Murchison Falls National Park

Location: (Paara)

300 km from Kampala via Masindi:

Air: 247.15 km (153.57 mi) North West of Kampala.

58 km from Budongo via Kikumbanyobo Gate to Paara.

Air: 43.84 km (27.24 mi) North of Budongo.

Coordinates: (Paara Safari Lodge) 2.2905540, 31.5692139

Largest and oldest national park gazetted in 1952 covering 3,480 sq km in the northern part of the Albertine rift valley.
Park is split in half by the Victoria Nile.
At Murchison Falls, the Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with a thunderous roar into the “Devil’s Cauldron”, creating a trademark rainbow
The 1951 film “The African Queen” starring Humphrey Bogart was filmed on Lake Albert and the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park.
Notable visitors to the park include Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, and Ernest Hemingway, Kanye West and wife Kim Kardashian and several British royals.

Murchison Falls National Park is located in the northern part of the Albertine rift valley. It is Uganda’s biggest and oldest National Park. It is named after the most powerful waterfalls in the World – Murchison Falls.

Gazzeted in 1952, the park the park measures 3,480 Km2 and is part of the wider 5045 km2 Murchison Falls Conservation area that include Bugungu and Karuma Wildlife Reserves.

The park is bisected by the White Nile into the southern and northern banks. At Murchison Falls the Nile plunges 45m through a narrow gorge trying to force their way to the Mediterranean Sea through an 8 metre narrow gorge creating a Devil’s Cauldron, albeit with an awesome beauty spiced by a rainbow. The falls are the centerpiece of the park that mark the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids.

From the falls, the placid river whose banks team with wildlife flows across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert.

The masterpiece of this nature’s marvel is in the heart of the park at Murchison Falls, named after the then President of the National Geographic Society Sir Roderick Murchison by Sir Samuel Baker in 1864. Baker was a British Explorer.

Notable visitors to the park include US President Theodore Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, novelist Ernest Hemingway, US music star Kanye West and wife Kim Kardashian and several British royals.

The 1951 film, “The African Queen”, starring Humphrey Bogart was filmed on Lake Albert and the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park.

Murchison hosts 76 mammal and 451 bird species respectively making the park one of the most ideal destinations for both big game and birding experiences in Africa.

Key Attractions:

Game Drives and Wildlife: Explore the park’s savanna grasslands and woodlands in 4×4 vehicles, with opportunities for wildlife photography. The park is home to over 76 mammal species, including lions, elephants, giraffes, and buffaloes. It’s also a birdwatcher’s paradise with over 450 bird species, including the rare shoebill stork.

Murchison Falls National Park is composed of woodland, wetlands, savannah as well as tropical forest. This varied habitat is home to a variety of both big and small game.

The various trails in Murchison allow visitors to get up-close with animals such as: Lions, Buffalos, Elephants, Warthogs, Uganda Kobs, Jackson’s hartebeest, Jackals. Waterbucks and much more.

Oribis and Pattas monkeys, the only savannah monkeys in Uganda. Nocturnal animals and birds can be seen during night game drives. The park hosts the biggest population of the Rothschild’s giraffes in the world. These gentle and regal giants towering over the Savannah are hard to miss during game drives.

The park is home to four of the “Big Five” minus the rhino that became extinct due to poaching.

White rhinos can be tracked at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch in Nakasongola, 176km north of Kampala in the way to Murchison Falls National Park. Ziwa is home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda where they are being bred to eventually be released into the wild.

Boat Cruises: Enjoy a Nile cruise to the base of the falls or a cruise along the Nile Delta, with opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.

The 28km boat cruise to the Delta where the Nile pours its contents in Lake Albert is a great experience for bird lovers and photographers.

Boat rides on the River Nile to the bottom of Murchison Falls are another rewarding experience to view wildlife and birds.

Some of the animals seen during the boat cruise include but are not limited to: Hippos. Waterbucks. Crocodiles. Buffaloes and much more.

A lot of water birds such as Cormorants, African fish Eagles, African darter, Giant

Kingfisher and Red-throated Bee-eater can also be sighted.

Murchison Falls: The park’s namesake, a 43-meter waterfall where the Nile plunges through a narrow gorge. At Murchison Falls the Nile plunges 45m through a narrow gorge trying to force their way to the Mediterranean Sea through an 8 metre narrow gorge creating a Devil’s Cauldron, albeit with an awesome beauty spiced by a rainbow.

The Nile River: A scenic waterway offering boat cruises to the base of the falls and opportunities to spot and photography wildlife along the riverbanks

Sport fishing: The river section at the bottom of Murchison Falls is regarded by some anglers as one of the best fishing spots in the world. The most popular fish for anglers is the Nile Perch. Other fish species are Tilapia and catfish.

Birding and nature walks: The varied habitats of Murchison Falls National Park make it home to a variety of birds with over 400 bird species recorded. The list includes the Shoebill Stork which can be easily found around the Delta, the Goliath Heron – the largest heron in the world and the Grey Crowned Cranes – Uganda’s national bird and many others.

Birds in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park bird list

Source: eBird

Hiking – Baker’s trail: Hike to the top of the falls for panoramic views. Murchison Falls National Park has several trails for those that would like to explore the park on foot.

Among the most outstanding is Baker’s trail that explores the top of Murchison Falls. The top of the falls commands scenic views of the Nile as it enters the narrow gorge to form the world’s most powerful waterfalls. Uhuru Falls formed during the flood of the early 1960s can also be viewed along this trail as a bonus.

Standing at the top of the falls is a rewarding experience. You see, smell and hear the

awesome roar of the falls. The Rainbow formed by the thundering falls is legendary. It is the power of nature at its fullest. Standing over the spot where the Nile squeezes through an 8 metre narrow gorge with unbelievable force is the climax of the ultimate Safari in Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda – The Pearl of Africa.

Chimpanzee Tracking: Take a guided trek through Budongo or Kaniyo Pabidi forests to observe chimpanzees and photograph in their natural habitat.

Kaniyo Pabidi Forest: Another forest area known for chimpanzee tracking and bird watching.

Best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park

The best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park is during the dry seasons, typically from December to February and June to September. During these months, there is less rainfall, making game drives more accessible and wildlife sightings easier due to animals congregating around water sources.

Dry Season (December-February and June-September):

Ideal for Wildlife Viewing: The reduced vegetation and increased water sources during the dry season make it easier to spot animals like lions, elephants, and giraffes.

Accessible Tracks: Minimal rainfall means game drives are less likely to be disrupted by muddy or slippery roads.

Clear Skies and High Temperatures: Expect higher daytime temperatures, potentially reaching 33°C to 34°C.

Wet Season (March-May and August-November)

Green Scenery: The park is lush and green during the wet season, offering a beautiful landscape but difficult to see wildlife due to tall grass.

During the wet season, the roads can be muddy and difficult to navigate, and 4×4 vehicles may be necessary.

Bird Watching: The wet season is a great time for bird watching, as migratory birds gather and breeding activity is high.

Murchison Falls National Park

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