The Complete Guide to Murchison Falls National Park (2026)

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda's crown jewel — covering over 3,840 square kilometres of savannah, riverine forest, and wetlands in the country's northwest. Here's your complete guide for 2026.

The Falls: Africa's Most Powerful Waterfall

The park takes its name from Murchison Falls, where the entire force of the River Nile is compressed through a narrow 7-metre gorge before plunging 43 metres. The resulting spray can be seen from kilometres away and the roar is audible long before you arrive. There are two ways to experience it:

**Top of the Falls hike:** A short 45-minute trail to the very lip of the gorge — the most dramatic perspective

**Nile boat cruise:** A 2-hour upstream cruise brings you to the base of the falls from below, where the spray drenches everything in sight

Wildlife: Uganda's Big Five Park

Murchison Falls is the best park in Uganda for large mammal sightings:

**Elephants:** The park has one of Africa's largest elephant populations

**Lions:** The Buligi Peninsula north of the Nile is the prime game drive circuit

**Giraffes:** Rothschild's giraffes (one of the world's most endangered) are commonly seen

**Hippos & Crocodiles:** The Nile banks are home to huge concentrations of both

**Shoebill Stork:** The Nile delta wetlands are among the best places in Africa to find this prehistoric bird

The Two Game Drive Circuits

**North Bank (Buligi Peninsula):** The main game drive area — open savannah with excellent lion, elephant, giraffe, and kob sightings

**South Bank:** Murchison Falls itself, the top of the falls hike, and access to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary — A Must-Stop

Located on the drive north from Kampala, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is home to Uganda's only wild southern white rhinos. A guided walking encounter with these magnificent animals is one of Africa's most intimate wildlife experiences.

Best Time to Visit

**December to February** and **June to August** for dry-season wildlife concentrations

**November to April** for the best birding

How to Get There

**By road:** 4–5 hours from Kampala; an excellent sealed road runs most of the way

**By charter flight:** 1 hour direct to Pakuba Airstrip inside the park

Where to Stay

The park has options from mid-range tented camps on the Nile banks to the iconic Paraa Safari Lodge overlooking the river. Wahika Safaris can arrange accommodation at all budget levels.

Ready to plan your Murchison Falls safari? Get in touch with our team for a custom itinerary.