Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is in Northern Uganda. The park covers approximately 3840 km², and the River Nile passes through. Rabonga Forest in the southeast has large populations of chimps and the Nile has a lot of hippopotamuses and crocodiles.

The falls were documented by European explorers Samuel and Florence Baker in 1864. Samuel Baker named them after Sir Roderick Murchison, the Scottish geologist who was then president of the Royal Geographical Society. The protected area was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1926 and became one of Uganda’s first national parks in 1952. It is now Uganda’s largest national park and forms the core of the wider Murchison Falls Conservation Area.

During the 1970s, the falls and park were also known as Kabalega Falls and Kabalega National Park, in honour of Kabalega, the historic king of Bunyoro. The name Murchison Falls was subsequently restored, although “Kabalega Falls” is still occasionally used.

Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift, where the Bunyoro escarpment descends toward rolling savanna, woodland and palm-dotted plains. The Victoria Nile flows westward through the park, passing through a long sequence of rapids before being forced through a rocky cleft approximately 7–8 m wide at Murchison Falls. It then plunges about 45 m into the turbulent pool known as the Devil’s Cauldron.

Below the falls, the river becomes broad and comparatively calm as it continues toward Lake Albert. Its banks support riverine woodland, papyrus wetlands and open grassland, while the shallow Albert Delta provides an important habitat for waterbirds and breeding fish. After passing through Lake Albert, the river continues north as the Albert Nile.

Beside the main waterfall is the smaller Uhuru Falls, which is most impressive when river levels are high. Uhuru means “freedom” in Swahili, and the name is associated with Uganda’s independence in 1962.

The park contains open savanna, acacia woodland, Borassus-palm grassland, riverine vegetation and denser woodland and forest patches in the south. These varied habitats support 144 recorded mammal species and more than 550 bird species, as well as numerous reptiles and amphibians.

Commonly seen mammals include African elephants, Nubian giraffes, African buffaloes, Uganda kobs, lelwel hartebeests, oribis, waterbucks, bushbucks and warthogs. Lions are regularly encountered on the northern plains, while leopards, spotted hyenas, side-striped jackals, mongooses and honey badgers are present but generally more elusive.

The Victoria Nile supports large numbers of hippopotamuses and Nile crocodiles, particularly along the calmer stretch below the falls and toward the Albert Delta. Olive baboons, vervet monkeys and black-and-white colobus occur in wooded areas, while chimpanzees can be tracked in the nearby Budongo Forest, which forms part of the wider conservation landscape.

Birdlife is exceptionally rich. The shoebill is the most sought-after species and is most likely to be found around the Albert Delta. Other notable birds include African fish eagles, Goliath herons, saddle-billed storks, white-crested turacos, Abyssinian ground hornbills and numerous kingfishers, bee-eaters and raptors.

Murchison Falls has a hot tropical climate and can be visited throughout the year. Daytime conditions are generally warm to hot, particularly around the lower plains and Paraa, while mornings and evenings are more comfortable.

Rain can occur during any month, but the wetter periods generally peak around April–May and August–October. January and the middle of the year are usually drier. Rain commonly arrives in short, heavy storms rather than continuing throughout the day.

The drier months provide easier road conditions and concentrate animals near the Nile and remaining water sources. During wetter periods, the park becomes greener, birdlife is especially active and there are fewer visitors, although some tracks may become muddy. Murchison Falls remains a rewarding destination in every season.

Basically, you either must bring your own car or rent one to enter Murchison. There is no public transportation through the park and reaching it from Masindi will probably require following one of the steps below.

Take an early bus to Masindi (USh 15,000 with Link Buses taken from Kampala city bus station at 7AM, 9AM, noon (Jan 2012)) and then try to arrange for transport to bring you to the park. With some luck you could get a free ride with the rangers, or you could arrange with a safari guide to drive you out to the park from Masindi. Yebo Tours [1]^{[dead link]}, owned and operated from Masindi, is one of the most affordable options. Another low-budget safari is offered by the Red Chili, which can be booked out of their hostel in Kampala. Many safari companies offer safaris into this park. They operate the nearby River Safari camp.

You can fly into nearby Arua Airport from Kampala (daily flights with Eagle Air) and this company will send a safari vehicle to get you. Flights from Entebbe International Airport to Pakuba Airstrip or Chobe Airstrip inside the boundaries of Murchison Falls National Park and Bugungu Airstrip on outside the park boundaries can be arranged by Savannah Wings^{[dead link]}, Aerolink and Bar Aviation.

You can stay with Boomu Women's Group who are just outside Kichumbanyobo gate, the main gate to the park. You can get transport to there from Masindi. After your stay you can go to the park gate, metres up the road and try to get a lift to your destination in the park. Or you can ask the staff to arrange for a taxi to take you to your destination. If your destination is chimp trekking in Pabidi, staff at Boomu Women's Group can help arrange transport to this site.

In short, access to the park is best with an organised safari tour or a self-drive vehicle. Tracks are basic, so vehicles should engage 4wd and lock hubs, and drivers should keep below the park limit of 40 km/h. For travellers relying on public transport, it's best to join a budget group tour from Kampala or travel by bus to Masindi and then try to arrange a 'special hire' (private taxi) to take you into the park. The latter will cost up to US$100 one way, so a group tour inclusive of all fees etc, can often be the more affordable option if you are travelling by yourself.

For non-residents, a one-day permit costs US$45, for East African residents, US$35. UWA Tarriff

Your best bet is to either hire a car or go on an organized safari. Don't even bother hitching or taking a bus. It is very difficult to get around in the park without your own transportation. You might get lucky and have a safari opportunity with someone, but you might not.

