At 3,840 square kilometers, Murchison Falls National Park is the largest park in Uganda with a dramatic scenery created by Murchison Falls, the most powerful falls in the world and from which the park is named from. The park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where bounding escarpments fade into north Uganda’s anonymous expanses.
The Victoria Nile bisects Murchison Falls National Park for 100 kilometers as it flows west from Karuma Falls to the Albertine Nile. On the extreme edge of the rift, the Nile squeezes through a 6-meter ravine with a thundering force, finally tumbling 50 meters down to form the Murchison Falls.
The Victoria Nile River stretch from the falls to the Albert Delta which teems with hippo pods, crocodiles are seen sunbathing on the river sandbanks, and riparian birds and many animals converge for a drink.
Murchison Falls National Park was gazetted in 1952, the park forms the core of the even larger Murchison Falls Conservation Area covering 5,072 square kilometers, including the adjoining Karuma and Bugungu Wildlife Reserves.
History of Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls is named after Sir Roderick Murchison, the then president of the Royal Geographical Society. The first European visitors on a Uganda expedition to visit Murchison Falls were Samuel and Florence Baker.
To the locals, Murchison Falls are also known as Kabarenga Falls, after the 19th Century King of Bunyoro. His domain extended from Murchison to Mweya and stubbornly resisted colonial incursions. Kabarenga’s enemies would include Samuel Baker, who returned to Africa after his first exploration and made a vain attempt to annex Bunyoro as an Egyptian colony.
Attractions in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls
Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by the Nile River as it flows west into Lake Albert, the Nile squeezes through an 8-metre gap to plunge 45 metres over the remnant Rift Valley wall down into the aptly named “Devil’s Cauldron”, creating the famous rainbow captured in so many photographs.
Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
The Murchison Falls National Park’s vegetation cover including woodlands, savannah and riverine forests supports a great diversity of animals that can easily be seen during game drive. Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park include the Uganda Kobs, Hartebeests, lions, elephants, leopards, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, cheetahs, and hyenas among many others.
The park is home to four of the big – Lions, leopards, cape buffaloes and elephants.
There are also primates in Murchison Falls National Park including Baboons, Patas monkeys, Blue monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys and Black-and-white Colobus monkeys and Chimpanzees found in the forested area of Kaniyo Pabidi which is part of Budongo Forest.
Birdlife in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park protects varied habitats for birds making it a great birding destinations, the park is home to over 450 species of birds. The park is home to many migrant birds and those that are there all year round, the forested, swamp areas, riverine woodland, savannah and acacia trees all providing habitats for the birds.
Some of the bird species in Murchison Falls National Park include Gray crowned crane(Uganda’s National bird), Giant Kingfisher, Giant Heron, Shoebill stork, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Nightjars, Marabou stork, Black headed lapwing, Back-bellied Bustard among others.
Safari activities to Do in Murchison National Park
Game Viewing
Game viewing is the main Uganda safari activity done in Murchison Falls National Park, game drives are done on demarcated tracks on the northern bank of River Nile. These game drives are done in custom-made tour vehicles with open roof so that you can easily spot the animals.
Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park takes about 3-4 hours depending on your interests, animals to lookout for include bushbucks, giraffes, patas monkeys, Oribi, Uganda Kobs, giraffes, buffaloes, leopards, lions, elephants and buffaloes among others.
Bird Watching
With a variety of bird species recorded be over 450 species, Murchison Falls National Park was named No.9 best birding spot in Africa by The Africa Bird Guide. Bird watching in this beautiful park can be done on game drive, launch trips and guided nature walks with a ranger guide and an experienced birder.
Because of the varied habitats, you have opportunities of watching forest birds, savannah, water and a few of Albertine Rift Endemics. Some of the birds to look for include open-billed stork, Red-throated bee–eaters (nests in the cliff by the river), Pied, malachite and Giant Kingfishers, Grey, night, common Squacco, Striated and Goliath herons, Egyptian ducks, Spur winged lapwings, Intermediate, Great and Little Egrets, the Abyssian ground hornbills, Black and Northern Red Bishop among others.
Chimpanzee Trekking Experience
In Murchison Falls National Park, chimpanzee trekking is done in Budongo Forest home to 600 – 700 chimpanzees. Some of the families have been habituated for the past 30 for visitors to trek.
This amazing primate experience starts early with briefing at the park headquarters, in groups of 8 people you will be led through the forest by a ranger guide looking for the chimpanzees. The trek takes approximately 2 to 4 hours depending on the movement of the chimpanzees and when you find them, you are allowed spend only 1 hour in their presence observing their life in the forest which is so similar to us.
There is also an opportunity for a full day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience which gives you more time learning and watching the chimpanzees.
Community and Cultural Tours
While on a Uganda Wildlife Safari to Murchison Falls National Park you can visit the Mubako Community which is located beside the park’s savannah. On your visit, you will be entertained by local dances and drama, taste local meals, among others.
Boat Safaris/Launch Trips on The Nile
Boat safarisin Murchison Falls National Park are done on the Victoria Nile towards the beautiful Murchison Falls. On this ultimate experience you will enjoying sailing on the calm waters, see various species of animals and birds. Lookout for crocodiles, hippos, monitor lizards- residents of the water, buffaloes, elephants and antelopes that come for water.
Launch cruise is also offers great opportunities for sighting of water birds, a boat cruise at the delta offer remarkable sights of the pre-historic Shoe bill stork.
The launch trips are done twice a day with a morning trip starting at 9 am and afternoon at 2 pm, however, one can rent a boat and take trip at their leisure.
How to Get to Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park can easily be accessed by air and road. From Kampala, it takes approximately 4-6 hours’ drive to the park.
By road – This is the commonly used means of transport to get to Murchison Falls National Park, it is a drive of approximately 4-6 hours from Kampala or Entebbe to the park. However, it is best to break your journey with a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking.
By air – There are domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Pakuba or Chobe or Bungungu Airstrips serving the park. From here, you connect to the park by a vehicle.
Best Time to Visit Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park can be visited at any time of the year. However, the dry seasons from June to August and December to March offer the best wildlife viewing, and the entire park will be accessible.
During the dry season, the Nile is also relatively low thus offering the best views of the falls.
Where to stay in Murchison Falls National Park
There are a wide range of accommodation options in Murchison Falls National Park ranging from budget, midrange to luxury. These include Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murhison River Lodge, Bakers Lodge, Fort Murhison, Nile Safari Lodge among others.
