The Rumbling Murchison Falls

“Upon rounding the corner in our canoes, a magnificent sight burst upon us…Rushing through a gap that clift rock exactly before us, the river, contracted from a grand stream, was pent up in a narrow gorge scarcely fifty yards (50m) in width. Roaring furiously through the rock bound pass, it plunged in a single leap of about 120 feet (40m) perpendicular into a dark abyss below”

SAMULE BAKER, Murchison Falls, 1864

Murchison Falls is a rumbling waterfall along the Nile that violently explodes through a narrow 6m gorge. The falls are the icon that Murchison Falls National Park is named. The national park, named by Sir Samuel and Florence Baker, is named after the then President of the Royal Geographical Society in London. The falls forces the mighty River Nile that bisects Murchison Falls National Park through a 6-meter wide gap, bouncing off igneous rocks down 43 meters before continuing on its journey north. Some 300 cubic meters of water per second crashes through the gap.

Seeing this enormously impressive Murchison Falls 140 feet up cutting a horizon against the sky, is simply an unforgettable experience you shouldn’t miss out.

Just below Murchison Falls, another moment grabbing sight are the grazers that can often be found hanging in the waters of the Nile. At your tented camp at night, this hippo, a nocturnal feeder, will emerge and spend the entire evening searching for grass.

On the banks of the Nile, hundreds of birds can be observed. This type of diversity is breathtaking. Imagine thousands of birds living peacefully alongside buffalos, crocodiles, and elephants. That’s the shores of the Nile in this park.

The 1,500 square mile park is the largest in Uganda and, and is home to lions, leopards, hundreds of species of birds, including the rare shoe-billed stork, over three quarters of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, the second-largest population of elephants in the country, as well as a number of other herbivores including Jackson’s hartebeest, buffalo, oribi, waterbuck, Uganda kob antelope and reedbuck.

There are a number of activities to choose from in Murchison Falls National Park, the most popular of which are Nile boat trips, wildlife drives and nature walks. Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest Reserve has recently become a major highlight.

Murchison Safari Trips

The park can be a destination on itself, we recommend you make reservations of a minimum of a 4-day all inclusive trip to fully experience what this park can offer. Add Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which enroute to the park, to your itinerary to have a complete Africa’s famous ‘BIG Five’ animals since Rhinos do not exist within the park.

Where to stay

Most of Murchison’s lodges are located within the vicinity of the Paraa park headquarters, a convenient choice for wildlife drives and the falls. There are also more remote options in the far west, north and south sectors, providing a more peaceful experience.

Check out—Bakers Lodge, GeoLodges Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge, and Murchison Safari Lodge. If you want to stay on top of the Falls themselves, try the UWA campsite. Anyone wanting to stay outside of the park can even look on Airbnb for more luxurious rentals.

Our Murchison Falls safaris are all inclusive with accommodation included in the package so that you don’t have to go through the hustle of choosing where to stay.

What you should pack

Packing is fairly standard. Pack as you would for any other adventure travel experience. Try to pack clothes that are lightweight and would provide coverage from the sun. If you’re going to hike to the top of the falls, you may want to bring waterproof gear.

If you have a dry bag, bring this along for your non-waterproof electronics like your phone and camera. Pack a comfortable pair of hiking boots, insect repellent, and sunscreen. Other than that, just remember to pack light and that less is more. You won’t need much for your trip here, just protection from the African elements and an adventurous spirit.

When is the best time to go

The best times are during the drier seasons, January-March and June-August. However, January and February can be very hot and scenery is more beautiful during the Wet season from June to November.

How to get to Murchison

Murchison Falls National Park is located 305km/190mi north of Kampala (Uganda’s capital). The drive takes about four hours. It is also possible to fly to Pakuba, Chobe and Bugundu Airfield by chartered or scheduled aircraft service from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) or Kajjansi Airfield near Kampala.

When flying from abroad, you’ll arrive at Entebbe International Airport (EBB). It is located 46km/29mi from the capital (Kampala). If you’re travelling with us, we’ll arrange for you to be picked up at the airport and will take care of all further transportation as part of your Murchison Falls safari package.

Interested in travelling with us to Murchison, check out these pre-planned tours or contact our tour consultants to help you craft one fabulous trip to Uganda.