Murchison Falls National Park is one of the best game parks to visit while in Uganda and is the largest protected area, 5.025kms. Murchison Falls National Park is located in the north east of Uganda in the Murchison Conservation Area where we also find the Bugungu and Karuma wildlife reserves. The area is traversed by the river Victoria Nile, which connects Lake Kyoga with Lake Albert. The park is named after the marvelous falls on the river, which encounters a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley Escarpment, and then it is transformed into a froth of thunderous white water, with no comparison to any other site in East Africa. The vegetation is characterized by savannah, riverine forest and woodland.
Species in Murchison falls
The park is endowed with several attractions including over 76 mammal species with four members of the big five, the lion, the leopards, the elephants, and the Buffaloes. Other species include bushbucks, Uganda kob, waterbucks and warthogs, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, hyenas etc. Along the shores of the Nile and within the waters you will see lots of hippos and crocodiles among other resident creatures. There also several primates in the Murchison falls national park including babaoons and several monkey species. The Murchison falls national park is also home to over 450 recorded birds’ species including the rare shoebill stork. The park is also home to 23 Albertine rift endemics given its location in the western arm of the east African rift valley. Our Murchison falls birding safaris allow you see many of these bird species with the help of our expert guides.
Popular Activities:
Game Drives
Game drives take place early in the morning and late evening where a tourist is able to see plenty of game. At Nyamsika Cliffs is where one can enjoy a picnic, among the mammals, many can be spotted including the lions, hippopotamuses, Rothschild’s giraffe, warthog, Cape buffalo, Uganda kob, Jackson’s-hartebeest and elephants. Game drives are exquisite when accompanied by a tour guide. The best time for game drive is during the dry season.
Boat cruise
The Launch trip begins at Paraa landing area at the point where river Nile enters into Lake albert and takes you to the bottom of the falls which takes around 2hours. While on the cruise you will sight hippos, waterbucks, crocodiles, buffaloes and elephants. You will also see water birds such as cormorants, Fish eagles, ducks, Kingfishers, bee-eaters and the shoebill.
Bird watching
Bird Species commonly seen between Paraa Rest Camp and Ferry crossing are; Spotted Mourning Thrush, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Silver Bird, Bluff-bellied Warbler, Blue-napped Mousebird, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaverBlack-headed Gonolek, Green-winged Ptyilia, and Black-headed Batis, this is the best site for the localised White-rumped Seed-eater.
Nature walks
Tourists get to explore the wild on foot while in Murchison Falls Conservation area. There is a trail at Paraa winds throughout low hills, gullies and forest around the river. Nature walks happen at top of the falls, KaniyoPabidi and Rabongo Forest. Rabongo Forest Ecotourism Centre is located in an island of tropical river forest in the south-east of the conservation area.
Accommodation facilities
Murchison do provide wide variety of accommodation facilities like the Paraa safari lodge, Chobe safari lodge, Nile safari lodge (Luxury), Sambiya River lodge, Murchison River lodge (Mid-range) and Red chill rest camp and UWA Bandas (Budget accommodation).
How to get there
Murchison Falls National Park is located 305 kilometers north eastern of Uganda and it is usually visited as part of a long safari circuit combining other destinations including Kibale forest or Kidepo valley national park.
By road, the drive to Murchison falls national park takes approximately 5 hours on a smooth tarmac road. For many visitors, a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary along the way adds to the excitement.
By air, you can fly from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to Pakuba airfield and connect with a driver / guide to begin your activities with an Aerolink plane.