Murchison Falls National Park

Overview

About Murchison Falls National Park

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Highlights

Murchison Falls: Witness the force of the Victoria Nile as it squeezes through a narrow gorge to plunge into the pool below, creating a thunderous roar and a misty, breathtaking view.

Boat cruises on the Nile: Take a boat safari to see wildlife up close, including elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and crocodiles along the riverbanks. The cruise to the Albert Delta is particularly good for bird watching, especially for the shoebill stork.

Game drives: Explore the park's plains for a chance to spot a variety of animals, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and large numbers of Uganda kobs. The park has the largest population of Rothschild's giraffes in the world.

Activities & Experiences

Bottom of the falls boat cruise

Birding

Safari game drive

Key Attractions

"The Devil's Cauldron" that can be viewed from the top of the falls
Wildlife. The banks of the Nile River here are thronged with hippopotami, crocodiles, buffaloes, waterbucks, and much more. The park is host to about 76 mammal species including the “big four” African game which are lions, leopards, Elephants, and Buffaloes. Other wildlife expected to be seen includes the Rothschild Giraffe, Bushbucks, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Warthogs, Ugandan Kobs, Olive Baboons. Primates include the Black and white Colobus monkeys, blue and red-tailed monkeys, Patas monkeys, and many others. To have a complete encounter of the “big five” wild game, visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on your way to the park for Rhino tracking. This is the only habitat for Rhinos in Uganda.

Wildlife Viewing

Lions

Warthogs

Leopards

Rothschild's giraffes

Numerous herds of elephants

Various antelope species like the Uganda kob and hartebeest are abundant.

Notable bird species: The rare shoebill stork is a major attraction, often seen along the river delta. Other species include the Goliath heron, African jacana, malachite kingfisher, and Abyssinian ground hornbill.

Best Time to Visit

The best time for wildlife viewing is during the Dry Seasons (December - February and June - September), when animals congregate around water sources and roads are more accessible.

How to Get There

Murchison Falls National Park is located 305km/190mi north of Kampala. The drive to the southern entrance gate takes 4 to 5 hours. Coming from the southwest, the 280km/170mi drive from Fort Portal takes at least 6 hours. Allow another hour or 2 from the entrance gate to most of the lodges. It is also possible to fly to the park by chartered or scheduled aircraft service from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) or Kajjansi Airfield near Kampala. Pakuba Airfield is the most convenient point of arrival for the main cluster of camps and lodges around the park headquarters at Paraa. When flying from abroad, you’ll arrive at Entebbe International Airport (EBB). It is located 46km/29mi from the capital (Kampala).

Photo Story

Gallery

Explore the beauty of Murchison Falls National Park