The Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern End of the AIbertine Rift Valley where the bulky Bunyoro escarpment merges into the vast plains of Acholi land. One of Uganda, s oldest conservation areas, it was initially gazetted

Murchison Falls has received many notable foreign visitors. In 1907, Winston Churchill hiked, boated and bicycle up the Nile Corridor to the fall. He was followed by Theodora Roosevelt in 1909 during hunting safari that cost by, today‘s prices, a Phenomenal US$1.8m;

In 1951, the fall provided a backdrop for Humphrey Bogart in John Huston’s famous movie, The African Queen which was filmed on the location along the Murchison Niles on lake Albert .British royal have also visited Murchison, the price Of Wales (later Edward Vii) in 1930 and the Queen Mother in 1959.

The least happy celebrity visitor was Ernest Hemingway in 1954 who literally dropped in .His intention was simply to over fly the w3aterfall but his plane clipped an old telegraph wire strung across the gorge and cartwheeled into the riverine forest. Hemingway and his wife were rescued and taken to Butiaba where their rescue plane crashed on takeoff.

The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile which first races down 80km of whitewater rapid s rapid before plugging 40m over the remnant rift valley wall at Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park This waterfall was named in 1986 by the explorer Samuel Baker who considered it the most important object through the entire course of the river.’ The falls drains the last of the river ‘s energy transforming into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor for 55km to lakes Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most.

Memorable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors include elephants, giraffe and buffalos while hippopotamus and crocodiles are permanent residents.

The park covers 3,893km2 and is Uganda‘s largest protection area. Today it is part of even larger Murchison Falls protection Area (5,072km) which includes the adjoining Karuma and Bugingu wildlife reserves.

The Albert Nile corridor is Uganda’s lowest area (612m at Delta point) and temperatures can be hot with a mean maximum of 290 C. The hottest times are mid of December to mid rainy seasons in April and November

How to get there

Our experienced safari guides at Richralf east africa safaris will have the access to Murchison Falls National Park through the south by driving from Kampala through Masindi and then to the Park. The other alternative is through the Bungugu gate for those coming from Kibale National Park. This route is very scenic as it takes you through rift valley escarpments and Lake Albert. For those interested in flying to Murchison Falls National Park, there two airfields here. Bugungu Airfield is in the south while Pakuba Airfield in the northern sector. Aero link operates daily afternoon flights to Murchison Falls National Park while fly Uganda operates charter flights to this park.

Game viewing activities

Murchison Falls National Park is popular for its game drives in the northern sector known as Paraa where you get a chance of spotting the big five. The high light of activities in this National Park is the 2-hour boat cruise to the bottom of the falls where River Nile squizes itself into a narrow gorge. For kin birder, Mruchison falls National park id one of the places where yuo can spot the rare shoebill stork and bird the royal miles as well. There is chimp trekking in Budongo Forest which has the highest number of chimps in Uganda.

Lodges in Murchison Falls National Park

There are several Lodges in Murchison Falls National Park both on the south and the northern Sector. In the southern sector we have Nile Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Red Chilli, Sambiya River Lodge and Baker’s Lodge which is still under construction. In the northern sector, there lies Paraa Safari Lodge which is by far the most popular Lodge in this area.