Ferry Crossing at Murchison Falls National Park
Ferry crossing at Murchison falls national park is a means of transport to step on the park’s premises since the park is bisected with waters of Victoria Nile. The ferry is available on a daily basis in order to transport travellers to the park’s premises. Without the use of ferry crossing, you cannot enter Murchison on your game drive safari or any other activity within the park.
The best outstanding possible transport to cross you to Murchison falls national park’s boundary is known as ferry since the park is bisected by the water of River Nile. The ferry transport services start between the southern and northern sides of the park. The working hours of the ferry start at 7 am and stops working at exactly 7 pm in the evening. The ferry is met to carry a maximum of eight vehicles between the latter time duration.
Below are the charges for the ferry services as follow;
- The passengers are entitled to pay UGX5000 per shift.
- Light vehicles weighing 2 tonnes are meant to pay UGX20,000 per shift.
- The medium vehicles weighing 2-5 tonnes, pay UGX40,000 per shift.
- Heavy vehicle weighing 5-10 tonnes, pay UGX80,000 Per shift.
- Full heavy vehicle weighing 10-20 tonnes, expect to pay UGX150,000 per shift.
- The school buses are not charged for the ferry services.
You should note that vehicles that weigh over 20 tonnes need special approval or can negotiate with the ferry manager because 20 tonnes seem to be a special approval.
Working time for the Ferry
The Ferry Crossing usually begins its work by crossing the passengers and vehicles across the White Nile during morning hours at a time of 7 am, other shifts starts at 9 am, 11 am, 12 noon, 6 pm and stops sailing at 7 pm. Beyond this time, no one can be accepted to sail across the Victoria Nile in Murchison falls national park.
Murchison falls national park is not only famously known for ferry crossing means of transport in the park. Besides this, there is much more than that, Murchison falls national park is rich in biodiversity and is the oldest and largest protected area that covers about 3900 square kilometres of its low land, spreading from the shores of lake Albert across the Bunyoro escarpment of the western rift valley, as well as karuma, falls wildlife reserve.
The park hosts the big five mammal species and not only the big five mammals but home to over 76 mammal species and it is very possible for the traveller to explore all the big five mammals though the park itself has only big4 animals. But since the route that proceeds to Murchison is the same route to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary home to white rhinos. The big five mammals include; Lion, Elephant, leopards, buffaloes and Rhinos which can be trekked along your way in Nakasongola at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary as you head to Murchison falls national park makes the famous big five safaris. Other mammals include; warthogs, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, Oribs, hippos, crocodile, primates like chimpanzees, black and white monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboon many more.
The park is one the top birding list area in Uganda, home to over 500 bird species of which some are residential and some migratory. And expect to sight see beautiful bird species like the rare shoebill stork, African Darter, Osprey, Long-toed Plover, Black-headed Lap wing, Grey-headed kingfisher, Giant kingfisher and many more. The best birding season starts from March to May and September to November.
The spectacular Murchison falls will bring about a great moment as you gaze at the natural beauty of the longest river in Africa’ ’the Nile’’. The falls come about as very fast running water from the Victoria Nile that tries to compress its way through a small gorge measuring about 7meter wide. The force, at which water hits the rock encloses the gorge, then it creates a misty problem at the top of the falls. From, the hike made from the bottom of the falls offers a cool breath to you, magnificent viewing of the falls as you spread your hands to embrace the admired beauty of Mother Nature.
Lastly, Murchison falls national park is open thought out the year for you to be able to engage in whatever activity you prefer too and the best visited months of the year starts from December to March and June to September when the park is out the water source. Despite the fact that during the wet seasons which normally occurs in May to April, the park usually receives few travellers of being on discounts of accommodation the same goes to activities you’re likely to be part of it in wet seasons. Travellers are advised to book for their tour package in advance by the help of tour operator or visiting any recognised tour company.
The ferry crossing is the only means of transport that a crosses the White Nile from the southern side to the northern part of the park in order to step on park’s land to be able to engage in park’s activities.
