While Uganda might not be quite as famous for safaris as Kenya or Tanzania, there’s no denying that if you’re a nature lover or a wildlife enthusiast, there’s still plenty here to delight and surprise you.
Uganda has an impressive ten National Parks offering an incredible array of birds and animals to enjoy, all set against a backdrop of some of the most spectacular landscapes anywhere in East Africa.
One of the very best of these is Murchison Falls National Park.
About my visit to Murchison Falls National Park Uganda
I spent three months living in Kampala, Uganda, volunteering as a video producer and photographer for the children’s charity Childs i Foundation.
While I spent the majority of my time in the city, I did manage to do some weekend trips from Kampala, as well as one big two-week trip around western Uganda. I travelled with my friend Linn and a very lovely Ugandan guide and driver named Hassan.
And one of the first and most important places on our itinerary was Murchison Falls National Park. I’d heard nothing but good things about it, including that it’s Uganda’s most popular national park, so it was definitely going on the list!
We spent two days doing a Murchison Falls safari, exploring all the park’s highlights and taking hundreds of safari photos, so now I’m going to share them with you!
Side note: the name of the falls and the park is Murchison Falls, not Murchinson Falls with an extra ‘n’ – quite a few people seem to get this wrong.
Where is Murchison Falls located?
Murchison Falls National Park is located in northwestern Uganda, close to the shores of Lake Albert.
It’s about 185 miles (300 km) or a 5-6 hour drive from Kampala, and about 50 miles (80 km) or 90 minutes from the nearest large town, Masindi.
What is famous about Murchison Falls National Park?
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest and most visited national park.
It’s most famous for the waterfalls after which it is named. The spectacular Murchison Falls are the biggest waterfall in Uganda. They occur where the Nile River narrows, and the water dramatically forces itself through the gap and plunges over the top with incredible power.
The park is also known for its impressive array of wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffalos, and over 500 bird species, including the rare shoebill stork.
Read More: An Epic Uganda Itinerary In 2 Weeks
About Murchison Falls waterfall
Murchison Falls are listed widely in guides to Uganda as one of the top sights in the country, and with very good reason.
The main waterfall is said to be the most powerful in the world: where the path of the Victoria Nile narrows to an almost hair-thin seven-metre gap – the narrowest point anywhere on the entire length of this epic river. Here the full force of the water surges through this tiny crack and plummets over a 43 metre drop at 300 cubic metres per second (which is a LOT, in case you were wondering).
The waterfall may not be the biggest or the tallest in the world, but when this much water is squeezed through such a tiny gap, the pressure it exerts is immense – and that’s why it’s the most powerful.
You’d think that over millions of years such pressure would erode the rocks, widen the gap, and weaken the waterfall, but the rock here is super-hard granite so the crack will remain as narrow as it currently is for many more millennia to come.
It’s a totally spectacular thing to witness, and probably the number one reason to visit Murchison Falls National Park.
A brief history of Murchison Falls
According to the tribe who live on the river’s south bank, these Falls are called Mpanga, which means God or Creator.
But in 1864 they were given the name Murchison by the British explorer Sir Samuel Baker, who ‘discovered’ them while on a journey to chart the course of the Nile. He named them after the man who had funded his expedition: the then-president of the Royal Geographical Society, Sir Roderick Murchison.
The falls were renamed again in the 1970s by the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. He gave them the name Kabalega after a local king, and closed the park to the public so he could turn it into his own private playground.
But just like Amin himself, the name didn’t last, and the official name has reverted to Murchison Falls. However some locals still refer to the park as Kabalega National Park, so if you hear that term, this is the place they’re talking about!
Murchison Falls facts: at a glance
- Height of the falls: 43 meters (141 feet)
- Width of the falls: 7 meters (23 feet) at the top
- Speed of the waterfall: The Victoria Nile River discharges around 300 cubic meters of water per second (11,000 cubic feet per second) at the falls.
- Size of the park: 3,893 square kilometers (1,503 square miles)
- Age of the park: Established as a game reserve in 1926, making it Uganda’s oldest conservation area.
