Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest National Park and the Nile River, the world’s longest, winds through it. At Murchison Falls the river, about 50 mtrs wide at this point is forced through a 7 mtr (24 ft) gap and falls 43 mtrs to the aptly named ‘Boiling Pot’ below.
MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest National Park and the Nile River, the world’s longest, winds through it. At Murchison Falls the river, about 50 mtrs wide at this point is forced through a 7 mtr (24 ft) gap and falls 43 mtrs to the aptly named ‘Boiling Pot’ below. The river then corkscrews through another small gap to cascade 36 mtrs (120 ft) in a thunderous foaming torrent.

Impressive for power rather than size, the Murchison Falls are a spectacular sight, but there is more to this park than the raging river. There is a diversity of habitat – riverine, grassy plains and savannah woodlands and altitudes that vary from above 500 to 1290 mtrs above sea level (1600 to 4200 ft).

During Idi Amin’s 15-year despotic rule in the 1970′s, the country’s wildlife was almost wiped out by wayward soldiers using animals as target practice. Now 30 years on and in times of peace, Uganda is once again teeming with wildlife and this Park is no exception.

Touring the Falls
The Nile River calms itself after the Falls and the best way to experience the abundance of animal and bird life along its banks is on a riverboat. In this area the Nile is full of unbelievably large Nile crocodiles that sunbathe on the rocks. Occupying the same waterway are thousands of hippos who take defending their territories seriously and can startle you with a sudden mock charge.

Wildlife safari to Murchison Falls
Buffalo wade nonchalantly through the prolific floating water hyacinth fringing the banks, and huge herds of elephant cool themselves in shallow creeks and graze silently on the lush grasses. The park is also home to giraffe, oribi, hartebeest, waterbuck and Uganda kob.

Murchison Birdwatching safari
The river is, of course, a bird lover’s paradise and a good place to see the rare and bizarre shoebill (or whale-headed) stork.

June to September is the driest time when most animals remain near water. The hot dry time is January to February and this is a good time to visit. Be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms at any time of the year. October to December and March to May are the wettest months and the roads may become impassable. The Nile’s flow is dam regulated so the water levels remain more or less constant throughout the year.