Murchison Falls National Park

First gazetted in 1926, Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest national park and oldest conservation area lying at the northern tip of the Albertine rift valley home to 76 species and 451 birds. The park is divided by the Victoria Nile which flows down to Lake Albert. In 1862, early European explorers John Speke and James Grant were among the first to visit the park followed by Samuel and his wife Florence Baker in 1863-4. Samuel baker named the falls in honour Roderick Murchison then president of the Royal Geographical Society, and the park was subsequently named after the falls. The falls was featured in the Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart film The African Queen Other notable visitors include British Royals, Ernest Hemmingway, Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt.

The park is part of the greater Murchison Falls Conservation Area which incorporates the collectively managed Budongo, Bugungu, Karuma and Kaniyo Pabidi. Budongo forest is famous being host to 800+ chimpanzees with 6 habituated groups and trekking is arranged at Kaniyo Pabidi. For keen birders, the Murchison Falls Conservation Area is known for its rich birdlife with 550 species of birds the star attraction is the elusive shoebill stock.

The park can be accessed both by road and air. The main access to the park from Entebbe/Kibale by road on southern gate through Masindi via Kichumbanyobo gate. The Northern and eastern gates can be approached from Chobe, Wankwa and Tangi gate.

The most established game drive circuits with highest concentration of wildlife in Murchison Falls are within the Buligi area. On a guided game drives the Buligi and Delta Area is famous for the elusive leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo that are often found grazing in the open savannah grasslands.

The highlight of the Victoria Nile is the boat cruise upstream to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. There are abundant hippos, crocodile, elephant and birdlife. During the rainy season, shoebills can make appearance.

Kaniyo Pabidi is the second largest of the four blocks that are part of Budongo Forest reserve home to over 800+ chimps and you will encounter one of 6 habituated groups in their natural habitat.

Board off the boat and join the resident ranger guide and gently walk upstream giving you plenty of time to take photos at the edge of the Murchison Falls.

Uganda listed among the world’s best bird-watching destinations and even non-birder’s will be captivated by the check list of 550 birds found in Murchison Falls Conservation Area.