- Number of visitors per year: Over 70,000 visitors per year
- Other interesting facts:
- The park is named after Sir Roderick Murchison, a geologist who never actually visited the falls.
- Ernest Hemingway crash-landed his plane near the Murchison Falls in 1954.
- The Nile River, which runs through Murchison Falls National Park, is the longest river in Africa and the second longest river in the world.
- The 1951 film “The African Queen” starring Humphrey Bogart was filmed on Lake Albert and the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park.
Things to do in Murchison Falls National Park Uganda
Like any National Park in East Africa, Murchison Falls is a fantastic place to get away from the city, enjoy being out in nature, and spot fantastic wildlife. Here are some of the top things you shouldn’t miss on your visit to Murchison Falls Uganda.
1/ Visit the Top of the Falls
Obviously you cannot come to Murchison Falls National Park and not visit the falls themselves!
Murchison Falls can be viewed from two angles – the bottom (about which more below) and the top.
Our first visit was to the Top of the Falls, where there’s a car park and a gravelled path leading up a fairly steep but short hill to a viewpoint. This viewpoint overlooks the crucial spot where the Victoria Nile narrows to a tiny gap and the water surges through.
On one side you can see the torrent of water, complete with a dense spray that will drench you (and your camera, so be careful!) in seconds, and if you turn and look in the other direction you can see the lower part of the river as it flows west towards Lake Albert in the distance.
The view from the top is astounding.
The viewing platform is heart-stoppingly close to the water, which pounds and churns through the crack with a deafening roar.
There is a railing, but it’s pretty low and rusty, so it’s a good idea to stand a little way back in case you inadvertently lose your balance. I don’t fancy your chances if you do!
When you’ve had enough of being drenched by spray, you can then walk along the path that leads gently upwards from the viewpoint to the fissure itself.
It’s an incredible sight to see all that water spewing and foaming through this narrow gap, then tumbling down though the crack before pouring out into the river at the bottom.
Have a quick watch of this short video and you’ll soon see why a visit to the top of Murchison Falls is one of the most amazing things to do in Uganda!
I’ve visited quite a lot of waterfalls (including these amazing waterfalls in Iceland) but Murchison Falls are definitely up there amongst the best I’ve seen.
I’d have loved to have been able to stay longer but the sun was setting and we needed to complete the drive to our lodge before it got dark. If you’re looking for information about Murchison Falls accommodation, details about where we stayed are at the end of this post.
Read More: 7 Best Weekend Trips from Kampala, Uganda
2 / Do a boat ride to the Bottom of the Falls
The second way to enjoy spectacular views of the waterfall – as well as enjoying the landscapes and wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park, is to take a River Nile boat cruise.
Murchison Falls boat trips start close to the Paraa ferry crossing in the far west of the park, and cruise eastward along the Victoria Nile towards the thundering falls. This part of the river is wide and serene, and opportunities to get close to the wildlife are plentiful.
River Nile boat cruises last about 3 hours (an hour and a half in each direction). Along the way, you’ll slow to look at any wildlife you might see chilling out on the riverbank, before finally reaching the main attraction: the Bottom of Murchison Falls.
From a safe distance a few hundred metres away from the foaming torrent, you can get a clear view of that narrow crack in the cliff and the water thundering through.
It’s undoubtedly the best way to see the falls in their entirety, and see how they fit into the landscape.
Seeing wildlife on a Murchison Falls River Nile cruise
As well as the falls themselves, a waterfall cruise along the River Nile is a great way to see the wildlife that comes down to the river to drink, as well as numerous aquatic creatures like hippos and crocodiles, and of course water bird species.
Although the boat is covered I’d suggest making sure you take suncream and a hat, and try to sit on the left hand side which will be the side closer to the riverbank.
Keep on reading to find out more about the birds and animals you can see in Murchison Falls National Park Uganda.
I took my Canon 5D Mark IV, a 70-200 f/2.8 L II lens, and a Canon 2x extender, giving me a range of 400 mm. Settled comfortably on the boat, shooting away at everything we passed like a crazed paparazzo at a celebrity wedding, I was absolutely in my happiest of happy places.
