Murchison Falls National Park, located at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, is Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which flows over the remnant rift valley wall and creates the majestic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park.
This stretch of the river is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, Nile crocodiles, and aquatic birds. The park was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1926 and remains a vital protected area for the preservation of these incredible species. The park offers a unique opportunity to witness the beauty and diversity of Uganda’s wildlife and supports the conservation efforts necessary for the continued thriving of these species.
Murchison Falls Murchison Falls National Park is home to a variety of special features that make it a unique and beautiful protected area. One of the park’s main attractions is the Murchison Falls, where the Nile River plunges over the rift valley wall and through a narrow gap in the rocks, creating a thunderous roar and a rainbow on bright, sunny days. The park is home to 76 species of animals, including four of the “Big Five,” and other animals such as warthogs(pumba), crocodiles, antelopes, and giraffes. The park is also home to a variety of primates, including olive baboons, blue and red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, and patas monkeys.
Murchison Falls National Park is a haven for birdwatchers. Some of the notable birds found in the park include the shoebill stork, the Goliath heron, grey crowned cranes, the blue-headed coucal, swamp flycatcher, squacco heron, African jacana, sandpipers, Denham’s bustard, Abyssinian ground-hornbill, black-billed barbet, black-headed gonolek, eastern grey plantain-eater, piapiac, silverbird, weaver birds, pied, giant, and malachite kingfishers, red-throated bee-eater, white-browed sparrow weaver, speckle-fronted weaver, and African quail-finch.
Murchison Falls National Park is a truly special place, offering the opportunity to experience the beauty and diversity of Uganda’s wildlife and natural beauty. The park’s varied habitats and rich array of species make it an important protected area for the conservation of these incredible creatures.