Month: June 2023

How to prepare and plan for safari to Murchison falls national park

For the travelers that wish to do the safari tour to Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda’s biggest park & most popular safaris destination, proper planning and preparing is essential for one to get the most out of the safari, more so if one is traveling on limited time (and budget). A lot of travelers think that they just need to get to Murchison Falls National Park and will work out everything from there, and in the end instead have a frustrated safari or will be unsatisfied with the experience.

Murchison Falls National Park is located along the Nile River which divides the park into two halves, the northern half and the southern half. The northern part of the park has the savannah and is where the game drives to see big game such as lions, elephants, giraffes etc… take place, while the southern part which cuts through the Budongo forest is where the chimpanzee trekking and other forest activities in Murchison Falls Park takes place. It is important to know this position of the park for better planning, especially concerning where to stay and how to enter the park.

Below are important areas/factors to look at when preparing your tour to Murchison Falls National Park

Departure time

If you ask, what is the most appropriate time to start the trip to Murchison Falls Park? Well, first of all where will you depart from?

Most trips depart either from Kampala or Entebbe. If you are departing from Kampala, the best departure time is between 6am and 7am depending on which part of Kampala you reside. For Kampala suburbs that are farther away from the Kampala – Gulu highway (road heading north) that starts at Kalwere, departure time should be 6am to allow ample tile to go through the menacing Kampala jam without losing on valuable safari time. The aim is to be out of Kampala City by 7.30am, 8am latest.

The better place to start your Murchison Falls trip from is perhaps Entebbe (as compared to Kampala) as you just have to get onto the Express Way in Entebbe and you would be at Kalwere within 20mins to join the Kampala – Gulu highway. Departing from Entebbe can be at 7am.

Some people start from as far as Jinja city and from here you will need to leave by 5am – 5.30am. Otherwise it would be better to spend the night before your trip in Entebbe.

Arrival time at the park

The drive time from Kampala or Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park is about 5 – 7 hours, depending on which side of the park you will arrive at or sleep.

Important to note is that park entrance fees are valid for 24 hours. Meaning, if you enter the park 11am today, your entry for one day/night expire at 11am the following day. A minute past 11am and you are charged for an extra day. So this means your entry into the park should be well planned and timed depending on the number of days you plan to be in the park.

Accessing the Murchison Falls National Park

Entrance gates to Murchison Falls National Park

There are three main entrances into Murchison Falls National Park as follows;

Kichubanyobo Gate: this is located in the south of the park and is accessed via Masindi town. This is the main entrance into the park. The drive time to Kichubanyobo gate can take between 5 – 6 hours depending on the traffic situation. Kichubanyo gate accesses the park through the south of the park via Budongo forest. You are ushered into park by baboons and monkeys.

Tangi gate: this is located in the north of the park near Packawach twon, and can be accessed via the Kamdin – Packwach direction (if one does not go through the park via Kichubanyobo). The drive time via this route is roughly 6 – 7 hours drive.

Tangi gate is mostly used for travelers that are residents in accommodations on the northern boundary of the park and there need to re-enter the park for the game drives.

So, the most convenient gate to enter into the park even for travelers who will be staying north of the park is Kichubanyobo, and then drive through the park for a chance to see some wildlife the waterfalls, then exit through Tangi and report to the lodge/hotel.

Wankwar Gate: this gate is located on the eastern boundary (but northern half of the park) of the park near Kamdin town. You will only need to use this gate if you are going to or coming from the luxurious Chobe Safari Lodge that is situated on the northern bank of the Nile. The drive time to Wankwar gate is about 5 hours.

You can also go through Wankwar gate to access the main safari area of the park in the north and to go to Paraa and Pakuba areas but it is such a long bumpy drive through the park in an area rarely accessed.

