Night Game Drives In Murchison Falls National Park
Night Game Drives In Murchison Falls National Park : Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most visited national parks which is located in the northern part of Uganda. Murchison Falls National Park is one of the savannah national parks that offer adventurous night game drives where tourists get to explore the savannah plains at night with an experienced ranger guide and spot light torches for clear viewing of nocturnal animals. Night game drive in Uganda is done in Queen Elizabeth National Park which is the second largest national park and Lake Mburo National Park which is the smallest savannah national park in Uganda. Murchison Falls National Park has an area cover of 3840 square kilometers which makes it the largest national park in Uganda and it’s a home to different wildlife species including the big four animals such as elephants, lions, leopards and buffaloes and other animals include hippos, bushbucks, giraffes, warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeest, duikers and Uganda kobs among others. Primates such as chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons and black and white colobus monkeys as well as a variety of bird species.
Night game drives in Murchison Falls National Park is mostly done in the northern part of the park and it starts at 6:30pm or 7:00pm and takes about 2 to 3 hours in a 4WD safari vehicle. During the night game drive, you will be able to drive in the open savannah grass with the company of an armed park ranger with spotlight torches for clear viewing of nocturnal animals which become active at night such as bush babies, civet, lions, hyenas, porcupines, genets, other animals like elephants, hippos feeding, buffalos, Uganda kob as well as enjoy the amazing views of the moonlight among others.
COST OF A NIGHT GAME DRIVE IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
A night game drive in Murchison Falls National Park costs 30 USD per person for foreign nonresidents, 20 USD per person for foreign residents and 50,000 UGX per person for East African citizens when using a private vehicle. Only pre-registered vehicles are allowed to undertake the night game drives and use of Uganda Wildlife Authority guides is mandatory.
A night game drive in Murchison Falls National Park when using a Uganda Wildlife Authority vehicle costs 40 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 35 USD per person for foreign residents and 40,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
BEST TIME TO DO A NIGHT GAME DRIVE IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Game drives can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, august, September, December, January and February because during this period there is less rainfall in the national park therefore vegetation will be short which helps you to have a clear view of the nocturnal animals. During the dry season, game drives tracks will be dry and passable which makes it easier for the safari vehicles to navigate through compared to rainy season when the game drive tracks are muddy and slippery.
OTHER ACTIVITIES IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Murchison Falls National Park offers other amazing activities that tourists can engage in during the safari which include day game drives which are commonly done in the morning when animals are active, Nile delta and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls where you will view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, bird watching, top of the falls hike where you enjoy views of the waterfall, guided nature walks, hot air balloon experience among others.
Night game drive is an adventurous activity which can be combined with other activities in Murchison Falls National Park during your Uganda safari.
