Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is the oldest national park in Uganda. It was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1926 and many years later in 1952 it was gazetted into a National Park. It’s the largest National Park in Uganda with a size of 3,840km2. It lies at the Northern End of the Albertine Rift Valley where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpments tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savanna.
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Murchison Falls National Park is home to the most powerful falls in the world known as Murchison Falls. At Murchison Falls, the Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with a thunderous roar into the Devil’s Cauldron creating a rainbow. Murchison Falls National Park is popularly known as the only National Park in Uganda that harbours the famous Big 5 of Africa which are the Rhino, Leopard, Lion, Buffalo and the Elephant.
Things To Do While In The Park
Murchison Falls National Park is the most visited National Park in Uganda. This is because of its unique tourist attractions.
- Game Drive
Game Drives in Murchison Falls National Park are so rewarding as you have an opportunity to spot any different types of mammal and bird species. Murchison Falls National Park being a home to over 144 mammal species, many mammals can be sighted such as Elephants, Lions, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Oribis, Jackson Hartebeest, Leopards, hyenas bushbucks, Waterbucks among others.
- Chimpanzee Tracking
Chimpanzees Tracking in Murchison Falls National Park is done in Budongo Forest and it’s one of the activities done in the park. Here tourists track chimpanzees in the forest and when they have identified a group, they spend one hour with them.
- Bird Watching
Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 556 bird species thereby being one of the great spots for the bird lovers to sight many different bird species such as Shoebill Stork, the white crested Turaco, Red winged grey warble, African Jacana, Silver bird, Weaver birds, Abyssinian Ground Horn-bill, Black Headed Lapwing, Malachite Kingfisher, Goliath Herons, Grey crowned cranes, Long tailed Nightjar bird, martial eagle, silver bird, Veracious Dove, Rock Pratincole, Yellow fronted Tinkerbird, African Jacana, Saddle billed stork, Pied kingfishers, Malachite kingfishers, Denham’s Bustard, Sandpipers.
- Boat Ride on the Nile Delta and to the Bottom of the Falls
This Boat Ride will take you on the Nile Delta where you will have a chance to sight many different animals such as the Nile Crocodiles, hippos and many bird species. It also takes you to the bottom of Murchison Falls and has an opportunity to clearly see how the Nile squeezes itself in a 7m gorge.
- Top of the Falls Hike
Murchison Falls is the world’s most powerful falls and here you will see how the Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with a thunderous roar into the Devil’s Cauldron creating a rainbow.
- Hot Air Balloon Safaris
This is one of the two National Parks in Uganda where you can take a Hot Air Balloon Safari, rise at dawn over the savannah and watch the sun rise and then glide over the park above the treetops where you can see the most wildlife from below.
- Nature Walks
The guided nature walks at Murchison Falls National Park can be done in Budongo Forest and normally take 2 to 4 hours with a Ranger. On this nature walk, many tree species can be sighted such as the fig trees, Mahogany trees, Albania trees, Alstonia Bonei among others.
How To Get To The Park
Murchison Falls National Park can be accessed from Kampala with 5-6 hours drive, standard chartered flights can also be taken from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Pakuba airstrip and Bugungu at Murchison falls.
By Road
The drive to Murchison Falls National park takes approximately 5 hours on a smooth tarmac road with a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary along the way adds to the excitement.
By Air
The park can be accessed by air as you can fly from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to Pakuba airfield and connect with a driver / guide to begin your activities. Fly Uganda and Aerolink offer scheduled departures to Murchison falls National Park and there is also an option of Charter flights landing at airstrips north of the Nile at Pakuba (19 km from Paraa) and south at Bugungu (13 km from Paraa).
Where to stay
Murchison Falls National Park has a wide range of
Accommodation options ranging from luxury( high end) to mid range to budget lodges to make sure every traveller is catered for. Examples of the lodges in Murchison Falls National Park include; Chobe Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge,Tilenga Safari Lodge,Paraa Safari Lodge,Heritage Safari Lodge,Ikorom Safari Lodge,Sambiya River Lodge,
Budongo Eco Lodge,Red Chilli Rest Camp,Murchison River Lodge.
- Best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park.
The best time to go to Murchison Falls National Park for game watching is in the dry season of December to February and June to September when the animals are concentrated on the water holes in the park and the vegetation is not thick making it easy to view wildlife. Though the park can be visited all year round, some seasons are more convenient and interesting than others as you will be able to enjoy all the activities without any interference. Game viewing safaris in Uganda are best arranged for the dry season, while bird watching is best done in the rainy season.