Murchison Falls is Uganda's largest national park, and its centrepiece is one of the most powerful sights in Africa: the entire flow of the Victoria Nile forcing through a gorge about seven metres wide, then dropping more than 40 metres in a roar of spray.
Below the falls the river widens and slows on its way to Lake Albert, creating a green corridor full of hippos, crocodiles and birds. North of the river, the Buligi plains are classic savannah with Rothschild's giraffe, elephant, buffalo, lion and big herds of Uganda kob. South of the river, the land rises into woodland and the Budongo Forest, home to chimpanzees.
Nile Safari Lodge overlooks the river, and we often plan the journey there with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda to see rhinos on foot.
The northern bank holds elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, Rothschild’s giraffe, Uganda kob, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi and warthog, while the river is crowded with hippos and some very large Nile crocodiles. Budongo Forest, at the park’s southern edge, is home to habituated chimpanzees.
Around 450 bird species have been recorded. The papyrus swamps of the Nile delta are among the most reliable places in Africa for the shoebill, and the riverbanks bring goliath herons, African skimmers and red-throated bee-eaters.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
The park is split by the Nile. To the north lie rolling grasslands dotted with borassus palms and acacia, running west to the shores of Lake Albert and the Rift Valley escarpment. To the south, the land is more wooded and gives way to the tall forest of Budongo. The falls themselves are the dramatic heart of it all, a narrow slot of white water and rising spray framed by dark rock.
Activities here
Murchison is one of Uganda’s warmer parks, with daytime temperatures often between 28°C and 32°C and nights around 19°C to 22°C. The main rains come from March to May and from August to November, with the driest months December to February.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32 | 20 | 15 |
| Feb | 33 | 21 | 35 |
| Mar | 32 | 21 | 80 |
| Apr | 30 | 21 | 140 |
| May | 29 | 20 | 130 |
| Jun | 28 | 20 | 90 |
| Jul | 28 | 20 | 90 |
| Aug | 28 | 20 | 120 |
| Sep | 29 | 20 | 130 |
| Oct | 29 | 20 | 130 |
| Nov | 30 | 20 | 70 |
| Dec | 31 | 20 | 25 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
December to February is the driest and hottest time, with days often above 30°C, dry golden grass and animals concentrated near the Nile. June and July bring a second, less marked dry spell. Early morning drives and afternoon boat trips avoid the worst of the midday heat.
Rain falls from about March to November, heaviest from April to May and from August to October, usually in afternoon storms. The grass grows tall, which makes some game harder to spot, and a few northern tracks can become boggy, but the river trips run year round and the park is at its greenest.
December to February and June to September offer the best game viewing, with shorter grass and animals close to the river. The rains make the park beautifully green, and the boat trips run year round, so it is rewarding in any season.
Best time to visit Jan to Feb, Jun to Sep
Murchison Falls is about 5 to 6 hours by road from Kampala, often with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on the way. From here, Kibale is about 6 to 7 hours to the south. Scheduled and charter flights land at Pakuba and Bugungu airstrips, cutting the journey to about an hour.
Chimp tracking in Budongo Forest requires a permit, and numbers are limited each day, so we book it in advance along with your other activities.
Murchison Falls is hot and a malaria area, so antimalarials are advised. A yellow fever certificate is needed to enter Uganda, so please carry it with your passport. Bring sun protection and drink plenty of water. Hippos and crocodiles live on the Nile, so never swim in the river. Boat trips and game drives are led by experienced guides.
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“See the falls twice”
We always plan for you to see the falls from both angles. The boat takes you to the base, where the spray rolls down the gorge, but standing at the top, a few metres from the thundering water, is something else entirely. We like to arrange the hike from the boat landing up to the top, so you arrive on foot and hear the falls long before you see them.
Safaris from
US$987 per person
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