Murchison Falls National Park Travel Guide

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda's largest and oldest protected area, covering about 3,900 square kilometres in the north-west of the country. The Victoria Nile runs through the middle of the park and forces itself through a gap just seven metres wide before dropping 43 metres, creating the powerful falls the park is named after.

What to see and do

The boat cruise from Paraa to the base of the falls is the main activity, lasting about three hours. You pass hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, elephants at the water's edge and many birds, including the African fish eagle and, with luck, the shoebill. Game drives on the northern bank cover savannah with lions, giraffes, Jackson's hartebeest, Uganda kob and elephants. A hike to the top of the falls takes you to the narrow channel itself.

Wildlife and birds

The park has more than 450 bird species. Rothschild's giraffes, which are found only in a few places, can be seen here, and leopards are occasionally spotted along the river. The Big Five are not complete, as rhinos are only at the nearby Ziwa Sanctuary.

Best time to visit

The dry months from December to February and from June to September give the best game viewing, as animals gather near the river. The wet seasons make roads muddy, but birdwatching is excellent and the park is quiet.

How to get there

The drive from Kampala takes 5 to 6 hours by road. Most visitors stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white rhinos on foot. A domestic flight from Entebbe to Pakuba or Bugungu airstrip takes about one hour.

Combining Murchison with other parks

Murchison is usually the first stop on a western Uganda circuit, followed by Kibale for chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth for the Kazinga Channel and Bwindi for gorillas. A seven to ten day itinerary covers all of these.

Costs

Park entry is charged per person per day, with extra fees for the boat cruise and any vehicle. A mid-range safari including Murchison costs about 250 to 350 US dollars per person per day, including lodging, meals, guide and park fees. Our Uganda tours include Murchison Falls with the Nile cruise and rhino tracking.