Murchison Falls National Park, at 3,893 sq km Uganda’s largest, wraps around the Victoria Nile as it thunders through the narrow gorge of Murchison Falls on its way to Lake Albert. Established in 1952 in Uganda’s northwest, the park combines classic savannah game viewing north of the river with dense riverine forest and the Nile’s dramatic gorge scenery, making it one of the most complete safari destinations in the country.
The park at a glance
- 3,893 sq km, Uganda’s largest national park, spanning the Victoria Nile between Lake Albert and Karuma Falls
- Established in 1952 in Uganda’s north-western region
- Home to around 76 mammal species and Uganda’s largest Nile crocodile population
- A designated Lion Conservation Unit since 2005, alongside giraffes, elephants and buffalo
A park built around the river
The Victoria Nile splits the park into two distinct halves. North of the river, open savannah and woodland support game drives among lions, elephants, buffalo and around 1,500 Rothschild’s giraffes, a population boosted by translocations from elsewhere in Uganda. South of the river, the terrain rises into forest, including the Budongo Forest Reserve, one of Uganda’s best sites for chimpanzee trekking. The Murchison Falls themselves, where the entire river is squeezed through a gap only about seven metres wide before plunging 43 metres, sit at the park’s heart and are usually visited both by boat from below and on foot from above; Offmap Safaris covers the falls themselves in more detail on their own page.
Boat cruises and river wildlife
A Nile boat cruise below the falls is one of the park’s signature activities, bringing visitors close to hippos, Nile crocodiles and abundant waterbirds along the riverbank, with the option to continue upstream toward the base of the falls themselves. The Paraa Bridge, a roughly 520-metre span opened in 2021, now carries vehicles across the Nile at Paraa, connecting the northern and southern sections of the park for travelers moving between game drives and Budongo’s forest trails, having replaced the vehicle ferry that once made the same crossing.
Things to do
- Game drives across the northern savannah for lions, giraffes, elephants and buffalo
- A Nile boat cruise below Murchison Falls for hippos, crocodiles and birdlife
- Chimpanzee trekking in the adjoining Budongo Forest Reserve
- A hike to the top of the falls for views straight down into the gorge
Practical information
- Reached by road from Kampala, about four to five hours, or via a short connecting flight to Pakuba airstrip
- The Paraa Bridge links the park’s northern and southern sections, open to vehicles at all times, unlike the ferry it replaced
- Best visited in the dry seasons, June to September and December to February, for easier game drives
Murchison Falls National Park pairs big-game savannah safari with one of the Nile’s most spectacular stretches. Offmap Safaris can build a full itinerary combining game drives, the boat cruise and Budongo chimpanzee trekking. To start planning, visit Plan My African Safari, message us on WhatsApp at +256 701 243 304, or email [email protected]. See also our notes on health and safety and responsible travel.
