Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park: Given the vast biodiversity of Murchison Falls National Park, wildlife drives are one of the most popular Uganda safari activities for most visitors. Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park. It covers an area of around 3,893 square kilometers and is located in Northwestern Uganda in the districts of Masindi, Kiryandongo, Bulisa, and Nyowa. Apart from Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is one of Uganda’s oldest National Parks. Murchison Falls National Park, managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, is home to over 76 mammal species, including the big five of lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
In addition, the Park is home to approximately 450 bird species, including both local and migratory birds, making it a popular birding destination in Uganda. Antelopes, Jackson’s Hartebeests, bush bucks, water bucks, giraffes, hippos, Uganda kobs, crocodiles, and monitor lizards are among the other wild animals found in the park. Furthermore, Murchison Falls National Park is well-known for being the location of the massive Murchison Falls, one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls. The falls are located on the Victoria Nile, which runs through the park. As a result, the Victoria Nile splits the National Park into two sections, the Northern and Southern banks.
The game drives in Murchison Falls National Park are one of the attractions of visiting the park because guests get to see a variety of wildlife species. The majority of the game drives are conducted in 4×4 safari vehicles. Because of the significant concentration of wild animals on the Northern bank of Murchison Falls National Park, game drives are usually conducted there. The Park’s northern region is distinguished by short savannah woods and open savannah grasslands, which provide a perfect habitat for a variety of wild species.
Routes taken during game drives in Murchison Falls National Park.
Several trails are followed during game drives in Murchison Falls National Park, including the Buligi track, the Victoria track, and the Albert track.
Buligi track
The Buligi game track is one of the most popular and well-known game drives in Murchison Falls National Park. It can be found in the Northern sector. Tourists who travel through the Buligi have the opportunity to see four of the big five: lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes. Tourists can also expect to see water bucks, bush bucks, hyenas, giraffes, and crocodiles on the Victoria Nile’s banks. Furthermore, the trail provides tourists with numerous views of birds such as bee eaters, fish eagles, king fishers, and Grey-crowned cranes, among others.
The Victoria Trail
The Victoria track is located near the Victoria Nile, near where boat tours are commonly taken. Visitors to this wildlife track can see aquatic mammals such as monitor lizards, Nile crocodiles, and hippos. Furthermore, tourists can see a great variety of wild creatures drinking water, bathing, and lounging along the riverbanks.
Albert Track
The Albert Nile Delta is a body of water where the tranquil Victoria Nile flows and empties into Lake Albert. The Delta is connected with visually appealing scenery of natural vegetation that surrounding the delta and Murchison Falls. The Delta is an excellent place to see a variety of aquatic birds, like the shoebill stork and king fishers, to name a few. The Delta is also home to a great number of wild species. Visitors on a wildlife drive across the Albert Nile Delta have a good possibility of seeing elephants, antelopes, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, and Uganda kobs. A game drive to the Albert Nile Delta provides breathtaking vistas of the Nyamisika plateau.
Best Times to Visit Murchison Falls National Park for Game Drives
Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park are available at any time of year. The greatest time to go on a game drive, however, is during the dry season, which is December to February and June-August. Here, most of the wild animals congregate around the main water streams in quest of water. Furthermore, the grass is normally short during the dry season, making it easier for the animals to move through. Game drives are conducted in Murchison Falls National Park on a regular basis, but at different times of the day. Early morning game drives, evening game drives, and night game drives are among them.
Game Drives in the Early Morning
The early morning game drives often begin at 6:00 a.m. and last 3 to 4 hours. Visitors can catch the Park’s predators on their way back into their hideouts or simply munching on their prey during these game drives. Leopards, hyenas, and lions are among the predators in Murchison Falls National Park. Furthermore, this is the time of year when animals are most active. Visitors can expect to see elephants, buffaloes, Jackson’s Hartebeests, antelopes, giraffes, and Uganda Kobs grazing in the savannah woodlands during morning game drives.
Evening and Night game drives
Because the evening game drive normally begins at 4:00 p.m. and lasts 3 to 4 hours, these game drives are usually combined into one. The game drive allows travelers to see a range of exotic animals such as buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, and a variety of bird species. Furthermore, guests get the opportunity to see predators such as lions, hyenas, and leopards as they emerge from their dens to begin their hunt for prey. Night game drives are frequently conducted with spotlight torches to provide tourists with a clear picture of the wilderness. You are also provided an armed game ranger to protect you and assist you in spotting nighttime wildlife.
