Dirks fabulous adventures in Uganda: Murchison Falls National Park

Day one lead us to the very close Murchison Falls National Park, which borders on the Eco-Farm’s land. Here’s what my Ugandan Map says about this park:

“Uganda’s largest park is named after the Nile’s dramatic plunge through a narrow cleft in the rift valley scarp. The river is home to hundreds of Hippos, Corcodiles and waterbirds while big game lives in grassland north of the river and primates in forests to the south.”
© Uganda Maps

I’ve been twice to the Chobe lodge for lunch which is very close to the Eco-farm but this time we drove past the beautiful Albert Nile and Chobe lodge before we entered the Park to go on my first game ride. So we lifted up the top roof and started our Safari. We soon spotted Uganda Kobs, Bushbucks, all kinds of birds, Hartebeests, Warthogs, Giraffes, Elephants, Buffalos and others. It was very impressive to see all these animals and I realised how hard it is to spot some of the animals in the trees or from afar.

After that first game drive we had lunch at Red Chili Lodge where we were supposed to stay for the night. Unfortunately they gave our rooms away even though Nelson had made a reservation and confirmed it later on. So they offered to sleep in some UWA (Ugandan Wildlife Authority) rooms but as I entered I didn’t feel like I wanted to sleep in those tiny and not so clean rooms. So I asked him for an alternative which we – after having a nice lunch at Red Chili – found in the Murchison River Lodge which was really fantastic, offering great food, great safari tents and very nice staff and management. That’s what I was looking for after almost two months at the Eco-Farm. After checking-in we headed off to a Nile river boat trip leading us to the Murchison Falls where we had seen loads of other animals including, Herons, Kingfisher, Waterbucks, Buffalos, Hippos, Crocodiles until we reached the Murchison Falls. After that trip we went back to the lodge for a shower and a nice supper. Then it was bed time.

What a fabulous day. After a nice supper and a shot of Amarula I went to bed. As I lay there and closed my eyes I saw pictures pass by of all the animals and places I had seen throughout the day which was awkward but somehow fantastic! And when I was just about to sleep deeply I heard some noise outside the tent, splashing water and sort of smacking. Then I realised that these were Hippos, getting out off the river to eat just in front of my tent… I’d have loved to go out of my tent to see them but I knew that those huge animals are pretty dangerous and at a very short distance from the tent, so I decided to enjoy their noises until I slept deeply…

Wow, what a day…

after crossing the mighty Albert Nile we soon entered the Murchison Falls National Park…