Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park, often referred to as Kabalega National Park, is located near the terminus of the Albertine Rift Valley and is the biggest and most ancient safari park in Uganda. Murchison is situated 305 kilometers north of Kampala in Masindi District and can be reached by either road or air travel. Murchison Falls National Park was initially designated as a wildlife reserve in 1926 and harbors a diverse array of fauna, including 76 distinct mammal species and 451 avian species. The Murchison Falls Conservation Area include Bugungu and Karuma game reserves, as well as Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison Falls National Park is divided by the Victoria Nile, which descends 45m over the remaining valley wall, forming the impressive falls. These falls are the park’s distinctive feature and mark the culmination of an 80km section of fast-moving water. The powerful waterfall depletes the remaining vitality of the river, converting it into a wide and calm current that peacefully traverses the bottom of the rift valley and enters Lake Albert. Uganda safaris, tours, or trips offer the opportunity to witness one of the most extraordinary animal displays in the country along this particular section of the river. One will easily observe this phenomenon when visiting Murchison Falls National Park during a Murchison Falls safari.
The riverbanks are frequented by elephants, giraffes, and buffaloes, while hippos, Nile crocodiles, and aquatic birds permanently stay there. Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway, and many members of the British royal family are among the prominent individuals who have visited Murchison Falls National Park. Typical activities in the area include observing animals on safaris at Murchison Falls, viewing and observing game, taking boat cruises to the base of the falls, hiking to the top (known as Devil’s Cauldron), birdwatching, and going on nature walks. Launch trips are the predominant and thrilling activities that bring you in close proximity to the focal point of the park. Hot air ballooning activities are offered in the park for anybody interested in observing wildlife from the air. The vegetation at Murchison Falls National Park include savannah, riverine forest, and woodland. The fauna in the area consists of several species like as kobs, elephants, Rothschild giraffes, hartebeests, oribis, leopards, lions, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and a diverse range of bird species. This safari park is a year-round wildlife hotspot, although it is most ideal to visit on a Uganda safari between June and late September, or from January to mid-March.
Things to do at Murchison Falls National Park
There are numerous activities that will ensure your stay is unforgettable. These activities include bird watching and game viewing. The boat excursion around Lake Albert offers a unique opportunity to observe several avian species, particularly the shoebill storks. Rabongo Forest and Budongo Forest are renowned locations for engaging in the activity of chimpanzee tracking. Thanks to the well-maintained roads, tourists will have a delightful game drive, ensuring a truly unforgettable experience.
While game viewing is the main draw, particularly on the northern side of the River Nile, there are numerous other exciting activities to enjoy in the park. These include appreciating the picturesque Murchison Falls, taking boat rides along the Nile River, hiking to the summit of the Falls, tracking chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest and Kaniyo Pabidi, engaging in birdwatching, and more. The park is accessible year-round, although many visitors choose to go on a safari during the optimal periods to see the area. In addition, the park offers picturesque drives and the option to camp, which may be both enjoyable and fulfilling.
If you desire to engage in more physical activity or are interested in exploring a different outdoor pursuit, there are skilled tour guides who possess the necessary licenses to operate within the park. These experts will guarantee your safe exploration of the magnificent park.
There are numerous methods to explore the park, including participating in an organized Uganda safari or navigating through the park using a car, boat, or by walking.
Nature Walk Murchison falls NP
Boat Cruise at Murchison falls
Cultural tours
Considering embarking on a wildlife trip in Uganda? The Murchison Falls National Park is highly sought after and considered a top priority. Uganda’s largest national park safeguards a significant portion of the African savannah, which is home to the most popular wildlife in Africa. The park is divided into two sections by the powerful river Nile. It is called after the impressive Murchison Falls, which is a location where the world’s longest river forcefully bursts through a narrow gap in the Rift Valley escarpment and falls into a turbulent pool 43m below.
The Murchison Falls National Park is located at the northern terminus of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the substantial Bunyoro escarpment converges with the expansive plains of Acholiland. The park is among the most ancient conservation zones in Uganda. The area was first designated as a wildlife reserve in 1926 in order to safeguard a savanna that Winston Churchill, in 1907, referred to as a combination of Kew Gardens and a zoo on an immense scale.
Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park harbors a diverse array of plant and animal species. The park is home to a variety of popular animals, including African elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles, hippos, waterbucks, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, hartebeests, Rothschild giraffes, and various primate species such as olive baboons, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, and chimpanzees. These primates, totaling around 800, reside in Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo forests. Additionally, black and white colobus monkeys can be found in the park. The park is also a habitat for numerous bird species, including the shoebill stork, grey crowned cranes, blue headed coucal, swamp flycatcher, squacco heron, black billed barbet, silver bird, red throated bee-eater, giant and malachite kingfishers, eastern grey plantain eater, piapiac, weaver birds, white browed sparrow weaver, speckle fronted weaver, African quail finch, and Denham’s bustard, among others.
