Murchison Falls National Park

The park is bisected by the Nile River. As it flows west into Lake Albert, the Nile squeezes through an 8-metre gap to plunge 45 metres over the remnant Rift Valley wall down into the aptly named ‘Devil’s Cauldron’, creating the famous rainbow captured in so many photographs.

The Falls are the final obstruction in an 80 kilometre long reach of rapids from which the Nile transforms into a broad, placid, river destined for Lake Albert and a long journey north.

The Falls are best reached in a two-stage excursion that combines a boat safari on the Nile where you will see elephant, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, Nile crocodile and aquatic birds on the shoreline or in the shallows, followed by a 30-minute walk around the cliffs to the head of the Falls. 

Sailing west, rather than east to the Falls, takes you to the Lake Albert delta, one of the best places in Uganda to see the famous Shoebill storks. If you prefer to be more active on the water, then Murchison is also a great place for fishing. Specialised excursions are available across various locations.

Going downstream, and this time often in the morning, the Lake Albert Delta river safari is in many ways a continuation of the Falls cruise experience, but with the Delta as your target. There you have a high chance of seeing Shoebill stork as well as other large congregations of aquatic birdlife.

Although similar to the Falls cruise, the experience isn’t just about the wildlife sightings. The feeling of moving from the river towards the wide open waters of the lake is also rather special and produces some lovely photographs.

Seeing wildlife from the river is delightful, but it can’t beat the excitement of a game drive. The feeling that comes from placing yourself in the middle of a resting pride of lion; watching a tower of giraffe browse peacefully from acacia tops; or the excitement of rolling slowly through thick bush never sure when you will meet the next elephant.

The majority of game drives in Murchison are enjoyed on the Buligi Peninsula where 170km of tracks cross through open savanna grassland, woodland, acacia and riverine vegetation.  Driving in the early morning (first south/north ferry crossing at Paraa is at 07:00) and late afternoon, you can expect to see elephant, buffalo, antelopes and giraffe.

Lion are increasingly seen with the majority of the Park's prides found here predating on Ugandan kob. You may even see a leopard. The tracks converge at Delta Point where the Nile flows north out of Lake Albert. This is a convenient place to stop for refreshments whilst viewing waterbirds and distant hippos offshore.

Less visited, but available for intrepid explorers is the southern ‘Heart of Murchison’. This is a recently opened section of the Park, developed with the intention of easing visitor pressure on Buligi. While much of the southern part of Murchison is covered by bush and forest, a lovely tract of savanna rolls down to the river from the Rabongo road in the very centre of the park.

Substantial herds of Uganda kob have made this a prime location for lions. In January 2016, 15 giraffes were translocated to this area making it now possible to spot these giants on the Honey Moon track.

With a contact rate of about 80%, the chance of seeing the chimps is not as high as at Kibale National Park, but it is greater than at Kyambura Gorge at Queen Elizabeth National Park. Up to 6 guided groups of 3 people track the chimps each morning and afternoon.

Contact is normally made after only an hour’s walking, so the excursion as a whole lasts about 3 hours. A full day habituation experience is also available here for those looking for a more in depth experience.

Thanks to the centre’s historical association with the Jane Goodall Institute, the interpretive guides at Budongo Forest are extremely good at telling the wider story of the chimps and the forest, not just leading you to a contact.

If you have taken boat cruises and game drives, but would like another special way to see Murchison, then take to the sky with a hot air balloon flight.

This is a recent innovation for Murchison and provides an exciting - yet peaceful - way to experience the Park around Paraa.

The waters of the Victoria Nile hold some massive fish, making Murchison a rewarding destination for the avid angler. Adventurous fishermen target the large Nile Perch, known locally as mputa and cat fish, semutundu. Other fish include tiger fish, electric cat-fish and tilapia.

The record for the largest Nile perch is a 113 kilogram monster landed at the water gauge opposite the crocodile pool. The largest cat-fish was 45 kilograms, landed near the Nyamusika Cliffs.

Permits are required to fish, and you must be accompanied by UWA rangers.

Murchison has an average annual rainfall of 1,085mm, with much of this falling between March and November. This doesn’t prevent access to the park: June to September is still one of the most popular times to visit, but you should be ready for short, sharp bursts of rains. 

December to February is drier, but also much hotter, with an average high of 33 degrees Celsius. 

As with much of Africa, the dry season forces wildlife to congregate around water sources, making for concentrated sightings. While the wetter months see the greatest density of bird life and the lowest visitor numbers.

The lodges close to the Albert Nile in the northwest provide the greatest choice of budget options, but only one, Pakuba Safari Lodgeis actually within the park.

Pakuba has a great location on the east bank of the Albert Nile. The lodge is a modern incarnation of the former state lodge, whose ruins can still be seen. It offers great value for money but has little in the way of character and individual style that can make a property special.

The most popular lodges are found in the central Paraa area of the Park where the Victoria Nile joins Lake Albert.

Paraa Lodge is a large hotel of 54 rooms occupying prime position on the north bank of the Nile. Reconstructed in 1997 out of the shell of the original 1959 lodge, it is a great option for families or first time visitors to Africa wanting to experience a safari without feeling too exposed.

The south bank of the Nile has an increasing number of small and high quality options. Baker's Lodge is closest to the ferry point and to the shoreline, and one of the most popular options. 

Opened in 2015, the rooms are generously proportioned, a charming combination of canvas and thatch built out from a communal dining room. Just up the hill, their neighbours, Twiga Safari Lodge provides a contemporary take on a tented camp, combining canvas with solid construction.

The recently renovated Nile Safari Lodge has the best views enjoyed from 8 beautifully designed modern thatched bandas.

The furthest south options are found alongside the main road that runs between Masindi and Paraa. While they don’t have Nile frontage, they provide the best access to the forests of Budongo and the myriad of birdlife and chimpanzees found within.

The Budongo Ecolodge, 8 kilometres north of the Kichambanyobo Gate is the most popular place to stay. Originally the research station for the Jane Goodall Institute, it has been renovated to provide a pleasant and comfortable base for forest exploration.