Murchison falls national park– Most Beautiful of Uganda Parks – Uganda safari news

Standing to North east of the country, the Uganda Safari tour destination of Murchison Falls National Park is one the magical landscapes whose beauty has stood unmatched both in the ancient and contemporary times.

The whole experience starts with the famous Nile River that bisects the park into the north and southern parts leaving one of the greatest natural landmarks – the Murchison Falls which ranks as the most powerful waterfall in the world. Travellers on Safari in Uganda are often mesmerised on how the mighty Nile River squeezes itself to pass through a less than 7m ravine before falling 43m below to what has been termed as the Devils Cauldron generating a plume of spray marked with a trademark rainbow.

The recreational boat ride along the calm stretch of the River offers remarkable views of the gigantic historical Nile Crocodiles basking in the sun, great schools of Hippos, unique bird species including the vulnerable shoebill stork and the counts of wild game drinking on the soothing river waters.

The northern section of the park is marked by very magnificent open savannah landscape with intersection of beautifully grown Borassus palms presenting the great concentration of wild game including the world’s tallest mammal – the Rothschild Giraffes, Africa Savannah elephants, Buffaloes, Jackson Hartebeest, Oribis, Defassa waterbucks, Uganda Kobs along with predators including lions, leopards and Spotted hyenas to thrive at length.  It is a popular site for classic game drives while on wildlife safaris in Uganda.

The southern sector is a more of a savannah woodland habitat and features less wild game but rather offers impressive birding opportunities in Rabongo forest and the adjoining Kaniyo Pabidi forest which is also home to over 800 chimpanzees some of which are habituated for tracking.

All these combine to make Murchison Falls National Park a beyond the ordinary destination that should be given consideration while planning a holiday safari to Uganda.

Mountain gorilla Habitats in Uganda – Safari news

Mountain Gorillas one of the subspecies of eastern gorilla are known to thrive only in three (3) countries on a world scale namely; Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda where they are explored on different safaris like the Uganda gorilla trekking safaris and tours, Gorilla Safaris in Rwanda, and Congo Gorilla Safaris Tours.

They thrive in habitats that range in the hilly forested landscapes of the Albertine rift which is the western arm of the Great East African rift valley and these habitats are recorded to be fragile and yet surrounded by one of the densely populated communities on the continent of Africa as viewed by travelers on gorilla safaris in Uganda and Rwanda Africa.

The respective governments to these three countries have declared National Parks around these areas to ensure the protection of the Mountain Gorillas which are listed as critically endangered on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Uganda has Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which accommodates a minimum of 400 Mountain Gorillas and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park that is part of Virunga massif.

Rwanda has Volcanoes National Park while Congo has Virunga National Park all part of the Virunga massif  – the block of eight (8) Mountains known to support 480 Mountain Gorillas as always heard from the guides while on gorilla safari in Rwanda and Congo.

The habitats feature an altitude range of 2,200 – 4,300m and the gorilla forests are mostly cloudy, misty and cold. The mist forms the background of the slogan “Gorillas in the mist” which was popular with Dian Fossey and then later a range of Africa safari tour companies including Prime Uganda Safaris and Tours Ltd.

The Mountain Gorillas feed on various items in these habitats including; bark of trees (6.9%),   roots (3.3%), stems and shoots (85.8%) from around 142 species of plants, flowers (2.3%) and fruit (1.7%). They also feed on small invertebrates (0.1%).

About birds of Uganda – Ruppell’s griffon vulture

Scientifically referred to as Gyps rueppelli, the Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture is one of the unique bird species explored on Uganda birding safaris. The Ruppell’s Vulture derives its name from the German Explorer, zoologist and collector Eduard Ruppell who thrived in the 19^th Century and it is recorded as the highest flying bird with the capacity to rise up to 11,300m

 The Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture is a large vulture with the adults stretching from 85 – 103cm in length and a wingspan of 2.26 – 2.6m carrying a weight of 6.4 – 9kg.  The plumage is black or mottled brown with whitish-brown under parts while the neck and head is covered with a thin dirty-white fluff.  The bird features a yellow eye while the base of the neck features a white collar as viewed on birding safaris in Uganda. The Ruppell’s Griffon Vultures are very silent and only vocalize while at their nest or a carcass.

They are notably social bird species and as a result, they roost, nest and gather to feed in large flocks. Their range includes; woodlands, Mountains and grasslands and can stretch up to 150km from their nests in search of food. Their flight to higher altitudes is supported by their haemoglobin alpha that has great affinity for oxygen which enables them to absorb oxygen despite the upper troposphere’s low partial pressure.

The Ruppell’s Vultures are specialised feeders with very strong build which enables them to consume even the hide and bones of the carcass after the soft parts have been finished. Their tongue features back-ward pointing spikes that enable them to extract meat from the bone.

Regarding reproduction, the Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture is monogamous and creates lasting breeding pairs. Following the courtship, the pair works with one another to construct the nest with use of sticks, leaves and grass as encountered by birders on a safari in Uganda. The incubation of the egg lasts for 55 days and is done by both parties. The caring for chick is done by both parents for a range of 150 days. Partial caring continues until the next breeding season.

The Populations of the Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture have been on drastic decline as a result of habitat loss, hunting for trade, poisoning and collision. As a result of this trend, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture as critically endangered on its red list.

Kyambura Gorge as a wonder of Uganda – Uganda safari news

To the East of the Uganda Safari destination of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura gorge – a great natural feature that stretches to 100m in depth below sea level thrives.

Kyambura gorge also referred by the Valley of Apes supports populations of Chimpanzees which are recorded to be among the Great Apes and among the closest relatives of man in terms of DNA. The lush tropical forest within the gorge acts as an oasis in the desert as it is the only habitat in the verdant savannah landscape of Queen Elizabeth National where the Chimpanzees can thrive. This has made Kyambura gorge among the popular sites explored by travellers on Chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda.

Extending to about 1km in width and 100m in depth, Kyambura gorge stands as an amazing scenic feature suitable for sightseeing experience. It has narrow steep walls which makes down hike and up hike challenging but memorable to especially the travellers on Africa adventure vacation safari in Uganda.

On the gorge floor, there lies the majestic Kyambura River with populations of resident Hippos which make it very exciting to explore. The tropical forest also supports counts of birds and other wildlife like Black and white colobus and red tailed monkeys. These combine to make the nature walk activity through the gorge while on Uganda tour worthwhile.