Ferry Crossing in Murchison Falls National Park
Ferry Crossing in Murchison Falls National Park is totally a different experience on its own especially for first time visitors in the national park. Murchison falls National Park became one of the first national parks in Uganda in 1952 and is one of the top 3 most visited national parks in the country.
The park is a home of 76 animal species including the big 4 mammals which include the elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards and they can be supplemented by rhinos which can be viewed on your way to the national park. Other commonly sighted wildlife species in Murchison falls national park include; waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, warthogs, crocodiles and hippos.
You can also view primates like chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and baboons which can be found in Budongo forest that is located within Murchison falls national park. The national park also shelters over 450 bird species like the rare shoebill stork, goliath heron, secretary bird, white faced whistling duck, yellow billed stork, black headed lapwing, grey headed kingfisher, and long toed plover among others.
Murchison falls National Park is divided into two sectors which include the northern and southern sectors that have been separated by the Nile River. Tourists visiting the park have to use the ferry crossing in Murchison falls national park in order to explore both sectors of the park.
The ferry crossing in Murchison falls national park is totally safe and secure for visitors to use. The ferry cross in the park is scheduled and takes all day starting from 7:00am, 9:00am, 11:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 6:00pm and 7:00pm. The ferry in the national park carries a maximum of eight vehicles per trip and each vehicle is charged depending on the size or number of tonnes.
Prices for Ferry crossing in Murchison falls national park
Prices for ferry crossing in Murchison falls national park are charged depending on the size of the vehicle and tonnes for example
- All passengers pay UGX 5,000 per trip
- Very Heavy vehicles which weigh between 10 to 20 tonnes are charged UGX 150,000 per trip
- Heavy vehicles which weigh between 5 to 10 tonnes are charged UGX 80,000 per trip
- Medium vehicles which weigh between 2 to 5 tonnes are charged UGX 40,000 per trip
- Small vehicles which weigh between 2 tonnes and less are charged UGX 20,000 per trip and school buses with students are not charged any amount during ferry crossing.
- Vehicle drivers are also not charged any fees for ferry crossing.
- Vehicles in excess of 20 tons require special approval from park authorities to use the Ferry crossing at the park.
Activities offered in Murchison falls national park.
Activities you can do during your visit to Murchison falls national park include; Day and night game drives, boat cruise, nature walks, top of the falls hike, birding, community cultural tours, sport fishing and chimpanzee trekking among others.
Accommodation in Murchison falls national park.
Accommodation options in the park include; Paraa Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Red Chilli Rest Camp, Geo Lodge Shoebill Camp Site, Sambiya River Lodge, Yebo Safari Camp, Murchison Safari Lodge, UWA Campsite, Budongo Eco Lodge, Boomu Women’s Group Bandas, Fort Murchison Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison tree house, Amuka Safari Lodge, Bakers Lodge to mention but a few. The lodges are well equipped with all the basic necessities needed to make you feel at home. In addition to this, visitors can access services such as; Wifi, resturants, room service, laundry services and many more.
How to Get to Murchison Falls National Park.
The national park can be accessed by both road and air. Visitors can always get to the park by road from Kampala via Masindi, which is about a five hours’ drive to the park. You can have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will get to see white rhinos in their natural habitat.
Visitors who wish to travel to the national park by air can book domestic charter flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Bugungu Airstrip in the southern sector of the park, or to Chobe and Pakuba Airstrips located in the northern part of the park.
