Among the ten tourist sites in Uganda, Murchison is one of the most visited. This Park receives a huge numbers of tourists per year who are interested in exploring its natural touristic features.

Murchison Falls National Park is known to be the largest Park among the list. It’s geographically located in the North western part of Uganda along the Albertine Rift valley with some of its parts nearing Lake Albert.

It’s characterised with thick tropical rain-forests comprising of big tree species, Savannah grasslands, Marshes, Alpine forests, riverine forests, and swampy areas along the shores of Murchison falls.

It’s popularly known for Murchison Falls plus its great offering of different Wildlife species including Wild animals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards, Giraffes, Kobs, heart beasts, bush bucks, reed bucks, forest hogs, spotted hyenas, bush pigs, warthogs and more.

Primates include Chimpanzees found in Budongo forest, Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and red tailed monkeys, vervet, Mangabey, baboons and more. Insect species include butter flies, mantis and more.

Aquatic species include crocodiles, hippopotamus and more, reptiles include geckos, chameleon, snakes like black cobra, python, gaboon viper and more plus different bird species which are recorded sightable with in including both forest birds and water birds

How to get there

Being situated in the North western part of Uganda you can get there by road and the best route to use is Kampala- Masindi- Gulu highway including stopover in Nakitoma- Nakasongola district for the Rhinoceros in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

After Rhino tracking in Ziwa you continue with the Journey up to the Park using suitable 4×4 wheel drive Safari jeep.

It takes about 7-8 hours for the drive from Kampala up to Murchison Falls National Park depending on speed used, included stops overs and traffic along the way.

If not road transport, you can go by air transport. Private charters are arranged from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip up to Pakuba air strip in Murchison Falls National Park. If you choose air transport means, there is no option for Rhino tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

What to see.

The Park is known for Wildlife. Once here expect to be exposed to different Wildlife Species habited with the Park including Africa Big fives like Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions and Leopards, Primates, insects, Reptiles plus different bird species.

What to do in Murchison

While in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park the major activities done include game driving around the suburbs of the Park. This pursuit offers endless views of Wildlife species particularly Wild animals, Primates, reptiles plus other species within the range.

Other activities to do include launch trip cruise along waters of the falls from the top to the bottom of the falls with interest of sighting different aquatic species including Crocodiles, Hippopotamus, water bird species and more, white water rafting, bird watching and hiking up to the top of falls.

About Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

This is a protected area which was established with the main interest of reintroducing the species of Rhinoceros back to Uganda which had phased out, Rhinoceros are among the African Big Fives with Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions and Leopards.

They are called the African Big fives because they were very difficult to hunt on foot and very dangerous to human life.

These Rhinoceros were permanent residents, but due to some unfavourable factors they phased out. These factors included constant civil wars which led to destruction of their habitats, severe disease attacks, hunting and poaching plus limited pastures.

With interest of reintroducing these animals back to Uganda, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary was established. The first breeds were exported from Solio ranch in Kenya and others were donated by the Disney Kingdom of animals.

Rhino Tracking in Ziwa

This involves moving in a group up to where these animals are located usually found feeding. It is advised to keep a distance of about seven metres from their presence because they are very dangerous.

It’s not allowed to move for long distances without from Sanctuary officials. The tracking session takes a period of about one hour and it costs $50 USD per person.

Planning to visit Uganda for a lifetime Safari? Mountain Gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee tracking are some of the most exciting activities you should not miss. Dubbed “The Pearl of Africa”, Uganda is among the popularly known and exciting destinations to visit in the African continent.

It is geographically located in the Eastern Africa sharing borders with Kenya in the East, Rwanda in its south western side, Tanzania in the South, Democratic Republic of Congo in the West and South Sudan in the North.

Reasons are many that travellers visit this amazing destination. One of them is its diverse Wildlife species recorded in its biodiversity including Wild animals, Primates, insect species, reptiles plus bird species.

Wildlife and other physical touristic features are the main reasons why the first European explorer Sir Winston Churchill decided to declare this country as “The Pearl of Africa”.

Some of the major key attracting factors that lead to high flow of tourists from multiple countries include ease of accessibility, wide range of attractions, favourable climatic conditions, welcoming locals, good service providers, flexibility, stable financial status and stable security.

How to get there

All visitors to Uganda access get there by air transport arriving at Entebbe international airport. This airport is 37kms south west of Kampala “the capital city of Uganda”. To be issued with entry permission in Uganda you must have three documentations required at the customs.

These documents include valid passport, valid yellow fever vaccination card and entry visa which costs $50 USD per person.

Usually in Uganda a passport is considered to be only when it’s still six months or more to its expiration date.

Mountain Gorilla trekking.

This is an amazing activity which involves meeting with these shy endangered Mountain Gorillas in the Jungles.

The trekking is often started in the morning. Before starting, a briefing is first conducted at the park offices or starting point to highlight the group of trekkers about how to behave, what to do and what not to do while in the Jungle and in presence of these shy endangered apes.

After this short briefing, park ranger guide and armed officers are assigned to a group of eight people to start the Journey following the permanently established trails heading to the Jungle in search of these apes.

Park rangers usually communicate with Gorilla trackers via radio calls to know where these apes spent their last night.

Once you locate these apes in the Jungle, tourists are allowed to stay in their presence for only one hour. See them playing with their young ones, feeding, laughing plus taking photos and videos of them. Get to know that you are not allowed to use a flush camera.

After one hour session, the next step is to vacate the place back to offices for certificate award. It’s advised to come with packed food and water when you are going for your Gorilla trek. Most of the times lunch time reaches when you are still in the jungle.

