Murchison Falls National Park

Overview:

Murchison Falls National Park, with 3,840 square kilometers, is Uganda’s largest National Park. The park is cut in half by the Nile and its landscape varies from dense rainforest on the hilly ranges in the South-West, to undulating savannah in the North-West.

Wildlife:

• The park shelters many primate species, including Chimpanzees.
• Various Antelopes, Buffalos, Rothschild-Giraffes, and Elephants are attracted to the river.
• These gentle giants are slowly recovering from the brutal slaughter they suffered during the civil wars, when they were used as moving targets for the army’s artillery.

Game-Viewing:

The prime area for game-viewing is the peninsula between the Victoria and the Albert Niles, known as the Buligi Circuit. Here, the concentration of animals is highest, with lush forest patches along waterways and conspicuous Borassus Palms dotting the landscape.

Murchison Falls:

The world-famous falls are a must-see for visitors. The most impressive view is at the top where the Nile forces its way through a 7 meter gap in the rocks and tumbles 40 meters down. A path leads from the parking above the falls to the bottom, offering spectacular views of the rushing, foaming waters into the gorge.

Activities:

• Visitors can take a refreshing Nile-bath in a small basin above the falls.
• The historical highlight was boat trips on the Nile, with fewer passengers and boats available today.
• Boats navigate from shore to shore, where you can see hundreds of Hippos, huge crocodiles basking on sandbanks, and various other animals like elephants and giraffes along the shores.

Riverboat Experience:

The river hosts large Nile crocodiles and thousands of hippos, with buffalos and herds of elephants also visible. The park is also home to giraffe, oribi, hartebeest, waterbuck, and Uganda kob. The boat excursion offers a visual feast with diverse wildlife and bird species, notably the rare shoebill stork and the elegant goliath heron.