Murchison Falls National Park is, without a doubt, a top tourist destination that sees several visitors flock to the park annually to encounter the animals. This is highly because of the various animals in Murchison Falls National Park. These animals are the main tourist attractions in the park. The park consists of about 76 mammal species that live in the various ecological systems. The top 10 animals to see in Murchison Falls National Park fall in this category of mammals as the top attractions. Some of these animals are part of the famous Big Five animals that gained this title during the pre-colonial times when trophy hunting was still a big thing in Africa. The term Big Five was given to animals that were very difficult to kill or hunt by trophy hunters. Trophy hunting involves the killing of wild animals specifically for a trophy or reward. Some of these top 10 animals in Murchison Falls National Park include the following.
Lions
Lions are the undisputed kings of the jungle, ruling the savannah wilderness of Murchison Falls National Park with a thunderous roar that shakes even the largest and bravest animals. Lions are carnivorous animals, meaning they feed on only meat and are part of the Big Five animals. Lions are social animals seen in the park living in large groups called a pride, and a pride can have up to 20 lions. These apex predators are expert hunters that always work in a coordinated formation of teamwork to take down even the largest animals. Each pride is ruled by a strong male lion, but some prides can have more than one male lion.
Buffaloes
Murchison Falls National Park hosts a large number of cape buffaloes. These cape buffaloes are some of the dangerous animals in Africa. They are part of the Big Five animals and are known for living in large herds that are led by fierce bulls and mature cows. They are naturally short-sighted but with an excellent sense of smell. The cape buffaloes in Murchison Falls are of the savannah type and can be spotted in the vast savannah wilderness.
Elephants
Murchison Falls National Park also hosts several savannah elephants that roam the spacious savannah wilderness of the park. Elephants are also among the Big Five and are very territorial, with herds numbering over 20 individuals. Herds are always led by the oldest female with years of experience, called a matriarch. Bulls usually hang around other bulls in smaller herds called bachelor herds.
Leopards
Leopards are solitary apex predators who hunt and survive alone and only stay with each other during the mating season and litter. They spend most of their time high up in trees and only come down to hunt. Leopards are also part of the Big Five animals in Murchison Falls National Park.
Giraffes
The giraffes in Murchison Falls National Park are of the Rothschild type, which tower over the savannah. Giraffes are herbivorous animals that feed on vegetation, and they also live in small herds. The Rothschild giraffe is one of the tallest species in the giraffe family. Murchison Falls National Park has over 1,800 giraffes.
Spotted hyenas
Murchison Falls National Park also hosts a large number of spotted hyenas. These hyenas are scavengers that usually hang around predators for an opportunity to steal a meal. However, spotted hyenas are also excellent hunters with one of the most powerful bites in the animal kingdom.
Chimpanzees
Murchison Falls National Park has a diverse ecosystem that includes a tropical rainforest called Budongo, which hosts chimpanzees. These primates are part of the park and can be encountered on a chimpanzee trekking experience. These primates share about 98.8% of their DNA with that of humans, making them the closest animals to humans. Their intellect surpasses any animal in Murchison Falls National Park.
Hippos
Hippos are the custodians of the aquatic life of Murchison Falls National Park. These massive herbivorous giants spend most of their lifetime in water. They only come out at night to graze under the shade of the dark. This is highly attributed to the biological makeup of lacking sweat pores.
Hartebeests
Hartebeests are among the largest antelopes in Murchison Falls National Park. They are mainly grazers with a set of diets comprising grass and leaves. These animals also stay in herds of up to 30-40 animals.
Waterbucks
Waterbucks are very common animals in Murchison Falls National Park and can easily be spotted. Waterbucks are part of the antelope family that spend most of their time close to wetlands, rivers, and lakes.
What is the most favorable time to spot these top 10 animals in Murchison Falls?
The dry season, which runs twice a year from June to September and from December to February, is the most favourable time to spot these animals. This time of the year, the park is hit by a strong wave of dry weather caused by limited rainfall patterns and strong sunshine. These conditions cause a scarcity of water and hence making it very easy to locate these animals, since they mostly hang around the remaining watering holes in the park.
