Murchison Falls National Park

Everything you need to plan a safari to Murchison Falls National Park. Find information on the best things to do, things to see, best road trips with stops on the way, activity itineraries and safari lodges. As compared to other game parks in Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park stands out as the best national park to visit for wildlife safaris. The Murchison Conservation Area also includes the Bugungu and Karuma Wildlife Reserves.

This is the largest amongst all national parks in Uganda. It protects a variety of untamed African savannah and most of the tourists who visit Uganda’s national parks have proved that it is the hottest safari destination in Uganda.

Murchison Falls National Park got its name from the dramatic Murchison Falls which are found within the park. These falls are spectacular and are formed at a point where the world’s longest river explodes through a narrow gorge and flows down to become a river. Its banks are thronged with hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks and buffaloes.

The vegetation is characterized by Savannah, riverine forest and woodland. Lrage mammals in this area include lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, cape buffaloes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees. It has 450 bird species and 76 mammal species. The Murchison falls National Park together with Bugungu and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserves form the Murchison Falls Protected Area.

A lot of wildlife was hunted down in the 1970s and 1980s, but animal populations have largely recovered for instance from the lush borassus grassland to the north of the Nile, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and a variety of antelopes are regularly encountered on game drives, while lions are seen with increasing frequency.

Rabongo Forest which is situated in the South-east of the park is home to a number of primates such as chimpanzees and other rain forest creatures.

Places to Visit in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls

Murchison Falls is characterized by eternal war between rock and water. The waters violently compress through a narrow gorge, spraying misty droplets along their wake over a 50m radius. This creates a permanent rainbow over the battlefield and causes a continuous roar. From Baker Point on the southern side, you can also view the Nile splitting into the smaller Uhuru Falls, created in 1962 when the river burst its banks.

River Nile

A boat ride along the Nile to the foot of Murchison Falls is a rewarding experience for nature lovers, as the northern bank teems with a variety of mammals, birds and reptiles. Guided nature walks along both the north and south banks are another refreshing activity, and sport fishing is also possible here. Rafting will be available starting in 2012.

Nile-Lake Albert Delta

This wide, calm stretch of water, where the tranquil Victoria Nile flows into Lake Albert, is a key area for bird watchers. Its papyrus-lined banks are bursting with birdlife, including Goliath Herons, Great Egrets, and African Fish Eagles. The most sought-after species here is the rare Shoebill.

Buligi Game Tracks

The Buligi game tracks, stretching between the Victoria and Albert Niles, are the Murchison Falls National Park’s most popular safari destination. At around 120-170km in length, they pass through open savannah grassland, woodland, acacia and riverine vegetation. Most of the park’s game can be viewed here, especially during early morning and early evening tours.

Paraa

Paraa, meaning home of the hippo in the local Luo language, is the park’s tourism hub. All the park’s access roads converge here as the northern and southern banks are linked by a passenger ferry, and several accommodations are located nearby. Additionally, a museum and gift shop can be found on the north bank, and most game drives, launch trips and nature walks commence here.

Karuma Falls

The Karuma Falls are located in Chobe, in the northeastern sector of the park. These roaring waterfalls on the Victoria Nile are made up of a series of natural rock formations which cause the waters to ripple and give them a white, foamy appearance. It is an ideal area for sport fishing.

Kaniyo Pabidi Forest

In the south of Murchison Falls Conservation Area, this forest ecosystem contains black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys, olive baboons, and a habituated chimp group which can be tracked. Elephants, buffalos, lions and leopards are also frequent visitors. Many forest birds can be viewed here, including the chocolate-backed kingfisher, white-thighed hornbill and Puvel’s illadopsis which is found nowhere else in East Africa. Kaniyo Pabidi has a campsite, cottage accommodation, forest walks and excellent bird watching.

Rabongo Forest

Surrounded by savanna and covering just 4km2, Rabongo Forest is considered a birders’ paradise because of the endangered species found here. Rabongo is ideal for educational tours as it provides opportunities to identify animals, birds, medicinal plants and trees. For relaxation, visitors can camp and enjoy picnics by the Wairingo River.

Things to See

Wildlife

Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 76 mammal species, making it one of the most diverse parks in the world. It’s also where you can see the Big 5 African animals: leopards, elephants, and buffaloes. Rhinos, on the other hand, can be seen on the way to Murchison Falls at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Bushbucks, Uganda kob, waterbucks, and warthogs, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, Hippos and crocodiles, among other inhabitant species, can be found along the Nile’s shores and within its waters. Baboons and a variety of monkey animals can be found in the Murchison Falls National Park.

