How to visit Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda)

Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most beautiful, diverse, and surprising natural areas in Uganda. This national park is crossed by the Nile River and has two very distinct zones. The northern part features endless savanna plains, while the southern part is dominated by forest.

Murchison Falls National Park is one of the best areas for safaris in Uganda, where you can try to spot some of the great savanna mammals: elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes… But in addition, this park also offers boat trips along the Nile River, visits to the Murchison Falls themselves, and opportunities to see chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest. All of this makes it a must-visit destination on any trip to Uganda.

How to Get to Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is located in the western part of Uganda, very close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The park covers an area of 3,893 km², making it the largest park in the country.

To reach this national park, having a car is necessary. From Uganda’s capital, Kampala, it takes about 5 to 6 hours to get there. During the journey, it is possible to make a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

It is recommended to enter the national park through the southern gate, the Kichumbayobo Gate. This way, the drive to the northern zone (where the safaris take place) can be done through the interior of the park. With a bit of luck, during the first part of the route, which passes alongside the Budongo Forest, you might see baboons or black-and-white colobus monkeys. After crossing the Nile River, you get great views of the savanna and can already spot the first large mammals.

Currently, the road that crosses the park from one end to the other is paved, due to China extracting oil from Lake Albert. This has also led to the construction of a bridge over the Nile River, so there is no longer a need to use a ferry to travel from the southern zone to the northern zone of the park. Although the road condition is very good, for the safety of both animals and drivers, the speed limit of 40 km/h must not be exceeded.

Access to the national park is possible with any type of vehicle. Afterwards, if you have a 4×4, you can do the safaris with the same vehicle (either self-driven or with a guide). If not, you can hire a vehicle from many of the accommodations or from the park entrance.

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Murchison Falls National Park?

The entrance permit to Murchison Falls National Park costs $40 USD per person, granting access to stay inside the park for 24 hours. Additionally, there is a fee of 30,000 UGX per vehicle.

If you travel with a tour agency, generally all park entrance permits are already included in the initial price.

The Wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park

This national park is home to 76 species of mammals and over 400 species of birds.

Across the savanna of Murchison Falls National Park, you can find four of the Big Five animals. The only one that cannot be seen is the rhinoceros.

Elephants and buffaloes are especially abundant and relatively easy to spot. Regarding lions, there is a fairly stable population, and with some luck, you can see them during the early or late hours of the day.

One of the most abundant animals in the park is the Uganda kob, a type of antelope. Some other antelope species you can see include the oribi, waterbuck, and buffalo antelope. Giraffes are also quite common. Leopards are present too, but they are rarely seen.

Along the Nile River, hippos are very abundant. Nile crocodiles are also commonly seen. Aquatic environments are home to a wide variety of birds.

On the other hand, in the Budongo Forest (located in the southern part of the park), there is a great variety of primate species. The most notable are the chimpanzees. Excursions can be arranged to try to see them.

What Is the Best Time to Visit Murchison Falls National Park?

Murchison Falls National Park is a great safari destination all year round. During the dry season (from December to February), the park usually has less vegetation, which helps with wildlife sightings. However, the landscape is not as beautiful.

During the rainy months, from June to November, the vegetation is at its lushest and most vibrant.

Regardless of the season, the best times to see wildlife are always the early morning and late afternoon hours, especially if you want to try spotting big cats.

What to Do and See in Murchison Falls National Park

The diversity of environments and wildlife in this park offers a variety of activities to enjoy.

Safaris or Game Drives

Safaris are the park’s main attraction. If you’re traveling independently in Uganda without a driver, you can freely enter the park’s roads. However, if you don’t have much experience, it’s recommended to hire a park ranger. The ranger will help you choose the best routes and locate wildlife, while the driving remains your responsibility. Hiring a ranger costs $20 per safari (morning or afternoon).

The best area for safaris is the northern section of the park (north of the Nile River). The closest entrance gate to this area is the Tangi Gate.

Safaris are only permitted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Boat Trip on the Nile River

A boat trip along the Nile River (specifically the Albert Nile) usually lasts about 3 hours. The route covers 34 kilometers round trip, ending at the Murchison Falls.

In my opinion, the view of the waterfalls does not justify the price: they are seen from quite a distance without a good perspective to appreciate their full scale. However, I do recommend this activity for the wildlife you can observe along the way. You will often see many hippos, Nile crocodiles, and, with some luck, elephants coming to drink or swim in the river. Additionally, the variety of birds adds even more interest to this boat trip. The cost of this excursion is $30.

Visiting the Top of Murchison Falls

To truly appreciate the beauty of Murchison Falls, which are considered the most powerful waterfalls in the world, it is necessary to see them from the top of the river. From there, you can really grasp the massive amount of water rushing over this waterfall.

A few years ago, it was possible to reach this part of the falls on foot during the boat trip along the Nile. However, the path deteriorated and is currently closed.

Therefore, to get to the top of these falls, you must go by car. The road leading there branches off from the main road that crosses the park and is in perfect condition. It takes about 20 minutes to cover the 12 kilometers.

Once there, you need to pay $10 to access the short trail (a 2-minute walk) that leads to Murchison Falls. The view is spectacular!

Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest

Although Budongo Forest is not the most common place to see chimpanzees in Uganda (they are more frequently seen in Kibale National Park), it is still a very interesting activity to do in this forest.

The advantage is that it is less crowded and also more affordable. The permit for chimpanzee tracking in Budongo costs $90.

The downside is that in this forest, chimpanzee groups are less habituated to humans and are less numerous. This can mean that you might not see them at all or that you may only see them from quite a distance.

