MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Murchison falls national park is a national park in Uganda and is managed by the Ugandan Wildlife Authority. Its in the north-west Uganda, spreading inland from the shores of lake Albert, around the Victoria Nile. Murchison Falls national park became one of Uganda's first national parks in 1952. At Murchison Falls, the Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with a thunderous roar into the Devil's Cauldron, creating a trademark rainbow. The northern section of the park contains savanna and borassus palms, acacia trees and riverine woodland and forest patches. Murchison Falls National lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast palm-dotted savanna. First gazette as a game reserve in 1926, its Uganda's oldest and largest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds. Wildlife includes lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests, Ugandan kobs, chimpanzees and many bird species.` BIG GAME The park is home to 76 species of mammals including four of the big five, with huge herds of buffalos and elephants, well-camouflaged leopards and a healthy population of lions. It is also known for its giraffes; in Uganda these can only be viewed here and in kidepo valley. Other species viewed regularly along the game tracks include Jackson's hartebeest, bushbucks, Uganda kob, waterbucks and warthogs. Resident crocodiles and hippos as well as other visiting wildlife are found along the river. PRIMATES Olive baboons are common along the roadsides-be sure to keep car windows and doors shut if you don't want to lose your lunch! Blue and red-tailed monkeys and black and white colobus can be found in the forested sectors. The savanna dwelling patas monkey is only found here and in Kidepo valley national park. Around 800 chimpanzees live in the kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo forests.