GAME DRIVES IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park are the best way for you to explore variety of wildlife. Murchison Falls National Park lies in northwestern Uganda about 4-5 hour drive from Kampala capital city. It is the largest park of all the 10 (ten) national parks in Uganda with area coverage of 3840sq.kms. It is a home to African lions, leopards, elephants, antelopes, over 451 bird species, primates, buffaloes, warthogs, Rothschild giraffes, mongoose, hyenas to mention but a few
 

Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park are a great way to explore the diverse wildlife species in Murchison Falls National Park in a comfortable four wheel drive safari car.  On game drive safari in Murchison Falls National Park, expect to see giraffes, buffaloes, bush bucks, duikers, hyenas, elephants, leopards, jackals, Uganda kobs, bird species, hartebeests, warthogs, oribis and many others.

LIONS

Game viewing in Murchison Falls National Park can be done during day (day game drives) or at night (night game drives). Day game drives are best to start in the morning at 6:30am and can last you about 2-3 hours. Visitors on a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park embark on game viewing safari in the Northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. This area is marked by open savanna grassland and thicket. The Northern sector features range of grazers that can be spotted in the open grassland and predators. 

Murchison Falls National Park consists of about 3 main wildlife trails; Albert, Buligi and Victoria tracks in the northern side of the park. However, in 2015 a new wildlife track (Honeymoon track) was re-opened in the southern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. The northern and southern sectors are separated by the River Nile. The Buligi track in the northern part of Murchison Falls National Park is remarkably one of the most explored trails. It rewards visitors on game drive with exciting view of huge concentration of wildlife including buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes, elephants, hyenas and many others. The Albert track takes you to Lake Albert delta and along the Victoria Nile. This area is not only ideal for game viewing but also it is the best for sport fishing. The Victoria trail is set north of River Nile and Lake Albert Delta and gets travelers the best encounter at varied water birds and other wildlife. The Honeymoon trail is known for its diverse wildlife species including elephants, warthogs, waterbucks, buffaloes, hartebeests and others.

Packing list for game drive safari in Murchison Falls National Park

You need hat, sunscreen glasses, camera, binoculars, walking shoes, insect repellents, first aid/medical kit and many others.

Best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is all year round safari destination. For starters, Murchison Falls National Park is best to visit during the dry season which is experienced in the months of June, July, August, September and December, January, February. But it is also possible to explore it during the wet/rainy season which begins in the months of March, April, May and October, November.

Where to stay in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park features wide range of accommodation options for visitors on game drive safari to spend a night before and after their exciting experiences. They include Paraa Safari Lodge/Chobe Safari Lodge (Luxury), Heritage Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Red Chili rest camp, Murchison River Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge and others.

Getting to Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is reachable by road and by air. By road, you need 4-5 hours to drive from Entebbe or Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park via Luweero-Masindi route and a 4 wheel drive safari vehicle is more preferable. By air, you can take a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield then land at Chobe, Bugungu and Pakuba airstrips.

REPTILES IN UGANDA

Reptiles in Uganda are a few most incredible creatures to catch a glimpse at while on African safari. Uganda is a home to countless reptile species a reason it is credited for its distinct biodiversity. Different reptiles in Uganda can be sighted in varied habitats but most commonly spotted in the water bodies, national parks and wildlife reserves. The following are some of the reptiles to see in Uganda;

The Nile crocodiles

The Nile crocodiles are a few most looked for reptile species in Uganda. They dwell in most water bodies in Uganda and depend mostly on fish and mammal species. In Uganda, they can easily be spotted while on a boat cruise and they are commonly sighted along the Victoria Nile at Murchison falls national park, Kazinga channel banks at Queen Elizabeth National Park and shores of Lake Mburo.

Monitor lizards

Lizards make up part of reptile species In Uganda and they exist in varied species including the savanna and aquatic monitor lizards. They can be sighted while on a game drive or launch cruise. The aquatic monitor lizards can be spotted while on a launch cruise along Kazinga channel and in Murchison Falls National Park. The monitor lizards are 2 meters long. The Nile lizards on the other hand are amazing reptile species to catch a glimpse in Uganda and these category can be spotted mostly around Murchison Falls National Park, Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.

