Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest protected area, centered on the point where the entire Nile River forces itself through a seven-meter gap in the rock before crashing 43 meters down. It’s the country’s classic big-game safari destination.
Key Highlights
- Uganda’s largest national park by area
- Home to the dramatic Murchison Falls, where the Nile squeezes through a narrow rock gorge
- The only place in Uganda to reliably see giraffes in the wild
- Boat cruises to the base of the falls, with hippos, crocodiles and elephants along the banks
- Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, offering rhino tracking, sits en route from Kampala
Wildlife and Activities
Game drives on the park’s northern bank turn up elephants, buffalo, lions and Uganda’s only wild giraffe population, while a boat cruise to the base of the falls is one of the best wildlife-viewing experiences in the country. A hike to the top of the falls adds a dramatic, close-up view of the Nile forcing itself through solid rock.
Getting There
Murchison Falls is reachable by road from Kampala in around four to five hours, often broken up with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, or by a short domestic flight for travelers with limited time.
Combining Murchison Falls With Other Parks
Murchison Falls sits in Uganda’s north, somewhat separate from the southwestern gorilla circuit, so it’s usually combined with Kibale National Park as a west-then-north loop, or visited as a focused three- to four-day wildlife trip on its own.
Plan Your Murchison Falls Visit
Tell us how many days you have and we’ll build in the boat cruise, game drives, and a Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary stop if your route allows it.