Deciding on where to stay in the Murchison Falls National Park

You will stay either on the northern side or southern side of Murchison Falls National Park. There is a wide range of accommodations to choose from depending on your budget. But in terms of best location, definitely the closer you are to the wildlife viewing area on the northern side the better, or the closer you are to the park the better. On the other hand, though, the road network in the park is fairly good and it includes a paved road running through the park from southern gate all to the north, so even when you stay in the south or just outside the park in the north it will not take you long to get to the wildlife areas.

Planning for the activities in Murchison Falls National Park

Top of the Murchison Falls tour

The spectacular Murchison Falls are not to be missed when visiting Murchison Falls National Park. The falls are easily reachable, upon arriving into the park through the southern Kichubanyobo it is a smooth ride on a paved road to the top of the Murchison Falls which takes you about 20 minutes of drive from the gate.

So, the visit to the top of the Murchison Falls can be visited on the day of entry into the park through the southern gate. You can spend 30 mins, an hour or even have a picnic meal from there.

Game drives

Game drive is the main activity to see animals. Once in the park you are free to explore the trails at any time between 7am and 7pm.

Game drives are done on the northern side of the park after cross the Nile River.

Game drives are best done in the early morning for better chances of see cats such as lions, hyenas, and leopards. In the morning these cats are still hunting or are still actively moving. Once the day gets hotter they find shade under thickets to sleep the rest of the day and they will be difficult to find or see.

So best time is to be in the wildlife viewing area by 7am, meaning you should be on your as early as 6am.

Boat cruises on the Nile River

There are two types of boat cruise safaris on the Nile River in Murchison Falls National Park.

Bottom of the falls boat cruise

The most popular is the boat cruise to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. It sets off from the jetty at Paraa and goes upstream to the bottom of the falls and back to Paraa. It is a 3 hours boat cruise. This boat cruise is best done in the afternoon and boat schedules by the two provides; Wild Frontiers and Uganda Wildlife Authority set off at 2pm.

Morning schedules are also available

You can plan to do this boat cruise on the day of arrival in the park so that upon entering the park through the Kichubanyobo get you would transfer to the jetty at Paraa (may have a quick stopover at the top of the falls). However you would have to be really punctual so that are at the park by midday.

The best option though is to do the afternoon boat cruise after the morning game drive in the park. This means you transfer to the park at least a day earlier.

Delta boat cruise

The delta boat cruise goes the opposite from the jetty at Paraa downstream to the delta point where the Nile River joins Lake Albert. This is a longer cruiser than the above taking about 4 – 5 hours. This boat cruise is popular with birdwatchers who go to visit the delta that is rich in birdlife including the Shoebill, the most sought after for many birders.

The delta boat cruise is best done in the morning and schedules by Wild Frontiers set off at 7am.

Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest

The chimpanzee trekking is done in the part of Budongo forest called Kaniyo pabidi. This is near the park gate of Kichubanyobo. There are two sessions, the morning chimpanzee tracking starting at 7am and the afternoon chimpanzee tracking starting at 2pm.

If you plan on doing the morning chimpanzee tracking you will have to spend the night in the south of the park, and the most ideal would be Budongo Eco Lodge which is where the trek starts from.

If you are sleeping in the north of the park, especially near Packwach then you can only be make it for the afternoon session.

What to wear and pack for trip to Murchison Falls National Park

The following are essential items to carry

  • Insect repellent – must have as you’ll encounter tse tse flies as you travel through Budongo forest and while at the top of the falls. This is also to keep away mosquitoes in the evening
  • Shades
  • Cap/hat
  • Light clothing as this is a warm area of the country.

What stopovers can you have on the way to/from Murchison Falls National Park

Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located in Luwero, after four hours from Kampala along the Kampala – Gulu highway. The sanctuary is the only place to see rhinos in the wild in Uganda (only other place with rhinos is the zoo), so it is a must stopover so that you can tick off this number of the Big Five as other members are present in the park, namely; Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Elephant. The rhino walking tour is roughly one hour long after which you would return to the road and continue to Murchison Falls National Park.

The rhino trek can also be done on the way back from the park.

