Murchison falls national park lies at the northern end of Albertine rift valley where the sleeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into a large palm dotted savannah. First gazetted as a game reserve in 1926, it is Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds.

The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in 80km stretch of rapids. The stretch of the river provides one of Uganda's most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes, while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents.

Accessibility to the Park

The Park can be by road through the southern entrance gates approaches to paraa out of Masindi town which is 4hours drive 305km from Kampala. Along the way is ziwa rhino sanctuary home to the wild rhinos in Uganda. You can track them on foot and support this important initiative to reintroduce rhinos to protected areas.

A longer but more scenic alternative runs for 135km from Masindi to parks bugungu gate the route includes passage through budongo forest and memorable descent of the rift valley escarpment with views across Lake Albert towards the mountains of the Congo. Northern entrance gates where one can enter from Chobe, wankwar, mubako and tangi gates north of the Nile. These are reached from kampala-pakwach road which crosses the Nile at karuma falls bridge northeastern corner of the park 260km from Kampala. These gates are convenient for visitors travelling to or from Gulu town and kidepo valley national park.

Air Travel

The Park can be accessed by flight at pakuba airfield 19km from north paraa can be reached using a chartered aircraft from Entebbe international airport or kajjansi airfield near Kampala. Or other airfields in the park like Chobe to the east, and bugungu near Murchison falls to the south.

Activities in the Murchison Falls National Park

Birding

Both on the game drives and the lunch trips offer an opportunity for one to come across distinct birdlife including the savannah forest birds, water birds and Albertine rift endemics and the shoebills being the main birding attraction being sighted in the dry seasons from January to march.

Games drives

Around buligi game tracks on the northern bank with a trained ranger guide is fantastic way to see and photograph the wide range of animals in the Nile valleys where your guide will have a good idea where the lions are hiding and you may even spot leopard at dusk.

Hiking and nature walks

This experiences gives you an opportunity to see the vast landscapes and the varied scenery of Murchison falls national park and the surrounding conservation area can be explored on foot. Trails through kaniyo pabidi and rubongo forests provide sightings of many primates and birds and also do 2-4 hours guided swamp walks offer possible shoebill sightings.

Lunch trips

The lunch trip from paraa presents an astonishing display of wildlife and culminates with memorable frontal view of the falls and its recommended for birders is a morning cruise downstream to the Nile lake Albert delta.

Sport fishing

The banks of the Nile below Murchison falls provides exciting challenges to anglers. Living within strong currents and highly oxygenated water is the Nile perch. There is the chance to land a massive catch- the record is 108kg.

Cultural encounters

Here you get to find energetic dancers from mubako perform around lodge campfires making for a magical African experience at dusk. Boomu women’s group offers accommodation, a craft shop and village tours, revealing the realities of this rural community.