Uganda's largest park, where the entire Nile forces itself through a 7-metre gap in the rock and plunges 43 metres. It also has giraffes, big herds, lions and the shoebill.
Murchison Falls National Park covers about 3,840 km² of north-western Uganda, making it the country's largest park. The Victoria Nile cuts through its middle on its way to Lake Albert. At the falls themselves, the river's whole flow is squeezed through a cleft about seven metres wide and drops 43 metres with a roar you feel in your chest. North of the river are open savannah and borassus palm plains. To the south lie woodland and the Budongo Forest.
| Location | North-western Uganda, where the Victoria Nile flows into Lake Albert |
| Size | About 3,840 km², Uganda's largest national park |
| Established | 1952 |
| Famous for | The falls, Nile boat safaris, Rothschild's giraffes, the shoebill |
| Wildlife | About 76 mammal species and around 450 bird species |
| Airstrips | Pakuba, Chobe and Bugungu |
Murchison is 5–6 hours by road from Entebbe or Kampala. The usual route stops at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white rhinos on foot. Vehicles cross the Nile at Paraa on the ferry. Scheduled and charter flights land at Pakuba and Chobe airstrips.
The park is open all year. Game viewing is easiest in the dry months of December–February and June–September, when the grass is short. The wet months bring lush scenery and better birding. Our Murchison travel mistakes guide has practical tips.
At Murchison Falls, the Nile is squeezed through a gap in the rock about seven metres wide before plunging 43 metres into the "Devil's Cauldron". The force is so great that the whole river seems to explode out of the rock. A second channel, Uhuru Falls, opened beside it after major floods in 1962. You can experience the falls in three ways: from the boat at their base, from the viewpoint at the top, and on the hiking trail between the two, which takes about 45 minutes and is one of the best short walks in Uganda. The falls were named in 1864 by explorer Samuel Baker after Sir Roderick Murchison, president of the Royal Geographical Society.
Murchison's northern bank, especially the Buligi peninsula between the Nile and Lake Albert, has some of Uganda's densest game. Rothschild's giraffes (the park holds the country's largest population), elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, Jackson's hartebeest, oribi, waterbuck, warthogs and patas monkeys are common. Lions are regularly seen, and leopards are found around the riverine woodland at dusk. The river is full of hippos and Nile crocodiles. South of the river, Budongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests hold chimpanzees and many forest birds.
About 450 species have been recorded. The Nile delta, where the river enters Lake Albert, is one of the best places in Uganda to see the shoebill, and the Goliath heron, African skimmer, red-throated bee-eater, Abyssinian ground hornbill and many raptors are all found in the park. Budongo is famous for Puvel's illadopsis, the chocolate-backed kingfisher and the yellow-footed flycatcher. See birding in Murchison Falls.
This follows our 2-day chimpanzee and rhino safari, extended by a day. See also the 3-day shoebill and Murchison birding safari and Murchison safari from Kampala.
See lodges in Murchison Falls.
More advice: Murchison travel mistakes to avoid and Uganda's largest national park.
From Murchison, Kibale is about 5–6 hours south via Hoima and Fort Portal, which makes a natural northern-to-southern circuit: Ziwa, Murchison, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi. Heading north-east, Kidepo is about 8 hours via Gulu and Kitgum. See Kidepo and Murchison safari.
Entry to Murchison Falls is charged per person per 24 hours, with separate fees for the launch trip, the delta cruise, chimp trekking in Budongo and hot-air balloon flights. Vehicles also pay an entry fee, and the Paraa ferry has its own charge. On our tours, the fees for listed activities are included in the price.
On selected dates, balloon flights take off at dawn over the northern savannah, drifting over giraffes, elephants and the Nile before a bush breakfast. Flights depend on weather and are best booked well ahead. It is one of only a few places in East Africa outside the Serengeti and Masai Mara where you can take a balloon safari.
The ferry is the only way across the Nile inside the park, linking the southern lodges to the northern game-viewing areas. It runs a fixed timetable through the day, and the crossing takes a few minutes. Watching hippos and crocodiles from the ferry is part of the experience. Your guide plans the day so that dawn game drives start on the north bank.
Sit on the left side of the launch going upstream for the best river-bank wildlife angles, and bring a zoom lens for crocodiles and birds. At the top of the falls, a wide-angle lens captures the gorge and spray. On the Buligi circuit, early morning light is superb for giraffes against the borassus palms and the distant blue of Lake Albert.
Two nights covers a game drive, the launch cruise and the top of the falls. Add a night for the delta or Budongo chimps.
Lions, elephants, buffalo and leopards live in the park. Rhinos are seen at nearby Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, usually visited on the way.
Murchison Falls has the largest population of Rothschild's giraffes. They also live in Kidepo and Lake Mburo.
Yes. It combines the country's most dramatic natural sight with excellent game viewing, a superb boat trip and good chances of the shoebill.
About 300 km, or 5–6 hours by road, and less with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on the way.
Yes, in Budongo Forest and Kaniyo Pabidi on the southern side of the park.
The launch trip to the base of the falls, combined with the hike to the top. Many visitors rank it as the best half-day in Uganda.
Yes. Kidepo is about 8 hours north-east via Gulu and Kitgum, or you can fly between them.
December–February and June–September for game viewing, although the park is rewarding all year.
Yes. Lions are regularly seen on the northern bank, especially on the Buligi circuit and around the Pakuba area.
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