Read more: My Camera Equipment List: What’s In My Gear Bag?
Which order should you visit Murchison Falls in?
We went to the Top of the Falls first and then did our River Nile cruise the next day, but in my view, it might be more exciting to do the visits the other way round: see the falls from a distance first, and then go in for the dramatic closeup afterwards.
In fact many people do exactly this.
When you reach the Bottom of the Falls on your boat cruise you can disembark and walk up the Baker’s Trail to the Top of the Falls. This walk costs an extra $15 and is escorted by an armed guard in case of surprise wildlife encounters.
If you do this, you’ll need a driver to come and collect you from the Top of the Falls when you’ve finished your hike.
As we’d already been to the top, we took the boat back to where we started.
Read more: A Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise In Uganda: Is It Worth It?
How to book your Murchison Falls boat safari
Our boat trip was operated by Wild Frontiers Uganda Safaris.
Boat cruises cost US$35 per person and last about 3 hours.
Boats depart daily at 2.30pm with additional departures in the mornings at 08.30am and 11.00am during peak times. There’s also a Waterfall & Sundowner afternoon cruise at 3.30 pm, with drinks and snacks included.
Or click here for Murchison Falls tour options from TourRadar or Viatour.
Our Murchison Falls cruise captain
Our captain and guide on the cruise was Ellis, 33. He told me he has always been passionate about animals, so after finishing school did a course in tourism and became a guide.
He says he loves working with nature, and his favourite animal is the leopard because he comes from the leopard clan. In Uganda everybody has a clan; each one is named after an animal which is said to guide and protect you.
In theory this means that Ellis should be safe from ever being harmed by a leopard, but fortunately he’s scientifically-minded and is careful not to take risks just in case!
3 / Do a Murchison Falls safari game drive
Another of the top things to do in Murchison Falls National Park is a game viewing drive.
At nearly 4000 km2 , Murchison Falls National Park is the biggest national park in Uganda. It’s managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
It’s home to over 500 bird species and around 75 mammal species, including lions, giraffes, elephants, hippos, hyenas, kingfishers, and the Ugandan national bird, the crested crane.
That makes it one of the best places to see wildlife in Uganda. And for me, there’s nothing more thrilling than heading out early in the morning in a car with a pop-up top, with my camera in my hand, ready to photograph incredible African animals.
This was my first visit to a National Park in Uganda so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect.
Two years before I went to Uganda, I was lucky enough to go on safari in the Serengeti, famously one of the best wildlife-viewing places in the world, and was blown away by the abundance and diversity of the animals and birds we saw.
Uganda is not nearly so well-known for her wildlife, so I knew not to hope for Tanzanian-size populations, but I was still hoping for some great photo opportunities – and with fewer other cars or tourists around to spoil the peace.
And I was not disappointed!
How to get to your Murchison Falls safari
Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by the River Nile, which runs across the park from east to west and divides the park in two.
Most of the lodge and other Murchison Falls accommodation options are located on the south side of the River Nile, while the best area for safari viewing is on the north side.
That means that to have the best chance of seeing animals you need to cross the River Nile – and the only way to do this is by means of the Paraa Ferry.
There is also a bridge – the Karuma Bridge – but it’s located at the very furthest eastern end of the park, a long drive from the lodges. What’s more, the bridge is old (built in 1963), narrow, and has been the site of several major accidents.
So if you want to cross the River Nile, it has to be the ferry!
The Paraa Ferry in Murchison Falls National Park
The Paraa Ferry is a single tiny ferry with room for about 8 cars. It departs daily from 7 am to 7 pm and costs 5000 UGx ($1.30 or £1) for pedestrians and 20,000 UGx ($5 or £3) for a car.
The world is waking up to the beauty of Uganda, so the queue to board the ferry can be pretty long.
Naturally Hassan, our driver, was keen for us to get there as early as possible to maximise time in the park, so he dragged us out of bed well before dawn and we headed to the Paraa ferry station as fast as we could, armed with a packed breakfast.
Even so, we had to wait for the ferry to make three round trips (about 10 minutes each way, so an hour’s wait) before it was our turn.
