About the park

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest and oldest national park. It was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1926. This is where the Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with a mighty roar into the ‘Devil’s Cauldron”, creating a trademark rainbow. This is the world’s most powerful waterfalls. The northern section of the park contains savanna and Borassus palms, acacia trees, and riverine woodland. The south is dominated by woodland and forest patches. Sitting in the heart of the Murchison Falls Conservation Area, this impressive national park protects a wide expanse of rolling African savannah bisected by the mighty River Nile.

Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 73 animal species among which are four of the ‘Big Five’ including Buffalo, Leopard, Lion and Elephant (except Rhino). This park also has three-quarters of the world’s population of Rothschild Giraffe plus a healthy population of herbivores which has recently doubled including Uganda Kob. There are various primates living within its verdant forests. In Budongo forest, there are over 610 chimpanzees. In addition, this park is home to some 451 bird species including 23 Albertine rift endemics. The bird checklist is rich with Shoebill being the most common along the river stretch approaching the Albert Delta. The White-crested Turaco, Red-winged Grey Warbler, etc are all associated with woodland on the southern bank.

Activities

Game drives

This is the most common activity in Murchison Falls National Park. Game drives are ideally done in the early mornings as well as in the early evenings offering visitors a chance to enjoy up-close views of the different animals on the Buligi Circuit, a network of game viewing tracks. These tracks cut across the 10km-wide peninsula that divides the Victoria Nile and the Albert Nile as they course in and out of Lake Albert. Game drives are best conducted in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof. Some of the regularly sighted animals include Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Giraffe, Buffalo, Warthog, and Uganda Kob. Birds that have been recorded in this park include but are not limited to the preposterous Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Saddle billed Stork, the magnificent Gray-crowned Crane, the stunning Black-headed and Spur-winged Lapwing, and Denham Bustard.  

Launch trip to the bottom of the Falls

The 2-hour launch trip begins at Paraa and offers visitors an opportunity to see various wildlife including large numbers of giant Crocodile, Hippo and various birds en route. This boat launch offers great photographic opportunities of the wildlife along this stretch of the Nile fringed by Borassus palms, acacia woodland and mahogany stands. The cruise goes upstream to the bottom of the Falls where you will have spectacular views of the waterfalls. Mammals regularly seen on this cruise include Hippo, giant Nile Crocodile, Waterbuck, African Elephant, Uganda Kob, Buffalo, Rothschild’s Giraffe, Bushbuck, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, etc. The launch trip to the bottom of the Falls also reliably offers birding chances for Piapiac, Goliath Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, African Jacana, Pied and Malachite Kingfishers, African Fish-eagle, and African Skimmers.

Delta boat trip

A boat trip to the Delta offers the best chances in Murchison Falls National Park for the pre-historic looking bird, the Shoebill. This 4-5 hour boat trip takes you downstream and is good for sport fishing and birding. The boat trip starts from Paraa and slowly sails down to the Delta. This 20km cruise is a favorite for birders as one of the best opportunities anywhere in Africa for seeing the rare Shoebill, especially during the rainy season (March – May, October to November).

Visit the Top of the Falls

Murchison Falls is an impressive sight from the boat but viewing it from the top is another thing altogether. The drive there takes about 30minutes depending on where you are setting off from in the park. From the car park, a short foot path leads downhill to the waterfalls’ head and a fenced viewpoint from where visitors can truly appreciate the staggering power with which the Nile crashes through the narrow gap in the escarpment, not forgetting the deafening roar and voluminous refreshing spray. From here, the trademark rainbow is very clear.

Sport fishing

Murchison Falls National Park offers good fishing opportunities along the Nile. The main challenges are the large Nile Perch and the Tiger Fish. Fishing in the park operates on a catch and release policy to aid conservation efforts. Fishing can be done all year round, although the best results for fish are when the water is low as that is when it is clearer (mid Jan to early April).

Chimpanzee tracking

This is done within the verdant forest of Budongo. You will enjoy up-close encounters with these great apes. Tracking in Budongo is not quite as reliable as in Kibale but the terrain is flatter and easier and success rates have been listed at over 60%. Most groups locate the chimpanzees within an hour of setting off. Trekking is done in the morning and in the afternoon. Groups are allocated up to 6 participants. Standard trekking time is 3 hours. It may take longer if the chimpanzees are harder to locate. Chimpanzee habituation is also available.

Nature walks

Murchison Falls National Park has several trails that have been prepared and maintained for nature lovers to enjoy more of what the park has to offer. These can be explored on foot with a guide through the Rabongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests to see birds and primates.

Community tour

Visitors to Murchison Falls National Park will have an opportunity to learn more about the locals living near the park. You will have the opportunity to enjoy village tours to see the traditional lifestyle of the locals, and visit a craft shop by the Boomu Women’s Group. Thereafter, you will enjoy thrilling energetic dances by the Mubako Community.

Birding

With various species including Albertine Rift endemics, water birds and savanna forest birds, Murchison Falls National Park is one of the best places in Africa to see the prehistoric-looking Shoebill Stork. Birders will surely be well rewarded. Birding can be done on the launch trip to the bottom of the Falls, on the Delta boat trip, on nature walks and on game drives. Some birding trails pass through Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo forests offering sightings of many bird species. Birds that are usually sighted include but are not limited to Rock Pratincole, Black-winged Red Bishop, Yellow-mantled Widow Bird, Black-headed Gonolek, Yellow-backed Weaver, and a variety of migrants at the right time of the year. More birds that are favorites in Murchison Falls National Park include Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, African Quail Finch, African Jacana, Black-billed Barbet, Black-headed Lapwing, Blue-headed Coucal, Goliath Heron, Denham’s Bustard, Giant Kingfisher, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Piapiac, Palm-nut Vulture, Malachite Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Squacco Heron, Swamp Flycatcher, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, etc.    

Itinerary ideas

4 days Murchison Falls

Day 1 – Drive to Murchison Falls, overnight

Day 2 – Game drives, visit top of the Falls, launch trip to the bottom of the Falls (private or shared), overnight

Day 3 – Delta boat trip for Shoebill (private or shared), game drives, overnight

Day 4 – Drive to Kampala

5 days Murchison Falls

Day 1 – Drive to Murchison Falls National Park, overnight

Day 2 – Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest, afternoon game drive, overnight

Day 3 – Morning game drive, visit Top of the Falls, private or shared launch trip to the bottom of the Falls, overnight 

Day 4 – Morning Delta boat trip (private or shared), community tour, overnight

Day 5 – Drive back to Kampala    

Accommodation

Up market: Nile Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge

Midrange:  Twiga Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Fort Murchison Safari Lodge

Budget: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Budongo Eco Lodge, Boomu Women’s Group Bandas, Red Chilli Rest Camp, Yebo Safari Camp, Parkside Safari Lodge