This park offers plenty of different ways to enjoy primates, wildlife and a variety of birds. Chimp trekking and birding takes place in the southern reaches, in Budongo Forest, but the core park activities are centered around the river Nile, and the dramatic Murchison Falls. Launch cruises can be taken to the base of the Falls, offering a relaxed way to enjoy the scenery and the wildlife which comes to the water's edge, including elephant, buffalo, Defassa waterbuck, Nile crocodile and hundreds of hippopotamuses. The falls are only modest in their height (approximately a 43 m drop) but what they lack in height they make up for in power. The entire Nile river explodes through a 7-m (23-ft) wide crevice. It is said that up to 300 m³ of water per second rush through this narrow rocky gorge.

The bird life is also excellent in this area, but to spot the famous Shoebill, it is best to take a Delta cruise in the opposite direction, to where the waters of the Victoria Nile and Albert Nile meet and mingle at the northern end of Lake Albert. The delta area is a network of watery channels with papyrus islands, where plenty of aquatic birds can be spotted, and quite often, the pre-historic looking Shoebill is found fishing for frogs and lungfish. The park also offers game drives around the Buligi circuit in the delta area, or further east and north towards Karuma Falls or Pakwach and Wangkwar gates. The game is not as plentiful as that found in the large national reserves of Kenya and Tanzania, but the wildlife encounters can be more intimate, as Uganda is 'off the beaten path'. Frequently spotted game includes lion, leopard, elephant buffalo, the endangered Rothschild's Giraffe, Jackson's Hartebeest, Defassa Waterbuck, Uganda Kob and the dainty Oribi.

Game drives, chimp walks, birding, boat trips

Community tours that offer a chance to see the local community, understand issues faced by rural Ugandans and learn about local food are offered at Boomu Women's Group^{[dead link]}. This group also offers a chance to see how local handcrafts are made.

Local crafts, drinks, snacks and simple meals can be purchased from Boomu Women's Group^{[dead link]}. As this is a community tourism project all sales directly help the surrounding community.

Dining within Murchison Falls National Park is concentrated at its lodges and safari camps rather than at standalone public restaurants. Many accommodations offer full-board or half-board packages, with breakfast, lunch and dinner served in their own restaurants. Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge and Murchison River Lodge all provide on-site dining, although non-guests should ask ahead whether advance reservations are required.

Menus generally combine international dishes with Ugandan food and locally sourced ingredients. Expect soups, salads, grilled meat, chicken, fish, rice, potatoes, vegetables, chapati and fresh fruit. Some upscale lodges serve three-course or à-la-carte meals, while simpler camps provide hearty set menus or buffets. Vegetarian meals are widely available, and many properties can accommodate vegan, gluten-free and allergy-related requirements when informed before arrival.

Early breakfasts and packed lunches are useful for morning game drives, boat cruises and full-day excursions. Some properties also arrange bush breakfasts, private dinners or meals overlooking the Nile and Murchison Falls. Confirm the cost in advance, since special bush dining is usually charged separately from ordinary meal plans.

Self-catering visitors and campers should purchase most provisions before entering the park. Masindi, Pakwach and nearby trading centres have a wider selection than the protected area. Bring enough food for the planned stay, store it securely and never leave scraps where baboons, warthogs or other wildlife can reach them.

Lodge restaurants and bars supply bottled or filtered water, soft drinks, fruit juice, Ugandan tea and coffee. Carry plenty of drinking water during game drives and boat excursions, as journeys can be long and daytime conditions are often hot. Murchison River Lodge provides filtered drinking water, while Paraa Safari Lodge sells bottled mineral water through its bar.

Do not drink untreated river, borehole or tap water unless staff confirm that it has been properly filtered or boiled. Refillable bottles are useful, but fill them only from a safe supply provided by your accommodation.

Most mid-range and upscale lodges operate bars serving Ugandan beers, wine, spirits and cocktails. Paraa has the Explorer’s Bar, Pakuba pairs its meals with house wines, and Murchison River Lodge stocks beer, wine, spirits, soda and juice. Sundowners overlooking the Nile are particularly popular.

Alcohol should be saved until driving and wildlife activities are finished for the day. Avoid excessive drinking before boat trips, walking excursions or early-morning game drives, and remember that imported beverages may be expensive because supplies must be transported into this remote area.

• Nile Safari Lodge. offers luxury tents and wooden cabins overlooking the Nile River. Quaint and rustic, but with good service. Closed for renovation until 1 July 2019. (updated Feb 2019)
• Paraa Lodge. on the "animal-side" of the Nile River is a colonial style hotel with a very good buffet. (updated Feb 2019)
• River Lodge. located outside of the park. But the operators regularly take the clients to Murchison as part of a package. Bungalows, pre-pitched tents and campsite available. US$15 - US$185. (updated Feb 2019)
• Red Chilli Rest Camp. is on the southern bank on the Nile River with good food at breakfast but lunch and dinner don't have a lot of choice. The accommodation is 'banda style' with tents also available. (updated Feb 2019)

Red Chili Guest House is the cheapest option at Murchison Falls. Pitch your own tent for USh 5000 or hire one of theirs for USh 5000 more. The nearby village allows for local atmosphere and cheap local food.

Wild camping inside the park is possible with a game ranger available through arrangements with park headquarters. This provides the deepest immersion in the wildlife.

If you stay to the roads with a safari vehicle, there is no danger. However do not go off the marked roads.

• Masindi - approx 90 km.