Murchison Falls National Park Safari information

One of the most spectacular in Uganda and indeed in the Whole of Africa. Here is the awe-inspiring Murchison Falls, where the River Nile hurls itself in appalling convulsions through a narrow crevice and then plunges 40 metres in one breathtaking leap.

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest in Uganda with an area of 3840 km. The River Nile divides the Park into the North and South sectors and forms falls where it flows over the Western rift Valley escarpment.

Before the Murchison Falls themselves, in the eastern sector of the park, are the Karuma falls where the Nile cascades over 23 kilometers of rapids in a breathtaking sight. This is the most exciting white water in Africa.

A launch trip upstream to the falls is one of the great experiences in Africa. Elephant, hartebeest, giraffe, buffalo, crocodiles and countless antelope and birds (including the rare Shoebill stork) can be admired at the water's edge as the launch glides along.

The Murchison Falls National Park, with its variety of vegetation ranging from riparian forests and swamp lands to broad Savannah, provides the opportunity of seeing many of the animals found in Uganda.

In the Southern section of the park is the beautiful Rabongo Forest home to several families of Chimpanzees and other primates.

Wildlife
Elephants, giraffe, hippopotamus, leopard, warthog, Lion, Giraffe Aardvark, Chimpanzee, pangolin, civet, buffalo, hyena, crocodile, oribi, patas monkey, Uganda Kob.

Access
It is a 5 hour drive from Kampala via Masindi, A 4 wheel drive vehicle is advisable on the Masindi-Paraa section of the road. The park can be reached by air charter services. There are airstrips at Pakuba and Rabongo which can accommodate up to six seater light aircraft.

Accommodation
Accommodation is available in the luxurious lodges of Paraa Uganda Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge and Sambiya Lodge. All these lodges provide good accommodation on a full board basis. The Red Chilli Rest Camp the former Wildlife Authority Rest Camp at Paraa offers a convenient alternative to the above upmarket accommodation.

Nearby the Masindi Hotel in Masindi, and in Rabongo are Forest cottages. A camp site at the top of the Falls provides for those suitably equipped.