Uganda, spreading inland from the shores of Lake Albert, around the Victoria Nile, up to the Karuma Falls and combining with Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and Karuma Wildlife Reserve, to form the larger Murchison Falls Conservation Area. Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest safari park and a must-visit for travelers on safari to Uganda.
The Victoria Nile crosses Uganda going from Lake Victoria to Lake Kyoga and on to Lake Albert. Murchison Falls is a large spectacular waterfall on the Nile in the northwest of the country. The water is forced through a gap of only 7 meters wide then drops 40m to continue its more gentle 30km journey towards Lake Albert. It is possible to see the falls from the top (south bank only) and also from a boat at the bottom – a trip which is well worth taking to see the hippos, crocodiles, and prolific birdlife.
For film buffs, you might like to know that Murchison Falls and Lake Albert were the backdrops to The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart. The falls give their name to the national park within which they are located. This is a huge park of about 3800km2 (Uganda’s largest reserve) and was gazetted as a game reserve as long ago as 1926.
The park was Uganda’s only ”big five’ destination, but sadly rhinos were poached to extinction here. The Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary about 2½ hours drive south of Murchison Falls National Park is currently breeding and protecting rhinos once more, and hopefully, they will one day be released into the park – what was their original home. Nevertheless, Murchison Safari park is still an excellent game viewing destination, with large herds of elephants and buffalo, many kobs, an increasing number of lions, plus giraffe, hartebeest waterbuck, and more. The Buligi circuit on the north bank of the Nile is usually deemed to take you to the best game viewing areas, but the whole park offers a great experience. The birding is excellent here too, and it is one of the few places left where you can see the rare shoebill stork.
Things to See & Do In Murchison Falls National Park
- Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest.
- Game Drive on the northern sector.
- Shoebill tracking at the Delta on the Nile.
- Boat safari to the bottom of the falls.
- Guided Hike to the top of the falls along the famous Bakers trail.
