Murchison National Park

What is the biggest draw to Murchison Falls National Park? Is it the remarkable population of over 73 animal species… or the renowned mighty falls? You can decide for yourself on your African safari to Uganda’s largest and most famous park. But for variety of natural wonders and rich wildlife, few places can top Murchison Falls. Consider the iconic cascade, where the 50 m wide Victoria Nile is suddenly squeezed through the massive rocks into a 6 m channel, producing a spectacle of exploding water, foam, and mist that causes the surrounding earth to tremble from its power. The falls roar down into the “Devil’s Cauldron” producing clouds of fog and a distinctive rainbow. So spectacular is the effect that Hollywood came to film the falls in the classic Katherine Hepburn/Humphrey Bogart film, The African Queen.

From there, the waters travel in a gentler flow towards Lake Albert. The banks along this river path host numerous visits from elephants and buffaloes, while river regulars like hippos, Nile crocodiles, and many aquatic birds often join the picture. The landscape of Murchison Park is a scenic palette of woodlands, savannah, and riverine forest dotted with expressive Borassus palms and plentiful acacia trees. All this vegetation supports a colorful world of wildlife – you’ll be on safari to spot lions, antelope, waterbucks, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, Ugandan kob, and three-quarters of the world’s Rothschild’s giraffes. No park of Murchinon’s size and popularity could exist without a profusion of delightful birdlife. You’ll find over 450 species here such as the rare shoebill stork and Goliath heron. Other bright and captivating varieties seen are the yellow-footed flycatcher, African jacana, Abyssinian ground hornbill, and malachite kingfisher.

Traveling to the south of Murchison, you’ll come upon a park within the park – the Bugondo Forest Reserve, a large expanse of tropical forest, home to 76 types of mammals, and still more bird species. Also found here are the towering mahogany trees anchoring the forest. But perhaps Bugondo’s biggest draw is the many chimpanzees you can spot in this verdant, virgin preserve. Of Africa’s famous “Big Five”, only the rhino is no longer found in the park. However, the nearby Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was established to bring back the endangered white rhino. A visit to the reserve will bring you within spotting range of the 22 southern white rhinos now being protected in this sanctuary.