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Kenya
National Parks |
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Murchison Falls National
Park
Murchison Falls National Park is part of the bigger Murchison Falls
Conservation Area ( MFCA ), which comprises of Murchison Falls
National Park, Bugungu and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserves.
The park is named after Murchison falls on the river Nile
which cascades down the
Rift Valley escarpment
form hippo pools 43
metres
below.
Size:
Murchison Falls Conservation has an area of
3840 sq making it the largest protected are in Uganda.
Wildlife:
Like other parks in East Africa, Murchison Falls hosts
an array of Africa’s
mammals: These include, elephants, buffaloes, giraffe, lions,
oribis, Hartebeests, Leopards, Uganda Kobs, chimpanzees, leopards
etc. Along the Nile
river and other water areas are waterbucks, hippos,
and crocodiles.
The large number of habitats, forests, riverine, savannah,
woodlands, wetlands etc supports a large number of birds.
Bird watching is a major attraction Murchison falls with star
species being
Blue-napped Mousebird, Silver Black-headed Gonolek, Chestnut-crowned
Sparrow-weaver, Vitelline Masked Weaver, And Green-winged Ptyilia,
White-rumped Seed-eater.
Spotted and Verreaux’s Owls, Long-tailed and Pennat-winged Nightjar,
Goliath Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Grey-crowned Crane, Long-toed
Plover, whilst African Fish Eagle, and African Skimmer, Fox’s Weaver
Uganda’s only endemic birdand many more.
Launch Trips On The Nile
A good way to explore Murchison Falls conservation Area
is the launch trip from Paraa to the foot of Murchison Falls.
In addition to the abundant Hippos and crocodiles, one is
likely to spot elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks and birds like;
Herons, Cormorants, Ducks, Bee-eaters, Fish Eagles, Kingfishers, and
the rare Shoebill. The trip from Paraa to the Falls and back takes
about three hours.
An alternative route is a boat trip to the Delta where the Victoria
Nile engorges into the Lake Albert. It takes four to five.
Sport Fishing
Nile Perch and tiger-fish provide an exciting challenge to anglers.
Fishing is available in the river above and below the Falls. Do
bring your own fishing equipment.
Kanio Pabidi
Kanio Pabidi is ideal for
nature walks and hikes in search of the Chimpanzees.
Rabongo Forest
Rabongo Forest, sector of Murchison Falls is ideal for walking,
hiking and primates tracking. A nature walk in the forest is likely to reveal Black & White
Colobus monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, Baboons, and occasionally
Chimpanzees in addition to forest birds.
By the Wairingo River is a picnic site with a campsite. One can also stay at the Ecotourism centre cottages.
Accommodation
Murchison falls has a
variety of accommodation facilities ranging from luxury safari
lodges to basic campsites. Below are some of them
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Nile Safari Camp
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Sambiya River Lodge
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Paraa Lodge Safari Lodge.
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Paraa Rest Camp- has self contained bandas.
Campsites
are available at Top of the Falls, Rabongo Forest and Paraa. Toilets
or pit latrines/showers or bathing shelters are provided at these
sites.
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