Murchison Falls National Park also known as Murchison Falls Conservation Area is the biggest protected area in Uganda, 5.025kms, including Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve, Karuma Wildlife Reserve and, in the South, Budongo Forest. The altitude range from 619m at the delta on Lake Albert and 1.292 m at Rabongo hill. The area is traversed by the river Victoria Nile, which connects Lake Kyoga with Lake Albert. Murchison Falls is named after the marvellous falls on the river, which encounters a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley Escarpment, then it is transformed into a froth of thunderous white water, with no comparison to any other site in East Africa. The vegetation is characterized by savannah, riverine forest and woodland.

Uganda's largest national park protects a portion of wild African savannah separated by the impressive river Nile. It is named for the magnificent Murchison Falls, where the world's longest river burst out ferociously through a narrow gap in the Rift Valley escarpment to fall into a frothing pool 43m below. This park protects intense populations of lion, elephant, buffalo, and Uganda kob together with the localized Rothschild’s giraffe and patas monkey. Massive concentrations of hippos and birds can be observed from the launch trips along the Nile below the fabulous waterfalls for which the park is named.

recovered from the poaching of the 1980s; in the lush borassus grassland to the north of the Nile, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and a variety of antelope are regularly encountered on game drives, while lion are seen with increasing frequency. In the southeast, Rabongo Forest is home to chimps and other rainforest creatures. The Nile itself hosts one of Africa's densest hippo and crocodile populations, and a dazzling variety of waterbirds including the world's most accessible wild population of the rare shoebill stork.

plunges 40 metres in one breathtaking leap. Before the Murchison Falls themselves, in the eastern sector of the Park, are the Karuma Falls where the Nile cascades over 23 kilometres of rapids in a breathtaking sight.

White Water and Wildlife
Murchison Falls National Park has some of the most exciting white water in Africa. A launch trip up stream to the falls is one of the great experiences in Africa. Elephant, hartebeest, giraffe, buffalo, crocodiles and countless antelope and birds (including the rare Shoebill stork) can be admired at the water's edge as the launch glides along. The Murchison Falls National Park, with its variety of vegetation ranging from riparian forests and swamp lands to broad Savannah, provides the opportunity of seeing many of the animals found in Uganda. In the southern section of the park is the beautiful Rabongo Forest, home to several families of chimpanzees and other primates. Make sure you have plenty of film for your camera, although they are difficult to spot in the thick canopy above.

Location & Access
By road, Murchison Falls National Park is a 3 hour drive from Kampala to Masindi, 217 km on tarmac and 40 km on high grade murram, then an additional 2 hours (97 km) from Masindi to the Falls on murram. A 4 wheel drive vehicle is advisable as the Masindi-Paraa road is rough. The Park can be reached by air charter services. There are airstrips at Paraa and Rabongo which can accommodate light aircrafts of up to six seats capacity.

Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
Elephant, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Leopard, Warthog, Lion, Giraffe Aardvark, Chimpanzee, Pangolin, Civet, Buffalo, Hyena, Crocodile, Oribi, Patas monkey, Uganda kob, baboon. Fish in the Nile include Nile perch, Tilapia and Tiger fish. 450 species of bird including Pel's fishing owl, pennant winged nightjar, red-throated bee eater and the magnificent shoebill stork. In the southern sector of the park, there is Rabongo Forest, a home of chimpanzees.

Fishing in Murchison Falls National Park
At the top of Murchison Falls, the Victoria Nile explodes through a 6 -metre gap, causing the very rock to shake - quite literally. This phenomenon is said to be the most powerful natural flow of water anywhere on Earth. Can you imagine the strength and size of the Nile Perch which can withstand such a force which exists at the foot of this perpetual avalanche of water! Charles Norman described the first such perch, spotted soon after their arrival by his companion, who: "...let out a strangled squawk and I found myself staring at the hog-sized back of a huge fish protruding above the water at the rock's edge - a 100kg fish with scales the size of tennis balls. He adds that only tiger fish can sever nylon line in this way and that, since his bait was such a large bream, the tiger must have been a very big one. His parting thought reads: "There are tiger fish in the lower Nile and Lake Albert, 30km downstream, but are they Goliaths! Incredibly, nobody knows, there simply hasn't been any sport fishing in Uganda for the past 35 years, and the inhabitants of its many waterways remain a mystery." Anyone angling for a solution to that mystery!

Accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park
There is a camp site at the top of the Falls which can be used by those with their own camping gear. The riverside Nile Safari Camp must be one of the most romantic lodges in the world. Accommodation is in beautifully designed waterside log cabins each with its own internal tent, terrace, bathroom and outside shower. There is an al fresco restaurant and small gift shop. Watching a stunning sunset from the friendly bar is a must. In an elevated position on the north side of the river, guests at the Sarova Paraa Lodge benefit from simply massive views. This historic lodge which, before its restoration, was host to many dignitaries is now central to Paraa reclaiming its former glory.

The site, service and ambience, which so impressed Britain's Queen Mother, is being recreated to great effect for the enjoyment of modern tourists. Each room has full facilities and a remarkable view. There is an impressive restaurant, swimming pool and bar. The Sambiya River Lodge presents a unique African experience. A traditionally designed thatched hotel is surrounded by thatched bungalows, all in a very special setting. The atmosphere is relaxing, warm and friendly and the lodge provides a restaurant, bar and gift shop. All rooms are complete with full private facilities Others nearby are: The Masindi Hotel at Masindi Rabongo Forest Cottages Camp Sites at the top of the Falls