Things to see and do Murchinson Falls & North Territories

The safaris are mainly on the right bank of the Nile and more particularly on a fairly tight network of tracks between Paraa and the Lake Albert Delta, known as the Buligi Circuit. All hotels provide a snack (or breakfast pack) before you set off on your adventure. With its vast expanses of savannah dotted with rookeries (the Borassus track, a trail that runs through the northern part of the park, owes its name to the scientific name of these palm trees), Murchison Park probably offers the closest landscapes to our vision of the African bush. You can see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests, cobes, harnessed guibs, lions and, hopefully, leopards. And of course, myriads of birds: eagles, kingfishers, bee-eaters, bustards, francolins, hornbills, barbicans, flycatchers... In the other areas of the park, you will certainly see monkeys and small antelopes, but the large mammals are less numerous or more difficult to observe. However, from about a chandelier, UWA has been trying to develop game drives on the left bank of the river. Thus, the Honeymoon track, near Murchison Falls, allows to observe giraffes, transferred from the right bank in 2016. If you travel independently, you can hire the services of a park ranger for US$20. This is not mandatory, but he will be of great help in finding the animals.

Like the outing on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, this Nile cruise, which has been undeniably popular for more than six decades, is a must not to be missed! In three hours round trip, the boat, whose roof offers a 360° view, peacefully winds its way up the current along the banks - lined with papyrus, palm trees, mahogany and acacia trees - where huge crocodiles can be seen lazing about, lazy hippos, buffaloes cooling off, antelopes (especially the crescent beak) lying in wait, elephants having fun and more rarely giraffes wading, a lichen lion or a leopard drinking... Birds are still very numerous, like the golden-breasted jacana, the African jabiru, the red-throated bee-eater, the heron goliath, the African piapiac, the kingfisher, the African scissor-bill and tutti quanti. The excursion on the wave of the mighty river culminates at the arrival in the Fajao Gorge from where the impressive Murchison Falls cataracting in a narrow gully are visible in the axis of the river. The 45-metre high falls will reveal itself even more if you disembark here and walk to the top of the falls. The cruises organized by the UWA (30 US$) leave from Paraa (left bank) at 9am and 2pm. Wild Frontiers (www.wildfrontiers.co.ug) organizes its own expeditions (US$32), also from Paraa, at 8:30am and 2pm. In case of heavy traffic, a third departure is scheduled at 11am.

Launched a decade ago, hot air ballooning offers spectacular views and plunging perspectives over the vast savannah expanses of the national park. From your basket you can watch animals frolic, run and drink in areas usually inaccessible to vehicles. The flights - organized early in the morning and at sunset - depart from Paraa (right bank), last 45 to 60 minutes, depend on wind direction and range from 50 to 1,000 feet in altitude.

Located between Kotido and Moroto, these two reserves are relatively unknown. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has an office near the track between Kotido and Moroto and its rangers can accompany you for a nature walk (US$ 30), a bird watching (US$ 30) or a game drive (US$ 20). The entrance to the savannah with acacia trees and temporary swamps that make up these reserves costs US$ 10. Grant's gazelles, ewes, Ugandan guinea pigs, ostriches, baboons, leopards (very rare and exclusively in the Matheniko reserve)... these two reserves have some wildlife assets, but don't expect to see lions, cheetahs (these two felids haven't been spotted for a long time...), elephants and others. Finally, it is perhaps the avifauna observedcéans (about 100 species recorded) that is worth the detour: apart from vultures, hornbills, kingfishers and weavers, you might come across the endemic apalis of Karamoja and white-bellied touracos. At the moment, there is no infrastructure allowing visitors to spend the night in or near the reserves, but a camp could be set up in Turutoko in the coming years. In the rainy season, the trail leading to the entrance to the reserves can be tricky. In any case, you will need a powerful 4x4 in case of game drive (if you enlist a UWA guide, departures are at 7 and 17h). For more information, please refer to the UWA team in Mbale.

Although the flow of the Agogo, the river broken by these enchanting falls (five cascades forming a front two hundred and fifty meters wide and several dozen high), can vary completely depending on the season, the viridity of the banks and the plethora of mossy rocks of this tributary of the Aswa, which delimits the districts of Gulu and Pader, make Aruu Falls an excellent idea for a trip. Be careful, if you want to go down to the foot of the falls, good walking shoes are essential (the rocks are sometimes very slippery). Also expect, when the water level is high, to have to take off your shoes to cross a torrent. The local guides, who are usually waiting for you at the community campsite (+256 774 591 229), have safety helmets, to avoid trauma in case of a fall . It is possible to bathe, at your own risk, in the lower bathing area. If you don't feel like climbing, don't worry, the views are also photogenic from the top of the falls. From Gulu, follow the Kitgum road (which has good surfacing) for about forty-five kilometres, then take the track (sometimes flooded in the rainy season and rather dusty in the dry season) which leaves on the right of the main road at the entrance to the village of Angagura. Then drive seven kilometres to reach Agogo. A good 4x4, as you will have understood, is indispensable at certain times of the year.

The site of Kaniyo Pabidi is a parcel of the Budongo forest. It is known for the chimpanzee tracking organized by the Budongo Ecolodge: indeed, between 600 and 700 chimpanzees inhabit the Budongo forest, but only the community of Kaniyo Pabidi has been accustomed to the presence of humans. The duration of tracking depends on the location of the primates and is therefore highly variable. Come to the Budongo Lodge for this incredible encounter with our anthropoid cousins.

