Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is one of the popular safari destinations in Uganda. The diversity and quantity of wildlife in the park draw vast number of tourists. 4 of the big 5 are seen during your game drives. The rhinos are trekked en-route an hour away at the Ziwa rhino sanctuary. This makes it the ultimate destination if you want to encounter the Big 5 on your Africa safari. Notably, the park is notably famous for its waterfalls, Murchison falls. Murchison falls national park was established in 1927 and is now Uganda’s largest park, encompassing an area of 3840 square kilometers (1483 square miles).
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Attractions in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls
The Nile River cuts through the park, dividing it into 2, and nourishes the vast wilderness. As it rushes west into Lake Albert, the Nile crushes through an 8-metre breach before plunging 45 meters down into the appropriately called ‘Devil’s Cauldron,’ generating the iconic rainbow caught in so many images. The Falls are the penultimate impediment in an 80-kilometer stretch of rapids that converts the Nile into a broad, calm river bound for Lake Albert and a lengthy voyage north.
The Falls are best seen in two stages, beginning with a boat safari on the Nile, where you will see elephants, buffalo, hippos, Nile crocodiles, and aquatic birds on the banks or in the shallows, and ending with a 30-minute walk along the cliffs to the top of the Falls. A Cruise west instead of east to the Falls leads you to the Lake Albert delta, one of the greatest spots in Uganda to watch the shoebill stork. Murchison is also an excellent area for fishing if you like to be more active on the river.
Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
Game drives on the Buligi Peninsula’s grasslands and woods allow great views of lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, and Ugandan kob antelope. Leopards are becoming more visible; rhinos are missing, but they will be reintroduced from the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The Budongo Forest Reserve, located in the park’s woody south, is a refuge for birds and is a great destination for the chimpanzees trekking. Although most people stay in Murchison for two or three nights, it is possible to remain for much longer and yet leave wanting more.
Safari activities in Murchison Falls
Boat cruises to the bottom of the falls
The boat cruise upriver from Paraa to the bottom of the falls is Murchison’s trademark experience. This 3-hour round trip is best experienced in the afternoon when the sun highlights the spray creating a beautiful rainbow over the falls. You can be greeted by your guide at the top of the falls and driven back to your lodge if you don’t want to cruise downstream to the Paraa jetty. This works especially well if you stay on the south bank. The boat ride is done on a double-decker cruise or a smaller boat. You will travel close to the river bank, watching the huge animals, crocodiles, and wildlife that frequent the river bank, while sitting comfortably and without any of the bumps common with game drives.
There’s something magical about witnessing a completely comfortable 6-ton bull elephant drink from only a few meters away. The boats cannot stop at the base of the Falls because of the strength of the water current. Those who wish to hike to the top of the falls must disembark at the bottom of a cliff. After meeting the guide, you will hike through riverine woodland, along the cliff, and up to the top of the falls, stopping at several look out points along the route. The spray will most likely drench you, but the experience is worth it.
Delta cruise
Heading downstream, and, usually early in the morning, the Lake Albert Delta river safari is similar to the Falls boat experience, but with the Delta as your destination. There is a good probability of sighting a Shoebill stork as well as other huge groups of aquatic birds. Although comparable to the Waterfall cruise, the experience is more than just seeing animals. The sensation of traveling from the river to the wide open waters of the lake is also quite unique and makes for some great images.
Game Drives
Viewing animals from the river is enjoyable, but nothing beats the thrill of a safari game drive. The sensation of being in the center of a resting pride of lions, or of watching a tower of giraffe feed quietly from acacia tops, or of driving through the thick jungle, never knowing when you will encounter the next elephant. The Buligi Peninsula, where 170km of paths cross wide savanna grassland, forest, acacia, and riverine flora, is where the majority of wildlife drives in Murchison take place. On morning and late afternoon game drives, expect to see elephant, buffalo, antelopes, and giraffes.
Lions are becoming more common, with the bulk of the Park’s prides feasting on Ugandan kob. There has more reported sightings of the elusive leopards. The tracks meet at Delta Point, where the Nile exits Lake Albert to the north. Here is a good spot to have some refreshments while watching aquatic birds and distant hippos offshore. The southern ‘Heart of Murchison’ is less frequented, yet open to daring adventurers. This is a freshly opened portion of the Park designed to relieve tourist congestion on Buligi. While much of Murchison is covered in bush and woodland, a magnificent stretch of savanna flows down to the river in the park’s heart.
