Murchison Falls is the largest national park in Uganda.
It protects a chunk of untamed African savanna intersected by the Nile River. It is named for the dramatic Murchison Falls, where the world’s longest river violently explodes through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below. This is a powerful and beautiful spectacle.
The park’s large size and wide range of habitats allows for an impressive checklist of more than 460 bird species. This is the most reliable location for the Shoebill stork.
We are almost certain of seeing the bird, which is regularly recorded along the Nile inside the park, especially at the delta and on two islands in the river.
Other birds of interest include Lesser Flamingo, Great Snipe, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Red-throated Bee-eater, Vereaux’s Eagle Owl, White-crested Turacco, and more.
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2: Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park
Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park – Kampala
Day One: Bird watching tour to Murchison Falls National Park.
Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide who will drive you to Murchison Falls. We stop over at Masindi for lunch. Stay in Paraa Safari Lodge / Red Chilli / Nile safari Camp for the next three nights.
Day Two: Bird watching to the bottom of the fall.
On this day, after an early breakfast, we take a boat, birding to the bottom of the falls in the morning and game drive to the delta in the afternoon. Birds we hope to pick up here include Red-throated Bee-eater, Violet-backed Starling, Spot-flanked Barbet, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Red-faced Crombec, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Crested Francolin, Spotted Morning Thrush, Silver Bird, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Pet Lark, Striped Kingfisher, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Long-crested Eagle, Croaking Cisticola, Blue Quail, Northern Red Bishop, Grey-tailed Warbler, Sooty Chat, Heuglin’s Francolin, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Piapiac, Grey Kestrel, Rufous Sparrow, Broad-billed Roller, Yellow-throated Long Claw, Black-bellied Bustard, Bateleur, Klaas’ Cuckoo, Carmine Bee-eater, Rattling Cisticola, Swallow-tail Bee-eater, Viteline Masked Weaver, White-winged Widowbird, Grey-capped Warbler, Blue-naped Mousebird, Martial Eagle, Rufous-naped and Flappet Larks, Siffling and Foxing Cisticolas, Black-billed Barbet, Ruppel’s Griffon, Lappet-faced and Palm-nut Vultures, Tawny Eagle. Mammals present here also include Warthogs, Elephants, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Oribi, Rothschild Giraffe, Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Jackals, Lions, Bush Bucks, Bohor Reedbuck, and primates like the Patas Monkey.
Day Three: Bird watching across the Nile.
Cross the Nile and go for a whole day game drive up to the top of the falls. We expect to encounter the White-rumped Canary, Foxy Cisticola, Egyptian Plover, Red-winged Grey warbler, Secretary Bird, Bat Hawk, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Vinaceous Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Carmine Bee-eater, Nightjars (Pennant-winged & Standard-winged), White-rumped Canary, etc.
Day Four: Game drive in Uganda.
Morning game drive and afternoon transfer to Kampala.