Bird-lovers will enjoy boat trips downstream to Lake Albert where the chances of being able to observe the famous shoebill (Nile shoebill) are perhaps the best on the continent, especially in the rainy season. Daily departures are at 7am from the Wild Frontiers landing stage in Paraa (left bank): count 55 US$ for a four to five hour cruise. Possibility to have breakfast in the boat.

To complete the vision of the falls observed from the boat, it is possible to go to the top of the gorge (left bank) where you can better measure their incredible power. Here, it is not the roar of the lion that makes you shudder, but the roar of the Nile waters rushing into a breach less than ten metres wide! Spray shower guaranteed, remember to take a plastic bag for your camera and be careful not to slip. From the main point of view, a small path that takes about twenty minutes to cover goes down to offer a more lateral view of the falls made up of two cataracts separated by a grove. Another path will allow you to descend practically to the base of the first fall. The interest of the hike lies in the panorama of the Uhuru Falls, invisible during the cruise. Allow 2 hours on site for the hike, preferably in the afternoon, when the sun has its back to the river, it's much better for photos and for the rainbow! If you feel like it, you can combine a cruise on the river with a walk to the top of the falls. In this case, your nautonier will drop you off at the beginning of the trail where a UWA guide will be waiting for you. It takes about 45 minutes to walk from the river bank. The top of the Murchison Falls is also accessible from the right bank, which is less busy and more difficult to access; the views of the parade are less spectacular.

The region is full of possibilities for mountain walks: Mount Moroto (3,084 m), Mount Kadam (3,068 m), Mount Morungole (2,750 m) or Mount Napak (2,537 m), an eroded volcano prized by paleontologists for its fossils dating back twenty million years and marked by its vertiginous peaks... From Moroto, you can climb the eponymous peak while sleeping on the summit or take a shorter hike to a natural pool of water ideal for cooling off after the sweat of the climb. The views from the flanks of the massif are quite breathtaking and you may well spot baboons and dik-diks (dwarf antelopes) along the way. It is best to be accompanied by a guide, as the trails are not marked. Good walking shoes, sufficient water, snacks and possibly your poles are recommended as the slopes are sometimes dry and exposed to sunlight. If you feel like it and if you are naive, don't hesitate to contact Kara-Tunga who organizes treks and hikes (from a few hours to several days) in the volcanic massifs of the area. The most courageous will thus be able to attack the new itinerary traced on the eminences and through the vegetation of Mount Moroto (30 km, 3 days, 2,250 meters of positive elevation gain) or tackle the four summits mentioned above during a ten-day expedition concocted by Kara-Tunga itou. So, to your boots, ready, go!

Located in the centre of Hoima District, the Bugoma Forest and its approximately 400 square kilometreshas more than 265 species of trees (includingironwood), 280 species of butterflies and primates such as the endemic Ugandan mangabey, which is a real attraction. By 2022, it should be possible to practice chimpanzee tracking within the forest massif since the habituation of some of our close cousins is currently underway. Trails have been set up by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) to discover the forest fauna and flora. During your guided forest walk, you might also, with a bit of luck, spot elephants, buffalo and Ugandan cobes, many of which have found refuge in the Bugoma forest following the destruction or disturbance of their natural habitats, caused by the prelude to oil exploitation in the Lake Albert basin. Independent travellers wishing to visit the forest should contact the NFA in advance. Guests at the Bugoma Jungle Lodge, located at the gateway to the forest (five kilometers west of Kabwoya), will be assisted by staff to organize their outing. Despite its undeniable tourist potential, the Bugoma forest is threatened by illegal logging and encroachment on agricultural land(especially sugar cane and tea).

The beautiful Kidepo Park can be explored on four wheels (motorized) or two feet (well-shod). The inveterate walkers will opt for a guided nature walk . Between the short walk around Apoka, where zebras and antelopes are waiting for you, and the ascent of one of the peaks (like Lonyili) punctuating the perimeter of this wildlife sanctuary, it is the hikes on the trails of Kakine, Rionomoe and Katurum, in the south of the park, that attract visitors (count 15 US$). On these trails, there is a good chance of spotting elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and, if you are lucky, lions. If you appreciate being in direct contact with the bush, you can extend the experience by spending the night (20 000 Ush/person) in one of the two rudimentary camps (sanitary facilities, fireplace...) and guarded by the UWA, in Kakine, whose surroundings are tasted by big cats, and in Nagusokopire, not far from the Savannah Lodge (reservation and payment with the UWA staff in Apoka). Besides birding (US$ 30), game drive is the other main activity in the park. If you have your own vehicle, you can explore the park at your leisure. However, a trip to Apoka can be a good idea as UWA sells maps of the park (30 000 Ush). Moreover, hiring a guide (20 US$) multiplies your chances to flush out the four-footed beasts. On the other hand, the night game drive (from 7pm to 10pm) requires the presence of a mahout (40 US$/person) and the prior registration of your vehicle. The visit to the hot springs of Kanatarok, not far from the South Sudanese border, must also be done in the company of a ranger from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. If you do not have a car, the UWA provides a vehicle for visitors (US$30/person for the day and US$40/person for the night, not including the optional or compulsory hiring of a guide), provided that there are at least three people in the car. If you are staying in Karenga, you will have to reach Apoka by boda-boda or, as a last resort, by using the UWA (count 100 000 Ush per car). The daytime game drives organized by the Ugandan agency take place at the beginning (6am-6.30pm) and at the end of the day (4pm); they usually last between two and two and a half hours. Last but not least, Apoka Safari Lodge guests have the option of two game drives, included in the price of the overnight stay, in a private vehicle driven by a friendly and competent guide.