Murchison Falls is much more than a waterfall. This national park, in northern Uganda, combines sweeping savannah landscapes, wildlife, the Nile River, and falls that truly impress when you’re standing right in front of them. On top of that, experiencing a safari in Murchison Falls is a unique experience for nature lovers.
During our trip through Uganda, we decided to include Murchison Falls on our route after visiting Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. We spent two nights in the area and had time to go on a safari, cruise along the Nile, and get up close to the famous falls.
And while we enjoyed the safari, what surprised us most about Murchison Falls was precisely that the experience goes far beyond looking for animals.
We arrived in the afternoon and went straight to the falls, which are truly impressive. We spent the night near the park, and the next day we did the 4×4 safari and the cruise on the Nile River.
In this article, we’ll tell you what our safari in Murchison Falls was like, what animals we saw, what the Nile cruise is like, what we thought of the falls, and a few practical tips for planning a visit to the park.
Where are Murchison Falls and how do you get there?
The Murchison Falls National Park is in Uganda and is one of the great natural areas you can visit on a trip around the country.
One of the most common ways to include it in an itinerary is to combine it with other points of interest in northern and central Uganda. In our case, we arrived after visiting Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where we did a rhino-tracking experience on foot accompanied by a ranger.
From there, we continued on to Murchison Falls with our guide.
Getting to Murchison Falls from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
The drive to Murchison Falls already lets you start noticing the change in scenery, moving from more rural areas to savannah and wilderness.
If you’re planning a route through Uganda and want to see the falls, it makes sense to stop at the Rhino Sanctuary and spend the night there, then continue on to Murchison Falls National Park.
How many days do you need to visit Murchison Falls?
We spent two nights in Murchison Falls, which gave us enough time to combine the main experiences we wanted: a safari, a visit to the falls, and cruising on the Nile.
What to do in Murchison Falls?
Although the falls are the park’s main icon, there are several activities you can include in a visit.
The main ones are:
- Go on a 4×4 safari.
- Take a Nile cruise.
- Visit Murchison Falls.
- Spot wildlife and birds.
- Enjoy the park’s landscapes.
One of the things we liked most about Murchison Falls is that it lets you combine a land safari with a completely different experience on the water. Our trip itinerary was set up this way too: a game drive and a trip along the Nile River.
Safari in Murchison Falls: our experience
One of the main reasons to visit the park is, of course, to go on a safari in Murchison Falls.
The landscapes are beautiful, and along the way you can come across different animal species. Wildlife you can spot in the park includes elephants, giraffes, buffalo, lions and, with a bit of luck, leopards, as well as many bird species.
We had the chance to see several animals, although our experience was a bit different from what you might imagine when you think of a safari.
What animals can you see in Murchison Falls?
During our safari we saw giraffes and elephants, antelopes, birds, among other animals.
But we were surprised by the relatively low number of animals overall compared to parks in neighboring countries like Tanzania or Kenya.
One important thing we think you should keep in mind before going on a safari is that wildlife is unpredictable. You might go looking for a specific animal and not see it, while you may come across others you weren’t expecting.
We didn’t see lions in Murchison Falls, but our first clients in Uganda were luckier and got to see lionesses walking through the park.
Do you see lions in Murchison?
Yes, lions are part of the park’s wildlife and there’s a chance of spotting them on a safari. The same goes for other large predators like leopards.
But here’s our real experience: we didn’t see any big cats.
And while it was a small disappointment—especially because we really wanted to see lions—we think it’s important to say it as it is.
We also have a pretty good point of comparison: we’ve already done safaris in other parts of Africa, such as Masai Mara, Serengeti or Tarangire.
Is it worth doing a safari in Murchison?
For us, yes.
It’s especially worth it for the combination of wildlife and scenery. You may not get the same concentration of animals as in some of Kenya’s or Tanzania’s top safari destinations, but the Murchison Falls setting has a character of its own.
And on top of that, there’s something that completely changes the experience: the Nile and the falls.
Nile cruise in Murchison National Park
If there’s one activity we especially recommend in Murchison Falls, it’s the Nile cruise.
The boat trip lets you approach the falls from the river and, above all, offers a completely different perspective of the park. During the cruise, you can spot animals that live along the riverbanks, such as hippos and crocodiles, as well as a wide variety of birds.
For us, it was also especially interesting because it’s not the typical 4×4 safari.
What animals do you see on the Nile cruise?
During the trip we saw:
- Hippos
- Crocodiles
- Buffalo
- Lots of birds
We saw quite a few crocodiles and hippos, but also lots of birds—so if you’re a bird fan, it’s an ideal place to go.
The river concentrates an enormous amount of life along its banks, so it’s worth constantly looking to both sides.
And that’s exactly one of the things we liked most: while on a land safari you’re focused on the savannah, from the boat the river becomes the star of the show.
What is the Nile cruise like?
The trip is done by boat heading toward the base of the falls. The itinerary describes this cruise as a way to enjoy a different perspective of the park and spot wildlife along the way.
For us, the Nile cruise also has added value: it’s different from what we’d done on other safaris in Kenya and Tanzania.
During the trip it rained heavily on and off. We weren’t prepared, and they had to give us plastic ponchos to protect us a bit because even though the boat has a roof, the rain came in from the sides. If you’re doing the Nile route, don’t rely too much on the forecast—at any moment it can change, temperatures can drop, and a downpour can roll in.
