Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, located in the northwestern part of Uganda. The land of the park covers an area that spreads from the shores of Lake Albert around the Victoria Nile to the Karuma Falls. Murchison falls National Park connects to Bugungu Wildlife Reserve which is 740 square kilometers.

Murchison fall National Park is surrounded within four districts including Nwoya, Bulisa, Kiryandongo, and Masindi. The distance from Masindi district which is the nearest large town Kibanda area to the national park is 80 kilometers.

It takes 300 kilometers by road from Kampala the capital city of Uganda driving towards the north-west part.

Murchison falls National park, was named after a geologist Roderick Murchison, Sir Samuel Baker the explore named the park Murchison. In the 1907 and 1914, there were inhabitants on over 13,000 square kilometers of land, however, they were evacuated due to sleeping sickness which was spread by tsetse flies in the park.

Bunyoro Game Reserve was created south of the River Nile, & the area which corresponded to the part of Murchison falls National Park, in the district of Masindi, Bulida, and Kiryandongo. The boundaries extended north of the River to the modern day of Nwoya district.

Murchison falls National Park, measures 3,893 square Kilometers. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile from East to West which is about 200 kilometers. The waters flow through a narrow gorge of only 7 meters wide before it plunges 45 meters.

The park is adjacent to Masindi-Gulu highway-Karuma falls which is home to the Karuma Power station center of 600 megawatts. This is one of the future largest power stations in Uganda.

Murchison falls National park is also adjacent to Budongo forest Reserve which inhabits over 80 species of mammals as well as Nile Crocodiles, 500 bird species that range from the shoe-bill stork, water birds, Goliath heron, Kingfisher, white-thighed hornbill, great blue turaco and many more.

Murchison falls National park has a large number of wildlife species which can be encountered during a game drive, with the rangers who are well informed about different park mammals. During the game drive, you will have a chance to spot Lions, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, Jackson hartebeests, antelopes, bushbucks, elephants, and many other wildlife species on your amazing Murchison Safari Tours.

Elephant in Murchison Falls National Park

Activities in Murchison Falls National Park

Game Drive: Enjoy the game drive which takes a maximum of 3 hours to see the hyenas, hippos, warthogs, giraffes, zebras and many more.
Nocturnal game drive: In Murchison falls national park, one can engage in the Nocturnal game drive where you have a chance to see the predators of the night such as leopards, Loins, Hyenas, Serval cats and many more. The nocturnal game drive takes 2 hours to see the Nocturnal in their habitats. Enjoy the spotlights for the night game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. Enjoy with your family safari tour whereby children will have the best of their time to see different Nocturnal species during the game drive.
Boat cruise on the Nile River– You will enjoy the hippopotamus, elephants as they come to bathe in water, antelopes, water birds, and many other species along the River Nile. After the boat cruise, you will enjoy the hike to the top of the falls for better wildlife viewings. This boat cruise is similar to the Kazinga Channel Boat cruise though this one has continuous activities after the cruise.
Nile Delta Boat Ride-enjoy the boat rides, where the river merges into Lake Albert. It is commonly referred to as the Nile Delta. This boat cruise is similar to the Kazinga Channel Boat cruise though this one has continuous activities after the cruise.
Search for the Shoebill Stork: Murchison falls National Park is home to the famous shoebill stork which is located along the banks of the River. River Nile and Lake Albert, there a number of bird species.
Hot Air balloon wildlife safari: Hot Air balloon wildlife safari, is only found in only one of the national parks in Uganda where one can enjoy a hot air balloon wildlife Uganda safari.
Birding Safari Tours: This birding safari tour is another activity to encounter during the nature walk, where you will enjoy the views of the landscape of Riverine Forest, landscape, and spot a variety of bird species.
Hiking in Rabongo forest which is one of the best birders paradises as well as to spot the chimpanzees and other primate species.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest: Budongo forest inhabits a number of chimpanzees that are already habituated and therefore makes it a great place to do chimpanzee trekking.
Rhino trekking, on your way to Murchison falls, you can have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary on foot, one of the big five mammals. Here you can do the Rhino Tracking exercise.
Cultural Safari Tours including Boomu Uganda village visit for a few hours. Here you will take walks in the villages and have a traditional African Banda.

Accommodation in Murchison: There a number lodges inside the park and outside the park ranges, the accommodations range from budget, midrange, and luxury.