Murchison Falls National Park is the obvious choice of park to visit if planning a safari trip to experience the savannah and see lots of wildlife in Uganda. The Murchison is Uganda’s largest park, located along the River Nile on which is found the world’s strongest waterfalls – the Murchison Falls. Safari drives on the northern bank of the River Nile and the boat cruise along the River Nile provide excellent opportunities to see plenty of animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, leopards, monkeys, baboons, hippos, crocodiles, etc…
How much time do you need for a trip to Murchison Falls National Park? You need 2 to 3 days to visit and experience Murchison Falls National Park. A day trip to Murchison Falls is not possible as the park is about 6 hours drive from Kampala to Entebbe.
Wondering when is the best time to visit and see animals in Murchison Falls National Park? Well, you can see animals all year round. You can therefore visit the park any time of the year. However different times may be more favorable depending on the kind of safari experience you want to have in Murchison Falls National Park.
Factors to consider when determining the best time to visit Murchison Falls Park
Weather – wet season vs dry season
The weather may determine when you want to visit Murchison Falls National Park. You will visit Murchison Falls National Park either during the dry season or wet season, the two weather seasons of Uganda.
The dry season from June to August, and December to February, is perhaps the best time for a safari in Murchison Falls National Park because it is mostly sunny and dry so it easier to navigate through the park and reach every trail of the park without worry of getting stuck in the mud. Meanwhile, during the wet season (March to May, and late September to November) some parts of the park may be unreachable due to flooding of some drive trails hence limiting your chances to see more wildlife. If must use a study 4X4 tour car if you have to go to Murchison Falls Park during the wet season. Another reason why the safari experience may be better during the dry season is that the grass is shorter and therefore better visibility of wildlife, especially the not-so-big animals such as warthogs, leopards, foxes, etc.. While during the wet season the bushes and grass are thicker and taller, so you would need the bigger raised 4X4s for better views…
However, visiting Murchison Falls National Park during the wet season has some benefits too. The scenery is at its best during this time as the grass is all lush green. The temperatures can be unbearably high/hot during the dry season causing sunburn to sensitive skin, but the wet season brings such a cool and soothing temperature. Also, the best experience of the Murchison Falls is during the wet season when the volume of water in the Nile increases leading to more powerful and explosive Murchison Falls. If your dream is to witness these mighty falls, you will get the best treat of the falls during the wet season.
Crowds or better weather?
If you prefer a time of safari in Murchison Falls with less crowds, the wet season offers this time as less people visit the park this time (March to May, late September to November). However, be prepared for a rainy day with 4X4 car.
Special offers/discounts/groups
If you like to travel on a budget the low season (wet season) normally has discounted prices by a number of accommodations in the park. So, this the time to advantage of low cost of accommodation and have a cheaper tour.
On the other hand, the high season provides better chances to join a group to reduce the cost of the tour. If you are into group tours to share costs, you have better chances of finding a group tour to Murchison Falls National Park.
Is there a time one should avoid Murchison Falls National Park?
There should not be any time one has to avoid the park, the park provides a beautiful safari any time.
However, the park is wettest during April & November, and if extreme wet weather is a put off then you should avoid the park during this time. On the other hand, the park is quite hot during late August to early September, and so if too much sun causes you great discomfort, then you are better off not visiting during this time.