Uganda's most beautiful park
Last week we had the pleasure to go on safari in Murchison Falls National Park in the North West of Uganda. Having achieved an incredible comeback after widespread poaching, the park now boasts the highest concentration of wildlife in Uganda.
"Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is worst of all."
— Brian Jackman
Getting there
Driving to Murchison took us 5 hours from Kampala. The roads were surprisingly good and we arrived at the park just in time to do the afternoon launch trip down the Nile. This magical boat trip to the waterfalls from which the park draws its name takes about 3 hours and is a unique way to see a huge variety of animals.
"There is something about safari life that makes you forget your sorrows and feel as if you had drunk half a bottle of champagne - bubbling over with heartfelt gratitude of being alive."
- Karen Blixen
Early morning game drive
In order to get most of our day we woke up at 5AM to catch the wild early. Unfortunately when we arrived at the ferry to cross to the Northside of the Nile, there were so many people waiting we werent sure whether we would make it in time to get Ranger to guide us through the park. If you have your own vehicle you don’t have to travel with a Ranger however he or she is well trained in finding animals in the park and is constantly in touch with other rangers to find out where everyones hiding out.
We had to wait for an hour before we could fit on the ferry and missed the chance to get a ranger (first-come first-served) so we decided to go out on our own. After 20 minutes we got lucky with a herd of elephants followed by countless Uganda Cobs, warthogs, giraffes and buffalos.
"It feels like God visits everywhere else but lives in Africa"
— Will Smith
Seeing such magnificent creatures in the wild is something else. It’s hard to describe the thrill of watching animals on the African plains. From the slope of the Lioness to the elegance of the Elephant, every detail shakes you with the primordial nature of this habitat.
Where to Sleep? Murchison has a wide range of ho(s)tels catering to all budgets. For a high-end authentic safari experience, I would choose Nile Safari Lodge. If you love a big pool and colonial decor go for Paraa Safari Lodge. All you ballers on a budget should check out Red Chilli, although they don’t have a pool, they are one of the best backpackers in Uganda.