BIRDING IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Birding in Murchison falls national park

Right at the northwestern Uganda is where the largest national park called Murchison falls national park is located. It is about 305 kilometers from Kampala the capital city of Uganda hence approximately 4 hour road drive will take you to Murchison falls national park. The park has an approximate of about 4000 sq kilometers. This park has its own unique facts that make it different from the other Ugandan national parks. One of the uniqueness is that, it is the only national park in Uganda that is a home to the African big five animals like; elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and the Rhino but still the Ziwa rhino sanctuary is so close to Murchison falls national park, meaning a traveler can encounter all the Africa’s big five in one location. This park got its name from the world’s powerful waterfall that is located within national park; it also doubles as Uganda’s third best spot for Uganda birding safari.

The location of the Murchison falls national park has made it to be a vibrant home for variety of bird species. Being among the best birding spots, Murchison falls national park it has over 451 bird species which include; water birds, Savannah birds and the Albertine rift endemic birds. This is an awesome landscape with offers the best for bird viewing and some of the amazing wildlife that inhabits Murchison falls national park, with a rewarding experience while enjoying a safari in Uganda.

The park has many numerous bird species with some of them being rare species, the most common and occasionally seen roaming the park are the crowned crane, giant Kingfisher, giant Heron, Shoebill stork, Abyssinian Ground Hombills, Nightjars, Marabou stork, Black headed lapwing, Back-bellied Bustard among others.

Different bird species in Murchison falls national park can best viewed while the visitors are on a game drive, nature walks through the savannah grasslands and also during a launch cruise along the Nile River and n the Albert Delta. Some of the birds that can be spotted near Paraa and Red chill through the dry thorn-shrubs are; blue napped mouse birds, silver birds, weavers among others. The nocturnal birds like the nightjars can be seen along Paraa road and also during a boat cruise on the Nile River. During the boat ride still there are of birds that can be seen like the shoebill, Gray crowned cranes, Goliath herons, black headed lapwings among other different species that can be seen along the shores.

The most interesting thing in Murchison falls national park birding is done throughout the  year though most  best times are during the dry season especially month like January to March , because this season is a low season in Uganda but birding remains unbeatable. Despite of December to February being a season when the rain is beginning but still birding stands out been affected by the effect of seasonality. From April to May and August to October where the rain is heavy, making it hard for bird watching because the trails for hiking become slippery and the tracks in the park become impassable and hard to navigate through them.

The most outstanding attraction though rear but still can be encountered from January to March during the dry season. For travelers who are interested in the Migratory birds definitely the season is between November and April.

For any birding safari in Uganda, the birder should be prepared with equipments like birding guide book, sun glasses, hats for protection from the sun, a pair of binoculars, steady shoes for hiking as you search for the birds.