Murchison Falls National Park

Excellent safari location!

I visited Murchison Falls National Park in July 2010 for my first safari experience ever. I'm from the U.S. and had never been to Africa, so this was a really fun new experience for me. I stayed at the Paraa Safari Lodge, which was very comfortable: clean rooms, good selection of food (compared to other places in Uganda), and a swimming pool!

The weather was warm, 80-85 degrees, and was a mix of sunny and overcast throughout the five days I was there. I was on the trip with my father, who had a personal friend who was also a guide take us out on the safari. This was nice, because it was just the three of us in the vehicle and we could go out for however long we wished, and stop for whatever my father and I wanted to look at.

The wildlife was beautiful... fifteen minutes into our first drive out we had to stop for a giraffe crossing the road right in front of us. We saw dozens of giraffes, elephants, baboons, water buffalo, hippos, and more. The only popular animal we didn't see was a lion... they are really tricky to spot, considering they are the best predator out there. However, when my brother made the same trip with my father a month later, they saw a lion, so they can be found, you just have to be patient and look!

Overall, it was a fantastic experience. I have hundreds of photos and video footage to keep forever. My tips would be to pack plenty of clean clothes you can sweat in. I completely changed outfits 2-3 times a day from being so covered in dirt, sunscreen, and sweat. Driving out in the bush will get you very dirty. Also, bring long shirts, pants, and bug spray. My father got malaria from a mosquito bite out there and was dangerously ill for weeks. Visit a doctor and get malaria pills to take before this trip!

We had been booked us directly for 3 days in the Paara Safari Lodge on the River Nile. A first class hotel safari that leaves no wish unfulfilled. A few feet away from the hippos, who laugh at night, sometimes funny and jump into the pool. The rooms are decorated in colonial style with fans and mosquito nets over each bed. you can close like curtains around the beds. Power is up by 23 clock in the evening. The food buffet is always fresh, and European. During a 6-hour safari, we have all seen animals including lions up close. The Murchison Falls are worth seeing. Overall, the National Park and the Paara Lodge is highly recommended.

Many animals can be seen here like giraffes, Patas monkeys and lots of smaller bucks. There are some nice lodges to stay at and camping is there also. Be sure to book the boat ride to the falls to see some spectacular bird life and huge crocodiles.

I havent any other experience to compare it to however, this trip met and exceeded all my expectations.

Walking between chimps, floading neur hippo's en crocodiles, leopard in de bushes one meter beside the car, this is all uforgettible.