Lunch or coffee stop along the way (Luwero)

On your way to and from the park you will need to make a stopover for lunch. The best place is halfway at the Kabarega Diner in Luwero.

Use a reliable tour operator and book a tour to Murchison Falls National Park

2 days Murchison Falls

3 days Murchison Falls tour with rhino tracking

4 days Murchison Falls safari and chimpanzee trekking

4 days Murchison falls park and ziwa rhino sanctuary tour

Where to see leopards in Uganda (top 3 places)

Like all big cats of the African savannah, the Leopard is a prized sighting of a wildlife safari, perhaps only second to the lion in popularity among cats. Another reason why the leopard is a must-see animal of the safari is that it is a member of the famous African “Big Five”, the other members being the Lion, Rhino, Buffalo, and Elephant. And, of all the big five the leopard is arguably the most difficult to tick off in an environment or destination where all the big five can be can be found. It is a very secretive animal, living mostly a solitary life (unlike the lions and hyenas that live in prides) and this makes the leopard a lucky and special sighting. Most sightings are of leopards in trees, as a leopard likes to stay away from prides of other territorial predators on the ground and also keep away its kill hidden in the tree.

Are there leopards in Uganda?

Yes, leopards are present in Uganda and one can say they are in abundance because they are the most widespread of the big cats. They can be found not only in protected wildlife reserves, but are also in random jungles in communities. So much so that every once in a while, there is a problem leopard that is reported by a community for preying on their livestock. Thanks to their stealth and solitary nature they are able to live undetected in the most unexpected of jungle environments near a large population of people, even in towns/cities…

However, being widespread is one thing and seeing them is another. If you are planning a safari in Uganda and the leopard is on top of the animals you do not want to miss, the following parks provide a good chance (but still no guarantee…because a leopard is a leopard)

Top three places to see leopards in Uganda

Lake Mburo national park

Lake Mburo National Park is well known for providing good chances of seeing leopards in Uganda. It is a small park that is not popular for safari trips because it lacks lions (only one lion is said to live there and is never seen), and there are no elephants. But it still makes for a worthwhile safari because of the scenery, lots of herbivores such as zebras, antelopes, giraffes, & buffaloes, and importantly a good chance to see the leopard.

The night safari in Lake Mburo National Park is booked to look for the nocturnal animals with the leopard on top of the list. The leopard is very active at night as this is when it gets to hunt.

The 2 day safari trip Lake Mburo National Park  is ideal short trip to the park to look for the leopards.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the next top destination that has provided good chances of seeing the leopard. The Kasenyi plains which is the breeding ground of antelopes is favorite hunting ground for many predators and the leopard is no exception. Carefully browsing through the euphorbia and branches of fig trees around the plains may land you a well camouflaged leopard snoozing away the day after a good morning meal.

leopard tucked away in euphorbia plant in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Murchison Falls National Park

Uganda’s biggest park, the Murchison Falls National Park, provides fairly good chances of seeing the leopard if you search long enough.

An area near Pakuba Safari Lodge, at old construction site normally hosts a leopard that has made it is home, but is often displaced by lions that like the spot too. A place to start your search for leopards in Murchison Falls National Park.

Places to see lions in Uganda

Lions are the iconic attraction of the African safari. Without sighting the Lion, for many the safari would not be a success however plenty of other animals one might have seen. In fact, on setting out into the savannah, the first priority for many is to find the lions before looking for anything else. And catching the lion in action taking down a prey would be the ultimate safari experience… It is like experiencing a Nat Geo moment

Uganda is one of the countries in the world that still have lions roaming the jungle. The lions in Uganda are found in protected wildlife reserves. However, their numbers have for long been dwindling due a number of factors, but the biggest is the human-wildlife as people have continued conflict to invade and encroach on the lion habitat and in the end kill the lions who prey on their cattle.

Seeing lions on a safari in Uganda has been a thing of luck. This trend however is changing as some areas have recently registered an explosion in lion population and resulting in improved sightings of lions. This is thanks to improved conservation efforts by the Uganda Wildlife Authority that’s mandated to protect the game parks and wildlife reserves.

