Wildlife in Murchison Falls
The park supports a great diversity of wildlife. It is home to four of the “Big Five,” including lions, leopards, elephants, and Cape buffalo. Rhinos are being reintroduced in the adjacent Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Murchison Falls is a stronghold for the Rothschild’s giraffe, with the largest population in the world. You will find large herds of elephants and buffalo, as well as Ugandan kob and Jackson’s hartebeest. The Nile River itself is packed with hippos and some of the largest Nile crocodiles on the continent. In the southern part of the park, the Budongo Forest is home to chimpanzees.
The Murchison Falls
The Murchison Falls is a truly powerful natural spectacle. Here, the entire Nile River, which is over 50 meters wide, funnels through a tiny seven-meter gap in the rocks. It then crashes 43 meters down into a pool known as the “Devil’s Cauldron.” The sound is deafening, and a permanent rainbow forms in the mist.
Things to Do in Murchison Falls
- Game Drives: Explore the northern sector of the park, which offers the best opportunities for seeing giraffes, elephants, lions, and buffalo.
- Boat Cruise on the Nile: Take a boat trip to the base of the falls. This is a fantastic way to see hippos, crocodiles, elephants on the shore, and a variety of water birds.
- Hike to the Top of the Falls: Disembark from the boat cruise and take a guided hike to the top for a completely different and breathtaking perspective of the falls.
- Chimpanzee Tracking: Trek through the Budongo Forest to find and observe habituated chimpanzee families in their natural habitat.
- Bird Watching: Look for some of the park’s 450 bird species, with the possibility of spotting the rare Shoebill stork in the delta area.
Best Time to Visit Murchison Falls
| Month | Climate | Wildlife Viewing |
| December – February & June – September | These are the dry seasons with hot, sunny weather. | Excellent. Animals congregate around the Nile River and other water sources, making them very easy to see. |
| March – May & October – November | These are the wet seasons. | The landscape is incredibly lush and green. This is the best time for bird watching, but roads can be slippery. |
Guide Tip
The combination of a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls followed by a hike to the top is the signature experience of this park. This combination offers the most complete understanding of the power and beauty of Murchison Falls. Arrange for your driver to meet you at the top after the hike.
