Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda, Africa

Basic Facts - Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savanna. First gazetted as a game reserve in 1926, it is Uganda's largest and oldest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds. Murchison Falls measures about 3,840km2. Murchison Falls became one of Uganda’s first national parks in 1952. At Murchison Falls, the Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with a thunderous roar into the "Devil's Cauldron", creating a trademark rainbow. The northern section of the park contains savanna and borassus palms, acacia trees and riverine woodland. The south is dominated by woodland and forest patches.

The 1951 film "The African Queen" starring Humphrey Bogart was filmed on Lake Albert and the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river's energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda's most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents. Notable visitors to the park include Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway and several British royals.

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More About Murchison Falls National Park

The name derives, unsurprisingly, from the 40 metre plunge the White Nile takes over the scarp of the Great Rift Valley, in the heart of Murchison Falls National Park. In turn, the Falls themselves were named after Sir Roderick Murchison, at one time the President of the Royal Geographic Society. Murchison Falls is Uganda's largest National Park and arguably it's most diverse, in terms of both wildlife and activities. Game drives here are excellent (although not on the same level as somewhere like the Mara or Serengeti) - expect to see lion, elephant, buffalo and a host of plains game.

With 450 bird species birders will be in paradise. In all honesty though the game drives barely scratch the surface of what the park can offer. With the White Nile running through its heart, Murchison Falls really is all about the water. Taking a relaxing evening cruise on the river and watching the hippo and croc lined banks, or take a boat to an area near the bottom of the falls. Disembark here and there is a light 1 hour hike that one can do from the bottom to the top, as you approach the views get better and better and the roar gets louder and louder. It is truly spectacular and something that can't be missed - more fearless travellers stand on the edge of the Falls getting soaked in the spray all for a great photo opportunity.

Murchison Falls National Park also known as Murchison Falls Conservation Area is the biggest protected area in Uganda, 5,025kms, including Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve, Karuma Wildlife Reserve and, in the South, Budongo Forest. The altitude range from 619m at the delta on Lake Albert and 1.292 m at Rabongo hill. The area is traversed by the river Victoria Nile, which connects Lake Kyoga with Lake Albert. Murchison Falls is named after the marvellous falls on the river, which encounters a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley Escarpment, then it is transformed into a froth of thunderous white water, with no comparison to any other site in East Africa. The vegetation is characterized by savannah, riverine forest and woodland.

Uganda's largest national park protects a portion of wild African savannah separated by the impressive river Nile. It is named for the magnificent Murchison Falls, where the world's longest river burst out ferociously through a narrow gap in the Rift Valley escarpment to fall into a frothing pool 43m below. This park protects intense populations of lion, elephant, buffalo, and Uganda kob together with the localized Rothschild’s giraffe and patas monkey. Massive concentrations of hippos and birds can be observed from the launch trips along the Nile below the fabulous waterfalls for which the park is named. For more information regarding Murchison Falls National Park, DO NOT hesitate to Contact Us.

Murchison Falls National Park has some of the most exciting white water in Africa. A launch trip up stream to the falls is one of the great experiences in Africa. Elephant, hartebeest, giraffe, buffalo, crocodiles and countless antelope and birds (including the rare Shoebill stork) can be admired at the water's edge as the launch glides along. The Murchison Falls National Park, with its variety of vegetation ranging from riparian forests and swamp lands to broad Savannah, provides the opportunity of seeing many of the animals found in Uganda.

In the southern section of the park is the beautiful Rabongo Forest, home to several families of chimpanzees and other primates. Make sure you have plenty of film for your camera, although they are difficult to spot in the thick canopy above. Elephant, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Leopard, Warthog, Lion, Giraffe Aardvark, Chimpanzee, Pangolin, Civet, Buffalo, Hyena, Crocodile, Oribi, Patas monkey, Uganda kob, baboon. Fish in the Nile include Nile perch, Tilapia and Tiger fish. 450 species of bird including Pel's fishing owl, pennant winged nightjar, red-throated bee eater and the magnificent shoebill stork. In the southern sector of the park, there is Rabongo Forest, a home of chimpanzees.

By road, Murchison Falls National Park is a 3 hour drive from Kampala to Masindi, 217 km on tarmac and 40 km on high grade murram, then an additional 2 hours (97 km) from Masindi to the Falls on murram. A 4 wheel drive vehicle is advisable as the Masindi-Paraa road is rough. The Park can be reached by air charter services. There are airstrips at Paraa and Rabongo which can accommodate light aircrafts of up to six seats capacity.

At the top of Murchison Falls, the Victoria Nile explodes through a 6 -metre gap, causing the very rock to shake - quite literally. This phenomenon is said to be the most powerful natural flow of water anywhere on Earth. Can you imagine the strength and size of the Nile Perch which can withstand such a force which exists at the foot of this perpetual avalanche of water! Charles Norman described the first such perch, spotted soon after their arrival by his companion, who: "...let out a strangled squawk and I found myself staring at the hog-sized back of a huge fish protruding above the water at the rock's edge - a 100kg fish with scales the size of tennis balls. He adds that only tiger fish can sever nylon line in this way and that, since his bait was such a large bream, the tiger must have been a very big one. His parting thought reads: "There are tiger fish in the lower Nile and Lake Albert, 30km downstream, but are they Goliaths! Incredibly, nobody knows, there simply hasn't been any sport fishing in Uganda for the past 35 years, and the inhabitants of its many waterways remain a mystery." Anyone angling for a solution to that mystery!

There is a camp site at the top of the Falls which can be used by those with their own camping gear. The riverside Nile Safari Camp must be one of the most romantic lodges in the world. Accommodation is in beautifully designed waterside log cabins each with its own internal tent, terrace, bathroom and outside shower. There is an al fresco restaurant and small gift shop. Watching a stunning sunset from the friendly bar is a must. In an elevated position on the north side of the river, guests at the Sarova Paraa Lodge benefit from simply massive views. This historic lodge which, before its restoration, was host to many dignitaries is now central to Paraa reclaiming its former glory.

The site, service and ambience, which so impressed Britain's Queen Mother, is being recreated to great effect for the enjoyment of modern tourists. Each room has full facilities and a remarkable view. There is an impressive restaurant, swimming pool and bar. The Sambiya River Lodge presents a unique African experience. A traditionally designed thatched hotel is surrounded by thatched bungalows, all in a very special setting. The atmosphere is relaxing, warm and friendly and the lodge provides a restaurant, bar and gift shop. All rooms are complete with full private facilities Others nearby are: The Masindi Hotel at Masindi Rabongo Forest Cottages Camp Sites at the top of the Falls.

AfriChoice operates a wide range of carefully designed tours and safaris to Murchison Falls National Park by providing transport and booking a hotel for you. Our safari consultants will always be at your assistance should you need a tailor-made holiday to this unique destination. NB: For more information regarding Murchison Falls National Park, DO NOT hesitate to Contact Us.