How many lions are in Uganda?

The last research and census carried out between 2018 – 2020 puts the number of lions in Uganda at 373 lions.

You will see lions on game drives when you take a safari trip to the following places in Uganda

Murchison falls national park

Murchison Falls National Park, which is Uganda’s biggest game park, has a population of about 250 lions, the highest number of all the parks.

Murchison Falls national park currently offers the best chances to see lions on safari in Uganda. Chances were not as high previously, it was 50/50 to see lions in Murchison, but of recent it has been observed the park is experiencing an explosion in lion population. Many prides with lots of cubs and juveniles are being seen regularly on game drives (from 215 lions in 2013 to 250 in 2020, this is only lion population increment among all parks). Also, Murchison falls national park being very large and yet with few drive tracks, meant that a large area of the park would not be explored to improve on the chances of seeing the lions. However a few more drive tracks have been opened up in the park, and with increase in number of lions, the park now guarantees lion sightings..

You will search for the lions on the northern bank of the River Nile which divides the park into the north and south parts. The northern part has the savannah which hosts the lions and many other big game

Murchison Falls National Park is also a shorter drive from Kampala as compared to the other parks where lion sightings are also high.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The last research and census between 2018 – 2020 put the lion population in Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda’s second largest park, at just 52 lions.

Queen Elizabeth National Park had built a reputation as the lion park in Uganda, where you didn’t have to do a lot of searching to see lions. One problem however is that Queen Elizabeth National Park, unlike Murchison Falls park, is a biosphere, meaning wildlife and man have been coexisting peacefully in the same eco system since time memorial. It is not unusual to find a pride of lions or a herd of elephants and after a few meters later you will encounter a local man walking or going about his business without any worry about his surroundings. However, it was not so long that the rapidly growing population and its growing economic needs would lead to conflict with the wildlife, and the first wildlife victims are the predators. The locals started rearing cattle within & near the park (which is actually prohibited) which the lions started feasting on and the locals retaliated by killing them en masse. To put it in perspective, the lion population in Queen Elizabeth National Park in 2010 was 144, ten years down the road and they have been reduced to less than half.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has embarked on fencing some parts of the park which will help deter animals from going into communities and vice versa. This is expected to provide reduce the human-wildlife conflict and sooner we shall have a restored park with lots of lions.

All is not lost however as Queen Elizabeth National Park still provides high chances of seeing the lions. The Kasenyi plains, the breeding ground for antelopes is the hunting ground for lions and other predators.

The Mweya peninsula near to Mweya Safari Loge was a breeding ground of a lion pride and is one of the places you may find lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park

To guarantee seeing lions, Queen Elizabeth National Park provides a lion tracking activity where you can join a group of researchers to locate collared lions that are under surveillance. This activity provides a better closeup experience of the lions in case you want to learn more about lions.

The tree-climbing lions of Ishasha

South of the park in the Ishasha plains are special lions, the tree-climbing lions. The tree-climbing lions have become the iconic attraction of the park. The lions in this area of the park tend to climb fig trees after morning mostly to relax after the morning hunt and also escape from the flies and bugs on ground.

Many people who go through Queen Elizabeth national park want to catch this spectacle of an entire pride of lions “chilling” high up in tree branches like monkeys. Needs a bit of luck though.

Queen Elizabeth is more than just lions

Important to note is that Queen Elizabeth national park is not just about lions and animals, but its scenery too is one of the reasons to visit. Located on the edge of the rift valley its landscape is of lush plains, green hills and a series of crater lakes and lakes Edward and George that attract lots of wildlife.

Kidepo valley national park

The lion population in Kidepo Valley National Park is estimated to be 70 individuals as per the census and research done between 2018 – 2020.

Kidepo National Park is normally identified in pictures by one or two lions sitting on a rocky outcrop overseeing the magnificent wilderness of Kidepo. It is like a scene in The Lion King movie!