Chimpanzee trekking
The possibility of sighting the chimps is not as high as in Kibale National Park, but it is higher than in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kyambura Gorge. Each morning and afternoon, up to six guided groups of three people monitor the chimpanzees. Contact is usually made after only an hour of walking, thus the entire trek lasts around 3 hours. For those seeking a more in-depth experience, a full-day habituation event is also offered. Budongo Forest’s interpretive guidess are exceptionally skilled at conveying the larger story of the chimps and the forest, thanks to the center’s longstanding relationship with the Jane Goodall Institute.
Safari in Hot Air Balloons
If you’ve done the boat cruises and wildlife drives and want to view Murchison in a different manner, take a hot air balloon ride. This is a recent Murchison safari activity that gives a thrilling – yet serene – way to explore the Park.
Bird Watching Tours
Kaniyo Pabidi’s southern woodlands are also one of Uganda’s top birding locations, making for spectacular bird hikes. As in Kibale, the best places to search for birds are on the canopy’s edges, near the lodge, and on the road verges. The bird life is always outstanding with aquatic, forest and grassland habitats accessible. The Shoebill stork is the main attraction. Raptors are widely represented as well, with over 53 species identified. Additional favorites include the world’s largest heron, the goliath heron, the grey crowned crane, the Abyssinian ground hornbill, and the only known colony of Puvel’s illadopsis in East Africa.
Fishing
The Victoria Nile’s waters are home to some enormous fish, making the park a rewarding destination for fishing enthusiasts. Large Nile Perch, called locally as mputa, and cat fish, semutundu, are popular targets for daring adventures. Tiger fish, electric catfish, and tilapia are among the other fish. The record 113 kg Nile perch was caught at the hippo pond while a 45kg catfish was caught near the Nuamsika cliffs. To fish, you must have a permit and be escorted by UWA rangers.
When Should You Go?
With an average annual rainfall of 1,085mm, most of the rain is received between March and may. This does not stop admission to the park. June through September is still a popular season to come. However, be prepared for brief, intense bursts of rain. The months of December to February are drier, but also significantly hotter, with an average high temperature of 33 degrees Celsius. The dry season, as in much of Africa, drives wildlife to gather around water sources, resulting in concentrated sightings. The wetter months have the highest density of bird life and the fewest visitors.
Accommodation in Murchison falls National Park
Pakuba Safari Lodge
The lodges along the Albert Nile provide the most affordable alternatives, although only one, Pakuba Safari Lodge, is truly within the park. Pakuba is located on the east side of the Albert Nile. The lodge is a new version of the previous state lodge, the remains of which may still be seen. It provides excellent views of the Nile, and is frequented by leopards and elephants.
Paraa safari Lodge
The popular lodges in Murchison are located in the Park’s central Paraa region, where the Victoria Nile meets Lake Albert. Paraa safari Lodge is a luxury lodge with 54 rooms located on the Nile’s north bank. It was rebuilt in 1997 from the shell of the old 1959 lodge and is an excellent choice for families or first-time travelers to Africa who wish to enjoy a safari without feeling overly exposed.
Baker’s lodge
The Nile’s south bank is seeing an increase in the number of modest, high-quality choices. Baker’s Lodge is one of the most popular alternatives because it is nearest to the ferry terminal and the river banks. The cabins are generously scaled, a delightful blend of canvas and thatch constructed out from a shared dining area, and were opened in 2015.
Budongo Eco lodge
Budongo Eco lodge is located 8 kilometers north of the Kichambanyobo Gate. The lodge is set on the outskirts of Budongo forests and beautifully blends into the natural environment. The lodge doubles as a starting point for those who are interested in exploring the forest. Cabins, dormitory and family cottages are among the lodging options provided by the eco lodge.
How to Get There
The improving condition of Uganda’s arterial road network has made this park more accessible and easy to include onto a multi destination itinerary. Murchison Falls is most typically reached from the south, on a day’s journey from Entebbe. This journey is best broken up with lunch or rhino trek at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Nonetheless, driving to or from Kidepo National Park in under seven hours is feasible, allowing for more exploration of the country. A seven-hour trip will take you south to Kibale Forest for chimpanzee trekking. Murchison is connected to Entebbe and other Ugandan locations by an 80-minute daily scheduled light aircraft route.
