Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park Uganda
Wildlife in Murchison falls National Park Uganda; Murchison Falls National Park is famously known as home to the powerful Murchison Falls, where the Nile River Squeezes through a narrow gorge, creating a thunderous roar thus making it Uganda’s prime safari destination. Moreover, the park is a prime wildlife viewing spot for the Big five and rare Nubian giraffes, and a destination for Nile boat cruises and chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest within the park.
This national park is home to over 76 mammal species and host 450 recorded bird species. It is home to Big five species, including lions, elephants, buffalos and leopard and rhinos to be spotted in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which lies on the way heading to the park. Other animals to see include Giraffes, Uganda Kobs, bushbucks, Hartebeests Oribis, Waterbucks, and hyenas, among others.
Visit the Budongo Forest, which is part of Murchison Falls National Park, home to various primates such as endangered chimpanzees, blue monkeys, Patas monkeys, Red tailed monkeys, Olive baboons, Black and white colobus monkeys many more. Murchison Falls National Park sits on an area of about 3893 square kilometers of its low land, that inhabits diversity of wild animals and birdlife.
Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is home for over 76 mammal species such as herds of buffaloes are easily spotted during the game drive in Buligi plains. Also herds of elephants are scattered in the savannah woodland areas of the park.
The park is also home to big cats such as the camouflage leopards to be spotted in the shrubs and vast number of lions found in the southern part of the park. It is also known for the Rothschild’s endangered giraffes. These giraffes can only be found in Kidepo National Park. Commonly spotted animals include Jackson’s hartebeest, bush bucks, warthogs, hippos, crocodiles among others.
Primates
Murchison Falls National Park is not home for the Big five animals but also for primate species. The park is home for over 13 species of primates such as the Olive baboons are the commonest primates within the park. You will spot the olive baboons everywhere in Murchison Falls National Park. It is advisable to keep your car windows low or else lose your lunch.
The blue and the red-tailed monkeys and black and white-colobus can be encountered in the forested areas of Murchison Falls National Park. The Chimpanzees are the main spotted primates in the park. The fact that, the chimpanzees are an endangered primate species of the world.
They can be found in Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu forest in Kasese and in Budongo forest. Budongo forest is home to rarely East African mahogany trees and rich biodiversity with over 9 primates. It also offers a chance for chimp trekking, birding and experiencing old growth forest with deep scientific study history.
This national park is also naturally gifted with nocturnal primates, which can be seen during the night nature walks in Kaniyo Pabidi forest. It also gives a high opportunity to see the potto, bush babies many more. Kaniyo pabidi and budogo forest of Murchison Falls National Park, hosts over 800 chimpanzees.
Birdlife
Besides the game animals and primates in Murchison Falls National Park. The park is truly a birding paradise, with large number of bird species found in the different parts of the park. Birds are categorised basing on the habitat, for example the water birds, the savannah birds, the Albertine birds and the forest birds many more.
Birding in Murchison Falls National Park gives a chance to spot the sought-after prehistoric bird ‘’the rare shoebill stork. Get to spot other birds that are endemic and species birds in Murchison Falls National Park.
The commonly spotted bird species to see include, Shoebill Stork found around Albert Delta, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, African Fish Eagle, Giant Malachite Pied ,Saddle-billed ,Open billed, Yellow-billed, Great White & Pink-backed Pelicans, African Jacana, African Wattled Lapwing, Long-toed Lapwing, Iconic terrestrial raptor, Speckle-fronted Weaver, White-browed Sparrow-weaver, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Eastern Grey Plantain -eater, Palm-nut Vulture, and Deham’s Bustard, to mention a few.
Murchison Falls National Park is naturally blessed land with vast of wildlife and its uniqueness is its spread throughout the area and offers scenic views of the escarpments and undulating landscape which is everlasting.