Birds

The Nile itself hosts one of Africa’s densest hippos and crocodile populations, and a dazzling variety of waterbirds such as the African Fish Eagle, African Skimmer and the rare shoebill stork which can easily be seen at the banks of the river. Other bird species that can be seen include Silver Bird, Blue-napped Mouse birds, Grey-crowned Crane, Bluff-bellied Warblers, Goliath Heron, Black-headed Batis, Black-headed Gonolek, Green-winged Ptyilia, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver, Long-toed Plover, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Saddle-billed Stork, Spotted Mourning Thrush, Spotted and Verreaux’s Owls, Long-tailed and Pennant-winged Nightjars, standard-winged Nightjar, White-backed Night Heron and Pel’s Fishing Owl.

Things to Do in Murchison Falls National Park

Game Drives

The park offers early morning and evening game drives on the Buligi, Albert and Queen’s tracks north of the river Nile which may give you a chance to view plenty of game.
There are also Picnics at the Nyamsika Cliffs which may also give you a chance to see elephants and other game on the grassy hillsides and the sand river below.

Launch Trips on the Nile

The launch trip from Paraa to the bottom of Murchison Falls is the major activity at the Murchison Falls. On the launch many hippos and crocodiles can be seen as well as buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks and birds such as Cormorants, Herons, Fish Eagles, Bee-eaters, Kingfishers, water ducks, and the rare Shoebill.

Spot Fishing

This is the best site where spot fishing can be carried. Different fish species such as the Nile Perch and tiger-fish provide an exciting challenge to anglers. Fishing is also another activity available in the river above and below the Falls. For travelers interested in fishing don’t forget your fishing equipment.

Nature Walks

There are also opportunities to explore the wild in Murchison Falls while on foot. Trails at Paraa, and to the top of falls offer a memorable experience to tourists as they pass through riverine forests, gullies and low hills. While on the trails different animals, birds and plants can be seen. There is chimpanzee tracking from Kaniyo Pabidi to the an undisturbed and unpolluted natural forest within Budongo Forest Reserve, visitors to Murchison falls can track man’s closest relatives. While tracking other attractive features which can be seen in the forest include mature Mahogany and ironwood trees as well as many forest birds, including the White-thighed Hornbill, Chocolate backed Kingfisher, and Puvel’s Illadopsis found nowhere else in East Africa!

Camping

Can also be carried out at the campsite found in Kaniyo Pabidi. At the campsite water and firewood are available. Therefore for those interested in camping don’t forget to bring everything else you may need.

Birding

The Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park and home to over 450 bird species, including the endangered shoebill stork. Given its location in the western arm of the East African rift valley, the park is also home to 23 Albertine break endemics. With the help of our expert guides, you can see a large number of these bird species on our Murchison Falls birding safaris.

Forest Walks

From Rabongo Forest Ecotourism Centre a guided forest help you to explore the forest on foot. Different primates such as Baboons, Red-tailed monkeys, Black & White Colobus monkeys, and occasionally Chimpanzees can be seen as well as birds, medicinal plants and trees.

Safari Planner

Getting There

The park is located in the northwestern part of Uganda, 90km from Masindi town. Murchison Falls National park straddles the Ugandan districts of Buliisa, Nwoya, Kiryandongo, and Masindi. The driving distance from Masindi, the nearest large town, to the Kibanda area of the national park is about 72 kilometres (45 mi).

Murchison Falls National Park covers an approximate area of 283 kilometres (176 mi), by road, north-west of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda.
Murchison Falls National Park is accessed by both road and air transport. If you are to get there by road, the Nile river crossing at Paraa is approximately 5hrs drive from Kampala.Paraa is 85km from Masindi town by the direct route.

The longer route passes through Budongo forest and enjoys spectacular views across Lake Albert from the rift valley escarpment above Butiaba. You can also approach Paraa from the north, via Chobe Gate near Karuma Falls and Tangi Gate near Pakwach and Wankwar Gate near Purongo.

For travelers interested to travel by air, private charter flights can be arranged from Entebbe International airport to the park.

Park Entrance Fees and Where to Get the Pass

Booking Safari Lodges
– How far in Advance Do I have to book?

Weather and Climate

How Long Should Be My Vacation?

Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
– How Close Can I see Wild Animals
– Popular Animals to See in Murchison Falls National Park
– Waterfalls in Murchison Falls National Park
– Lakes in Murchison Falls National Park

Road Trips
– Entrance to Murchison Falls National Park from South
– Entrance to Murchison Falls National Pafk from North