Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park. Formerly referred to as the Kabalega National Park, this is the best place to see wildlife in Uganda. The park derives, its name from the Mighty Murchison Falls which is a 7 meter high fall formed at a point where the world’s longest river, the Nile River forces itself from the narrow gorge. It lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley. Murchison Falls National park is the largest conservation area located in the western region of Uganda. It was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1926, to protect the savannah grassland that was talked about by Winston Churchill in 1907. Being a tourist destination, the park receives many visitors both locals and international.
The park covers an area of about 3893km, it’s known to be one of Uganda’s well protected area. Rhinos were very many in the park but were depleted in 1970’s due to bad governance and political turmoil that characterized the country at that time. Rhinos have now since been bled and conserved in the nearby Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a project sponsored by the Rhino Fund Uganda. A visit to the park offers an opportunity to pass by Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to see the Rhinos in their natural environment. It is thus the most inclusive park which offers best of wild life safaris in Uganda which can be combined in three days passing via Luwero to Masindi and finally into the Park.
The park covers 3,893km2 and is Uganda’s largest protected area. Today it is part of the even larger Murchison Falls Protected Area (5,072km2) which includes the adjoining Karuma and Bugungu wildlife reserves.
The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile which first races down 80km of whitewater rapids before plunging 40m over the remnant rift valley wall at Murchison Falls, the centrepiece of the park. This waterfall was named in 1864 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 it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor for 55km to Lake Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most memorable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors include elephant, giraffe and buffalo while hippopotamus and Nile crocodile are permanent residents.
The Albert Nile corridor is Uganda’s lowest area (612m at Delta Point) and temperatures can be hot with a mean maximum of 29OC. The hottest times are mid December to mid February and June-July, tempered by rainy seasons in April and November.
More so, the nearby Budongo forest is a habitat for various primates since its part of the Park, chimpanzee tracking being one of the most exciting primate tracking adventure in the forest. We cannot forget talking about the pretty Falls which is the center piece of attraction for the park. Murchison falls national Park is the destination that everyone interested in visiting Uganda should have on his or her itinerary reason being that the park is very accessible.
Flora and Fauna
The park is dominated by savanna, woodland, river/wetland and tropical forest habitats which provide homes for 76 mammal species and 450 bird species. Large mammals include lion, leopard, elephant, hippopotamus, Rothschild’s giraffe, Cape buffalo, hartebeest, oribi, warthog, and Uganda kob. The Nile corridor provides year-round water for these animals as well as a plethora of waterbirds (including the rare shoebill stork) and Uganda’s largest population of Nile crocodile. The Kaniyo Pabidi forest provides refuges for chimpanzee and other primates as well as an impressive 360 species of bird.
Around the Murchison Falls National Park
The Nile and Murchison Falls
When the park was created in 1952, the Game Department enthused, ‘The main attractions of this park are undoubtedly the unique Murchison Falls and the River Nile with its teeming hippo and serried ranks of crocodile on the sandbanks, coupled with large numbers of other species…coming down to drink and bathe..’
Today the highlight of a visit to Murchison is the launch trip upstream to view the Falls and riverside wildlife. The launch departs at 09.00 and 14.00 daily. The round trip takes three hours. An additional boat trip heads downstream from Paraa to the papyrus delta at the river’s entrance into Lake Albert. This 4-5 hour return voyage offers a good chance of sighting the shoebill stork and a variety of other wildlife.
The Nile below Murchison Falls provides exciting challenges to anglers including the chance to land a massive Nile Perch (the record is 108kg). Fishing is restricted to designated sites and places are limited so prior booking is recommended. Some boats may be hired for fishing by prior booking. Do bring your own fishing equipment.
The most dramatic view of the waterfall is the ‘Top of the Falls’ where the sight and sound of the Nile crashing through a 6m-wide chasm make an unforgettable assault on the senses. This site may be reached either by vehicle or a half hour climb after leaving the Paraa launch.
Rabongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests
Trails through Kaniyo Pabidi forest, 8km inside Kichumbanyobo Gate, provide the opportunity to track chimpanzee and other primates beneath Uganda’s largest remaining mahogany trees. Birding is excellent with the chance of sighting rarities such as the yellow-footed flycatcher, Ituri batis, and white thighed hornbill. Nature walks are also offered at Rabongo forest.
How to Get There
By means of road transport, it takes around 5 hours from Kampala City the capital of Uganda with about 305km. Paara covers a distance of about 85km from Masindi town by the shortest route. A direct route will cover an area of about 135km. You may decide to take on the Budongo forest that will provide many views overlooking to lake Albert from the direct position of the Rift valley Escarpment over Butiaba. You can also access Paara from the North through Chobe gate, Karuma Falls along with Tangi. The gate that is close to Pakwach covers an area of about 25km to Paara in addition to Wankwar gate close to Purongo.
The Nile river crossing at Paraa, in the centre of the park, is approximately 5hrs drive from Kampala (305km). Paraa is 85km from Masindi town by the direct route. A longer (135km) alternative route passes through Budongo forest and enjoys spectacular views across Lake Albert from the rift valley escarpment above Butiaba. Paraa can also be approached from the north, via Chobe Gate near Karuma Falls and Tangi Gate near Pakwach (25km to Paraa), and Wankwar Gate near Purongo.
A vehicle ferry crosses the Nile at Paraa. This operates hourly between 07.00 and 19.00 with the exception of 13.00.
Murchison can also be reached by air. Charter flights can land at airstrips north of the Nile at Pakuba (19kms from Paraa) and south at Bugungu (13kms from Paraa).
Accommodation
UWA campsites exist at the top of the Falls, Rabongo forest and Delta Point. These sites provide pit latrines and in some cases, basic showers. Budget accommodation and camping is available at Red Chilli Rest Camp and Kaniyo Pabidi Camp. More upmarket accommodation is provided by Nile Safari Camp, Sambiya River and Paraa Safari Lodges. In Masindi, the Masindi Hotel and Court View Hotel are recommended
Resources
- A Complete Guide to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest conservation area in Uganda.