Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest National Park and arguably also offers the best game viewing anywhere in the country. It is here that the raging waters of the Victoria Nile are forced through a narrow gap of just several metres, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls.

• Walking to the viewpoint overlooking the mighty Murchison Falls
• A boat safari along the game-rich Nile River
• Wonderful bird watching with a high chance of seeing the shoebill stork
• Chimp tracking in the nearby Budongo Forest

Covering some 4,000 sq. km, the park is split by the mighty Victoria Nile flowing towards Lake Albert. The denser woodland to the south of the river gives way to very scenic tall grassland, riverine woodland, acacia savannah &borassus palms on the north bank – and this is where the bulk of the park’s animals are to be found.

The resident wildlife population includes elephant, lion, buffalo and the world’s largest population of endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, as well as plentiful hippo and crocodiles along the river. Leopard, spotted hyena, hartebeest and waterbuck are also frequently encountered. Birdlife in the park is a highlight with a recorded count of over 550 species, and this is one of the best places in Africa to spot the rare shoebill stork.

In addition to game drives, one of the best ways of appreciating the river and its wildlife is to take a launch trip from Paraa towards the base of Murchison Falls: the game viewing and diversity of birdlife is exceptional. Excellent bird watching can also be enjoyed on a cruise downstream from Paraa to Lake Albert.