Murchison Falls National Park
About Murchison Falls – Established in 1952, Murchison Falls emerged as one of Uganda’s earliest national parks. Here, the Nile River constricts itself through an 8-meter-wide gorge, dramatically cascading into the “Devil’s Cauldron,” painting the sky with its trademark rainbow.
The park boasts diverse landscapes: the northern expanse features savannas, Borassus palms, acacia trees, and riverine woodland, while the southern region is characterized by woodlands and scattered forest patches.
Renowned for its cinematic backdrop, the 1951 film “The African Queen,” starring Humphrey Bogart, was shot on the picturesque settings of Lake Albert and the Nile within Murchison Falls National Park.
Nestled at the northern terminus of the Albertine Rift Valley, this conservation area embraces the Bunyoro escarpment’s grandeur meeting vast stretches of palm-dotted savanna. Initially designated as a game reserve in 1926, it stands as Uganda’s largest and oldest protected area.
The heart of the park is sliced by the Victoria Nile, plummeting 45 meters over the remnants of the rift valley wall, forming the breathtaking Murchison Falls. This spectacle culminates an 80-kilometer stretch of rapids. Subsequently, the forceful cascade dissipates the river’s vigor, transforming it into a tranquil stream flowing serenely across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. Along this riverine stretch, an extraordinary array of wildlife frequents the banks: elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, Nile crocodiles, and a plethora of aquatic birds.
Murchison Falls harbors a rich biodiversity, hosting over 144 mammal species, 556 bird species, 51 reptiles, and 51 amphibians. The park sustains a remarkable population of African elephants throughout the year, with aerial surveys documenting their numbers surpassing 900, marking an increasing trend. Additionally, giraffes primarily inhabit the park’s northern sector, while buffalo and Uganda kob populations have notably surged to over 10,000 and 35,000, respectively.
The avian diversity within the park is exceptional, with the iconic shoebill being a common sighting along the river stretch leading to the Albert delta. A multitude of bird species, such as the white-crested turaco and red-winged grey warbler, thrive in the woodland areas of the southern bank.
Esteemed personalities, including Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway, and various members of the British royal family, have graced Murchison Falls National Park with their presence over the years.
