Murchison Falls Park

In the far northwest of Uganda, where the mighty River Nile surges through a gap just seven metres wide and plunges 43 metres into a churning cauldron below, lies Murchison Falls National Park — Uganda's largest protected area and one of the most spectacular landscapes in Africa. The falls themselves, described by Winston Churchill as "the most thunderous plunge of the great river," are a geological marvel and the undisputed centrepiece of an extraordinary park.

At 3,893 square kilometres, Murchison Falls encompasses vast savannah plains north of the Nile, dense Budongo Forest to the south, and the wide, wildlife-rich Nile Delta where the river fans into Lake Albert. The park hosts Uganda's largest populations of elephant and buffalo, significant lion and leopard numbers, Rothschild's giraffe — one of the world's rarest giraffe subspecies — and the remarkable shoebill stork in the delta swamps.

Activities in Murchison Falls

The boat cruise up the Nile to the base of the falls is iconic. Drifting past hippo pods, enormous crocodiles, and thousands of waterbirds before arriving at the thundering base of the falls — where the spray creates perpetual rainbows — is among the most memorable wildlife experiences in Africa. Game drives on the northern bank open vast plains where elephant herds move between gallery forests, giraffe browse against dramatic cliff backdrops, and lions rest in the shade of borassus palms. The top-of-the-falls hike from the boat launch is short but spectacular — arriving at the lip where the entire Nile compresses through its famous notch. Chimpanzee trekking is available in Budongo Forest, and the shoebill swamps of the Nile Delta reward patient travellers with sightings of this extraordinary prehistoric bird.

Safari Lodges & Camps in Murchison Falls

Paraa Safari Lodge sits directly on the northern bank of the Nile at the Paraa crossing, offering the most strategic position of any lodge in the park. Its rooms and tented cottages look out over the river where hippos wail through the night, and the lodge's own boats depart directly for both the falls cruise and wildlife spotting along the Nile.

Chobe Safari Lodge overlooks the Nile from a forested riverbank and is celebrated for its elegant design incorporating natural materials. A private beach on the Nile's edge, a swimming pool, and excellent guiding make it a favourite of returning visitors.

Baker's Lodge — named after Sir Samuel Baker, the explorer who first reported the falls to the Western world — is a luxury lodge of just eight thatched river-cottages on the Nile's southern bank. It is the most exclusive address in Murchison, with a level of personalised service and intimate guiding that is difficult to surpass.

Nile Safari Lodge sits on a private stretch of riverbank outside the southern park boundary, with magnificent Nile views from its elevated tented suites. The lodge's specialist guides are particularly highly regarded for Nile Delta shoebill expeditions.

Sambiya River Lodge is positioned in Budongo Forest and is the premier base for chimpanzee trekking, offering cosy forest bandas and a wonderfully green and peaceful atmosphere away from the open savannah.