Full Service Safaris
Murchison Falls, located on the western side of Uganda, is the country's oldest and largest national park, covering 1,503 square miles (3,893 sq km). Established as a national park in 1952, it is part of the larger Murchison Falls Conservation Area, which includes the Bugungu and Karuma Wildlife Reserves, creating a protected wilderness of over 2,072 square miles (5,366 sq km). The park is situated at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the Bunyoro escarpment meets the vast savanna.
The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45 meters over the rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, also known as Kabalega Falls. The falls are a key feature, where the Nile squeezes through an 8-meter-wide gorge and drops into the “Devil’s Cauldron,” producing a spectacular rainbow. The river then flows quietly into Lake Albert, providing remarkable wildlife spectacles along its banks, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, Nile crocodiles, and various aquatic birds.
Murchison Falls National Park offers diverse habitats, including savanna, Borassus palms, acacia trees, riverine woodland in the north, and woodland and forest patches in the south. The park is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, hosting over 144 mammal species, 556 bird species, 51 reptiles, and 51 amphibians. It is home to four of the Big Five: elephants, lions, leopards, and buffaloes. The park also boasts a growing population of giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, and the largest population of Nile crocodiles.
For bird watchers, the park is a paradise with over 450 bird species, including the shoebill, white-crested turaco, red-winged grey warbler, and the world's largest heron, the Goliath Heron. The park's rich biodiversity and scenic landscapes make it a popular safari destination, where visitors can enjoy game drives, boat cruises, and
bird-watching tours.
Murchison Falls gained fame as the filming location for the 1951 movie “The African Queen,” starring Humphrey Bogart. The park's historical and ecological significance, combined with its stunning natural beauty, make it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers.