Walking Safaris in Murchison Falls National Park – New and Exciting Safari Activity

You can now go on a walking safari in one of Uganda’s best national parks – Murchison Falls National Park well known for its mighty and dramatic waterfalls. The introduction of walking safaris in Murchison Falls National Park has been long overdue and it’s exciting that one can now go on a walking safari in the park.

A walking safari is always a great way to spend time in the park and offers a much more closer experience to the wildlife in the park. Walking safaris in Uganda have been happening in other parks like Lake Mburo National Park but had not yet gotten to Murchison Falls National Park however that has now changed and now visitors are able to explore the park on foot.

Murchison Falls National Park is known for its large population of wildlife that are often seen across the open savanna strolling and feeding within the park. Wildlife sightings begin right from the entrance of the park with a higher wildlife population density in the northern sector of the national park where most game drives happen.

Murchison Falls National Park has 76 species of mammals and these can be found in the national park and the adjacent Budongo Forest which is part of the Murchison Falls Conservation area. The park is also home to some of the “Big Five” and offers the best Big Five wildlife viewing in Uganda. The wildlife of Murchison Falls national park include Lions, Cape Buffaloes, Leopard, Elephants, Rothschild’s Giraffes, Hyenas, Oribi, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Patas monkeys, Olive baboons, Vervet monkeys, Hippos, Chimpanzees in Budongo forest, Uganda Kobs, Water bucks, Bush bucks, Reed buck, Warthogs, Hyenas crocodiles which are best seen while on a boat safari on River Nile and many other animals. Murchison Falls National Park is known for having the largest population of Nile Crocodiles in Uganda. Budongo Forest is also rich in primates and one of the best place to do the chimpanzee trekking adventure in Uganda and the forest is also provides a habitat for primate species like the black-and-white colobus monkey, Blue Monkey, Potto, Bush baby and the Red-tailed monkey.

Giraffes in Murchison Falls National Park (seen while on a game drive)

More on walking safaris in Murchison Falls National Park

The walking safari itineraries are made up of different days depending on your interests and the number of days you have to spend on safari. During the walking safaris you have an opportunity to do game viewing, bird watching, walk through the different areas in the park that you would otherwise not experience while on a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park.

The number of days can spend on safari include 4 days/ 3 nights, 5 days/4 nights and 6 days/nights. All the walking safaris are well-catered for and you have a team of professionals for the duration of days. The team consists of the Head guide who is well conversant of the walking routes within the park, an armed ranger guide for protection as Murchison Falls National Park is a wilderness conservation area, a cook who makes the meals, a driver and a camp assistant.

The 4 Days walking Safari trip is short but rewarding. This works for guests who have a few days to spare for a short safari in Uganda. It also works well for clients that would like to explore other national parks in Uganda for the rest of their days so we add the walking safari to the general itinerary. The 4 days safari will have you spend the night at Nyamsika camp, it involves a walk around Nyamsika River, Top of the Falls hike, a morning walk towards Te Okot and a sun downer at Nyamsika view point.

The 5 Days Waking safari trip with an extra day offers overnight at the Pendero Camp. This trip combines a stay at Nyamsika Camp and Pendero Camp. The trip involves a walk around Nyamsika River, a morning walk to the River Nile, a morning walk around Pendero in the open terrain excellent for game viewing (large herds of buffaloes and antelopes) as well as a short walk to the nearby water pans where you look out for bird life.

The 6 Days walking safari trip will have you spending more time walking and exhaustively experiencing Murchison Falls National Park. During this walking safari you will visit the Tangi area, enjoy the spectacular views from the Nyamsika view point, explore Nyamwsika valley upstream, Top of the Falls and the Pendero morning walk.

Wildlife

The wildlife that you can expect to see while on the walking safari include Cape Buffaloes. Water bucks, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Elephants, Spotted Hyena, Uganda Kobs, Olive baboons, Warthogs, Vervet monkeys, Rothschild’s Giraffes etc. The walking safaris also include complimentary activities so during the game drives you will look out for other wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park like Lions, Hippos and Leopard which you might hardly encounter during the walks.

The complimentary activities which include game drives, boat rides and the Top of the Falls visit are a great part of the packages as you get to experience the park both on foot and in the car/boat. You get both the wilderness experience and the common safari experience in one itinerary.

Bird life

For the birding enthusiast you can expect to tick off some birds while on your walking safari. Birds to look out for include Bateleur, Gray-headed Bushshrike, Marsh Tchagra, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Abysinnian Ground Hornbill, Red-necked Falcon, Spotted thick-nee, Greater Painted-snipe, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Red-throated Bee-eater, Grey Crowned cranes, Senegal thick-knee, Water thick-knee, Black-bellied Bustard, Silver Bird, Gray Kestrel, White-faced Whistling duck, Saddle-billed Stork, African Swamphen, Rock Pratincole usually seen on a hike to the bottom of the falls perched on rocky outcrops, and the Goliath Heron which is the world’s largest heron.

Murchison Falls National Park is a birding haven as it hosts 650 species of birds and harbours the elusive Shoebill that is best seen while on the Delta Boat ride. The park is home to escarpment species, low land species, savanna birds and hosts 14 of the Sudan-Guinea Biome species offering the specialist birder incredible sightings!

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