How to get to Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is easily accessible regardless of the direction from which you approach, thanks to its numerous gates located throughout the park. Access to Murchison Falls National Park is possible via either road or air transportation from Entebbe International Airport. You have the option to access Murchison Falls Park from either the northern or southern entrances, using either road or air transportation.
To reach Murchison Falls National Park, one can go by road either by taking a bus from Kampala or by using private transportation such as a self-drive or arranging for a pick-up from Entebbe International Airport through the tour company that has booked your trip. The distance to Masindi town is 305 kilometers, which may be covered in a three-hour trip. The primary road from Masindi town leads to Kachumbanyobo gate, which is approximately 85 km away. This route passes through Kaniyo Pabidi forest and ends in Paraa, located in the southern region of Murchison Falls National Park.
Another option is to utilize the bugungu gate, which provides access to the southern section of Murchison Falls National Park. This route spans a distance of 135 km and is longer than the kichumbanyobo route. However, it offers the most picturesque journey, showcasing breathtaking vistas of the budongo forest and the rift valley escarpment.
Alternatively, access to Murchison Falls National Park is still possible via the northern gates of Chobe, Wankwar, Mumbako, and Tangi. These gates are situated on the northern side of the River Nile. To access the northern gates, you can take the kampala-pakwach road, which traverses the Nile at the karuma falls bridge. The distance between Kampala, the capital city, and the destination is only 260 kilometers. The journey by car will take approximately 4 hours. The northern gates are advantageous for visitors coming from Gulu or from Kidepo National Park.
The distance between Tangi Gate and Karuma Falls Bridge along Pakwach Road is only 110 kilometers. The Tangi gate provides convenient entry for visitors traveling to the northern region of Murchison Falls National Park. However, access to the location is only possible by a poorly maintained gravel road. Additionally, there is a curfew in place starting at 16:00 hours, and it is also prohibited to exit through the Tangi gate after 13:00 hours. Camping is strictly prohibited in the vicinity of Tangi Gate. The distance between Karuma Falls Bridge and Tangi Gate is a 3-hour trip.
Access to Murchison Falls National Park is possible via air transportation, with options including Pakuba, Bugungu, and Chobe airfields. Bugungu is located a short distance from the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Paraa, just a few kilometers away. The Bugungu airfield is the most suitable option for safari travelers visiting Paara in the southern region of Murchison Falls National Park. It is convenient for tourists visiting Red Chilli Safari Camp, Nile Camp, and Simba Safari Camp. An alternative route is available via the Chobe Air Field, which is situated next to Chobe Safari Lodge in the northern section of the park.
You have the option to reserve chartered aircrafts that provide domestic flights to the national parks in Uganda, such as eagle airlines and aero link, among others. The aircraft can be reserved at either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airport, which is in close proximity to Entebbe International Airport.
Air transportation offers a straightforward, expeditious, convenient, and less fatiguing alternative to road transportation. Nevertheless, traveling by road is a more pleasurable experience as it allows you to witness breathtaking scenery and gain insights into the customs of the local street vendors. Regardless, you have the ability to reach the destination. It is up to you to decide which mode of transportation to utilize. Welcome to Murchison Falls National Park.
When is the Best Time to Visit Murchison Falls Park?
Any time of year is perfect for a visit to the park. Nonetheless, the park is impacted by the tendency of African safari tourists. The months of June through October and December through March see the highest volume of visitors to the park. Safari packages that visit other top parks in Uganda typically include a stop at Murchison Falls National Park. Gorilla and chimpanzee safaris in Bwindi and Mgahinga, forest safaris in Kibale, and wildlife safaris in Kidepo and Queen Elizabeth National Park are among the popular adventure activities that are often paired with this. Since the majority of tourists travel to Uganda to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Park, the months of June through September and December through March see the most visitation to Murchison Falls Park. The dry season is ideal for safaris in Murchison Falls National Park since seeing animals is more easier than during the rainy months. Make sure you see every species on your safari bucket list by carefully planning your itinerary. Use our free trip planning resources to get your next Uganda safari organized, and stay up-to-date with the latest travel news, information, and safari bargains from our trusted travel partners.
Where to Stay in Murchison Falls national Park?
Some of the places to stay include campgrounds, lodges, hotels, and guesthouses. Perched above the waterfalls are a few of these. They have more advanced, environmentally conscious facilities. There are additional options for those on a tighter budget; two of the best are the Red Chilli Rest Camp and the Kaniyo Pabidi Camp. Luxurious hotels along the Nile, Paraa, and Sambiya rivers are popular among tourists.
at if you decide to make a pit stop at Masindi, you’ll find a variety of high-end lodging options, including the Masindi Hotel, the Court View Hotels (which are known for their superb service), Budongo Eco Lodge, Fort Murchison, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Nile Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, and Nile Safari Lodge. Accommodations at Bwana Tembo Safari Camp, Fort Murchison, Murchison River Lodge, and Global Village Guest House.