Murchison Falls

Location: Western Region, Masindi, Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park also known as Kabalega Falls National Park located in north western Uganda, established in 1952 it occupies an area of 1,483 sq mi (3,840km2) of rolling grassland east of Lake Albert. The Park became one of Uganda’s first national park, where the Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with a thunderous roar into the “Devils Cauldron”, creating a trademark rainbow.

The Murchison Falls northern section features savannah and Borassus palms, acacia trees, and riverine woodland and lies at the northern Albertine Rift Valley, the south is dominated by woodland and forest patches. The Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savannah. The 1951 film “The African Queen” was filmed on Lake Albert and the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park though the park was first gazette as a game reserve in 1926 and is the largest and oldest conservation area in Uganda.

Victoria Nile dissects the park, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the center piece of the park and the conclusion is an 80km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley into Lake Albert. Regular visitors to the riverbank include elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, the Nile’s permanent residents like hippos, Nile crocodiles, over 556 bird species, 51 reptiles, 51 Amphibians and over 144 mammals.

The population of the African elephants around Murchison Falls is impressive all year round, having noted over 900 individuals and 1,330 and still increasing. The Giraffes inhabit the northern sector of the park and buffalos have spiked to over 10,000 whilst the Uganda Kobs to over 35,000. Birdlife includes the shoebill as the most common along the river stretch approaching the Albert Delta, prolific folic bird species occupy the park whilst the white crested turaco, red winged grey warbler are all associated with the woodland in the southern bank. Notable visitors to the park include Winston Churchill, Theodore Rosevelt, Ernest Hemingway and many other British Royals.

The Uniqueness of this location:

The Victoria Nile bisects Murchison Falls National Park, creating a northern sector and southern sector with diverse scenery.
A number of large mammals are found here.
Home to the Common Patas Monkeys
Tree climbing lions may also be seen
The Rare Rothschild Giraffes call this home
Scenic Boat rides
Uganda Kobs is available in large numbers
Over 450 species of birdlife
Hikes up the waterfall.