Kidepo Valley national park is indeed a good place to see lions in Uganda. However, because of the vastness of the park sometimes the sightings are too distant or the lions are not in sight.

Lake Mburo national park

Lake Mburo National Park should not be featuring on this list but then it does have a lion, just one recorded male lion inhabits the park. It is rarely seen, its more like a myth, but then once in a while it will be heard roaring.

Do not plan your trip to Lake Mburo to see lions. There are predators in a good numbers like leopards and hyenas.

What is the best season to see lions in Uganda?

Lions will be seen throughout the year no matter the season. However, the dry season (June – August, Dec – Feb) will provide better conditions to explore the drive tracks and get to more areas of the park. Also, the savannah is shorter or less thick making it easier to spot the lions among the bushes.

What is the best time to see lions?

The best time of day to see the lions is definitely early morning when the lions are actively hunting or are just from the hunt and are still actively moving in the open. As the day gets hotter, they will look for a nice shade, mostly under a thicket where they will be difficult to see, and sleep away the day. The next good time to see the lions in the evening when they are up and want to hunt again. It is also cooler during this time so they will be moving in the open.

How to plan a lion safari in Uganda?

If you feel you don’t want to miss the lions on your safari in Uganda, the best idea is to visit at least two of the parks with lions. That would be, Murchison Falls National Park plus any of the other two. Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth would be easier to combine because of the shorter distances. However if you can endure the long drive to Kidepo or take a flight, it would be worthwhile.

How strong is a chimpanzee? Are chimps really that violent?

Chimpanzees are man’s closest relatives with which we share up to 98.7% of DNA. Human and chimpanzee therefore share a lot similarities, but how does chimp and man measure up when it comes to strength? How about the chimpanzee and other great apes such as the gorilla, how do they measure up in strength?

Chimps have a diminutive appearance, with a standing height of 4 – 5ft and weighing 70 – 130 pounds, they look small and rather weak. In fact, from a distance one could easily mistake a chimp for a monkey (except that monkeys have tails while chimps don’t). But a very deceptive appearance as chimpanzees are really strong! In fact, their encounters with man and other bigger wildlife normally end in fatality for the other species. This has people thinking, how strong are chimpanzees? This is also one of the curios questions in the minds of tourists who would like to take part in the unique activity of the tracking chimps in Uganda and the chimp trekking in Rwanda.

Chimpanzees spend most of the time in trees, swinging from branch to branch and from tree-to-tree courtesy of their incredibly strong arms (& legs). This use of arms enhances their strength. Chimps lack tails that monkeys have to help them balance when swinging through the trees, so chimps developed a lot of strength in the limbs to jump efficiently and firmly hold onto branches while supporting their weight.

Chimps will occasionally panty hoot and hit/slap the barks of trees to locate each across the large territory a community of chimps is covering. The sound from the slapping of the tree barks is akin to thunder, so loud that it covers a huge distance through the dense forest, a show of how strong their arms are.

The following comparisons will help you appreciate the strength of a chimpanzee.

Man vs chimpanzee strength

The strength of one chimpanzee is estimated to be equivalent to the strength of 5 men.

It is said an agitated Chimp in Uganda’s Kibale Forest once held a park ranger’s arm tightly and when it let go of his arm his bones had broken to bits.

How aggressive or violent are chimpanzees?

Chimpanzees have the reputation of being very violent primates. “They are just like us!”, exclaimed famous primatologist Jane Goodall in one of her documentaries about Chimps, as she narrated a particular hostile encounter she once faced by a male chimp from her research group in the Tanzanian forest (Gombe Stream). She had been with the chimps group for a while and therefore the members of the chimp group knew her as part of their community and naturally the chimps should not see her as a threat. But one time, a male chimp, out of the blue unprovoked accosted her and nearly took her life.

Chimpanzees are not afraid of aggression and will take on intruders into their territories and make war with other chimpanzee groups to take over forest areas with more food.

How do chimpanzees fight?

