Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison falls national park is one of the first gazetted old reserve of Uganda in 1926. It was named Murchison after Roderick Murchison by Sir Samuel Baker who had come to explorer with his wife Florence. It’s found in the Northern End of Albertine rift valley bisected by river Nile.

murchison falls national park - top of the falls

The center park is the area of the huge Bunyoro escarpment which joins in vast with Acholi plain and its final event is approximately 80km. The cascade drains the last of the rivers energy, transforming into a broad, stream that flows across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert.

Murchison falls also known as Kaberaga falls is a waterfall found at the course of rive Nile it breaks the stunning Victoria that flows across the Northern region to the vast Lake Victoria deep into lake kyoga continuing to the Northern deep of lake Albert within the western warmth of great East African rift.

The Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with thunderous roar creating a trademark rainbow.
In the park there is an adjacent to Masindi – Gulu high way Karuma falls the location of 600megwatts which in future will be Uganda’s largest Hydro Electric center in a circle of 2018.

Murchison falls national park is also the oldest and largest conservation park, a habitat of about 76 species of mammals and 451 species of birds with the shoebill as the main bird to attract a number of tourists in the park mostly during dry season from January – March.

There are different activities taking place in the park for example birding in Murchison falls national park is a place one can enjoy or come across to view the 451 bird life in the savanna forests, water birds around the park, and Albertine rift endemic.

Game drives along the Northern Bank of the river a trained guide can take you around to view different animals well pointing them out like elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Hippos, Nile crocodile, kobs the ranger will be able take you were the lions are hiding and spot out the Leopard on the dusk these animals a found in a place called paraa inside the park paraa is a name from Luo meaning a place of hippos.

Hiking and Nature walks; you can explore on foot the landscapes, sceneries and conservation with the trails of Kaniyo, pabidi and Rabongo forest which you will be able to sight primates and birds near by the Nile delta.

Cultural encounters there is full entertainment of Dancers from Mubako who dance around the camp fires to entertain the guests, Boomu women group who accommodate, have a craft shop village and give tourists a reality of rural communities in the park.

A visitor can come cross a view of sundowner well cruising around the river which can offer equatorial sunset view reflected on the river and the front view of the fall.

Sport fishing along the river banks with oxygenated water with a lot of Nile perch fish weighing about 8grams.

There also different accommodations around the park like Bakers lodge which was named after Sir Samuel Baker, Chobe safari lodge, Budongo eco lodge, Pakuba safari lodge, Paraa safari lodge, Sambiya river lodge, Shoebill campsite, Murchsion river lodge, kabalega wilderness lodge.

Murchison falls national park has a number of routes which can be used to reach the heart of Murchison falls conservation area for example Pakuba Airfield 19km which can be reached from North paraa using charted aircrafts from Entebbe international Airport, Kajjansi airfield near Kajansi and other park airfields are in Chobe East of the park and Bugungu south.

A ferry Vehicle can be used to cross the river it runs roughly hourly throughout the day.

Northern Entrance Gate; Murchison falls can also be entered from chobe, wankwor, Mubaka, Tangi gate North of the Nile from Kampala via Pakwache across Karuma falls which takes about 260km to reach the conservation area it can also be accessed by Tourists who are to or from Gulu and Kidepo.

The Southern Entrance Gate approaches to Paraa lead out of Masindi town which is 4 hour drive along the way you can stop over at Masindi Ziwa Rhino sanctuary the only home of wild Rhinos in Uganda view how they track on food.
As you enter the park you will gaze a number of Giraffes, elephants and Nile Crocodiles how they open their Jews to drink water especially during the launch trip you can’t miss out to enjoy this.

Bugungu gate this gate you will travel through Bugunya forest sighting descent rift valleys while having views a cross Lake Albert towards mountains of Congo afar from you this is quite amazing.

Murchison falls is found in Uganda near the town of Masindi, on Gulu high way it’s visited by a big number of tourists, because of its attractions like the Murchison Falls national park, number of activities like hiking to the top of the Murchison Falls, mainly the oldest and largest park in Uganda a tourist can visit by booking a tour through tour representative.

Safari trips to Murchison falls national park