Cultural encounter in Murchison falls national park
Cultural encounter in Murchison falls national park are activities done by travelers that love to explore the African culture. This park is the country’s largest park found in the northwestern part of the country in Buliisa, Nwoya, Kiryandongo, and Masindi. The national park was gazetted in 1952 to protect different animals and the vegetation that was in the park.
When the park was gazetted, people that were living within the park were evicted and they decided to settle around park boundaries. It’s where tourists that love exploring the African culture can meet and interact with them. A lot of travelers who visit Murchison falls national park want to see the Murchison falls, and the wildlife within the park which includes 76 mammals, 13 primate species, and 451 bird species among others.
Travelers intending to visit Murchison falls park should note that the park has more to offer and among these include cultural tours. The national park is found in four districts which means that there are different tribal communities around its boundaries that travelers can take visit to. Some of the tribes surrounding the park include Bunyoro in the south, Acholi in the northeast, and Alur northwest.
Cultural encounters in Murchison falls national park
Boomu women’s group
Boomu women’s group is located at the edge of the park 13 miles from Masindi town. This group was started with an aim of offering tourists an opportunity to meet local people which in return will benefit the lives of the locals and then improve their ways of living. A visit to Boomu women’s group will enable you to experience the life of rural areas of Uganda.
At Boomu women’s group, there are accommodation facilities where tourists are able to spend a night or more in the bandas or camps. The area is located near Kaniyo Pabidi forest a home to chimpanzees, trees, birds, butterflies, mammals, and primates which means travelers can take a visit to that area. The locals make different crafts here which are sold to tourists hence getting money to improve their lives.
Boomu is a local word to mean togetherness so travelers who visit this community will leave the areas when they have bonded with the locals. Tourists can be part of food preparation and taste the food later, they can practice craft making and they can also be part of farming. A whole visit to the Boomu women’s group is always led by a local guide from their communities.
Mubako campfire performances
Mubako campfire performances are one of the things you shouldn’t miss while on a safari to Murchison falls national park.
Mubako campfire performances are done in the Mubako community during the evening hours around the campfires in the remote areas of Mubako which is next to Murchison falls national park.
Mubako community is a village full of traditional thatched mud huts surrounded by large trees. There are groups of farmers who plant mainly cassava for food and local gin. A visit to Mubako village will give you an opportunity to visit different homesteads in the area, be part of the daily activities like waragi making which is done using cassava, be part of the food preparation, and much more. Tourists will be able to visit different craft shops where they will buy wooden sculptures and other handmade items.
Income that is got from cultural tours in Murchison falls national park, selling crafts and cultural performances is used to improve the lives of the local people, education, and expand local business. The cultural tours also help the locals benefit from the park indirectly as it brings tourists to the region. The money is also used to develop infrastructure within the communities where schools are constructed, hospitals are supported and roads are made.
Apart from cultural encounters, Murchison falls national park has more to offer among which include game viewing where most of the park wildlife is seen, birding where over 450 bird species are spotted, chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest, hot air balloon where tourists get to explore the national park from the sky, nature walks where the park is explored on foot, and boat cruises on river Nile.
When to visit Murchison falls national park for cultural tours
Cultural tours as well as other park activities in Murchison falls national park can be done at any time of the year however there are months that are better than the rest. The dry months are the best to have culture tours in Murchison falls national park and these happen from June to September and December to February. They are characterized by little or no rainfall which keeps the roads leading to the communities around the park passable, roads leading to the park are passable, and for game viewing activities inside the park, the vegetation is short and thin with good views of the park animals.
Travelers can still visit Murchison falls national park for cultural tours in the rainy season of March to May and October to November. During the rainy seasons, travelers should note that there is too much rainfall which makes the trails leading to communities around the park muddy and slippery, the roads leading to the park are impassable, and for game viewing activities the vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of the park animals.