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Murchison Falls National Park

Masindi, Buliisa, Nwoya UG

8 Days

Uganda

Max People: 08

Drive/Flight

8+ Age

Discount: 15%

Murchison Falls National Park is the most visited national park in Uganda. Located in northwestern Uganda between Masindi, Buliisa, Kiryandongo, and Nwoya districts, it stretches across 3,893 km² and ranges in altitude from 615 to 1,187 meters. The park is famous for Murchison Falls, where the Nile River forces through a narrow 7-meter-wide gorge and plunges 43 meters into the Devil’s Cauldron.

Originally gazetted as a game reserve in 1926 and upgraded to national park status in 1952, it is Uganda’s oldest and largest protected area. The park has four main access gates—Kichumbanyobo, Tangi, Chobe, and Wankar Gate—and is divided into two major sections: the northern savannah grasslands, known locally as Kabalega National Park, and the southern forested sector, which includes Budongo Forest Reserve.

Most visitors come to see the falls and go on game drives in the northern sector, where wildlife like lions, elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, and hippos are easily spotted. The park also offers boat cruises on the Nile, birdwatching, nature walks, and chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest.

Murchison Falls is accessible by both road and air. A drive from Kampala takes about 5 to 6 hours, while domestic flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi take about 1 hour, landing at airstrips like Pakuba, Bugungu, or Chobe. Whether you arrive by land or air, the journey offers scenic views of Uganda’s countryside, and the park itself rewards every visitor with rich wildlife and striking landscapes.

Quick Facts

Murchison Falls National Park sits in northwestern Uganda and offers key features that shape your travel experience:

  • Location: Masindi, Nwoya, Buliisa, and Kiryandongo districts

     

  • Size: 3,893 km²

     

  • Altitude Range: 615 – 1,187 meters

     

  • Temperature Range: 21°C – 31°C

     

  • Annual Rainfall: 1,100 – 1,500 mm

     

  • Best Time to Visit: December to February and June to September

     

  • Distance from Kampala (by road): About 305 km (5–6 hours)

     

  • Flight Time from Entebbe: About 1 hour to Pakuba or Bugungu airstrip

     

Main Sectors / Access Points: Southern (Paraa, Kichumbanyobo Gate), Northern (Tangi and Wankwar Gates), Bugungu and Chobe sectors

Game Drives

The main activity in Murchison Falls National Park, also known as Kabalega National Park, is the game drive. Most visitors come to explore the park’s open savannahs in search of large mammals and rare birds.

Game drives usually take place in the northern sector, across the Nile River, where wildlife is most active. Here, you have a good chance of seeing lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, leopards, hyenas, and antelopes like Uganda kob, oribi, and hartebeest.

Drives start early in the morning or late in the afternoon when animals are easier to spot. You can join a guided game drive with a ranger or use a private 4×4 vehicle. Some lodges offer game drives as part of their packages.

The Buligi game tracks, stretching between Paraa and the Albert Nile, are the most popular. The views are open, the roads are well-marked, and the animal density is high, making it one of the best places for wildlife viewing in Uganda.

Special Experiences

Murchison Falls National Park offers more than just game drives. These unique experiences give you different ways to explore the park and its wildlife:

  • Boat Cruise to the Falls: A guided boat trip along the Nile takes you close to the base of Murchison Falls. You’ll see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and birds along the riverbanks.

  • Hike to the Top of the Falls: After the boat ride, you can hike up to see the falls from above. The trail is short but steep, and the view of the Nile crashing through the rocks is powerful and loud.

  • Delta Cruise for Birdwatching: A morning boat cruise to the Nile Delta is the best place to see rare birds like the shoebill stork. This area is quieter and rich with wetland species.

  • Chimp Tracking in Budongo Forest: Just outside the southern boundary, Budongo Forest Reserve offers guided chimpanzee tracking. It’s a separate activity but easy to combine with a park visit.

  • Night Game Drives: In selected areas and with authorized guides, you can take a night drive to look for nocturnal animals like bush babies, hyenas, and sometimes leopards.

These experiences work well for different interests and can be booked through lodges, tour operators, or Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Wildlife Zones and Sectors

Murchison Falls National Park is divided into two main sectors, each with its features, landscapes, and wildlife density. Knowing the zones helps you plan better game drives and activities.

Northern Sector (Across the Nile)

  • Location: North of the Victoria Nile

  • Known for: Best game viewing, open savannah, and large herds

  • Highlights: Lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hyenas, and leopards

  • Key Areas: Buligi, Pakuba, Delta tracks

  • Access Gate: Tangi Gate (from Pakwach) or cross the Paraa ferry

Southern Sector (Paraa and Kaniyo Pabidi)

  • Location: South of the Nile, near Masindi

  • Known for: Budongo Forest, primate tracking, birdwatching

  • Highlights: Chimpanzees, forest birds, black-and-white colobus monkeys

  • Key Areas: Kaniyo Pabidi, Rabongo Forest

  • Access Gate: Kichumbanyobo Gate (from Masindi)

Delta Zone (Nile-Albert Delta)

  • Location: Where the Nile flows into Lake Albert

  • Known for: Shoebill sightings and birdwatching by boat

  • Highlights: Wetland birds, hippos, and crocodiles

  • Access: By boat from Paraa or Pakuba

Chobe Sector

  • Location: Northeastern edge of the park

  • Known for: Riverside scenery and luxury lodge stays

  • Highlights: Elephants, giraffes, and views of the Nile

  • Access Gate: Wankwar Gate (from Karuma side)

Each zone has different landscapes—ranging from forest to grassland—and visiting more than one gives you a broader view of the park’s wildlife.

Other Attractions

Murchison Falls National Park was gazetted in 1952 and remains Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area. The park is home to over 76 mammal species and more than 450 bird species.

Besides game drives and boat cruises, the park offers a range of other natural attractions:

  • Murchison Falls: The park’s main feature is the 45-meter drop where the Nile squeezes through a 7-meter-wide gorge. You can view it from above or below.

  • Karuma Falls: Located near the Chobe sector, these fast-flowing rapids are a scenic stop along the Gulu highway.

  • Budongo Forest: On the southern edge, this is the largest mahogany forest in East Africa and home to over 600 chimpanzees.

  • Rabongo Forest: A smaller tropical forest inside the park, good for primate walks and birdwatching.

  • Albert Nile Riverbanks: The western boundary is great for wildlife viewing by boat or from the shore. Hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and birdlife are common here.

  • Nile Delta: The area where the river enters Lake Albert is quiet and rich in wetland species. It’s one of the best places in Africa to spot the shoebill stork.

These attractions are spread across the park’s 3,893 km², and many can be reached on a standard 2–4 day itinerary.

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