So here’s a pro tip: unless you want to sit in a queue for the ferry for several hours, get there as early as you can!
Still, it wasn’t a terrible place to sit and watch the sunrise with an egg sandwich.
4/ Go chimpanzee tracking
Another very popular and brilliant thing to do in Murchison Falls National Park is go chimpanzee tracking.
To see the chimpanzees you need to head to the Budongo Forest, which is an area of dense rainforest within Murchison Falls National Park and is a prime habitat for chimpanzees. Here, a number of group have been gradually habituated to the presence of humans, which means they won’t run away when you come near and you can approach them safely.
On a chimpanzee trek, guides lead small groups through the forest, following chimpanzee tracks and listening for their calls. Once you find a chimpanzee group, you’ll have about an hour to quietly observe them socializing, foraging, and moving through the trees.
I didn’t do chimpanzee tracking in Murchison Falls Park but I did do it in Kibale Forest and it was hands down one of the best things I did in my entire Uganda trip. I highly recommend you do it, either in Murchison Falls or in Kibale National Park.
What animals can you see in Murchison Falls National Park?
Apart from chimpanzees, other Ugandan animals you might see on safari in Murchison Falls National Park include:
Giraffes. Giraffes live around 25-30 years, and get darker-coloured as they get older. Our guide reckoned the one of the left is at least 20 years old.
This Nile crocodile is about three years old, and is very lucky to be alive. Baby crocodiles are left to fend for themselves after just one month and only about 1 per cent survive to adulthood.
Hippos. These guys were everywhere on our Nile cruise, mostly just chilling in the water, grunting and snorting in a relaxed fashion, and occasionally disappearing under the surface.
I was surprised to learn that hippos cannot actually swim: to move around they walk along the bottom holding their breath, and then come back up to the surface to breathe every 5 minutes or so.
Hippos spend their days in the river, and come out to the shore to eat grass at night. Despite being vegetarian, they kill more humans than any other large animal. Around 400 people are year are killed by hippos in Africa.
We also spotted this evil-looking spotted hyena, who skulked furtively past our car like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t.
Despite their reputation as scavengers, hyenas, particularly spotted hyenas, are actually skilled hunters and can take down large prey like wildebeest and zebra on their own. They are estimated to obtain around 70% of their food through hunting.
This very handsome chap is an Ugandan kob, the national animal of Uganda. There are more than 35,000 of them in the park, so you should have no trouble spotting one.
Elephants. You don’t often see elephants lying down, but don’t worry, they’re not sick or dead, they’re just taking a nap. It’s not that common to see elephants sleeping because they normally sleep at night.
Although we did come across a fair amount of wildlife, there’s obviously a difference between here and places like Tanzania and Kenya.
Murchison Falls is not the Serengeti, nor does it claim to be. But there’s still masses to see here, and driving through the park is also a great opportunity to enjoy the landscape.
We were even able to get out of the car and walk around by the river for a bit, which was lovely after all that driving, and not something you can do in African national parks where there are more predators around.
Read More: 19 Easy Wildlife Photography Tips For Beginners
What birds can you see on a Murchison Falls safari?
Birds you can expect to see on safari in Murchison Falls National Park include:
Plenty of pied kingfishers, which were everywhere. True to their name, pied kingfishers are strikingly beautiful with contrasting black and white plumage. Unlike most birds, pied kingfishers can hover mid-air while hunting for fish, staying perfectly still in the air to spot their prey in the water below before diving down to catch it.
Black-headed weaver birds. These guys are the dream date of the bird world: each one works hard to single-handedly weave a great nest for his desired female, and if she doesn’t like it, he’ll rip it up and start all over again.
Red-throated bee eater. As their name implies, red-throated bee-eaters feast on bees, particularly honey bees. They’ve developed a clever technique of bashing the bee against a hard surface to remove the stinger before consuming their prey.
This weird-looking bird is a saddle-billed stork, the tallest stork in the world. The patch on her chest is called a ‘brood patch’ – it’s a bare area of skin well-supplied with blood vessels for keeping her eggs warm when she’s incubating. When she settles over the eggs, the heat from her body will be easily transferred to the eggs through this patch.
