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Murchison National Park |
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At 3840 square kilometres, this is the largest protected area
in Uganda. The Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA)
comprises of Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu and Karuma
Falls Wildlife Reserves. This is where the Nile explodes
through a narrow gorge and cascades down to become a placid
river whose banks are thronged with Hippos and Crocodiles,
Waterbucks and Buffaloes. The vegetation is characterised by
savannah, riverine forest and woodland. Wildlife includes
Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Giraffes, Hartebeests, Oribis,
Uganda Kobs, Chimpanzees, and many bird species.
North of the river (where the game drives take place) the
vegetation broadly consists of tall, green grassland interspersed
with isolated stands of borassus palms, acacia trees and riverine
woodland.
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On your morning or evening game drive you have a good
chance to see Elephant, Giraffe, Hippo, Buffalo and many different
species of antelope, as well as an outside chance of Lion. Due to
the size of the park the game viewing is very peaceful with very
few other vehicles around to intrude on your observation of the
abundant wildlife.
South of the river the park is characterised by denser woodland,
giving way in the southeast to closed canopy forest. This canopy
linked Murchison to the Bugungu forest reserve and within that
reserve, Kanyiyo Pabidi. This small forest reserve offers the
visitor a chance to see habituated wild chimps, although the
success rate here is substantially lower than in Kibale. However
it is conveniently located en route to Murchison Falls and
therefore may be worth a visit for clients not intending to travel
on to Kibale.
One of the highlights of a visit to the Conservation Area is the
launch trip from Paraa to the foot of Murchison Falls. Hippos and
crocodiles are abundant, and you will see elephants, buffaloes,
waterbucks and birds, including 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.
Another highlight is to drive or walk to the top of the falls to
view the tremendous force of the waterfall at close quarters. The
scenery has a real primeval quality and you almost feel like a
dinosaur could walk out of one of the forested islands hundreds of
feet below. There are some fantastic views of the falls to be had
as you walk around the horseshoe walk high above the Nile.
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