MURCHISON FALLS
NATIONAL PARK
​Experience nature's raw power at Murchison Falls. Watch the Nile surge through a narrow gorge, forming Africa's most spectacular waterfall. Encounter diverse wildlife: hippos, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and countless birds.
Spanning 3,840 km² (1,482 sq mi), Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest national park. It is bisected by the Nile, the world’s longest river, on its journey toward the Mediterranean Sea. Named after Sir Roderick Murchison, this conservation area remains one of Africa’s most pristine wildernesses and untamed savannas.
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The park’s dramatic scenery has frequently served as a cinematic backdrop, most notably for the Oscar-winning film The African Queen. Its geography is unique: the north consists of vast open savanna, while the south is covered in tropical forest. This contrast allows for the observation of fascinating differences between forest species—such as elephants and buffaloes—and their savanna counterparts.
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While game drives offer an easy way to see wildlife, nature walks reveal sights and sounds off the beaten track. The quintessential experience is the boat cruise to the falls. Here, the entire Nile is compressed into a narrow 7 meter (23 ft) gap before plunging 45 m (148 ft) down. This immense power creates a spectacular outburst of foam that continues over 80 km (50 mi) of rapids. Downstream, the riverbanks are teeming with elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, and Nile crocodiles.
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The park has long attracted world-renowned figures, including Sir Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Theodore Roosevelt, and Queen Elizabeth II. For sports fishing enthusiasts, the park is legendary; the waters hold giant Nile Perch weighing up to 80 kg (176 lb). The annual fishing tournament held every June is a highlight of the local calendar.
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Sitting at an altitude of over 600 meters (1,968 ft), Murchison is a mosaic of grasslands, woodlands, tropical forests, and wetlands. It is home to 109 mammal species and 476 bird species. For birdwatchers, the Nile delta is the premier location to find the rare Shoebill Stork. Additionally, the neighboring Budongo Forest Reserve offers the exceptional opportunity to track chimpanzees.