This activity requires a permit which costs $700 USD per person in Uganda. It is usually booked in advance before your trekking dates.

Chimpanzee tracking.

This is another excursion to take while in Uganda. It involves moving in a group following the permanently established routes heading to the Jungle in search for these primates.

There are ranked to be the closest primates to human being features. It’s advised that you move slowly and maintain your voice at low tone while in the Jungle such that you do not scare these primates.

After locating them, you are allowed to be in their presence and see them feeding, laughing, swinging in tree branches. The excursion requires a permit that goes for $200 USD per person for those who to track the chimps in Kibale Forest National Park.

Where to go for Gorilla trekking.

While in Uganda for Mountain Gorillas, the only known exciting places to go for these apes include Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

There are both located in the South western part of Uganda along Uganda’s border with Democratic Republic of Congo.

Among the two major Gorilla hosting destinations, Bwindi Impenetrable National park has the biggest percentage of Uganda’s remaining Gorilla population.

It is home to over nineteen habituated Gorilla families that enjoy the cool atmospheres in its four major sectors which include Buhoma sector, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga sector. Each sector has more than two Gorilla families.

Where to go for Chimpanzee tracking.

Some of the best exciting places to go for the chimpanzee primates while in Uganda include Murchison falls National Park in Budongo forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kyambura gorge side, Kibale Forest National Park where variety of Chimpanzee primates are habited.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is another place to go. It is located on the waters of Lake Victoria on Ngamba island which is part of Koome group of islands.

Uganda is among the best destinations for bird watching in Africa. it is recorded with over a thousand bird species in its major birding hotspots. The species include both Forest birds and Water birds.

Some of them are permanent residents and others are regular visitors. This attracts more tourists particularly birders from different countries of the World who are after exploring the unique species of birds recorded within Uganda’s biodiversity.

Briefly, Uganda is a land locked country and geographically located in the Eastern part of Africa. It shares borders with magical Kenya in the East, South Sudan in the North, Tanzania in the South Democratic Republic of Congo in the West and Rwanda in the South west.

Uganda is under the East African community with Kenya and Rwanda, so if you are willing to visit these three countries at once or two of them its better you apply for the East African Visa. This Visa costs $100 USD per person.

All visitors to Uganda arrive in at Entebbe international airport. If you are looking forward to exploring its unique bird species including the rare shoebill stock, listed below are the best birding hotspots to go.

Mabamba Swamp.

This is a Swamp located along the shores of Lake Victoria. It’s popularly known and receives huge numbers of birders from different countries because of the unique bird species known as shoe bill stock.

Since this exciting place is located along the shores of Lake Victoria, it’s usually accessed by use of boat.

Mabira Forest.

This is listed among Uganda’s biggest and popularly known forests which provide habitat to different Wildlife species including the wide range of different bird species of which some are endemic to the forest and others regular visitors.

This forest is located in the Central part of Uganda along Kampa-Jinja highway after Najjembe market; these bird species habited within are mostly sighted while on nature walks with in the Jungles.

Entebbe botanical gardens.

These gardens are located in the suburbs of Entebbe town; they are lying along the shores of Lake Victoria.

They are gazetted for different activities including bird watching, beach holiday spending, hosting of different parties including wedding ceremonies, graduation parties, birthday parties, end of year parties, anniversaries and more.

It’s characterised with some parts being covered with forests, swamps and others are resting grounds characterised with cool fresh air.

Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This is one of Uganda’s top ten National parks to visit while in Uganda for Safaris, it’s popularly known for its great offering of different Wildlife species including Wild animals, Primates, insects, reptiles plus different bird species.

This is a haven for bird watching in Uganda. It is recorded with over 600 bird species including both forest birds and water birds which are recorded sightable in its major birding hotspots that include Maramagambo forest, Southern Ishasha sector, Katwe area, Mweya peninsula, Kyambura gorge and Kazinga channel.

Of the recorded bird species some are endemic to the Park and others are regular visitors to the Park.

Usually visitors to this Park, access it by either road transport means via Kampala- Masaka- Mbarara highway or by air transport means since private charters are usually arranged from Entebbe airport up to Mweya airstrip in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Murchison Falls National Park.

This is another Park to go while in Uganda, it’s popularly known to be the largest among Uganda’s top ten list. It derived its name from the great Murchison Falls within the Park which is distinguished by its great of Waters from the top to the bottom.

Besides Murchison Falls, this Park is also popularly known for its great offering of different Wildlife species recorded with in its biodiversity including Wild animals, Primates, Insect species, reptiles plus different bird species which are recorded sightable in its major birding hotspots.

It’s geographically located in the North western part of Uganda lieing along the Albertine Rift valley, characterised with thick tropical rain-forests, Savannah, grasslands, and swampy areas which are characterised mostly along the shores of the fall.

Usually visitors to this Park go by road transport means via Kampala- Masindi- Gulu highway or by air transport means since private charters are usually arranged from Entebbe airport up to Pakuba air strip in Murchison falls National Park.

Lake Mburo National Park.

This is one of the nearest Parks in Uganda when travelling from Kampala also popularly known for its great offering of different Wildlife species including Wild animals, Primates, Insects, reptiles, different bird species plus the exciting boat ride along Lake Mburo.

It’s geographically located in the Western part of Uganda near Mbarara town which is ranked to be the largest town in Western Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park is characterised with thick tropical rain-forests, grasslands, Savannah, marshes, bogs, and Swampy areas.

The best route of reaching this Park when traveling from Kampala is Kampala- Masaka- Mbarara highway including enroute stop over at the equator for some brief explanation about it, photographs and snacks.