The boat captain stopped at a point where he couldn’t get any closer to the falls, so we saw them from quite far away. The force of the water didn’t allow us to approach. Of course we would have liked to see them up close, but nature calls the shots, and we had to make do from a distance.
Why are Murchison Falls so impressive?
There are places that look spectacular in photos and then, when you arrive, they might not impress you as much.
With Murchison Falls, the opposite happened: reality beats the photos.
The Victoria Nile, one of Africa’s great rivers, is forced through a very narrow gorge and then drops about 45 meters, creating enormous pressure, noise, turbulence, and a cloud of spray. The Uganda Wildlife Authority highlights that combination as Murchison Falls’ iconic feature.
Because you can visit the falls from the river and from a viewpoint right next to them. From there, you can see the power of the water as it drops, and rainbows form in the spray, making it beautiful. It has a contagious energy that pulls you in and makes you not want to leave.
The power of the water, the noise, the scenery, and the feeling of being so close make the visit far more striking than it might seem from just looking at a photo.
That moment with the water splashing on us was probably one of the biggest thrills of our visit to Murchison Falls.
Our tip: we recommend visiting the falls both from the viewpoint and from the river. They’re two completely different perspectives and, in our opinion, it’s worth doing both.
Where to stay in Murchison Falls?
During our stay, we stayed at two places: Fort Murchison Nature Lodges and a larger one called Pakuba Safari Lodge.
We liked Fort Murchison Nature Lodges more because we prefer smaller properties, and aesthetically we liked it better. Also, the food was higher quality and served at the table rather than the buffet at the other one.
That said, the views of the Nile while you have breakfast at Pakuba Lodge are spectacular.
For us, choosing the right place to stay is also part of the safari experience. After spending several hours exploring the park, being able to rest in a natural setting helps round out the trip.
Tips for doing a safari in Murchison
If you’re thinking of including Murchison Falls in your trip around Uganda, there are a few things we’d keep in mind.
Recommended duration for a safari in Murchison National Park
The duration will depend on the tour you’ve booked and how your trip is organized.
In our case, the safari was part of our Uganda itinerary and we had the chance to do a sunset drive, spend a full day in the park, and then continue our trip the next day. In total, we spent 2 nights in Murchison Falls.
Is it better to do the safari by car or the Nile cruise?
Our answer would be: do both.
They’re not competing experiences—they complement each other:
| Game drive | Nile cruise |
|---|---|
| Savannah route | River route |
| Elephants and giraffes | Hippos and crocodiles |
| Chance to look for big cats | Lots of birds |
| Land perspective | On-the-water perspective |
| Classic safari feel | A different experience |
Conclusion: Is it worth visiting Murchison National Parkn?
After being there, our answer is yes.
But we think it’s worth explaining why.
If you’re looking for a destination purely to see as many animals as possible, there may be other parks in Kenya or Tanzania that will impress you more. Our experience was that we saw fewer animals than in places like Masai Mara, Serengeti, or Tarangire, and we also didn’t manage to see any big cats.
But if you want to see the sanctuary’s rhinos, it’s worth continuing along the same road and reaching Murchison Falls.
Inside the park you can do several activities: cruise among hippos and crocodiles, spot a huge number of birds, and end up in front of falls whose power is truly impressive; do a classic game drive; and go to the Murchison Falls viewpoint and take in its immensity.
And for us, that combination is exactly what makes this place special.
If you have 5–7 days and want to include gorillas, Murchison Falls can make the route quite difficult because of the distances. On the other hand, with around 12 days in Uganda you can consider combining the north of the country with Bwindi.
If you don’t want to go to Bwindi to see the gorillas, then you can focus on visiting Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls, Fort Portal, Queen Elizabeth, and return to Entebbe.
If you want to talk to us because you’re unsure which route to take, send us a WhatsApp and we’ll help you plan your trip to Uganda.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best time to visit Murchison Falls?
The best time to visit Murchison Falls usually coincides with the drier months, especially between December and February and from June to September. During these periods, rain is usually less frequent and the park’s roads are generally in better condition for safaris.
But there’s one thing worth keeping in mind before planning your trip: in Uganda it can rain almost all year round. The difference between the dry season and the rainy season isn’t as marked as in other East Africa destinations like Kenya or Tanzania, where seasons tend to be more clearly defined.
So we wouldn’t rule out traveling to Murchison Falls just because your trip falls in months considered part of the rainy season. We were there in April and had pretty good weather, although we did get the occasional shower during our stay.
In fact, rain can show up at any time and it doesn’t have to ruin your trip. In our case, we were able to enjoy both the safari and the Nile cruise, as well as the falls, without rainfall being a problem.
Also, during the rainier months the landscape can be especially green and lush, although the rains can make some park roads muddier and make getting around on safari slightly more difficult.
So, if you can choose, the drier months can offer more comfortable conditions for exploring Murchison Falls. But if your trip is planned for another time of year, we don’t think you should rule it out because of the chance of rain. Our experience traveling in April was very positive.
And there’s something even more important: no matter when you travel, a safari always involves an element of luck.
How do you get to Murchison Falls?
We arrived from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, accompanied by our guide, as part of our Uganda itinerary.
What should you bring on a safari in Murchison Falls?
It’s best to pack comfortable clothing suitable for spending several hours outdoors, plus sunscreen and water—and a rain jacket. Bring a light jacket or long trousers too, especially if you’re traveling with children, and something to protect them from rain or wind during the Nile River trip.
Also bring binoculars, because on the Nile River tour, if you have them, you’ll use them. We always say that a good camera with a strong zoom can replace binoculars.