Chameleons

There are many chameleons to spot out in Uganda. They include the three horned chameleons, flap necked chameleon-sighted mainly at savanna grassland and wooded areas. The graceful chameleon-these feature both the yellow and green color; white stripe. Giant chameleon is bulky and dark green in color with yellow stripes.

Snakes

Snakes a few reptile species in Uganda. They include the rock python a famous largest snake in Africa. It is 5 meters long and comes with gold on black mottled like skin. Rock pythons are not venomous but they do kill their prey by strangulation, wrapping their bodies around them then swallow it and later take a nap which takes about months. 

Rock pythons do feed on huge rodents, small antelopes and others. The bat cave-Maramagambo forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park is one significant area to spot out these remarkable reptile species. Puff adder-this is the most spotted especially in the savanna national parks of Uganda. They depend mainly on rodents and they do strike especially when they are threatened. Gabon viper-the largest African viper with about 2 meters long and features a heavy build, black and brown skin pattern with a bit of gold on it (spotted within Uganda’s rain-forests). Black mambas-these are the most poisonous snakes and they strike when they are attacked. They are mostly found around eastern Uganda. Others include the green mambas, boom slang, green tree snakes, mole snake, egg eating snakes and many more. Other reptiles to see in Uganda include house gecko, tortoise and terrapins.

MAMMALS TO SEE ON UGANDAN SAFARI

With more than 340 distinct mammal species, Uganda is undoubtedly that one most endowed safari destination with biodiversity. If you are on African wildlife safari and you wish to catch a glimpse at a huge concentration of mammal species then consider Uganda a must to include in your travel plan.  The notable mammals to explore while on Uganda wildlife safari include;

Lions

Lions are a few creatures that attract most tourists to Africa. They feature among a few big cats and scientifically, they are famously called Panthera Leo. The male lions usually weigh about 250 kilograms and they feature as the second largest living cats just after the tiger. Females have a gestation period of 110 days.  A pride can have like 15 individuals. In Uganda, you can find them in Queen Elizabeth National Park plus the tree climbing lions at Ishasha sector; Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park.

Panthera leo

Leopards

Scientifically known as Panthera pardus, leopards equally belong to cat family. Females have gestation period of 105 days. They are the smallest compared to other big cats. They come in golden, spotted bodies and graceful. They thrive from 12 to 15 years in the natural habitat and 23 years in the zoo.

Panthera pardus

African elephants

Best popular scientifically as Loxodonta Africana, elephants are a few most exciting mammal species that most visitors on African safari in Uganda look out for. They come in large grey color with long flexible trunk, thick legs and pointed tusks. They are largest land animals and they are bigger than the Asian elephants. The males stretch up to 3.64 meters and do weigh about 5455 kilograms whereas females stand about 3 meters and have weight of about 3636 to 4545 kilograms. 

 

Loxodonta africana

Buffaloes

Buffaloes come in large bodies. They are usually spotted within the woodland savanna areas and forest. They weigh between 500 and 900 kilograms and have a height of 1 to 1.7 meters. While on Uganda safari, you can spot them in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Lake Mburo National Park a mention but a few.

 

Syncerus caffer

Serval cats

These are also known as the leptailurus serval and they come in slender bodies with long legs and fairy short tail. Their heads are small just like bodies, tall and females weigh about 9 to 16 kilograms and males weigh approximately 12 to 26 kilograms. Their life expectancy ranges from 12 to 16 years in the wild and in captivity, they thrive up to 20-25 years. Besides catching rodents, they are also predators whose diet is largely dependent on hares, birds, hyraxes, reptiles, insects, fish, frogs and many others.

Other mammal species to look out while on Uganda safari include;

Uganda Kobs 

      Spotted hyenas

·        Topis

·        Bohor reedbuck

·        Bush duikers

·        Chimpanzees

·        Mountain gorillas at Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park

·        red tailed monkeys

·        Golden monkeys

·        Giraffes

·        Zebras

·        Hippos

·        Cheetahs

·        Banded mongoose

·        Black and white colobus monkeys

·        Hartebeests

·        Oribis a mention but a few.