The animals and wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park are one of the main reasons why visitors from Uganda and around the world come to visit the park. The wildlife in Murchison Falls plays a big role in supporting the park’s ecosystem. The animals are grouped into mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
Another important part of the wildlife is the vegetation, which includes Savannah grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, and riverine forests. These areas serve as natural homes for many animal species.
Murchison Falls National Park is known for its Big Five mammals, which include lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes.
These animals can easily be seen during game drives. Lions are usually spotted resting under acacia trees or hunting in the grasslands. Leopards are harder to see and are mostly found in woodlands and riverine forests. They are sometimes spotted during night game drives.
African elephants are another common sight. Their numbers went down in the 1970s because of poaching, but today they are often seen in large groups in the Savannah or near the river, thanks to conservation efforts.
Buffaloes are also often seen in large herds grazing in the grasslands. They are hunted by predators like lions and hyenas.
Besides the Big Five, there are other mammals such as giraffes: especially the Rothschild’s giraffe, which is often seen in the park. Antelopes like Uganda kob, waterbuck, and hartebeest are also common and can be seen grazing during game drives.
Popular primates in the park include chimpanzees, olive baboons, and red-tailed monkeys. These primates live mostly in riverine forests and play an important role in the ecosystem.
Murchison Falls is also home to several reptiles like monitor lizards, chameleons, snakes, and crocodiles.
Crocodiles are the most commonly seen reptiles. They live along the riverbanks and feed on fish, birds, and small mammals, helping to keep the ecosystem in balance.
Other reptiles include snakes, such as the African rock python, which lives in grasslands, woodlands, and riverine forests. Pythons feed on antelopes, monkeys, and small crocodiles. Although they are large, they are shy and not often seen by tourists.
Monitor lizards are also present, with the Nile monitor being the most common. It can grow up to 2 meters long.
Bird-life is another important part of the park’s wildlife. Murchison Falls is home to over 450 bird species, both common and rare. Birds live in the wetlands, grasslands, and woodlands in and around the park.
Common bird species include the shoebill stork, Abyssinian ground hornbill, red-throated bee-eater, African hawk-eagle, African fish eagle, Goliath heron, and the rare papyrus gonolek.
Conservation efforts have helped protect the animals and wildlife of the park. Although the park has faced problems like poaching, habitat loss, and conflict between people and wildlife, the Uganda Wildlife Authority continues to work hard to protect the park.
The animals and wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park are a great treasure. They add to the beauty and importance of the park and continue to attract visitors from near and far.
Learn about cheetahs in Murchison Falls National Park and where you might spot them.