Yellow billed storks were a common sight too, wading and fishing by the water’s edge. Yellow-billed storks have a unique feeding method called “foot stirring”. They wade through shallow water, stirring up the mud with one foot to disturb prey. When they sense a fish or other creature, they quickly snap it up with their long, slightly curved bill.
Cattle egrets. Cattle egrets are opportunistic feeders and often follow large mammals, like cows and buffalo, to catch insects and small animals disturbed by their movement. This relationship benefits both parties, as the egrets get an easier meal and the mammals are less bothered by pests.
Ready to book your Murchison Falls safari tour? Click here to search for options from TourRadar or Viatour.
Where to stay in Murchison Falls National Park Uganda
There are at least a dozen Murchison Falls accommodation options, ranging from reasonably budget to extremely upmarket.
We stayed in the very nice Murchison River Lodge, which is situated right on the river about 15 minutes from the Paraa ferry crossing.
Another good option is Paraa Safari Lodge which has comfortable rooms and is conveniently located on the north side of the river so you don’t have to worry about the crossing.
Click here to see a selection of other hotels near to Murchison Falls.
Inside Murchison River Lodge: a quick review
Murchison River Lodge has a range of accommodation options to choose from, varying from basic but comfortable safari tents (which we stayed in) to thatched family-sized cottages.
Although our tent was fairly simple, this is not regular camping. We had big, comfy beds, a romantic mosquito net that made me feel like I was sleeping in a four-poster, and a large, clean shared bathroom block just a short walk away.
The main buildings of Murchison River Lodge are clustered on the river bank, where there’s a restaurant and outside seating. From here you can relax by the water and listen to the hippos splashing and grunting as you sip your Nile lager and watch the sun set.
And very pretty it was too!
It’s not a good idea to swim in the river for obvious reasons (hippos! crocodiles!), but helpfully Murchison River Lodge even has a small pool where you can cool off after your hot day of wildlife viewing.
How much is Murchison Falls National Park entry?
- Entry to Murchison Falls National Park costs $45 for foreigners who don’t live in Uganda, and $35 for a foreign resident. Prices are per person, per day.
- The Paraa ferry costs $7-13 depending on the size of your car. Ferries start from 7 am and you should definitely be there by 6.30 at the latest if you don’t want to sit in a queue all morning.
- Boat trips are offered by Uganda Wildlife Authority, Paraa Safari Lodge, and Wild Frontiers. We travelled with Wild Frontiers and I thought the trip was excellent. It cost $35 per person and took two hours to get to the base of the falls and a further hour to return.
What to pack for a Murchison Falls safari
If you’re wondering what to wear on safari, I’ve written a whole separate safari packing list!
Is Murchison Falls worth it?
It’s a little bit of a mission to get to Murchison Falls, with a fairly long drive. And by the time you’ve paid for a car and driver, park entry fees, activities and accommodation, the price can soon add up.
But a safari in Uganda is not as expensive as in Kenya, Tanzania or Botswana, and not as crowded either.
Above all, Murchison Falls offers beautiful scenery, amazing wildlife, brilliant boat cruises and chimpanzee tracking, and of course that incredible waterfall! So yes, in my opinion it’s definitely worth it!
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Where to next?
If you’re planning a trip to Uganda, you definitely shouldn’t miss some of my many other Uganda posts, including:
- A Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise In Uganda: Is It Worth It?
- Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda: Is It Overhyped?
- An Epic Uganda Itinerary In 2 Weeks
- 28 Brilliant Things To Do In Uganda
- White Water Kayaking at the Nile River Festival in Jinja, Uganda
- A Perfect Day in Kampala
Bella is a multi-award-winning travel writer, wildlife photographer and science and history documentary director from London. Among many awards and nominations she won Blogger of the Year at the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Awards 2023 and Best Photography at the Travel Media Awards 2020. Her work has been published by National Geographic, Wanderlust, and BBC Travel among others. Her films have been shown around the world including on the BBC, Discovery and PBS.
