Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park sits in the northwestern corner of Uganda, spanning an impressive landscape where the Victoria Nile River carves through rugged terrain. The park stretches across savannah, woodlands, and wetlands, covering nearly 3,900 square kilometres. 

The park’s namesake, Murchison Falls, named in the 19th century by British explorers who honoured Roderick Murchison the then president of the Royal Geographical Society, is where the Victoria Nile crashes through a six-metre-wide gorge and plunges with deafening force into the frothy waters below. This spectacle creates a permanent mist, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and churned water.

Beyond the falls, the park teems with life. Herds of elephant move slowly across grasslands, lion prowl the open plains while Rothschild’s giraffe, tall and graceful, move languidly among acacia trees. The Nile River and its surrounding areas support significant wildlife populations. Hippo congregate in large groups, submerging and resurfacing throughout the day. Nile crocodile bask on riverbanks, their prehistoric forms unchanged for millions of years.

Reasons to visit Murchison Falls National Park

1. Visit Murchison Falls

Standing before Murchison Falls, you feel the ground tremble with the river’s force. Water surges through the narrow gorge, creating rainbows in the mist and a roar that drowns out conversation. From the viewpoints near the falls, the sheer energy of the Nile can be felt vibrating through your body. A visit to the falls is a must-see highlight of the park.

2. Boat Cruise Upstream to the Falls

A boating safari upstream offers an intimate perspective of the falls. The journey takes you past pods of hippo and crocodile basking in the sun. Along the riverbanks, waterbuck and buffalo graze, undisturbed by the hum of the boat’s engine. As you approach the falls, the roar grows louder, and the water’s spray reaches the boat, a refreshing end to the journey.

3. Boat Cruise Downstream to the Victoria Nile Delta

The downstream cruise takes you through a different landscape where the Nile spreads into a vast, marshy delta. This region offers exceptional birdwatching opportunities. Shoebill storks, rarely seen elsewhere, inhabit these wetlands.

4. Game Drive

The savannah grasslands provide clear sightlines for spotting animals and offer an excellent setting for bird watching safaris. Herds of Uganda kob graze alongside Jackson’s hartebeest, while groups of Rothschild’s giraffe move with surprising grace. Predators, like lion, often rest in the shade, blending perfectly with the golden grasslands.

5. Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest

The Budongo Forest, located near the park, presents an opportunity to trek chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Trekking through the forest, you’re enveloped by the earthy smell of damp leaves and the sounds of primates echoing above. Guided treks allow you to observe these intelligent primates, watching their complex social interactions.

6. Hiking to the Top of Murchison Falls

The hike to the top of the falls offers both challenge and reward. The trail winds uphill through rocky terrain, offering progressively more dramatic perspectives. At the summit, you will find yourself standing meters from where millions of litres of water are compressed into a narrow channel, allowing you to feel the raw power of the Nile River.

Murchison Falls National Park Accommodation

Accommodation in and around Murchison Falls National Park caters to various preferences and budgets on a Uganda safari. For those seeking luxury, beautiful lodges offer riverside views from where you can watch elephant drink from the Nile at sunset. Mid-range options provide comfort with the charm of being immersed in the wild, often featuring traditional thatched designs and eco-friendly practices. A selection of tented camps offer an immersive experience, with canvas walls that allow the sounds of the wilderness to filter through. Regardless of where you stay, the nights come alive with the sounds of the wild, from the calls of distant lion to the croaks of frogs in the undergrowth.

Our brand new and very first Asilia lodge in Uganda, Erebero Hills, opens for travel in 2026 and will provide the ideal haven from which to venture into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. If however you will be travelling to Uganda during 2025 our travel consultants can help you build a stay at one of our preferred partner properties into your itinerary.

How to Get to Murchison Falls National Park

From Kampala, the drive to Murchison Falls takes about five hours, depending on traffic. The road winds through rolling hills, passing small villages and fields of cassava and maize. Closer to the park, the landscape shifts to acacia-dotted plains, where you might catch your first glimpse of wildlife.

From Bwindi or Kibale, the journey by road is longer, taking up to nine hours. However, the scenery changes dramatically, from misty highlands to the drier expanses of the north. Domestic flights are available from Entebbe or other regional airstrips to Pakuba Airstrip near the park for those short on time.

If travelling from Queen Elizabeth National Park, the road journey takes around six hours, crossing the Albertine Rift. The route includes stretches of rough dirt roads, but the changing landscapes from forested hills to flat plains make the trip worthwhile.

If you’re thinking about travel to East Africa, we’d love to help. Our safari experts and in-camp teams are standing by to bring you the trip of a lifetime. Simply get in touch with us at any time and we’ll be glad to assist you.