Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is arguably Uganda’s most popular Safari park. Located in north-western Uganda, spreading inland from the shores of Lake Albert, around the Victoria Nile, up to the Karuma Falls and combining with Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and Karuma Wildlife Reserve, to form the larger Murchison Falls Conservation Area. Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest safari park and a must-visit for travellers on safari to Uganda.
The Victoria Nile crosses Uganda going from Lake Victoria to Lake Kyoga and on to Lake Albert. Murchison Falls is a large spectacular waterfall on the Nile in the north-west of the country. The water is forced through a gap of only 7 metres wide then drops 40m to continue its more gentle 30km journey towards Lake Albert. It is possible to see the falls from the top (south bank only) and also from a boat at the bottom – a trip which is well worth taking to see the hippos, crocodiles and prolific birdlife.
For film buffs, you might like to know that Murchison Falls and Lake Albert were the backdrops to The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart. The falls give their name to the national park within which they are located. This is a huge park of about 3800km2 (Uganda’s largest reserve) and was gazetted as a game reserve as long ago as 1926.
The park was Uganda’s only ”big five’ destination, but sadly rhinos were poached to extinction here. Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary about 2½ hours drive south of Murchison is currently breeding and protecting rhinos once more, and hopefully, they will one day be released into the park. However, the park is still an excellent game viewing destination, with large herds of elephant and buffalo, many kobs, an increasing number of lions, plus giraffe, hartebeest waterbuck and more. The Buligi circuit on the north bank of the Nile is usually deemed to take you to the best game viewing areas, but the whole park offers a great experience. The birding is excellent here too, and it is one of the few places left where you can see the rare shoebill stork.
Things to See & Do In Murchison Falls National Park
- Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest.
- Game Drive on the northern sector.
- Shoebill tracking at the Delta on the Nile.
- Boat safari to the bottom of the falls.
- Guided Hike to the top of the falls along the famous Bakers trail.
Best time to visit Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls NP can be visited all year round, however, the best time to go to this park is in the drier months of June to August and December to February.
**January and February can be very hot and the scenery is more beautiful during the Wet season from April to May and November.
Getting to Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda
From your home country, you will fly in through Entebbe International Airport (EBB) located near the town of Entebbe. (see: Things to see & do on arrival in Entebbe | Where to stay in Entebbe | where to Eat in Entebbe )
Murchison Falls National Park is located approximately 323km/200miles from Entebbe. This journey by car takes about 6 hours following a paved road.
By Air, Murchison Falls National park is approximately 227km/141miles from Entebbe International Airport. Aerolink Uganda operates daily flights to Murchison Falls from Entebbe that last only 1 hour from takeoff at Entebbe.
Aerolink Uganda Scheduled Flights to Murchison Falls Landing at Bugungu Airstrip.
| From | To | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Notes |
| Entebbe | Bugungu | 12:00 | 01:00pm | Will operate only with a min. of 4 px |
| Bugungu | Entebbe | 01:15pm | 04:15pm | |
| Timings may vary depending on aircraft routing.
From Bugungu airstrip, passengers can fly to ; Kasese. Mweya, Kihihi and Semliki airstrips. |
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Aerolink Uganda Scheduled Flights to Murchison Falls Landing at Pakuba/Chobe Airstrip.
| From | To | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Notes |
| Entebbe | Pakuba/Chobe | 12:00 | 01:00pm | Will operate only with a min. of 4 px |
| Pakuba/Chobe | Entebbe | 01:15pm | 04:15pm | |
| Timings may vary depending on aircraft routing.
From Bugungu airstrip, passengers can fly to ; Kasese. Mweya, Kihihi and Semliki airstrips. |
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Realm Africa Safaris™ will collect you from the airport or hotel and further transportation will be part of your pre-booked safari to Murchison Falls National Park.
Things to See & Do In Murchison falls NP
- Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest.
- Game Drive on the northern sector.
- Shoebill tracking at the Delta on the Nile.
- Boat safari to the bottom of the falls.
- Guided Hike to the top of the falls along the famous Bakers trail.
Best time to visit Murchison Falls NP
Murchison Falls NP can be visited all year round, however, the best time to go to this park is in the drier months of June to August and December to February.
**January and February can be very hot and the scenery is more beautiful during the Wet season from April to May and November.
Passport & Visa Requirements for travel to Uganda.
Getting in & around
Uganda is a relatively compact country and further transportation within the country is usually done by road, though our upmarket safaris include one or more flights. Realm Africa Safaris™ will collect you from the airport or hotel and further transportation will be part of your pre-booked safari to Murchison Falls National Park.
