Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is located in North Western Uganda. The park is approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi) northwest of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city and at 3,840 km2, is one of Uganda’s largest parks. It takes approximately 4 hours to drive from Kampala to Murchison Falls.

Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley. First designated as a game reserve in 1926, it is Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds.

The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the center piece of the park. The cascade drains into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents.

Activities in Murchison Falls National Park

Game Drives:
Murchison Falls National Park is said to be the best game park in Uganda. During a typical game drive, you will see a variety antelope species, including bush buck, water buck, Thomson’s gazelle and dik dik, among others. You can also expect to see other large herbivores, such as giraffe, elephant, hippo, warthogs, and buffalo. The park is home to a number of predators, including lions, leopards and hyenas.

Boat Launch Trip:
The 3-hour boat trip to the base of the falls is not to be missed. Cruising down the Nile provides a great opportunity to observe animals as they come down to the water’s edge to drink. The Nile supports the largest concentration of hippos and crocodiles in Africa and a dazzling variety of water-birds. The views of the falls as you approach by boat are spectacular.

Chimp Trekking:
The enchanting Budongo Forest is located on the southern side of Murchison Falls National Park and has one of the most varied forest faunas in East Africa. The 790km² forest has over 465 plant species recorded, more than 250 butterfly species, a large variety of mammals, including the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda (roughly 800 individuals). Other common primates include red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus, blue monkey, potto and various forest galago species.

Delta Trip:
A boat trip down Victoria Nile to where it meets Lake Albert leads you through papyrus swamps filled with wildlife. This trip takes about 4-5 hours and is a must for bird lovers. The Delta is the best place in Uganda to see the rare shoebill.

Visit to the top of the Falls:
A short drive through the park takes you to the top of the falls, where you can hear the thunder and feel the spray as the water rushes over the falls. Views from the top of the falls are stunning and offer excellent photo opportunities.

Accommodations in Murchison Falls National Park

Chobe Safari Lodge, Paara Safari Lodge, Heritage Lodge, Pakuba Lodge, Bwana Tembo Lodge, Budongo Eco Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Red Chilli Camp, Sambya River Lodge, Fort Murchison Lodge and Murchison River Lodge.