Where to Sleep in Murchison Falls National Park

The variety of accommodations in the Murchison Falls National Park area is very wide. There are options for all tastes and budgets.

If budget is not a problem, the best choice is to stay inside the park, in the northern area. This way, you can do safaris in the best zone from early morning until late afternoon. Some of the most notable lodges there are:

• Paraa Safari Lodge
• Chobe Lodge Uganda
• Nile Safari Lodge

To lower accommodation costs a bit, you can choose to stay outside the park but close to the Tangi Gate. Some of the best options in this case are:

• Tilenga Safari Lodge (this is where I stayed. Highly recommended.)
• Fort Murchison
• Red Chilli Rest Camp (one of the most affordable options)

For adventure enthusiasts, there is also the option to camp inside the park. In this case, you must be completely self-sufficient. Also, keep in mind that the campsites are not fenced, so there may be movement of wild animals nearby. Staying at one of the campsites inside the park costs $10 per person.

My Experience at Murchison Falls National Park

Sunrise at Murchison Falls National Park

The moment had arrived to do my first safari of the trip to Uganda. Still in the dark, I had to wait for one of the assistants from Tilenga Safari Lodge before leaving the room. At night, elephants and buffaloes usually roam the gardens of the lodge. For that reason, moving around without the company of a guard is not allowed.

After a quick breakfast, I got into the car with my guide and we headed to the entrance of Murchison Falls National Park, just 5 minutes away. There, they checked our permits before allowing us to enter the park.

A few minutes later, while still driving along the road that crosses the park, we spotted an elephant. There was hardly any light to photograph it, but it was a nice welcome.

A few kilometers ahead, we turned onto a dirt track. This was where the real safari began. I scanned with my eyes the endless plains of the Ugandan savanna, looking for any movement. The sun was about to rise and bathe the landscape in ephemeral golden light.

A group of hyenas passed in front of the car, with their characteristic walk and “laugh.” They quickly disappeared among the bushes, so we continued deeper into the park.

We arrived at a large clearing where dozens of Uganda kobs were gathered. It was a beautiful scene. I asked Twaha, my guide, to stop the car and turn off the engine. I wanted to stay there for a few minutes. It felt like being inside a documentary.

Searching for Big Cats and Elephants Inside the Park

As the day grew hotter, it became harder to spot animals. But there was always some giraffe, buffalo, or bird around. I still hadn’t seen any elephants (except the one early in the morning) when we reached Lake Albert. There, it was allowed to get out of the vehicle and approach the water to see an interesting variety of birds. There were also a few warthogs—the funny “Pumbas”—walking around, completely unbothered by humans.

We got back into the car to continue spotting new species in Murchison Falls National Park. I saw the first hippos and, a bit further on, Uganda’s emblematic bird: the grey-crowned crane.

It was hot, so Twaha suggested heading to a part of the park with more trees. Maybe there we could see a lion resting in the shade, or elephants moving through the vegetation.

We didn’t see any big cats, but we did see plenty of elephants. It always makes me happy to see elephants—especially when there is a calf, shyly hiding between its mother’s legs.

Boat Trip Along the Nile River

We finished the morning safari in Murchison Falls National Park around noon. After returning to lunch at Tilenga Safari Lodge, and with little time to rest, we headed to the departure point for the boat excursions on the Nile.

This boat trip gave me a completely different perspective of the park. I got to see many groups of hippos up close, as well as two crocodiles. The journey upstream to the falls lasted about two hours. Partly because we were moving against the current, and partly because we kept stopping to observe the diverse wildlife—from various bird species to massive elephants. Sometimes you can see elephants bathing in the Nile, but unfortunately, I missed that moment.

After about 17 kilometers, we arrived at the falls (the boat stays about 300 meters away from the waterfall). From that distance, it was hard to fully appreciate their power. But the water, rushing fiercely and foaming, was a clear testament to the immense strength of Murchison Falls.

The return trip back took only an hour. We only stopped once when the boat’s engine stopped working—apparently, it had caught some logs. Luckily, after cleaning it, the problem was fixed.

By 5 PM, I was back on land. The heat was easing, and the light was perfect for photography. So I took advantage and went on another safari in the northern part of the park.

In Search of Lions at Murchison Falls National Park

Seeing lions in Murchison Falls National Park isn’t easy, but it’s one of the best parks in Uganda to have a chance. The key is to look for them during the early morning or late afternoon hours. Even though we had less than two hours left, it was the perfect time to try.

We drove around the same area as that morning, circling the paths and searching for any sign of the big cats.

Just as we were about to give up, we met another vehicle that told us there was a lioness about two kilometers away. We had only a few minutes—the sun was already setting—but we headed straight there.

The surprise was incredible. It wasn’t just a lioness, but also her cub, probably about four months old. The warm orange glow of the sunset added even more magic and elegance to this moment.

It was an intense but brief encounter. To respect the park’s closing time, we had to start heading back. On the way, our car was invaded by a swarm of tsetse flies. Luckily, because I was wearing light-colored, long-sleeved clothes, I managed to avoid their bites.

The Top of Murchison Falls

Before leaving the park, I managed to visit the top of Murchison Falls. Arriving early in the morning, around eight o’clock, was a great decision—there was no one else there. With the warm morning light, the landscape looked absolutely stunning.

Seeing the falls up close, I realized that no photo I had seen did them justice. It’s a majestic place where you can truly appreciate the power and force of the water rushing down the falls.

It was a perfect way to end my journey through Murchison Falls National Park.