Chimpanzees fight violently using their arms by slamming, hammering, dragging, stomping, and pulling different ways. Chimpanzees are also able to use tree branches and stones as weapons. They also bite, they such sharp canine teeth. Chimps attack in gangs, that a group on chimps will gang up on the victim and beat them in all kinds of ways above.

Is there a best time to visit Akagera National Park?

When it comes to the classic big game safari, Rwanda has just one place to go and that is Akagera National Park. Akagera national park located in the east of the country protects the country’s only savannah environment as the rest of the country is mostly mountainous and forest.

An area that had been reduced to nearly a bushland where poachers had leeway thanks to the misrule & conflicts of the yesteryears, Akagera National Park is now on the way to becoming one of the top wildlife safari destinations in the region – thanks to African Parks organization that has ensured that this is one of the most protected parks on the continent. All the “big five” are now present in the park after the reintroduction of rhinos and lions whose numbers are steadily growing. Recent periodic censuses of wildlife in Akagera National Park have shown a steady increase in numbers of all animals in the park. Safaris in Akagera are becoming more exciting every other day as one can now find a herd of elephants (previously you would be lucky to spot a solitary individual far away), and have better sightings of other big game such as giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, and antelopes, among others.

One can therefore look forward to a rewarding big game safari experience in Rwanda other than just the famous gorilla trekking in the Virunga mountains or the chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest.

But, as a park that is steadily recovering her wildlife numbers one may ask if there is a best time to visit Akagera National Park and also if there is a time one should avoid the park?

Dry season vs Rainy Season in Akagera National Park

You will visit Akagera either during the dry season or the wet season which are the two weather seasons of Rwanda.

Visiting Akagera during the dry season

The dry season runs from June to early September and from December to February.

Most people visit Akagera National Park during the dry season. The dry season provides the best weather for the safari trip to Akagera because the trails are dry allowing you explore every possible trail of the park and reach every possible corner of the park to discover more wildlife. The dry season also allows you spend as much time out in the bush as possible without the interruption of rain.

The downside of the dry season is that, during the really hot time, such as the month of August, the animals move closer to the permanent water sources and to areas with more fresh grass which may be far away from the safari trails. You may therefore see fewer animals during a certain time of the dry season, especially August which is the hottest month.

Visiting Akagera during the wet season

The wet season runs from March to May and late September to November.

The wet season is not a favorite time for many to travel to Akagera National Park. One, because the rains may interrupt your experience while out in the bush making your safari drives shorter and therefore less productive. The safari trails also become muddy and may be unpassable in some areas limiting the access of some parts of the park. A sturdy 4X4 safari truck is highly recommended if you will visit Akagera during the wet season. Also, the grass is taller and bushes thicker which could make sightings of smaller animals much harder.

On the other hand, the wet season could be the best time to visit Akagera National Park. The scenery is surreal during the wet season and the lush greenery is breathtaking.

Animals will tend to be closer to the safari trails during the wet season. They do not have been closer to the unreachable water sources as there is enough water in pools throughout the park. So as much as the rains will make some parts of the park unreachable, some of the big animals may be easier to find during this time than during some time when it is really hot during the dry season.

Is there a time to avoid Akagera National Park?

There is not such a time that one will go to Akagera National Park and fail to see plenty of animals or not enjoy the savannah. It is only if you will try to compare Akagera with the great safari destinations in the region such as Masai Mara of Kenya or Serengeti of Tanzania or Murchison Falls Park of Uganda, that you will be disappointed. Akagera is a recovering park but that is making tremendous strides and will catch up soon. If you have visited any of these popular reserves in the East Africa region and want to supplement your experience then do not go to Akagera, or if you go, please keep an open mind and enjoy the bush, because what Akagera may luck in a big volume of animals makes up with an amazing scenery.

You may also not want do a safari trip to Akagera during August if extremely warm weather is a turn off for you. Avoid going during April too if you are not ready to be inconvenienced by near daily heavy down pours as this the wettest month of the rainy season.